SayUncle I’ve been thinking about a wheelgun:
MAGAZINES ARE NOT ALWAYS 100% RELIABLE!
Actually, I went out and bought a short-barreled revolver for home defense several years ago, and I've never been attacked in my home. This proves the defensive capabilities of a Stubby, Right?
No. It proves nothing. I never 'expected' to suffer a home invasion (I have nothing worth stealing .. everybody knows that) and the proposition that having a gun in the home prevents robberies is .. not really real.
I just wanted to have a reliable firearm in my home,
And the 1911 just doesn't get it because ... magazine spring.
Magazines, and .... RESTING!
Showing posts with label shotgun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shotgun. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Try Shotgunning shoot down an airplane?
The Smallest Minority: THIS Might Make Me Want to Try Shotgunning
Kevin at TSM presented a truly different kind of shotgun sport. I'm impressed!
I'd go to that kind of a shoot even though I doubt I could "do well" with it.
That looks like a LOT of fun! I haven't seen that many shooters laugh since ..... well, since my last USPSA Match!
Kevin at TSM presented a truly different kind of shotgun sport. I'm impressed!
I'd go to that kind of a shoot even though I doubt I could "do well" with it.
That looks like a LOT of fun! I haven't seen that many shooters laugh since ..... well, since my last USPSA Match!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
AA-12
The Hobo Brasser point-shoots this video depicting a new design of full-auto shotgun. "It's the only large-bore weapon that's designed this way" That is to say, the recoil is 'totally' absorbed by the mechanism, which aids in accuracy
This video is available on YouTube here, where you can find other video demonstrations.
Most impressive is the "AA-12 Part 2" video, which shows men shooting the gun on full-auto without benefit of a shoulder-to-gun connection.
Yes, the videos show that the recoil does not cause the muzzle to rise, as is the case of ALL other full-auto weapons.
But as I watched the first minute of the original video, I noticed some dramatic misses ... usually UNDER the target, which suggests that the shooter was overcompensating for a non-existant muzzle rize.
The gun, when fired in semi-automatic mode, is capable of adequate ... even extreme ... accuracy, if the claims are to be believed. ("One hundred seventy five yard accurate fire", "You can put 12 rounds through a window at 100 yards in four seconds".)
Still, most people shooting a full-auto weapon WILL miss their target a significant percent of the time.
Why?
Because we get all excited when shooting full-auto, even if there is NO recoil-induced muzzle movement. We get so caught up with shooting a lot of ammo in a short time, we viscerally forget that the purpose of the exercise is to put the shot on the target, and then index to the next target.
This gun is (as is mentioned in the video) superbly qualified for certain specific missions. Case in point: "Clearing a room in an urban setting." I do admit that 'a lot' of 12-gauge shotgun rounds in a closed room is extremely intimidating, if not always effective. However, I'm not convinced that a full-auto shotgun is a military weapon whose time has come ....
... flashback: Viet Nam, 1969.
Dude, this would have been SO useful for point-men in a "search and destroy" mission. The problem has ever been that when you walk into an ambush, the only thing the point-men could do was lay down such a heavy base of fire that it would momentarily suppress incoming fire long enough to bail out of the kill-zone and allow your following squad, platoon or company to react to an 'instant ambush'.
Either that, or lay down to avoid being hit by enemy fire.l
Either that, or die.
Sometimes, hitting the target is not the only purpose of firing on an aggressor.
Sometimes, the best you can do is to so intimidate the enemy that they drop their volume of fire so you can escape the kill-zone.
I'm still not convinced that this new weapon is as effective as it is advertised to be in terms of lethal force.
But I am convinced that it has a certain level of effectiveness in terms of suppressing enemy fire.
In certain narrowly defined situations, it can bring a quantity of fire to bear with the effect of allowing elements of the advance party to egress an unsurvivable situation.
That alone is worth the price of admission.
Monday, July 16, 2007
R&R Racing - Match Results
To those of you among the 62 competitors in this most excellent match ... congratulations! Chauncey Gardener gives you the greatest possible accolade.
