Best Remington 870 Sights – 2020 Reviews

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When hunting season comes around, many hunters begin thinking of a way to up their game just a bit. One way to do that is to add a new sight to your favorite shotgun.

A new sight is a fundamental upgrade that many gun owners opt for, which leads to there being a whole slew of options to choose from. Especially with there being ones specifically designed for certain guns. 

In this article, we will be taking a look at the best Remington 870 sights and some key information you will need to make the best decision for you and your hunting needs. 

Comparison of the Best Remington 870 Sights

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Big dot powered by tritium for improved accuracy
  • Crafted for rapid target acquisition
  • Unit is easy to install
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  • Designed to use an 8 MOA red dot acquisition system
  • Able to magnify 1.07x for better visibility
  • Improved adjustability of brightness that auto-corrects accordingly
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  • Best for the Money
  • Built with a low profile for improved field of view
  • Crafted with a good quality fiber with a diameter of .078”
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  • Best Remington 870 Ghost Ring Sights
  • Tritium lamps housed in protective aluminum cylinders
  • Capped for increased protection from cleaning solvents and punctures
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  • Best Remington 870 Fiber Optic Sights
  • Fiber optics used are high grade and offer superior light
  • Easy to line up front and rear sights
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  • Best Remington 870 Night Sights
  • Optimized low light performance
  • Comes with 12-year illumination warranty
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  • Best Remington 870 Tactical Sights
  • Adjustable brightness settings (20)
  • Fitted with a holographic sight system (68MOA ring/ 1MOA dot reticle)
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Can you Really Find a Quality Sight That’s Affordable?

An affordable yet high performing sight is one that will have a few key highlights, for example, solid mounting capacity, a low weight, enhanced eye relief, and obviously, a completely clear view. Another thing you should take into consideration is quick acquisition of target and rapid-fire shooting.

So with that being said, when you look for an affordable sight, you may have to pick and choose the features you need. These models may also come designed in less durable materials than the higher-end options. 

Even with those few sacrifices many of the more affordable sights offer great performance and reasonable durability.

Characteristics of Our Favorite Sights

With so many choices, you may find yourself overwhelmed and unsure of how to choose. When we set about crafting this list, we looked at key features that would play a role in the overall comfort and performance. Here is what we looked at when making our decisions:

Cost

You’ll need to factor in cost. While you shouldn’t purchase anything dependent on cost alone, you should factor in affordability for you and your financial limit. For best outcomes, you ought to gauge quality and affordability similarly. 

Durability

Next, think about durability. You will want to think about things like water resistance, fog proofing, and even shock absorption. These all play a part in the overall durability of the sight. 

XS Sights New Big Dot

Mounting

You ought to ensure that the mounting for your sight is strong and dependable. If necessary, you can purchase your mounting independently from your sight.

Housing

You will want to look for housing constructed in steel or aluminum. These will be solid and prepared to diminish the stun that is created from your guns kickback. A good sight will hold zero and stay set up significantly after you shoot numerous rounds. 

Visibility

An extremely well-designed sight should work efficiently and give you good visibility no matter the lighting situation. 

Review of the Best Remington 870 Sights

Now that you are set with some factors to consider, we can look at our in-depth list of the best sight options on the market today for your Remington 870.

Best Overall:
XS Sights New Big Dot

Pros

  • Threading does not cause any problems
  • Price versus value is better than expected
  • Size is bigger than many of the other factory beads
  • Has a good radiance on par with many pistol sights
  • Has several inserts that can be used for different environments

Cons

  • Installation may take a bit of time
  • The installation will take multiple tools

What Recent Buyers Report

This site is an incredibly supportive sight with regards to accuracy. Everything from the components, materials, and the installation of this sight are of premium quality. Even though some have had issues with some components (i.e., threading), these issues are rare. 

Why it Stands Out to Us

There are such a significant number of things about this unit that we could have chosen as what stood out to us the most. Be that as it may, when we sat down with the features and benefits, the precision of aim with this sight took the leading position. 

Who Will Use This Most

Though this sight is a great addition for any hunter, there is one that will get the most from it. This sight is ideal for the beginner. The sights center around precision and simple installation, which makes it a great choice for the novice gunman or woman.

Bottom Line

This is an extraordinarily well-built sight that offers all that you need in a sight. It’s created with top-notch material and intended to be effortlessly installed. That, put together with the durability and comfort, is why this had to be our choice for the best overall sight.

Runner-up:
Burris SpeedBead

Pros

  • Field of view is kept open with the sight design
  • Sight glass offers no parallax effect for true sight
  • Designed to increase firing rate and reliability of aim
  • Unit is waterproof and shockproof for enhanced durability
  • Screen of the lens is clear enhancing precision and accuracy

Cons

  • When firing, there are issues with the dot shifting
  • Mount could be better designed for easier installation and fit

What Recent Buyers Report

The auto-adjusting brightness is something that not every sight option offers, and that makes it well worth the buy. Though the sight does move a bit when shooting, that takes away nothing from the performance of this unit. That is why so many people highly recommend this sight.

Why it Stands Out to Us

When it comes down to it, the systems are what stick out the most to us. Both the red dot acquisition and the magnification technology used in this sights construction is spectacular. Each individual system serves to up the accuracy and reliability of this sight.

Who Will Use This Most

The low profile and increased field of view make this perfect for hunters that are getting down and dirty in the thick of it. The low profile will ensure that you don’t have to worry about bushes and hanging foliage when you are trying to scope in the object of your hunt.

Bottom Line

When you are looking for a high-quality sight, you want one that has systems that will elevate your performance. With this model from Burris, that is what you get, and all wrapped in a low profile build that allows for versatility for use in multiple shooting styles.

Best for the Money:
TRUGLO Glo-Dot II

Pros

  • This sight is quick and easy to install
  • Price versus value far outshines what is expected
  • Fits snug and does not move which will improve the precision
  • Crafted with premium-grade materials for optimized durability
  • Brightness of the sight makes acquisition even in low light easy

Cons

  • Not compatible for fit with older model shotguns
  • Crafted in plastic so not as durable as a metal sight

What Recent Buyers Report

No one wants to spend all day trying to install a sight, and with this unit, that just won’t happen. The easy installation and the clear visibility of the sight make this one of the best on the market. It is constructed of plastic, which makes it less durable than other models, but the performance will make you forget all about that. 

Why it Stands Out to Us

The price tag is obviously what stood out to us the most. With that affordable price point, you would think that you would lose some in the way of performance. You simply don’t. The team at TRUGLO opted to use plastic as their casing, and that left them free to use better fiber optics.

Who Will Use This Most

The best for the money may benefit a lot of shotgun owners but no more so than the hunter on a fixed budget. This unit offers a lot of performance for a small price tag, and that makes it stand out above the rest.

Bottom Line

TRUGLO is a brand that tries to bring you quality at an affordable price. With the Dot-II, they managed to knock it out of the ballpark. This unit wraps performance in a plastic case that may be less durable but is nowhere near less effective.

Best Remington 870 Ghost Ring Sights:
Trijicon 3

Pros

  • Ghost rings sight comes with a three-dot design
  • Crafted with silicone bases for better shock absorption
  • Unit is designed with tritium inserts in both front and rear sights
  • All inserts are set in a housing made of premium grade aluminum
  • Inserts are capped with sapphire jewels for better light distribution

Cons

  • Issues with the size of the dots
  • Some have needed a gunsmith for the actual installation

What Recent Buyers Report

This sight allows for quick and easy shooting that will allow you to capture even the fastest of prey in your crosshairs. The light used in the dot system is also bright, which will help you in the lowest of light situations. This dot though, is tiny and may be a problem for some with vision issues.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The sight uses capped sapphire jewels that help with light distribution. This component also helps keep the mechanism safe from water solutions and damages.

Who Will Use This Most

This is great for night hunts or even early morning low light ones. Using this sight during these situations will optimize your result. But be warned: the dot is small, so this is really only useful for those that don’t have any optical concerns (i.e., glasses).

Bottom Line

This sight has so much going for it that as long as you don’t have any vision concerns, opting for it could be the best decision to make. With a well-crafted sighting system and a dot that is bright enough to see even in the daylight, you definitely can’t go wrong with adding this to your hunting kit.

Best Remington 870 Fiber Optic Sights:
Williams Firesights

Williams Gun Sight WGOS Fiber Optic Green Rear/Red Front Firesight Set Fits Remington Pre 2003 (56530), Black

Pros

  • Sight system is very bright and easy to aim
  • Price versus value far outshines a lot of its competitors
  • Sight is quick and easy to install with no need for gunsmithing
  • Design of sight gives the hunter a nice fitting piece that is sturdy
  • Crafted with high-grade materials for improved durability and overall quality

Cons

  • Problems with rear sight fit 
  • Issues with bands that hold fiber optics durability

What Recent Buyers Report

There is a lot to say, but very few will discuss this sight without mentioning one of two things. The sturdiness and the sighting system itself seem to be what drives this unit’s popularity. The rear sight may not quite fit perfectly, but when you see how precise and fast you can shoot, you will want to overlook that.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The easy to install and line up sights make this an easy choice for us. There are a lot of great things about this entry, but this is one of the things that caught our eye. Often when lining up rear and front sights, you can get frustrated, but by using the ghost ring, you can easily make sure you are all set.

Who Will Use This Most

Though this sight could be used in a lot of situations, the hunter that will get the most from it is the deer hunter. The quick and precise response of the sight makes it easy to squeeze off a shot and catch your prey by surprise.

Bottom Line

Fiber optics plays a key role in any red-dot sight, no matter the type. That means when looking for a high-class option, you should pay attention to this feature. With this sight, you get the best fiber optics in a design that allows for optimized precision and reliability.

Best Remington 870 Night Sights:
Meprolight Remington Tru-Dot

Pros

  • Unit is quick and easy to install
  • Built with high-grade materials for enhanced durability 
  • Crafted with the bead to be night sighted on both sides
  • Both sides of sight glow for improved nighttime visibility
  • Low light or dark situations are no problem, the brightness of sight is excellent

Cons

  • Takes longer to line up sights than other models
  • Compatibility issues with newer models of shotgun

What Recent Buyers Report

The glow emitted from this piece allows for even better visibility in dark settings. Plus, it will give you a quick acquisition of the target, which means faster firing capabilities. It is not compatible with all models of 870s, so make sure you pay attention to that. 

Why it Stands Out to Us

The illumination factor of this sight is really what stood out to us. The optimized use of systems that enhance the visibility no matter the lighting situation makes this a great night sight. Plus, it comes with the warranty specifically for the illumination.

Who Will Use This Most

Though many hunters could get a lot from this sight, it is those gun owners that live a rural life that may get the most from it. With the optimized light, you can feel safe roaming the property and keeping your livestock safe from coyotes and other predators.

Bottom Line

Hunting or patrolling at night comes with a whole different set of challenges, principally the visibility. This sight focuses on this problem and does so with efficiency. That is why when you look at all the features, you will easily find it is the best night sight option for your Remington 870.

Best Remington 870 Tactical Sights:
EOTECH 512 Holographic Weapon Sight

Pros

  • Installation is quick and easy
  • Built-in shatterproof optics for elevated safety
  • Able to be used in water environments with ease
  • While moving, offers quick and responsive performance
  • Crafted with durable military-grade materials for longer life
  • Designed with multiple brightness settings for comfort and personalization

Cons

  • Not fitted with night vision settings
  • Issues with battery life being too low

What Recent Buyers Report

This sight is uniquely designed, and that brings with it clear vision and steadiness that keeps its position even after tons of shots. The lithium battery does die quickly, but as long as you are prepared for the benefits of this holographic sight are well worth that little annoyance.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Tactical shooting has a lot of things that need to be accounted for. That is why the idea that you have 20 preset settings to choose from when it comes to the lighting is such an outstanding inclusion in this sights design.

Who Will Use This Most

The quick response and firing rate make this a perfect choice for those that like a good duck hunt. Plus, it has those settings that will have you set for any situation you meet out in the field. That being said, the unique design and system could easily be used in other types of tactical shooting as well.

Bottom Line

This sight will elevate your Remington 870’s capabilities and improve your overall precision. Crafted with an innovative system, you can not go wrong by mounting this to that barrel. That is why it found its way onto our list of the best options available to you.

Aspects to Consider Before Buying

There are a lot of things to consider before buying a new sight. Picking the correct one for your shooting style is by far the most important. This may appear to be a simple procedure, however, there is a variety of considerations that you will need to have a firm grasp on. 

Types of Shooting

  • Lengthy hunting excursions that have a lot of hurry up and wait, would be best suited with a sight that has great quality glass, powerful optics, a ballistic turret, parallax modification, and brightening. 
  • Fast pace chasing hunting excursions, ought to be done with a sight that has great eye relief and a multiple dot reticle. 

Types of Sights

Another thing to understand is the multiple types of sights you have available. Here are some:

  • Single bead is the most basic type. This is the small bead you will find at the end of your barrel. This is best used when shooting at flying targets that move with some speed.
  • Double bead adds a bead to the barrel about midway down its length. This helps with accuracy.
  • Post & Blade consists of a notched blade and front post. These allow you to adjust wind and elevation and are good in low light situations.
  • Red-Dot attaches to the receiver and produces a dot that can be used to aim. Great in low light or night situations.

Intent

All of that will help narrow down the selection, but only once you nail down the intent of use. Knowing what the gun that this sight will be attached to will help the process significantly.

Conclusion

Ideally, this guide has given you a superior comprehension of the variables to think about when picking the best sight for your Remington 870. There are many great choices, each with their own area of hunting or protection that they shine in. There is something for everyone on our list, and we hope that within our comprehensive list, you have found one or two that will work for you and your hunting needs.

People Also Ask

Even with all that information above, we are sure that there are still some questions. So, we have found some of the most commonly asked, and answered them below.

Is the Remington 870 Good for Hunting?

The Remington 870 is an ideal option for chasing little game, for example, hares and squirrels. If you are using it with buckshot, it’s the ability to increase, and it becomes an excellent choice for hunting large game like deer when in close proximity. 

What Are Ghost Ring Sights on a Shotgun?

A ghost ring sight is designed with two distinctive sections. There is the post sight, which sits where the standard single bead is crafted into the gun. Then it has a dot mounted sight that sits on the barrel. It uses light to enhance visibility.

Do You Have to Sight in a Shotgun?

This depends on the model. But ideally, yes, you should sight your shotgun in. This will ensure heightened accuracy and also allow you to get a good feel for your gun. Doing this will also help you keep an eye on if it loses sight easily.