FINALLY it happened...

Hemicuda · July 8, 2002, 09:28 AM

I have never been good with a shotgun...

Having spent my youth shooting rifles, and competing succuessfully in Jr. Smallbore matches, I have a largish problem with throwing a gun up and slapping the trigger... I want to "breathe, sight, and squeeze" which is not condusive to breaking flying clays.

Well, Saturday, a friend brought 2 five gallon buckets of homeload trap loads over, picked me up, (made me bring a 12 Ga., I picked my old Fox double-trigger side by side), and took me to a trap/skeet/sporting clays shoot...

first the trap... I went a perfect 25/25 2 times! I have NEVER done this... EVER... (best of 19 or 20 out of 25...)

then I shot the sporting clays... (I have worked the throwers, but not shot, because I SUCK...) not today... I broke every bird they threw... not a miss... me and that old Fox were in tune, I guess...

boy it felt good to actually do well with a shotgun for once...

Edward429451 · July 8, 2002, 09:48 AM

Good going! Last time we took the trap up I did the same thing, not a miss. Dont know what we were shooting, trap, skeet or clays (Think it was skeet), just launching clay pigeons straight away fast. The time before that we went I hit maybe 10 or 12 out of 50 or so that I shot at. Dunno what happened to make my hit ratio increase like that, but I'm not complaining.

bastiat · July 8, 2002, 12:11 PM

It's all your time spend at TFL. Merely browsing the boards has made you a better shooter!

GunGeek · July 8, 2002, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Good going! Last time we took the trap up I did the same thing, not a miss. Dont know what we were shooting, trap, skeet or clays (Think it was skeet), just launching clay pigeons straight away fast.

Away is Trap, IIRC.

Last weekend I did trap and skeet for the first time ever, shot 15 on skeet and 18 on trap. Beat most the guys that invited me there, lol. Hope I get invited again.

I injoyed skeet more myself, but both were tons of fun.

Now I need to buy a new SG for this, all I have is a Mossy 590 with colapsing stock and no choke, not exactly a sporting gun. My get a nova like the one I borrowed to go.

Hemicuda · July 8, 2002, 01:45 PM

there were a buncha people there (few I knew) who were all asking for pointers... I haven't a clue... I'm not that good with a shotgun... it was all luck...

but at least I had a really fun day, and got to feel good about my shotgunning once in my lifetime!

Dave McC · July 8, 2002, 03:05 PM

Don't EVER sell that Fox! Obviously, it fits.

Seriously, sometimes folks just get "In the Zone" and do something like you did.

And, I've know a few folks who can do amazing things with one particular shotgun. It's a combination of fit, form and confidence, IMO.

Nobody can stay there all the time, but with practice and obsessive attention to the Shotgun Senseis here(G),days like this come more often.

Congrats and Mazeltov!!

dfaugh · July 8, 2002, 05:14 PM

There's alot to be said for "fit" as mentioned previously...A shotgun that fits you well, makes it a whole lot easier...Now, I'm just the opposite of you..pretty lethal with a shotgun (any shotgun, used to seem...Could shoot 98 or 99 out of 100, did it once using 4 different shotguns, 3 which I'd never shot before!) However I just flat SUCK with a rifle...SOoo when I shoot anything that resembles a decent group, I get excited

Dave McC · July 9, 2002, 04:59 AM

Guys, a good shot with a rifle can also be a good shotgunner. It's a very different sport tho.And it takes work.

Rifles are shot mostly at things that stand still or move slowly. Shotguns, swung on moving targets.

The big change for me is the trigger. I don't yank shotgun triggers, but use a high speed press. Rifles demand a slower and more controlled press. I can transit from one to the other quickly, but I've had long practice.

Also, shotgun triggers of less than 4 lbs help the transition, My rifle triggers run down to less than 2 lbs.

HTH....

BigG · July 9, 2002, 06:14 AM

Hemicuda · July 9, 2002, 08:56 AM

Dave McC...

my rifles run triggers set at around 2 to 2.25 lbs (I build and shoot custom Mausers)

my shotguns run whatever the factory set them at, since I neither understand nor wish to foul up one of my Boxlock doubles, and the trigger groups on my 870's and mod. 37's seem so damn complicated...

the Fox (I have them in 12, 16, and 20 Ga. now) all seem to run 4 to 4.5 lbs... so that might be why I do better with them...

