Shotgun challanged in 3 gun

[SSgt82-02]

Well I've been attempting to shoot 3gun for awhile now and I'm providing entertainment for anybody watching when I pickup my 870. Heck I used to be a small arms instructor in the Corps but I always avoided shotguns. Now I find myself feeling like Forrest Gump when I put away the AR or pistol and start having to use a scattergun. Should I get some dummy rounds and just practice reloading and pumping (one day I'll get an autoloader) or will this improve with time. I'll be at FB3G next month trying not to get DQ'd.

SDD (Shotgun Deficit Disorder)

Semper Fi

Edited November 8, 2010 by SSgt82-02

[mwx40x40]

Practice your reloads and only pump as fast as you can hit. For what it is worth you may want to practice running your SG from the prone position. Working a pump prone can be interesting. Also make sure your holster will retain your pistol while going prone.Last year FB3G had us shooting SG prone and it proved more than interesting for some.

[Jadeslade]

I'm not sure where that prone shotgun stage was, but if you haven't done a lot of 3 gun matches, walk through it. 870's are great. For some things. For 3 gun they are difficult. You probably need another shotgun if you really want to do 3gun. If you just do the occasional match, its ok. Lots of videos of good shotgun work. PanAm match this year. Rob Romero (Noveske) at Ft. Benning. Lots of others. The fastest guys I have ever seen are Mike Voight and Jerry Miculek. Both have some real good videos and DVD's. DVC

[SSgt82-02]

Thanks guys, I'll try the prome and side prone as well just in case. There's a lot of slugs to shoot at FB3G this year so anything is possiable. I've tested my holster and have it where I can run and it won't fall out, I've watched too many shooters trying to keep their hands on their pistols while moving. I want to go to a semi-auto shotgun but I'm kid poor right now, one in college and the 16 yr old is shooting matches with me. (FB3G expenses X2) I need to change my stock which is a 12" pull and I want to go to a 14" should I go to a standard or a pistol grip stock?

Semper Fi

[mark carr]

Some pistol grips stock fill pretty good but I have shot a 1100 with a trap stock for 20 yrs maybe not perfect but you can get used to it with some practice.

[oak hill]

Take the mag extension or cap off and just practice reloads dry. Keep pushing shells through and you will get smoother. It takes far longer to load the shotgun gun than it does to unload (by firing), so practice loading. It's cheap also, doesn't cost any more than dry fire :-)

[Tom D.]

FYI, Brownells sells Remington dummy shells which are perfect for reload practice. Haven't worn mine out yet but am working on it!

[AlamoShooter]

Don't get in a big hurry to change your stock. try it with a jacket on and see if you still want to change it.

All the cash we spend to shoot and attend matches , the guns are the least expensive part of the game. Get the best you can.

I have shot a bunch of clays and I like shotgun, But I have never found much Joy in a pump gun.

I don't know much , but I think the Pump gun craze has more to do with Ego and not so much the pleaser of the shooting. = I will get razed big time for saying that 'from the ego crowd'

If I had stuck with a pump gun years agooo ,....I would still have your SDD = finding a gun that is easier to shoot will help your learning curve, and thin going to pump gun will not be so hard. Hard thats rite, . a pump gun can be hard compared to a nice auto.

Edited November 15, 2010 by AlamoShooter

[HRider]

I grew up hunting with an 870. I still have it and an old police trade in 870 for a house gun. They are good guns but require more effort to master reloading quickly in my experience (the loading port is small with sharp edges and the carrier shape tends to make shells push off to one side or the other).

Get some dummy rounds, if you know anyone that loads shotgun shells get them to make 10 dummys for you. Just be sure to pick a color shell that you NEVER will have any live rounds the same color. Have them leave the spent primer in place and put tumbling media in place of the powder. You can use a soldering iron to seal the crimp and these dummies will last a long time.

Use the dummy rounds to find out which reloading method works best for you, then practice it for 15-30 minutes a day. Start slowly to develope good muscle memory (throwing handfulls of shells all over the room fast doesn't help your game) and work on the speed gradually. It won't take long and you will be confident with the shotgun.(You will be looking forward to those 30 round shotgun stages).

Hurley

[TLD]

I started with an 870 in skeet and sporting clays. You can learn to pump it fast enough for those games, but it'll never be faster than an auto or two shooter. Auto is the way to go ultimately, but you can have lots of fun with the 870.

[EkuJustice]

I would go with a longer stock as they can be had quite cheap. 12 inchs really is way to short for a shotgun stock for a normal sized adult unless your wearing heavy body armor. Even then 12 inch could be a little short

[twikster]

I've always wondered why anyone bothers with the shotgun for combat combo matches? You can't carry both a rifle and a shotgun, and the rifle is far more versatile, so it must have been someone who was looking to make money off of the shotgun shooting that got it included in the matches!

[treefarmer]

Thanks guys, I'll try the prome and side prone as well just in case. There's a lot of slugs to shoot at FB3G this year so anything is possiable. I've tested my holster and have it where I can run and it won't fall out, I've watched too many shooters trying to keep their hands on their pistols while moving. I want to go to a semi-auto shotgun but I'm kid poor right now, one in college and the 16 yr old is shooting matches with me. (FB3G expenses X2) I need to change my stock which is a 12" pull and I want to go to a 14" should I go to a standard or a pistol grip stock?

Semper Fi

I shot my 1100 several years, as it came from the factory, i changed to a thumbhole stock the first of this year.Best move i've ever made, wish i had switched a long time ago! it is a rem. replacement. look at the other shotguns where you shoot, ask to shoot them ,to see how they feel, then you can make a more informed decision.

[oak hill]

Thanks guys, I'll try the prome and side prone as well just in case. There's a lot of slugs to shoot at FB3G this year so anything is possiable. I've tested my holster and have it where I can run and it won't fall out, I've watched too many shooters trying to keep their hands on their pistols while moving. I want to go to a semi-auto shotgun but I'm kid poor right now, one in college and the 16 yr old is shooting matches with me. (FB3G expenses X2) I need to change my stock which is a 12" pull and I want to go to a 14" should I go to a standard or a pistol grip stock?

Semper Fi

I shot my 1100 several years, as it came from the factory, i changed to a thumbhole stock the first of this year.Best move i've ever made, wish i had switched a long time ago! it is a rem. replacement. look at the other shotguns where you shoot, ask to shoot them ,to see how they feel, then you can make a more informed decision.

How do you reload the shotgun?

[Remington4Life]

I've always wondered why anyone bothers with the shotgun for combat combo matches? You can't carry both a rifle and a shotgun, and the rifle is far more versatile, so it must have been someone who was looking to make money off of the shotgun shooting that got it included in the matches!

The shotgun is the most versatile gun of the 3. There are just as many who enjoy shotgun as rifle. It was probably someone who owned all 3 guns and wanted to be good with them all

[pjb45]

I thought Fleet Marines carried shotguns!

[SSgt82-02]

The Corps still uses shotguns, they are using the M4 Benelli and the Mossberg 590. They are very good for house to house, a blast of full house 00 buck will get the job done at close range. I borrowed a 590A1 with ghost ring sights to shoot at FB3G. Now I didn't have any blazing times but I did manage to outshoot some of the guys with semis on some parts of the shotgun stages due to their guns malfunctioning or loading issues. Yes, we did have to shoot from the prone in the tunnel on stage 4. I shot left and right handed because it was easier than rolling over. I'm still looking for a semi-auto, haven't decided yet on brand. I did manage to master the weak hand 4 round reload before FB3G without dropping any rounds. (I didn't say I was fast at it.)

Semper Fi,

[djeffers]

My two cents.....

I love my Benelli M2. I couldn't imagine wanting to shoot anything else. But, if I were you I would try to shoot a M2, 1100, or FNH SLP and see which one you like. Locally, a couple of good shooters (better than me anyway) have moved from 1100's to the FNH SLP.

[JMIS]

I have an 1100 and a SLP. The SLP feels alot lighter on the recoil for me. Both are still great

[Mike Morcillo]

I've been shooting a Remington 1100 for years. Had the barrel shorted to 22", forcing cone lengthed, side saddle. Use the Improved Cylinder choke for most stages. Put a speed ramp to help get the shells into the mag tube and HI-Viz front sight. The guns fits me, so I'm happy with it. I do spend a lot of time practicing reloading from the belt tray, cause there's a whole lot of time to save there. Made my own practice shells by loading 1oz of shot and covered the crimp with a piece of paper towel to keep the beads from dropping out.

[Johnny Kalasnakov]

if you can operate AK get a Saiga 12... same operation just 12 guage shotgun... no more loading single rounds just mag or drums...

[BigBets]

The 870 is the american shotgun...that being said I think using it in 3 gun puts you at a distinct disadvantage against a benelli or 1100 guy...now to just go have fun.. wear it out