Can a pump guy be as good as a semiauto guy? - Page 2

Dave McC · January 27, 2011, 09:21 AM

Rudy Etchen owned lots of shotguns, up to bespoke Purdeys. He shot 870s for the most part and set a few records with them. That includes some 100 straights in trap doubles.

I love my 870s. The combination of reliability, flexibility and ergos is hard to beat. Still, on the clays range I score a little better with my O/Us. In the field on moving food, it's a wash.

clayman · January 27, 2011, 10:48 PM

The beretta 391 has been used to win more shootoff's, by pro shooters than any other gun. Seeing as most shootoffs are on a make-a-break field, why would they restrict themselves to only one choke???!!??

the rifleer · January 28, 2011, 12:01 AM

Pump guys can be BETTER than semi auto guys. I can shoot 4 hand thrown clays with a pump action mossberg 500 20 gauge. A lot of guys can't do that with a semi-auto 12 gauge.

Like anything, its all about practice. There's a guy at my local club that has a very nice O/U that costs $9,000. I paid $220 for my mossberg and I shoot just as well as he does. Its all about practice.

jmortimer · January 28, 2011, 12:41 AM

Patrick Flanigan set new world record of 7 hand thrown clay targets on
10-22-10 with Mossberg 500 but his current world record with a semi-auto from his old sponser using Winchester SX3 is 11 hand thrown clay targets which shows the huge advantage of a semi-auto. Also, set record of 12 shots in 1.42 seconds with same SX3. I will be interested to see if he can run the 930 at same rate as SX3 I doubt it but it would be nice to see a $600.00 gun perform as well as or better than the $1,200.00 gun.

.300 Weatherby Mag · January 28, 2011, 01:08 AM

I will not disagree that an o/u is a better option for the different clay disciplines... But I find myself taking pumps into the field as they are more of a challenge and they make me think... There is nothing better than dropping a bird each time you pull the trigger and cycle that action... The first time I did it with an 870 was 3 shots and 3 down birds... I get a lot of satisfaction out of doing a double with o/u or sxs but its nothing like doing a triple with a pump... I've hunted with a semi and honestly, its too easy... My 1100 with skeet choke might was well be an AAA gun with thermal tracking... Don't think for a second I don't like beating the pants off someone in the field while shooting my .410 870 while they are shooting a 12 gauge autoloader...

BarkeyVA · January 28, 2011, 07:06 AM

jmortimer,

Sounds like Flanigan MATCHED the record of 7 hand-thrown clays with a pump since Herb Parsons did it 60 years ago with his Model 12. However, perhaps it was the first time anyone had done it with a Mossberg 500.

jmortimer · January 28, 2011, 09:25 AM

I did not know that. It is listed as a "record" for hand thrown clay targets on Flanigan's web site. Parsons must have been great to watch as I know Flanigan is.

BarkeyVA · January 28, 2011, 10:28 AM

chas08 posted this Youtube video of Herb Parsons breaking 7 hand thrown targets with his model 12 on The High Road, Shotguns forum. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu9-D9KqR4k. Watching the YouTube video, it appears that Herb broke the 7 clays in a little over 2 seconds.

I think it is from the original 25 minute video entitled, The Showman Shooter that was filmed in 1954 or 1955 and may still be is available on the web site Showman Shooter. http://showmanshooter.com/

January 28, 2011, 12:01 AM	#28
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	Pump guys can be BETTER than semi auto guys. I can shoot 4 hand thrown clays with a pump action mossberg 500 20 gauge. A lot of guys can't do that with a semi-auto 12 gauge. Like anything, its all about practice. There's a guy at my local club that has a very nice O/U that costs $9,000. I paid $220 for my mossberg and I shoot just as well as he does. Its all about practice. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

January 28, 2011, 10:28 AM	#33
BarkeyVA Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2008 Location: Southeastern Virginia Posts: 123	chas08 posted this Youtube video of Herb Parsons breaking 7 hand thrown targets with his model 12 on The High Road, Shotguns forum. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu9-D9KqR4k. Watching the YouTube video, it appears that Herb broke the 7 clays in a little over 2 seconds. I think it is from the original 25 minute video entitled, The Showman Shooter that was filmed in 1954 or 1955 and may still be is available on the web site Showman Shooter. http://showmanshooter.com/ Last edited by BarkeyVA; January 28, 2011 at 10:37 AM.

January 27, 2011, 09:21 AM	#26
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Rudy Etchen owned lots of shotguns, up to bespoke Purdeys. He shot 870s for the most part and set a few records with them. That includes some 100 straights in trap doubles. I love my 870s. The combination of reliability, flexibility and ergos is hard to beat. Still, on the clays range I score a little better with my O/Us. In the field on moving food, it's a wash.

January 27, 2011, 10:48 PM	#27
clayman Member Join Date: December 3, 2010 Posts: 15	The beretta 391 has been used to win more shootoff's, by pro shooters than any other gun. Seeing as most shootoffs are on a make-a-break field, why would they restrict themselves to only one choke???!!??

January 28, 2011, 12:41 AM	#29
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	Patrick Flanigan set new world record of 7 hand thrown clay targets on 10-22-10 with Mossberg 500 but his current world record with a semi-auto from his old sponser using Winchester SX3 is 11 hand thrown clay targets which shows the huge advantage of a semi-auto. Also, set record of 12 shots in 1.42 seconds with same SX3. I will be interested to see if he can run the 930 at same rate as SX3 I doubt it but it would be nice to see a $600.00 gun perform as well as or better than the $1,200.00 gun.

January 28, 2011, 01:08 AM	#30
.300 Weatherby Mag Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2008 Posts: 1,777	I will not disagree that an o/u is a better option for the different clay disciplines... But I find myself taking pumps into the field as they are more of a challenge and they make me think... There is nothing better than dropping a bird each time you pull the trigger and cycle that action... The first time I did it with an 870 was 3 shots and 3 down birds... I get a lot of satisfaction out of doing a double with o/u or sxs but its nothing like doing a triple with a pump... I've hunted with a semi and honestly, its too easy... My 1100 with skeet choke might was well be an AAA gun with thermal tracking... Don't think for a second I don't like beating the pants off someone in the field while shooting my .410 870 while they are shooting a 12 gauge autoloader...

January 28, 2011, 07:06 AM	#31
BarkeyVA Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2008 Location: Southeastern Virginia Posts: 123	jmortimer, Sounds like Flanigan MATCHED the record of 7 hand-thrown clays with a pump since Herb Parsons did it 60 years ago with his Model 12. However, perhaps it was the first time anyone had done it with a Mossberg 500.

January 28, 2011, 09:25 AM	#32
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	I did not know that. It is listed as a "record" for hand thrown clay targets on Flanigan's web site. Parsons must have been great to watch as I know Flanigan is.