I was taught to "slap" a shotgun triggger... not to "jerk" it, but kinda a very fast press... which is hard, for someone used to the control needed to shoot rifles and pistols very accurately...

I will now likely sell tyhe Mod. 37's and all but the HD 870 MArine Magnum, as I can see that the double guns fit me better, and I shoot them more naturally...

I am also gonna have the 20 and 16 Ga. Fox's "adjusted" to fit like the 12 Ga. cause obviously, as you pointed out, it FITS me!

strangely enough, the Marine MAg 870 has almost the same LOP, comb drop, and all other measurements as the Fox !2 Ga... (all measurements within .125" +/- of the Fox.)

thanks for the encouragement... I am intending to do alot more shooting with my double guns...

the "light" homeloads my buddy brought were nice too, and I still have a 5 gallon bucket full that he gave me! - they are a "20 ga." charge, with a 12 Ga. shot load, he said... and they sure shoot "mild" on the shoulder, but break "birds" well!

Dave McC · July 10, 2002, 04:30 AM

Hemi, shotgun triggers between 3 and 4 lbs seem to work best for me. That happens to be the range my Model 94 falls into also. The TC ML has a 1 lb, 14 oz trigger. I do NOT recommend that last for general use, but this is a stand gun and I've good trigger discipline. Some of my Lightweight Sporter bench guns in the old days had less than 2 lb triggers also.

A 3-4 lb trigger seems close to ideal for many shotgunners, but few ever pay attention to the weight unless it's extremely light or heavy.

BTW, factory specs on the 870 are 3 1/2-6 lbs, IIRC.

How does your MM shoot for you? Probably pretty good, I surmise.

Good luck with the Foxes, they're wonderful guns.

July 8, 2002, 09:28 AM	#1
Hemicuda Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,757	FINALLY it happened... I have never been good with a shotgun... Having spent my youth shooting rifles, and competing succuessfully in Jr. Smallbore matches, I have a largish problem with throwing a gun up and slapping the trigger... I want to "breathe, sight, and squeeze" which is not condusive to breaking flying clays. Well, Saturday, a friend brought 2 five gallon buckets of homeload trap loads over, picked me up, (made me bring a 12 Ga., I picked my old Fox double-trigger side by side), and took me to a trap/skeet/sporting clays shoot... first the trap... I went a perfect 25/25 2 times! I have NEVER done this... EVER... (best of 19 or 20 out of 25...) then I shot the sporting clays... (I have worked the throwers, but not shot, because I SUCK...) not today... I broke every bird they threw... not a miss... me and that old Fox were in tune, I guess... boy it felt good to actually do well with a shotgun for once... __________________ Hemi. gun and car collector. Rare cars, and rarer guns.

July 8, 2002, 12:11 PM	#3
bastiat Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2001 Posts: 1,771	It's all your time spend at TFL. Merely browsing the boards has made you a better shooter! __________________ Flashbunny.org - Pro-Freedom Propaganda Politically Incorrect & Pro-Gun Stuff To Buy

July 8, 2002, 01:45 PM	#5
Hemicuda Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,757	there were a buncha people there (few I knew) who were all asking for pointers... I haven't a clue... I'm not that good with a shotgun... it was all luck... but at least I had a really fun day, and got to feel good about my shotgunning once in my lifetime! __________________ Hemi. gun and car collector. Rare cars, and rarer guns.

July 8, 2002, 05:14 PM	#7
dfaugh Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,715	There's alot to be said for "fit" as mentioned previously...A shotgun that fits you well, makes it a whole lot easier...Now, I'm just the opposite of you..pretty lethal with a shotgun (any shotgun, used to seem...Could shoot 98 or 99 out of 100, did it once using 4 different shotguns, 3 which I'd never shot before!) However I just flat SUCK with a rifle...SOoo when I shoot anything that resembles a decent group, I get excited __________________ "If you Listen to Fools, the Mob Rules" "No one has the answer, but one thing is true. You'e got to turn on evil, when its coming after you. You've gotta face it down,and when it tries to hide, you've got to go in after it, and never be denied. Time is running out...Let's roll. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for love. We're going after satan, on the wings of a dove. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for truth. Let's not let our children grow up fearful in their youth."

