As I have been discussing I shot the Purdey pigeon gun Saturday at some wobble trap. Now the previous owner had made some modifications to the gun to make it more of a competition gun. Made the safety a non automatic safe but he also removed the center and front bead from the barrel.
When I was shooting it I immediately noticed that I was not aiming the gun using the front bead but was focusing entirely on the target.
It was an eye opening experience to say the least.
Being right handed and left eye dominate I usually focus my right eye on the front bead to track and shoot the target. But with no sight bead to focus on I was looking totaly at the target.
It was something I have never experienced as all my previous guns have the front bead.
Has others used a gun with out a bead?

I once was shooting trap in a competition with my model 12, when after about 10 targets the front bead came off. I shot the remaining 90 targets without it and scored a 94
which was pretty good especially since I shoot with only one eye open and usually focus on the bead.

You've just stumbled upon the key ingredient to good wingshooting, Mike. Congratulations!

My SC gun, a Kolar Max Lite, has no front bead. I can go with or without one, but I have become accustomed to going without a front bead on clays. My field guns still have one.
JR

It's more of a personal issue, IMO. Excellent shooting can be done without a bead, obviously. I still prefer two beads on my comp guns, not because I need them to aim, but because part of my pre-shot routine involves looking AT both beads immediately after premounting to confirm a perfect mount. It's just a personal quirk in my routine, that I do before every shot. And, it works for me by instilling confidence that the "the world is right" just before I say "Pull!".

Once I confirm the perfect alignment of the beads laterally, and see them sitting "on top of each other", I never notice them again consciously. I'm totally focused on the bird.

My hunting guns are not mounted until the second before the shot, so it's entirely different with them.

I’ve never been a bead checker. I shoot a lot of FITASC and low gun so bead alignment doesn’t come into play.