Have you ever had a gun you just didn't shoot well?

Creek Henry · August 16, 2015, 06:30 PM

I took my son to the range today (his first real round of skeet) and I started with my Stevens 512 20ga... and did very poorly with it. So, I switched to me primary dove gun (SX3) and did much better.

But, I have never done well with the Stevens. I never actually purchased the gun but got it in a sort of trade. The gun fits me well and swings fine... it did not shoot to point of aim so I built up the rib quite a bit. Also, as most reviews of the gun say, it is clunky.

Last year I took it to the public dove hunting fields twice; shot a stack of shells and hit only a couple of birds. I do much better with any of my other guns.

So, I have 4 options; a) practice with it more and try to get better with it b) keep it in the safe as a backup gun c) sell/trade it from the gun I really want but could not previously afford (Franchi 20ga SA). D) invest in a new set of high end chokes for it

Any ideas of what the issue with the gun might be? I patterned it and the patterns are not great with any of the chokes so that's not good news either.

Virginian · August 16, 2015, 07:57 PM

Sell it. I have had several along the way that just didn't suit me - including an Auto 5, and they left.

SARuger · August 17, 2015, 04:15 AM

Yes, my 11-87 20g. There is something about that gun that doesn't swing well for me. Its just a field grade gun but still it should fit me like all other Remys do but it doesn't. LOP is the same as my 1100/870 and it patterns good. There just isn't any love between us. I would sell it or trade it but I will loose my but on it. Gander got too much of my money on that one.

Skeets · August 17, 2015, 09:29 AM

Life's short,and the Stevens is a proven dead horse!Thin the herd,get what you want and shoot well.You'll be much happier too!

TomADC · August 17, 2015, 09:59 AM

Many years ago I bought a Ithaca Mdl 37 in 16 ga. that gun never did fit me right and I had to work hard and shooting it well, my beagle hated it, he'd chase up a nice snowshoe and I'd shoot and miss, that dog made me a better shooter. Now this was 48 or so years ago.

zippy13 · August 17, 2015, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Any ideas of what the issue with the gun might be? I patterned it and the patterns are not great with any of the chokes...

You may have answered your own question.
Yes, I've had guns that just didn't want to work with me.

FITASC · August 17, 2015, 12:24 PM

I vote for Option C.............

Creek Henry · August 17, 2015, 06:49 PM

TY for the replies... And sorry that option 3 isn't written in understandable language. I don't type well on this dumb ipad... But I got it for an Xmas bonus so it was worth what I paid for it.

Anyway, I hate being without a double but at least the Affiniti has an adjustable stock! And, maybe I can find a more upscale O/U with a proven track record that I can afford.

FITASC · August 17, 2015, 08:07 PM

A Beretta SP-1 IF it fits you, that will be your best deal under $2K

BigJimP · August 18, 2015, 12:36 PM

Yes, I've had guns that didn't work well for me too ....weight and balance wasn't right ...drop at comb and heel were not right...( so bottom line, they don't fit you )....

Modifying the stock is expensive...so sell it and move on is probably the best bet.

But you need to figure out this "Fit" issue....and what does work for you in terms of stock configurations...so you don't keep repeating the same mistake..

Creek Henry · August 18, 2015, 09:58 PM

That is good advice. I sort of wonder if it could be the shorter barrels... But I am going to give twin modified chokes a chance for dove season and then sell it off.

The patterning that I have done was very inconsistent. The IC pattern at 20 yards was very sparse and the IM put a ragged hole in the center and the rest in a very sparse circle. Mod was not bad and I have 2 of them.

But, barring that set up putting a bunch of birds in my bag, it is a goner.

kozak6 · August 20, 2015, 01:20 AM

Sure. Since you aren't attached to it, sell it and move on.

Grandpa's old H&R 12 gauge doesn't really fit me, and kicks hard enough to be distracting. The fixed full choke doesn't help either.

I don't do terribly well with my Ithaca 37. The fixed full choke doesn't really help on that one either. I can't convince myself to sell it.

My neighbor had a Franchi 12 gauge semiauto. I assumed I just wasn't a shotgunner until I fired it. I was dusting clays left and right, cow pies, golf balls, dirt clods, whatever we could throw. It was night and day.

Louca · August 20, 2015, 12:27 PM

Ok, I gotta weigh in with mine. I have had a Win 101 for years that is a beautiful gun, smooth and well balanced. But for clays and some bird hunting, I do not shoot it well. The reason? It doesn't fit me well. To properly fit me, it needs a bit of cast off and so it tends to shoot to the left. For right to left crossing targets, that's not so bad since it gives me a little more lead. But in left to right crossing targets, I miss more often.

I was about to sell it but now have an invite to do some turkey hunting in Missouri. And since that is more of an aimed shot, I should be able to take the time to insure I am aiming straight, and I think the gun may perform well. So I think I'll keep it a while longer.

Creek Henry · October 19, 2015, 10:36 PM

I caved and traded the O/U for an Affinity. It is def not a gas gun and I love its operating controls. I have a mess of dove in the freezer now too so I am glad I made the trade before the season ended.

samsmix · October 20, 2015, 09:03 AM

Yes, a Remington 1100 12ga with an English style straight stock. Gorgeous gun with gold inlay and fancy wood...with which I could not hit a flock of flying barns.

pete2 · October 20, 2015, 01:33 PM

I've owned a few that didn't work for me. A couple SKB O/U guns, a Stevens S/S, I currently have an 11-87 Trap gun that may just be too heavy for me, I have an 870 Trap gun that I like except for recoil, I thought the 11-87 would kill 2 birds, less recoil and easier for doubles. I may just go back to the 870 and forget doubles. Sometimes you can make a gun fit, you can adapt a little bit, practice a lot. Prolly best to get rid of it.

lockedcj7 · October 23, 2015, 08:00 PM

I love the Benelli M1 super 90 and I've owned a few. I couldn't hit worth a darn with any of them, as much as I wanted to. The club-like 11-87 fits me and I can hit virtually anything I swing on as long as I don't think too much about it.

HiBC · October 28, 2015, 06:40 AM

Yup.
I bought a beautiful Philadelphia Fox Sterlingworth SXS 12 ga.(I loved the shotgun) Pure old school beauty American double gun.

I just missed a lot.

The only thing that made selling it OK was I sold it to a good friend who knew what it was and appreciated it.

I had an Ithaca SKB 20 ga that was pretty much the same story.Nice little double,SXS.
I do love SXS doubles.
I've never really been fascinated with O/U's,but I used a friend's Berretta for a day of pheasant hunting.It worked!!
I bought a 686 Essential.Thats my bird gun

Orion6 · October 28, 2015, 09:43 AM

For some reason, I can't hit a thing with an 870. Maybe it's just mental at this point, but I can't.

I shoot a Mossberg 500 better than any other shotgun. Not at all saying that the 500 is better than the 870, it just shoots better for me.

I've also had a couple of rifles that were dogs (and shouldn't have been). Had a really nice Savage 7mm08 that I could never get shooting less than 2-3 MOA. The rifle was super nice and had a nice, blued finish. Had the Accu-trigger and everything, just wouldn't shoot with 4-5 different kinds of ammo. Really disappointing.

August 16, 2015, 06:30 PM	#1
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	Have you ever had a gun you just didn't shoot well? I took my son to the range today (his first real round of skeet) and I started with my Stevens 512 20ga... and did very poorly with it. So, I switched to me primary dove gun (SX3) and did much better. But, I have never done well with the Stevens. I never actually purchased the gun but got it in a sort of trade. The gun fits me well and swings fine... it did not shoot to point of aim so I built up the rib quite a bit. Also, as most reviews of the gun say, it is clunky. Last year I took it to the public dove hunting fields twice; shot a stack of shells and hit only a couple of birds. I do much better with any of my other guns. So, I have 4 options; a) practice with it more and try to get better with it b) keep it in the safe as a backup gun c) sell/trade it from the gun I really want but could not previously afford (Franchi 20ga SA). D) invest in a new set of high end chokes for it Any ideas of what the issue with the gun might be? I patterned it and the patterns are not great with any of the chokes so that's not good news either.

August 16, 2015, 07:57 PM	#2
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	Sell it. I have had several along the way that just didn't suit me - including an Auto 5, and they left. __________________ What could have happened... did.

August 17, 2015, 09:29 AM	#4
Skeets Member in memoriam Join Date: April 6, 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 583	Life's short,and the Stevens is a proven dead horse!Thin the herd,get what you want and shoot well.You'll be much happier too! __________________ Skeets "Over Kill Never Fails"

August 17, 2015, 09:59 AM	#5
TomADC Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: San Diego County Posts: 795	Many years ago I bought a Ithaca Mdl 37 in 16 ga. that gun never did fit me right and I had to work hard and shooting it well, my beagle hated it, he'd chase up a nice snowshoe and I'd shoot and miss, that dog made me a better shooter. Now this was 48 or so years ago. __________________ US Navy Retired,NRA Life Member,SASS member, Time magazine's Person of the Year 2006!

August 17, 2015, 12:24 PM	#7
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	I vote for Option C............. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

August 17, 2015, 04:15 AM	#3
SARuger Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2014 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 954	Yes, my 11-87 20g. There is something about that gun that doesn't swing well for me. Its just a field grade gun but still it should fit me like all other Remys do but it doesn't. LOP is the same as my 1100/870 and it patterns good. There just isn't any love between us. I would sell it or trade it but I will loose my but on it. Gander got too much of my money on that one.

August 17, 2015, 06:49 PM	#8
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	Ugh TY for the replies... And sorry that option 3 isn't written in understandable language. I don't type well on this dumb ipad... But I got it for an Xmas bonus so it was worth what I paid for it. Anyway, I hate being without a double but at least the Affiniti has an adjustable stock! And, maybe I can find a more upscale O/U with a proven track record that I can afford.

