Red dot mounting on a Super Black Eagle 3 20 ga?

[Steve Rose]

Is the top cover (over the barrel extension) on the SBE 3 20 gauge secure enough, and thick enough, to hold a small red dot sight if the top cover is drilled/tapped for a mount? Think Burris FastFire, RMR, Holosun size sight.

 

 

 

 

[NCswamp13]

I don't see why not, I have a scalarworks mount on my SBE 2 and it's no problem. I can't imagine the 20g is too thin to handle it.

[Steve Rose]

The SBE 3 20ga differ from the 12ga model in that the receiver top cover that slips over the barrel extension is a removable aluminum part (see the picture above). The 12ga barrel extension is one piece and all steel.

[NCswamp13]

It's predrilled and tapped from benelli? 

[DBry]

It is not - the 12 gauge SBE is factory drilled and tapped but the 20 is not. I bought a spare receiver from Midwest Gun Works and planned to have it drilled and tapped by a local gunsmith but it is aluminum and really light/thin so I am skeptical whether it will work.

[NCswamp13]

May I ask what the intended purpose of the shotgun is?

[Steve Rose]

14 minutes ago, NCswamp13 said:

May I ask what the intended purpose of the shotgun is?

Turkey hunters (tight chokes, small patterns) are big fans of a dot sight on their shotgun.

I should have a 20ga SBE in the shop soon to look over.

[GunStuff]

It’s not exactly what you are looking for, but you could always go with a rib mount for your red dot. 
 

https://www.meadowcreekmounts.com

I’ve never used one but I’ve read good things about them. 

[NCswamp13]

20 hours ago, GunStuff said:

It’s not exactly what you are looking for, but you could always go with a rib mount for your red dot. 
 

https://www.meadowcreekmounts.com

I’ve never used one but I’ve read good things about them. 

I was gonna suggest the same thing! Meadow creek makes great stuff.

 

https://youtu.be/p1n6f0HQJbE

Edited February 17, 2023 by NCswamp13

[remarkable]

Steve,

This would be a very risky mount.  The material is very thin, you would not be able to get more than 2 threads taped into the metal thickness, secondly the metal is not ideal for such application.  Finally the replacement cost for a new top cover is not cheap.  The stability of the piece is questionable when assembled.

[Steve Rose]

7 hours ago, remarkable said:

Steve,

This would be a very risky mount.  The material is very thin, you would not be able to get more than 2 threads taped into the metal thickness, secondly the metal is not ideal for such application.  Finally the replacement cost for a new top cover is not cheap.  The stability of the piece is questionable when assembled.

That is the conclusion I've come to also.

I have found one example of a small dot sight being mounted back on the receiver itself, but not much real estate back there for a longer optic base.

 

[NCswamp13]

So the SBE iii 12g isn't tapped from benelli?

[remarkable]

SBE 12 Gauge 3.5 are tapped from Benelli.

[Steve Rose]

10 hours ago, remarkable said:

SBE 12 Gauge 3.5 are tapped from Benelli.

Does the SBE 3 12ga use a similar (removable) top cover piece? Do the optic base tapped holes extend into the actual (steel) barrel extension?

 

[remarkable]

The 3" SBE 3 uses the removable "Top Cover" , the 3.5" SBE 3 has tapped holes..."tapped holes extend into the actual (steel) barrel extension".  The 20 Gauge and 28 Gauge SBE 3 has the removable top plate: