Mid Bead...Rhyme or Reason

[Autumn Daze]

Being that it has been raining for three days here in New England and my ark is in the shop I thought I would throw this out to you guys to ponder.

I took six guns that are equipped with twin beads out of the safe and measured mid bead location. And guess what.. I can,t come up with any rhyme or reason to where they are located. What do ya'll think?

VH 20ga. 14 1/4" LOP 1 3/4"DAC 3"DAH 30" barrels mid bead 15" from muzzle(now that seems to make sense)

DH 12 ga. 14 1/4"LOP 1 7/8"DAC 3"DAH 26" barrels mid bead 13 1/2"from muzzle

GHE 16ga.13 7/8"LOP 1 3/4"DAC 2 7/8"DAH 30" barrels mid bead 14 1/2" from muzzle

BH 12ga. 14 1/4" LOP 1 3/4"DAC 2 3/4"DAH 30" barrels mid bead 13 3/4" from muzzle

VHE 12ga.vent rib 14 3/4"LOP 1 1/2"DAC 2 1/2"DAH 32" inch barrels mid bead 18 3/8" from muzzle

DHE 12 gauge vent rib 14"LOP 1 1/2"DAC 2"DAH 32" barrels mid bead 14 1/2" from muzzle

So there you have it.One gun has the bead dead center in the barrel length.Two guns with the mid bead more than half the barrel length.And three guns with the mid bead less than half the barrel length.All are measured from the muzzles and all guns if it makes any difference are pistol grip guns.

[Labowner]

Dave, if the bead is moved toward muzzle or back toward breech it will change point of impact if using the figure eight, small bead under front bead, could it be customer request, please make gun shoot half pattern high?

[Dean Romig]

We all banged this around on the old forum about three years ago and data and opinions at that time were inconclusive. Bob's thoughts on POI make sense and I don't recall anyone tossing that idea out before. The diameter of the mid bead might have something to do with placement too.

[Autumn Daze]

Bob's ideas seem to make sense. With the exception of the vent rib guns these are I would think pretty much built for stock guns.Here's a thought: On guns with twin beads.The gun was targetted and then the center bead was marked for position depending on where they wanted the gun to shoot.I really don't knoe if the brothers P would go through the extra work.After all wouldn,t stock dimensions overide a bead?

[Old and Reliable]

The only double I have with the mid-rib bead is the 1908 PH 16 with 26" twist barrels. It is same in color and configuration as the larger front one (yellowed ivory??)- why a mid bead on a field gun, your guess is as good as anyone else!

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

After all wouldn,t stock dimensions overide a bead?

Not necessarily Dave. Generally speaking, the mid bead was/is the child of the competition trap and skeet shooter for more precise line-up on the target and they would usually make sure the stock fit their gun mounting dimensions first - then I would think the mid bead was added for that extra insurance. JMHO of course,

[Autumn Daze]

Dean,I agree and on my target guns I line up my beads and then shift my gaze to the target but we all know that to look at the bead is to miss the bird/target.

Francis,Two beads the same size? I don't recall ever seeing that.

[George Blair]

Dave now that you have your tape out, see how close the mid beads are to 25 3/4" from the heel of the stock. That's the only common denominator I can find with a 28" Trojan and a 30" GH.

[Dean Romig]

Francis, a mid bead on a field gun may have been added by someone who shot trap or skeet and simply became accustomed to twin beads on his gun. Then again, missing the target is rarely the fault of the gun - most shooters know this deep down inside even if they don't verbalize it - and once again, the mid bead, even on a field gun, was usually added for that "extra insurance".

Dave, you're certainly right about that! Concentrate on the target and let instinct do the rest.

[SXS OHIO]

I always thought is was a delux option...strickly cosmetic? I have a VH 20 field gun with twin ivories...it has lots of drop in the stock 2-7/8" I have to mount this gun loosly in order to see the top of the rib and sight down it. I do not think the mid bead does anything for aiming? The eye is on the target and the muzzle is a fuzz in the background. Modern pumps and autos have twin beads....how do they explain ther use or reason for being there?...One thought is way back in the day a single gun did all the work for hunting, they did not own multiple guns like we have now. Lots of old timers used the double gun to hunt deer with buckshot. squirrels sitting on a limb may need this type of sight alingment? just a thought.... SXS ohio....(-: