9 Best Shotgun Sights: Red Dots & Irons
You still need to aim with a shotgun. Here are our favorite upgraded shotgun sights from ghost rings to red dots and even some rifle slug scopes.
USMC Veteran. Concealed Carry & NRA Pistol Instructor. 3-Gun Competitor. Career firearms writer
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Shotguns...trusty, great for hunting and home defense, and practically impossible to miss a target with...or are they?
Shotguns are pretty good at hitting things with only a general sense of aim, but if you want to hit things consistently (or hit the right things), it doesn't hurt to have a little extra help in the aim department.
I've been a huge fan of shotguns for years, and one thing I have learned is that the sights on your shotgun are more important than you think.
Let's talk about that, as well as go over a multitude of the best options for shotgun sights.
The Quick List
- Best Fiber Optic Sight: HIVIZ Snap-On SightJump to details ↓
- Best Laser Option: Crimson Trace Laser SaddleJump to details ↓
- Cleanest Mounting Solution: Burris SpeedBead Fastfire 3Jump to details ↓
- Best for Rifled Barrels: Burris Fullfield E1 Ballistic Plex Shotgun ReticleJump to details ↓
- Best Red Dot: Holosun 507C X2Jump to details ↓
- Most Versatile: Meprolight ForesightJump to details ↓
- Best Irons for Picatinny Rails: Magpul MBUS 3Jump to details ↓
Table of Contents
How We Chose the Best Shotgun Sights
This article was helmed by our resident shotgun guru, Travis Pike.
Travis is a shotgun fanatic and has spent countless hours reviewing shotguns and shotgun accessories --- optics included.
Between his extensive experience and input from the rest of the Pew Pew Tactical staff, we came up with a list of shotgun optics using our combined hands-on experience. Our list is focused on durability, ease of use, specific application, and value.
Best Shotgun Iron Sights
1. HIVIZ Snap-On Sight - Best Fiber Optic Sight
If you want an incredibly cheap and easy way to upgrade your shotgun’s bead is the HIVIZ snap-on fiber optic front sight.
There is no gunsmithing required to install this little device. It just snaps on the barrel, and you are ready to roll.
This Snap-On sight provides a very high-visibility green or red fiber optic front sight. It’s much easier to pick up the front sight in all light conditions, and it allows you to quickly pick the dot up and put it on target.
A design like this isn’t designed for high-volume shooting.
Shotgun barrels get hot, and this may cause the polymer to heat up and stretch, which may compromise its hold on the barrel. This is still a good choice for hunting and even home defense.
Shotguns are not high-volume weapons, and this issue is unlikely to come up in a standard home defense situation or when hunting deer, turkey, hogs, etc. Bird hunting may be another situation where you are shooting a ton of rounds at one time, and this might be an issue.
At this low cost, it’s a simple solution to a simple platform. Perfect for those on a tight budget using the always great Maverick 88 or 870 Express.
This sight is designed for 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge shotguns with bare barrels; it will not work with vent ribbed barrels.
2. XS Big Dot Front Sight
XS sights are well known for their big front sights designed for handguns.
The idea is to improve your speed by providing a much bigger and much easier-to-see bead that just so happens to glow when the lights get low. XS took that same idea and applied it to shotguns.
This single dot replaces your bead by being inserted over the bead. It will work with some beads but includes a bead to replace yours if it's too big or too small. The difficulty of installing will vary on your gun and the ability to remove the bead.
With a Mossberg 590, I had zero issues unscrewing the front bead and installing this system. It has been on my gun for over a year without any issue.
The XS Big Dot Sight has a tritium vial in the middle that glows very brightly, and it's easy to see in low light. Its white ring is also easy on the eyes and works great for both low-light and normal daylight conditions.
Basically, it's a solid front sight that acts like a bead on steroids.
It is better suited for using shot rather than slugs. At long ranges, the large size of this front sight is going to make it hard to shoot slugs at smaller targets.
Not to mention, it is affordable and will fit a variety of shotguns. Certainly, double-check the XS website and ensure your gun is covered. It’s a great investment for a home defense shotgun.
3. Williams Fire Sight Ghost Ring Sight Set
I didn’t want to leave my hunters behind, and I know most sporting shotguns come with a ribbed barrel. That ribbed barrel just so happens to be an excellent base for sights.
The Williams Gun Sight Fire Sights are a very handy set of sights if you have a vent rib shotgun.
These sights attach to the vent rib, and they work for most shotguns.
Best of all, they require zero gunsmithing to install. The front sight sits right behind your traditional bead and provides a high-visibility orange front sight.
Its rear sight is a ghost ring model that is flanked by two glowing green orbs for low-light shooting. These sights are quick and easy to acquire and well-suited for hunting deer, hogs, turkey, etc.
They are an excellent choice for slug guns, and because they are easy to install and remove, you can easily switch from deer season to bird season. Also, they are affordably priced.
4. Magpul MBUS Sights - Best Irons for Picatinny Rails
MBUS sights on a shotgun? Am I crazy? Well, no, not at all.
I know these Magpul MBUS sights are mostly known for their use on rifles, specifically AR-15s. However, there are lots of shotguns out there these days with inline stocks.
This includes the S&W M&P 12, the Sentry 12, the VR80, the VRBP-100, and, well, a ton more.
On these shotguns, the MBUS sights sit perfectly on the gun, and of course, the bigger peep sight makes more sense on a shotgun.
They work well as stand-in ghost ring sights. They don’t have the speed of a bead or red dot but offer plenty of precision and are fast enough to be capable.
These sights fold out of the way when not in use and will co-witness perfectly with whatever red you might be rocking and rolling with.
Magpul makes competent iron sights that can take abuse. Plus, you can make measurable adjustments when zeroing your weapon to slugs or buckshot.
What's your take on the Magpul MBUS Sights?
Readers’ Ratings
4.99/5 (2278 Votes)Your Rating
5. Crimson Trace Laser Saddle - Best Laser Option
One of the most fun I’ve had at SHOT shows range day was at the Crimson Trace booth.
Their new optics were outstanding, but the reason I had so much fun at the booth was the Laser Saddle for shotguns. They had one mounted on a Shockwave, and it was a literal blast.
Technically, it isn't an iron sight, but I am throwing it here anyway. The Laser Saddle fits on the receiver of a Mossberg 500 or 590 series shotgun and gives you an ultra-bright laser sight that allows you to fire from the hip accurately.
It's absurdly low profile and very bright.
Also, it adds hardly any bulk to the design and is easy to use in a firing position without compromising your positioning.
Not to mention, it’s ultra-bright and gives you a sure shot and a solid idea of where you are aiming.
Want to learn more about the Crimson Trace Laser Saddle? Check out the full review here!
Best Shotgun Optics
As close-range weapons, shotguns can be easily equipped with a red dot and be ultra-effective. Red dots are not necessary on shotguns but can make you faster and would allow you to easily use both slugs and shot.
They aren't limited to a load. If you are going to be using both slugs and shot, then you should zero the dot to slugs.
Your use of shot at close range will still be incredibly effective. The dot will be zeroed enough for dropping buckshot into a target accurately enough to take it down.
6. Holosun 507C - Best Red Dot
Specs
- Magnification: 1x
- Reticle: 2 MOA dot with 32 MOA Circle (user-selectable)
- Illumination: Red, Green
- Battery Life: 50,000 hours
- Mounting Footprint: RMR
- Weight: 1.4 oz
The Holosun 507C is my all-time favorite red dot sight for shotguns.
It’s super small, easy to use, and provides a versatile platform for directing your loads of shot. Not only do you get the Trijicon RMR footprint, but a solar panel, a side-loading battery, and multiple reticles.
The multiple reticles are where the magic sits. The reticles include a 2 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, and a 32 MOA circle and a 2 MOA dot. For shotguns, the 32 MOA circle works perfectly.
Smart shooters will pattern the load inside the 32 reticles at specific ranges.
For example, I know that my chosen load of home defense buckshot will pattern within the circle at 12 yards. Twelve yards is the range of the longest possible shot in my home.
I have full pellet accountability with my red dot.
The 507C has taken tons of abuse and keeps on ticking. It eats up abuse, mounts nice and low on a shotgun, and is super easy to use.
The dot outperforms ghost rings, beads, and rifle sights in every way for shotgun shooters.
12-gauge shotguns are like hammers, recoil-wise, but the 507C eats it up. All in all, this is a solid optic for those looking for a red dot.
7. Burris SpeedBead FastFire 3 - Cleanest Mounting Solution
Specs
- Magnification: 1x
- Reticle: 3 MOA dot, 8 MOA dot
- Illumination: Red
- Battery Life: 5,000 hours
- Mounting Footprint: Docter/Noblex
- Weight: 1 oz (sight only), 1.9 oz (with SpeedBead mount)
The Burris FastFire 3 is a great mini red dot for a few reasons and is great on shotguns for a number of other reasons.
First, it is small, light, and easy to use. It’s rugged, dependable, and affordable for what you are getting.
This red dot has three intensity settings and an auto setting that will adapt the reticle to the light around you. The auto setting is legit and does adapt quickly to the light around you.
It's also a pretty solid unit. Mine has been banged around a lot, and it still keeps going. The FastFire 3 comes in 3 MOA or 8 MOA versions, with the 8 MOA option being better suited for shotguns.
You can find it with a Picatinny mount as well as a hood to protect the optic. It’s got a top-loading battery and one-button controls and is very lightweight.
A big reason I love it is the Speed Bead mounting system. This mounts between the stock and the receiver, and the red dot replaces your bead. It allows you to mount the optic to guns without needing to tap them for an optics rail.
Not to mention, it also positions the optic far enough down that it is super low profile and easy to use with a traditional shotgun sight.
8. Meprolight Foresight - Most Versatile
Specs
- Magnification: 1x
- Reticle: 20 user-selectable reticles
- Illumination: Green
- Battery Life: 50 hours
- Mounting Footprint: Docter/Noblex
- Weight: 9.9 oz
I typically prefer smaller red dots on my shotguns because I find that large red dots get in the way of port reloads.
But I make an exception for the Foresight. Shotguns are versatile weapons, and the Foresight is a versatile red dot.
The Foresight can hold up to 10 zeroes, and you can use your Android or iOS device. You can zero multiple loads of different buckshot, slugs, and birdshot.
For example, I know slugs have more range and benefit from different zeroes.
Heck, even different buckshots can benefit from different zeroes. A load of Federal Flitecontrol travels further than standard buckshot and can benefit from its own zero.
The Foresight allows me to do all of that, and as such, it becomes a pretty handy weapon when you use a variety of different shotgun loads.
It's a super modern optic that’s all kinds of cool. You can choose five of over 20 different reticles and even zero through your phone or tablet. The optic is charged via USB and lasts for hours and hours.
The Foresight has a sight leveler built into it, as well as a compass that utilizes degrees.
Oh, did I mention the optic’s software updates and improvements? In the future, they are looking to add a round counter to allow you to monitor your ammo capacity as well.
9. Burris Fullfield E1 3-9x40mm - Best for Rifled Barrels
Specs
- Magnification: 3x - 9x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
- Main Tube Diameter: 1"
- Reticle: Ballistic Plex
- Illumination: None
- Weight: 13 oz
Shotguns with rifled barrels can double the effective range of slugs, as well as provide a much greater degree of accuracy.
Full-blown riflescopes can make the most of that accuracy potential, as well as give you a much better aiming solution for hunting.
Burris has you covered with their excellent Fullfield E1. They offer various options, including a 3-9x40mm option with a shotgun-specific model featuring the Ballistic Plex reticle.
These scopes feature Hi-Lume multicoating on the glass, which aids in low-light performance and glare elimination. And at only 13 ounces, the Fullfield keeps everything trim and lightweight.
We love the Fullfield series of scopes because they offer good clarity and quality at an exceptional price point. A huge bonus is that these are backed by Burris's excellent Forever Warranty --- a lifetime, fully-transferrable, no-questions-asked warranty.
Why Do I Need Shotgun Sights?
Modern shotgun ammo holds together well.
The idea that you can’t miss with a shotgun is one of the big myths about this weapon, and it makes me cringe whenever I hear it. You have to aim the gun like any other, and that means using the sights.
Most shotguns come with a simple bead sight. In general, there is nothing wrong with a bead sight. It works fine for buck/birdshot, and it’s effective for slugs out to 100 yards. It’s not perfect, though.
Beads are often quite small, and they can be difficult to see, especially in low light or if you are in a hurry. A bead can work, but they are not the be-all and end-all for shotguns.
The majority of weapons can benefit from upgraded sights, and the shotgun is no different.
Why You Should Trust Pew Pew Tactical
Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike helmed this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. In the middle of his Marine Corps career, he began writing and never stopped. He has thousands of articles to his name with a variety of publications, including Pew Pew Tactical.
Editing and adding to this article is Wyatt Sloan, Jr. Editor. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor with previous experience as a USPSA competitor. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. He has used his extensive experience with firearms at large to test guns for Pew Pew Tactical — evaluating them based on our standards and metrics.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Final Thoughts
Never underestimate the need to aim with a shotgun and the need for good sights. Hopefully, we've given you some decent options whether you're after irons, red dots, or scopes.
Did your favorites make our list? Let us know in the comments below! While you're here, why not check out the Best Shotguns for Home Defense?
Latest Updates
- March 2025: Removed the TacStar Shotgun Sights, Trijicon RE04 sights, EOTech EXPS2, and Bushnell Trophy Shotgun Scope (discontinued). Added the Burris Fullfield E1. Replaced the Burris Fastfire 3 with the SpeedBead version.