July 9, 2002, 06:14 AM	#9
BigG Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,334	__________________ o "The Earth is degenerating today. Bribery and corruption abound. Children no longer obey their parents, every man wants to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching." Assyrian tablet, c. 2800 BC o "In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain o "They have gun control in Cuba. They have universal health care in Cuba. So why do they want to come here?" Paul Harvey o TODAY WE CARVE OUT OUR OWN OMENS! Leonidas, Thermopylae, 480 BC

July 8, 2002, 09:48 AM	#2
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Good going! Last time we took the trap up I did the same thing, not a miss. Dont know what we were shooting, trap, skeet or clays (Think it was skeet), just launching clay pigeons straight away fast. The time before that we went I hit maybe 10 or 12 out of 50 or so that I shot at. Dunno what happened to make my hit ratio increase like that, but I'm not complaining.

July 8, 2002, 03:05 PM	#6
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Don't EVER sell that Fox! Obviously, it fits. Seriously, sometimes folks just get "In the Zone" and do something like you did. And, I've know a few folks who can do amazing things with one particular shotgun. It's a combination of fit, form and confidence, IMO. Nobody can stay there all the time, but with practice and obsessive attention to the Shotgun Senseis here(G),days like this come more often. Congrats and Mazeltov!!

July 9, 2002, 04:59 AM	#8
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Guys, a good shot with a rifle can also be a good shotgunner. It's a very different sport tho.And it takes work. Rifles are shot mostly at things that stand still or move slowly. Shotguns, swung on moving targets. The big change for me is the trigger. I don't yank shotgun triggers, but use a high speed press. Rifles demand a slower and more controlled press. I can transit from one to the other quickly, but I've had long practice. Also, shotgun triggers of less than 4 lbs help the transition, My rifle triggers run down to less than 2 lbs. HTH....

July 9, 2002, 08:56 AM	#10
Hemicuda Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,757	Dave McC... my rifles run triggers set at around 2 to 2.25 lbs (I build and shoot custom Mausers) my shotguns run whatever the factory set them at, since I neither understand nor wish to foul up one of my Boxlock doubles, and the trigger groups on my 870's and mod. 37's seem so damn complicated... the Fox (I have them in 12, 16, and 20 Ga. now) all seem to run 4 to 4.5 lbs... so that might be why I do better with them... I was taught to "slap" a shotgun triggger... not to "jerk" it, but kinda a very fast press... which is hard, for someone used to the control needed to shoot rifles and pistols very accurately... I will now likely sell tyhe Mod. 37's and all but the HD 870 MArine Magnum, as I can see that the double guns fit me better, and I shoot them more naturally... I am also gonna have the 20 and 16 Ga. Fox's "adjusted" to fit like the 12 Ga. cause obviously, as you pointed out, it FITS me! strangely enough, the Marine MAg 870 has almost the same LOP, comb drop, and all other measurements as the Fox !2 Ga... (all measurements within .125" +/- of the Fox.) thanks for the encouragement... I am intending to do alot more shooting with my double guns... the "light" homeloads my buddy brought were nice too, and I still have a 5 gallon bucket full that he gave me! - they are a "20 ga." charge, with a 12 Ga. shot load, he said... and they sure shoot "mild" on the shoulder, but break "birds" well! __________________ Hemi. gun and car collector. Rare cars, and rarer guns.

July 10, 2002, 04:30 AM	#11
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Hemi, shotgun triggers between 3 and 4 lbs seem to work best for me. That happens to be the range my Model 94 falls into also. The TC ML has a 1 lb, 14 oz trigger. I do NOT recommend that last for general use, but this is a stand gun and I've good trigger discipline. Some of my Lightweight Sporter bench guns in the old days had less than 2 lb triggers also. A 3-4 lb trigger seems close to ideal for many shotgunners, but few ever pay attention to the weight unless it's extremely light or heavy. BTW, factory specs on the 870 are 3 1/2-6 lbs, IIRC. How does your MM shoot for you? Probably pretty good, I surmise. Good luck with the Foxes, they're wonderful guns.