Am I just getting soft?

MDS · August 11, 2010, 10:14 PM

When I shoot slugs or buckshot from my old 870, the slide seems to always slide back to open the breech from recoil. Is my gun in need of a repair? Or am I just getting old and soft. I have a lot of trouble keeping the slide forward.

the rifleer · August 11, 2010, 11:06 PM

Its normal. Its not going to hurt anything, my mossberg does that occasionally. Most pump guns will do that with the heavier loads.

Nnobby45 · August 11, 2010, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Its normal. Its not going to hurt anything, my mossberg does that occasionally. Most pump guns will do that with the heavier loads.
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No MDS, you aren't getting soft. Rifleer is correct, but I'd go a step further.

The momentum from recoil is trying to operate the slide. Help it out! Continue the rearward operation of the slide manually while the gun is in recoil, and then shove the slide forward as the gun comes back on target.

As Louis Awerbuck points out, that's the secret to fast operation of the pump shotgun. Of course, he's a SD instructor. Nothing wrong with using the same priciple for hunting, or skeet.

MDS · August 11, 2010, 11:28 PM

Lol, I don't remember doing this a few years ago. Then again maybe it did....and I just don't remember You know I didn't think of it that way.

mtnman · August 12, 2010, 05:39 AM

My turkey gun does this since I put on a synthetic stock. I think the lighter weight has contributed to the issue. The only time it happens is when firing the heavy turkey loads. I always assumed it was just the recoil from the heavy load.

Nnobby45 · August 12, 2010, 01:00 PM

Well, Mtnman, the lighter gun may very well contribute, since it produces more recoil. As soon as you fire the gun, the action unlocks and the the slide wants to come rearward. The lighter gun/heavier recoil, contributes to the rearward slide momentum. When actions smooth up after use, that can also be a contributing factor.

LOL, It hasn't been easy convincing folks that this can be a good thing. That is: using the guns own rearward momentum to start the slide rearward and using the hand to keep it going. The only real secret there is to fast slide operation--even if you don't need the followup shot, it's ready if you do. Or, once one has learned to do it, it can be done just on demand when followup shots are necessary.

MDS · August 12, 2010, 01:27 PM

Yeah, I'm going to work on that too. I don't know why I didn't look at it as a positve. The simple things sometimes.

August 11, 2010, 10:14 PM	#1
MDS Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 492	Am I just getting soft? When I shoot slugs or buckshot from my old 870, the slide seems to always slide back to open the breech from recoil. Is my gun in need of a repair? Or am I just getting old and soft. I have a lot of trouble keeping the slide forward.

August 11, 2010, 11:06 PM	#2
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	Its normal. Its not going to hurt anything, my mossberg does that occasionally. Most pump guns will do that with the heavier loads. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

August 12, 2010, 01:00 PM	#6
Nnobby45 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2004 Posts: 3,150	Well, Mtnman, the lighter gun may very well contribute, since it produces more recoil. As soon as you fire the gun, the action unlocks and the the slide wants to come rearward. The lighter gun/heavier recoil, contributes to the rearward slide momentum. When actions smooth up after use, that can also be a contributing factor. LOL, It hasn't been easy convincing folks that this can be a good thing. That is: using the guns own rearward momentum to start the slide rearward and using the hand to keep it going. The only real secret there is to fast slide operation--even if you don't need the followup shot, it's ready if you do. Or, once one has learned to do it, it can be done just on demand when followup shots are necessary. Last edited by Nnobby45; August 12, 2010 at 01:07 PM.

August 11, 2010, 11:28 PM	#4
MDS Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 492	Lol, I don't remember doing this a few years ago. Then again maybe it did....and I just don't remember You know I didn't think of it that way.

August 12, 2010, 05:39 AM	#5
mtnman Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Location: WV Posts: 151	My turkey gun does this since I put on a synthetic stock. I think the lighter weight has contributed to the issue. The only time it happens is when firing the heavy turkey loads. I always assumed it was just the recoil from the heavy load.

August 12, 2010, 01:27 PM	#7
MDS Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 492	Yeah, I'm going to work on that too. I don't know why I didn't look at it as a positve. The simple things sometimes.