August 17, 2015, 08:07 PM	#9
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	A Beretta SP-1 IF it fits you, that will be your best deal under $2K __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

August 18, 2015, 12:36 PM	#10
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Yes, I've had guns that didn't work well for me too ....weight and balance wasn't right ...drop at comb and heel were not right...( so bottom line, they don't fit you ).... Modifying the stock is expensive...so sell it and move on is probably the best bet. But you need to figure out this "Fit" issue....and what does work for you in terms of stock configurations...so you don't keep repeating the same mistake..

August 18, 2015, 09:58 PM	#11
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	That is good advice. I sort of wonder if it could be the shorter barrels... But I am going to give twin modified chokes a chance for dove season and then sell it off. The patterning that I have done was very inconsistent. The IC pattern at 20 yards was very sparse and the IM put a ragged hole in the center and the rest in a very sparse circle. Mod was not bad and I have 2 of them. But, barring that set up putting a bunch of birds in my bag, it is a goner.

August 20, 2015, 01:20 AM	#12
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	Sure. Since you aren't attached to it, sell it and move on. Grandpa's old H&R 12 gauge doesn't really fit me, and kicks hard enough to be distracting. The fixed full choke doesn't help either. I don't do terribly well with my Ithaca 37. The fixed full choke doesn't really help on that one either. I can't convince myself to sell it. My neighbor had a Franchi 12 gauge semiauto. I assumed I just wasn't a shotgunner until I fired it. I was dusting clays left and right, cow pies, golf balls, dirt clods, whatever we could throw. It was night and day.

August 20, 2015, 12:27 PM	#13
Louca Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 231	Ok, I gotta weigh in with mine. I have had a Win 101 for years that is a beautiful gun, smooth and well balanced. But for clays and some bird hunting, I do not shoot it well. The reason? It doesn't fit me well. To properly fit me, it needs a bit of cast off and so it tends to shoot to the left. For right to left crossing targets, that's not so bad since it gives me a little more lead. But in left to right crossing targets, I miss more often. I was about to sell it but now have an invite to do some turkey hunting in Missouri. And since that is more of an aimed shot, I should be able to take the time to insure I am aiming straight, and I think the gun may perform well. So I think I'll keep it a while longer. Last edited by Louca; August 20, 2015 at 08:53 PM.

October 19, 2015, 10:36 PM	#14
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	I caved and traded the O/U for an Affinity. It is def not a gas gun and I love its operating controls. I have a mess of dove in the freezer now too so I am glad I made the trade before the season ended.

October 20, 2015, 09:03 AM	#15
samsmix Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2006 Location: Montana (Montucky?) Posts: 1,273	Yes, a Remington 1100 12ga with an English style straight stock. Gorgeous gun with gold inlay and fancy wood...with which I could not hit a flock of flying barns. __________________ You'll probably never NEED a gun. I hope you never do. But IF you do, you will need it worse than anything you've ever needed in your life. IF we're not supposed to eat animals, howcome God made 'em outta meat?

October 20, 2015, 01:33 PM	#16
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	I've owned a few that didn't work for me. A couple SKB O/U guns, a Stevens S/S, I currently have an 11-87 Trap gun that may just be too heavy for me, I have an 870 Trap gun that I like except for recoil, I thought the 11-87 would kill 2 birds, less recoil and easier for doubles. I may just go back to the 870 and forget doubles. Sometimes you can make a gun fit, you can adapt a little bit, practice a lot. Prolly best to get rid of it.

October 23, 2015, 08:00 PM	#17
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	I love the Benelli M1 super 90 and I've owned a few. I couldn't hit worth a darn with any of them, as much as I wanted to. The club-like 11-87 fits me and I can hit virtually anything I swing on as long as I don't think too much about it. __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence.

October 28, 2015, 06:40 AM	#18
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,287	Yup. I bought a beautiful Philadelphia Fox Sterlingworth SXS 12 ga.(I loved the shotgun) Pure old school beauty American double gun. I just missed a lot. The only thing that made selling it OK was I sold it to a good friend who knew what it was and appreciated it. I had an Ithaca SKB 20 ga that was pretty much the same story.Nice little double,SXS. I do love SXS doubles. I've never really been fascinated with O/U's,but I used a friend's Berretta for a day of pheasant hunting.It worked!! I bought a 686 Essential.Thats my bird gun

October 28, 2015, 09:43 AM	#19
Orion6 Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 340	For some reason, I can't hit a thing with an 870. Maybe it's just mental at this point, but I can't. I shoot a Mossberg 500 better than any other shotgun. Not at all saying that the 500 is better than the 870, it just shoots better for me. I've also had a couple of rifles that were dogs (and shouldn't have been). Had a really nice Savage 7mm08 that I could never get shooting less than 2-3 MOA. The rifle was super nice and had a nice, blued finish. Had the Accu-trigger and everything, just wouldn't shoot with 4-5 different kinds of ammo. Really disappointing.