You were fun to watch!
The results are available on the "NW Challenge Home" page (although by match day, it had been changed to the "R&R Racing Multigun" match.)
Here's a quick summary for those of you who hate to click on links:
OVERALL AGGREGATE: Top Ten
Robert Johnson
Top Tactical Iron Sights (TI):
Kirk Jameson
Top Tactical Optical (TO):
Taran Butler
Top Heavy Metal (HM):
Phil Brodahl
STAGES:
FeedBack:
If you shot the match, I strongly encourage you to join competitor Joe Durnbaugh in contribution to the Feed-Back Page for this match. (This is a feature you won't see at most IPSC/USPSA matches.)
Impressions:
The most visually interesting stage (from the viewpoint of the spectator) was Stage 7: "Breaching Doors". Hands down, no contest, this was a blast to watch. I've already posted videos of Taran Butler, Chuck Anderson and Beven Grams in the article "Super-Size It", and the Klein boys (Grandfather Jeff, son Jason and grandson Jacob) in "The Klein Family". I'm always pleased to see evidence that this is indeed a Family Sport, but when you get three generations in one squad it's something between A Real Treat To Watch and an affirmation of my personal bias.
There's more than one reason why I didn't get film of Stage 8: "Crazy Zebras". I hated that stage when I first shot it as a pistol-only stage in the 2005 Crazy Croc Match, and I admit I didn't make any special effort to find a squad on the stage during the R&R Racing match. It's an excellent, very challenging stage but one can only take so many targets with the C/D zones almost entirely masked out. In this stage, there were 30 of them.
ARRGGGGHHHHHH!
Stage 1 and Stage 2 were rifle/shotgun stages, which combined the agonizing combination of slow long-range rifle shooting and slow shotgun reloading.
I know, I know, the challenge to high-round-count shotgun stages is not quite so much the actual shooting as it is the ability to reload quickly and the 'don't-miss-because-it-will-cost-you-reload-time' factor. There were a LOT of stages with shotguns -- seven out of ten. I spent a lot of time watching people reload their shotgun, and I often caught myself sub-vocalizing "come on, come on, hurry up, hurry up!" during the reload part. Some of the reload were amazingly well timed and executed, and I was impressed. But I also saw a lot of people passing up targets because the miss penalty just wasn't worth the time it took to reload ... or at least they seemed to think so.
For comparison, there were 5 stages requiring use of a pistol, and 8 stages requiring use of a rifle.
SCORING:
I talked to Bob Higbie, RO of Stage 9. He explained to me that the scores were based on target 'neutralization', and time. Paper targets which had at least one hit in the A-zone were considered neutralized, but if they had two hits anywhere in a scoring zone they were considered neutralized. Misses, targets not neutralized and penalties added time to your score. The lowest time won the stage.
Match Staff:
No description of a match would be complete without mention of the people who actually worked the match. I know I won't be able to mention all of the workers, and for those many who I seem to slight, I apologize. I just want to mention a few people I actually watched and spoke to.
Brent Reddeway worked the Area 1 three-gun two weeks ago, last week he took his wife to visit family in The Dakotas, and the next Monday morning he showed up at the range to help set up the stages ... at least one day, he was the only one available to assist MD Bobby Wright. Then he worked Stage 10 with only one helper. He has a great tan, and he has lost at least 20 pounds since the last time I saw him.
Steve Shippey, an Albany Rifle and Pistol Club -- ARPC -- member (and President-Elect of the club) worked Stage 5 with NO assistance. He was always cheerful and helpful, but assume this of ALL the RO staff, and especially assume this of "The Shipster" because this is his usual mien. Note also that his website "2alphas" is the host of the match and the site where the stage procedures and match results are located.
Gary Taylor worked Stage 6 all by himself. When Jason Klein had completed Stage 7 with a huge number of feeding problems with both shotgun and rifle, he asked me where he could function test his guns. I dropped back downhill to Gary's stage and asked him if Jason could use his stage (there was nobody on it at the time) for that purpose. Gary replied "Sure, as long as he doesn't shoot any of the targets and as long as you spell my name right".
"T - O - O - L - M - A - N". Hope I got it right, Gary, and thanks for making us all look good to our visitors.
Bill Salberg worked the most complicated and difficult short-range stage (Stage 7) with one helper, whose name I unfortunately didn't catch. Sorry. He dealt with difficult, hot, tired competitors in his usual cheery manner and fixed an over-taxed 'breach-door' with the loan of a Leatherman between shooters with no delay in the stage. He handled busted targets, competitor controversy (see Bevin Grams in "Super Size It") and probably gave at least one too many re-shoots when he thought it was justified. Between squads, he offered to loan me his guns and ammunition and gear to shoot the stage "just for fun", and I was too chicken to take him up on his generous offer. I was afraid I would like it too much, and right now I just can't afford to start 3-gun competition with an STI pistol, a Mossberg 590 and a WWII Garand. I know I would be out buying guns, dies, bullets and cases within the week. But thanks anyway, Bill.
Bill lost his father last week to an extended bout with Cancer, but he never let it show.
Mike "Mac" McCarter, past president of ARPC, current Executive Director, Director of the IPSC discipline, and candidate for USPSA President (and if there is a God in heaven, he will win the race for the good of USPSA) spent a lot of days in the sun for this match. A tireless worker, a strong leader, and the best John Deere Tractor driver in the county, this former nurseryman not only keeps the club facilities in top shape 3 days a week but even brought in a small grove of potted trees to decorate the North Range road. He hauled water to the shooting bays, and performed whatever dirty little job was needed to make the match run smoothly.
Heidi Salman and Ed Dailey worked the stats shack. Heidi (I didn't recognize her without a gun in her holster) was Stats Mistress, and Ed willingly and cheerfully performed any other chores needed ... if you ate lunch at the match, credit Ed. He sorted the lunch orders, made sure they got where they needed to be when you were hungry.
When I showed up at the match at 9am my first stop was the Stats Shack. My slightest request for assistance was cheerfully and willingly obliged. Heidi printed out a competitor list and stage & squad schedules while Ed printed out the stage descriptions (all of which I have used to write this article). They did ALL of this while I was eating my breakfast at a table in the Stats Shack and writing the stage numbers, bays and names in my notebook. Without their help I couldn't have kept track of who shot which stage when, their names (including correct spelling) and which photo/video related to which competitor.
Robert Johnson is "The Other R" in "R&R Racing". He spent most of his time during the match on his four-wheel ATV running stage score-sheets between the bays and the Stats Shack for Heidi and Ed, and the rest of the time responding to the RO radio net and making sure that the match ran smoothly. During the staff match (Thursday and Friday), he also won Open Division and Second Overall.
Match Director Bobby Wright spend the last couple of months planning, coordinating, designing stages, building stages, finding sponsors for a $30,000 prize table (doubtless with the assistance of CCS Section Competition Director Chuck Anderson) and improvising new props. If you liked the "Breaching" door, you can thank Bobby. As far as I know, this was entirely his original design. I looked for it on the R&R Website and couldn't find it. Bobby, you have got to get this on the market. I predict that it will be a popular prop for future Multi-Gun and 3-gun matches.
Bobby ("Robert?") spent his match driving the Dragon-Mo-Bile back and forth at great speed, usually with either daughter Kaitlyn or son Jesse hanging on and trying not to laugh with glee. his wife, Lili, was all over the range helping get score-sheets to Heidi and Ed and handling such other administrative chores as they came up.
He even found time to shoot the RO Match. Well, maybe a LITTLE time. According to the Aggregat Scores, this Master-Class competitor came in next to last; he didn't have time to shoot 6 of the 10 stages.
Dead last shooter? Heidi ... she only found time to shoot ONE of the 10 stages.
That's what I call dedication.
For what it's worth: if only because of the stage designs I consider this match to be not only better than the Area 1 Multigun match last week, but even better than the USPSA Multigun Match last year at ARPC.
You were fun to watch!
The results are available on the "NW Challenge Home" page (although by match day, it had been changed to the "R&R Racing Multigun" match.)
Here's a quick summary for those of you who hate to click on links:
OVERALL AGGREGATE: Top Ten
- Taran Butler (TO)
- Robert Johnson (O)
- Chuck Anderson (TO)
- Chuck Mahoney (TO)
- Beven Grams (O)
- Trevor Ott (TO)
- Larry Lebeau (O)
- Gary Purcell (TO)
- Scott Hawkins (TO)
- Gordon Baladad (TO)
Robert Johnson
Top Tactical Iron Sights (TI):
Kirk Jameson
Top Tactical Optical (TO):
Taran Butler
Top Heavy Metal (HM):
Phil Brodahl
STAGES:
- Lined Up and Ready 2 Roll (Rifle, Shotgun)
- 4X4X4 and More (Rifle, Shotgun)
- Mr. Beal's Best (Pistol, Shotgun)
- Rock Around the Croc (Pistol, Shotgun)
- The Corridor (Shotgun, Rifle)
- 4's A Crowd (Shotgun, Pistol)
- Breaching Doors (Shotgun, Rifle)
- Crazy Zebras (Pistol, Rifle)
- Stalled in Stalingrad (Pistol, Rifle)
- Survivor II: The Maze (Rifle, Pistol)
FeedBack:
If you shot the match, I strongly encourage you to join competitor Joe Durnbaugh in contribution to the Feed-Back Page for this match. (This is a feature you won't see at most IPSC/USPSA matches.)
Impressions:
The most visually interesting stage (from the viewpoint of the spectator) was Stage 7: "Breaching Doors". Hands down, no contest, this was a blast to watch. I've already posted videos of Taran Butler, Chuck Anderson and Beven Grams in the article "Super-Size It", and the Klein boys (Grandfather Jeff, son Jason and grandson Jacob) in "The Klein Family". I'm always pleased to see evidence that this is indeed a Family Sport, but when you get three generations in one squad it's something between A Real Treat To Watch and an affirmation of my personal bias.
There's more than one reason why I didn't get film of Stage 8: "Crazy Zebras". I hated that stage when I first shot it as a pistol-only stage in the 2005 Crazy Croc Match, and I admit I didn't make any special effort to find a squad on the stage during the R&R Racing match. It's an excellent, very challenging stage but one can only take so many targets with the C/D zones almost entirely masked out. In this stage, there were 30 of them.
ARRGGGGHHHHHH!
Stage 1 and Stage 2 were rifle/shotgun stages, which combined the agonizing combination of slow long-range rifle shooting and slow shotgun reloading.
I know, I know, the challenge to high-round-count shotgun stages is not quite so much the actual shooting as it is the ability to reload quickly and the 'don't-miss-because-it-will-cost-you-reload-time' factor. There were a LOT of stages with shotguns -- seven out of ten. I spent a lot of time watching people reload their shotgun, and I often caught myself sub-vocalizing "come on, come on, hurry up, hurry up!" during the reload part. Some of the reload were amazingly well timed and executed, and I was impressed. But I also saw a lot of people passing up targets because the miss penalty just wasn't worth the time it took to reload ... or at least they seemed to think so.
For comparison, there were 5 stages requiring use of a pistol, and 8 stages requiring use of a rifle.
SCORING:
I talked to Bob Higbie, RO of Stage 9. He explained to me that the scores were based on target 'neutralization', and time. Paper targets which had at least one hit in the A-zone were considered neutralized, but if they had two hits anywhere in a scoring zone they were considered neutralized. Misses, targets not neutralized and penalties added time to your score. The lowest time won the stage.
Match Staff:
No description of a match would be complete without mention of the people who actually worked the match. I know I won't be able to mention all of the workers, and for those many who I seem to slight, I apologize. I just want to mention a few people I actually watched and spoke to.
Brent Reddeway worked the Area 1 three-gun two weeks ago, last week he took his wife to visit family in The Dakotas, and the next Monday morning he showed up at the range to help set up the stages ... at least one day, he was the only one available to assist MD Bobby Wright. Then he worked Stage 10 with only one helper. He has a great tan, and he has lost at least 20 pounds since the last time I saw him.
Steve Shippey, an Albany Rifle and Pistol Club -- ARPC -- member (and President-Elect of the club) worked Stage 5 with NO assistance. He was always cheerful and helpful, but assume this of ALL the RO staff, and especially assume this of "The Shipster" because this is his usual mien. Note also that his website "2alphas" is the host of the match and the site where the stage procedures and match results are located.
Gary Taylor worked Stage 6 all by himself. When Jason Klein had completed Stage 7 with a huge number of feeding problems with both shotgun and rifle, he asked me where he could function test his guns. I dropped back downhill to Gary's stage and asked him if Jason could use his stage (there was nobody on it at the time) for that purpose. Gary replied "Sure, as long as he doesn't shoot any of the targets and as long as you spell my name right".
"T - O - O - L - M - A - N". Hope I got it right, Gary, and thanks for making us all look good to our visitors.
Bill Salberg worked the most complicated and difficult short-range stage (Stage 7) with one helper, whose name I unfortunately didn't catch. Sorry. He dealt with difficult, hot, tired competitors in his usual cheery manner and fixed an over-taxed 'breach-door' with the loan of a Leatherman between shooters with no delay in the stage. He handled busted targets, competitor controversy (see Bevin Grams in "Super Size It") and probably gave at least one too many re-shoots when he thought it was justified. Between squads, he offered to loan me his guns and ammunition and gear to shoot the stage "just for fun", and I was too chicken to take him up on his generous offer. I was afraid I would like it too much, and right now I just can't afford to start 3-gun competition with an STI pistol, a Mossberg 590 and a WWII Garand. I know I would be out buying guns, dies, bullets and cases within the week. But thanks anyway, Bill.
Bill lost his father last week to an extended bout with Cancer, but he never let it show.
Mike "Mac" McCarter, past president of ARPC, current Executive Director, Director of the IPSC discipline, and candidate for USPSA President (and if there is a God in heaven, he will win the race for the good of USPSA) spent a lot of days in the sun for this match. A tireless worker, a strong leader, and the best John Deere Tractor driver in the county, this former nurseryman not only keeps the club facilities in top shape 3 days a week but even brought in a small grove of potted trees to decorate the North Range road. He hauled water to the shooting bays, and performed whatever dirty little job was needed to make the match run smoothly.
Heidi Salman and Ed Dailey worked the stats shack. Heidi (I didn't recognize her without a gun in her holster) was Stats Mistress, and Ed willingly and cheerfully performed any other chores needed ... if you ate lunch at the match, credit Ed. He sorted the lunch orders, made sure they got where they needed to be when you were hungry.
When I showed up at the match at 9am my first stop was the Stats Shack. My slightest request for assistance was cheerfully and willingly obliged. Heidi printed out a competitor list and stage & squad schedules while Ed printed out the stage descriptions (all of which I have used to write this article). They did ALL of this while I was eating my breakfast at a table in the Stats Shack and writing the stage numbers, bays and names in my notebook. Without their help I couldn't have kept track of who shot which stage when, their names (including correct spelling) and which photo/video related to which competitor.
Robert Johnson is "The Other R" in "R&R Racing". He spent most of his time during the match on his four-wheel ATV running stage score-sheets between the bays and the Stats Shack for Heidi and Ed, and the rest of the time responding to the RO radio net and making sure that the match ran smoothly. During the staff match (Thursday and Friday), he also won Open Division and Second Overall.
Match Director Bobby Wright spend the last couple of months planning, coordinating, designing stages, building stages, finding sponsors for a $30,000 prize table (doubtless with the assistance of CCS Section Competition Director Chuck Anderson) and improvising new props. If you liked the "Breaching" door, you can thank Bobby. As far as I know, this was entirely his original design. I looked for it on the R&R Website and couldn't find it. Bobby, you have got to get this on the market. I predict that it will be a popular prop for future Multi-Gun and 3-gun matches.
Bobby ("Robert?") spent his match driving the Dragon-Mo-Bile back and forth at great speed, usually with either daughter Kaitlyn or son Jesse hanging on and trying not to laugh with glee. his wife, Lili, was all over the range helping get score-sheets to Heidi and Ed and handling such other administrative chores as they came up.
He even found time to shoot the RO Match. Well, maybe a LITTLE time. According to the Aggregat Scores, this Master-Class competitor came in next to last; he didn't have time to shoot 6 of the 10 stages.
Dead last shooter? Heidi ... she only found time to shoot ONE of the 10 stages.
That's what I call dedication.
For what it's worth: if only because of the stage designs I consider this match to be not only better than the Area 1 Multigun match last week, but even better than the USPSA Multigun Match last year at ARPC.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Albany Oregon Multi-Gun Matches
If you're a "Multi-Gun" competitor, Oregon is the place to be in July.
The Albany Rifle & Pistol Club (ARPC) is hosting two (2) Multi-Gun matches in July of 2007.
On July 1 (Sunday), ARPC will wrap up its June 29 - July 1 (Friday throught Sunday) Area 1 Multigun Championship.
And on July 13-14 (Saturday and Sunday), Robert Wright of R&R Racing will present the Northwest Multi-Gun Championships (NWMGC).
(Range Officers will shoot the NWMGC match on Friday, July 13.)
If you're unfamiliar with the Multigun concept, you may recall that in 2006 I wrote about the 2006 USPSA Multigun Championships, which also was hosted by ARPC. (Also see here.)
Links for the Area 1 "3-gun match" (okay, there's a difference between 3-gun and multigun; see below) are available here. USPSA links here.
Note that the terminology "3-gun" is embedded in the host North American Shooting Sports Online (NASSONLINE) webpage. The link for the "3-gun" match include the stage procedures. Stage 1: "Broke Down in Borax" specifiy that both a pistol and rifle are to be used in the same stage, which clearly makes this a "Multi-Gun" match. I'm sure that NASSONLINE will correct this inadvertant error in the near future.
The July 14-15 Northwest Multi-Gun Challenge information may be found on the R&R Racing website. (Detail information here, PDF entry form here.)
3-gun vs Multi-gun
According to the USPSA Rules (2005 is the latest edition I can find):
I've never competed in either a 3-gun or a multi-gun match, but I have observed a multi-gun match and one of the complexities which lends so much to the excitement is the moment when a competitor switches from one gun to the next. And in a stage which utilizes all three guns, it can get a little hairy.
Note that I'm not talking about safety factors. The competitor is typically required to clear the gun he is leaving, and deposit said cleared (read: EMPTY, NO AMMUNITION) in a provided receptical before he can pick up the next gun. At no time may the competitor move downrange of a loaded firearm. *
Of course, that isn't an issue in a "3-gun" match.
* UPDATE - June 25, 2007
See the comment from Trey. Disposition of one firearm before continuing a stage with another firearm MAY not require clearing the previous gun.
The Albany Rifle & Pistol Club (ARPC) is hosting two (2) Multi-Gun matches in July of 2007.
On July 1 (Sunday), ARPC will wrap up its June 29 - July 1 (Friday throught Sunday) Area 1 Multigun Championship.
And on July 13-14 (Saturday and Sunday), Robert Wright of R&R Racing will present the Northwest Multi-Gun Championships (NWMGC).
(Range Officers will shoot the NWMGC match on Friday, July 13.)
If you're unfamiliar with the Multigun concept, you may recall that in 2006 I wrote about the 2006 USPSA Multigun Championships, which also was hosted by ARPC. (Also see here.)
Links for the Area 1 "3-gun match" (okay, there's a difference between 3-gun and multigun; see below) are available here. USPSA links here.
Note that the terminology "3-gun" is embedded in the host North American Shooting Sports Online (NASSONLINE) webpage. The link for the "3-gun" match include the stage procedures. Stage 1: "Broke Down in Borax" specifiy that both a pistol and rifle are to be used in the same stage, which clearly makes this a "Multi-Gun" match. I'm sure that NASSONLINE will correct this inadvertant error in the near future.
The July 14-15 Northwest Multi-Gun Challenge information may be found on the R&R Racing website. (Detail information here, PDF entry form here.)
The June 13 deadline for the NWMGC match has been extended past June 13. No shirts are available for late entries, but (as of June 23) you can still sign up for this match.
3-gun vs Multi-gun
According to the USPSA Rules (2005 is the latest edition I can find):
A “multi-gun match” is defined as a match (see 6.1.4) in which at least one stage involves the use of two or more different firearm types. A multi-gun match may involve any combination of handgun, rifle and shotgun usage, including stages which involve one, two or all three firearm types. Other than the use of multiple firearm types, all other provisions of 6.1.4 apply.
Conversely, a "3-gun" match is one in which all three guns (handgun, rifle, shotgun) are used but each stage uses only one gun.I've never competed in either a 3-gun or a multi-gun match, but I have observed a multi-gun match and one of the complexities which lends so much to the excitement is the moment when a competitor switches from one gun to the next. And in a stage which utilizes all three guns, it can get a little hairy.
Note that I'm not talking about safety factors. The competitor is typically required to clear the gun he is leaving, and deposit said cleared (read: EMPTY, NO AMMUNITION) in a provided receptical before he can pick up the next gun. At no time may the competitor move downrange of a loaded firearm. *
Of course, that isn't an issue in a "3-gun" match.
I plan to attend both matches as an observer. I'll be there with eyes and ears, at least two cameras and a tripod. Hopefully, I'll get some interesting footage to post here.(This post originated on 6/20/2007)
* UPDATE - June 25, 2007
See the comment from Trey. Disposition of one firearm before continuing a stage with another firearm MAY not require clearing the previous gun.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Mossberg 590: "Buy A Gun Day" 2007
Yeah, I bought the Mossberg ("Security") 590 rather than the Remington 870 shotgun last week, because of the comparisons which I cited in my original post. After a couple of range sessions, I've learned a LOT about this gun and about "Practical Shotgun" issues in general. I have a lot yet to learn, but as of today (my second Range Session with the shotty), I have some new information to bring to the table.
The first thing I have to offer is actually something of a revelation to me, although it shouldn't be.
Even though I've been shooting guns of all types (name a type ... I've shot it, if it was invented before 1970 and it's a man-personal firearm) for fifty + years, I've just learned that I don't know much about what I will henceforth refer to as "Practical Shotgun".
Last Monday, April 16 (the day after I bought the shotgun) I spent about an hour on the range with SWMBO and the 590. First thing I learned is that when you're shooting Buckshot (#4, #00 and #000), that stuff makes a helluva kick. SWMBO said it was 'fun' and I wasn't about to contradict her since it was the first time she ever shot a shotgun and I didn't want to contradict her. But it kicked me around pretty good. I didn't have a bruise, but I had a lot of aches that I couln't account for otherwise.
Today, I met The Hobo Brasser at the Albany Rifle & Pistol Club range and gave the Mossberg a good workout. I shot the 590 with two loads of birdshot ... my #7-1/2 downloaded from 1-1/2 oz to 1 oz of shot, and his #6 birdshot. I also shot his 1100 in 20 gauge, and his autoloader (sorry, I hope The Hobo will tell usthe make and model) 12 gauge semi-auto "Practical Shotgun".
The FIRST thing I learned was not news to me: when you have a shotgun with a rigid stock, and it's too short fora physiognomy which only can be described as a "Beer-bellied Spider Monkey", a slip-on rubber recoil pad can make a HUGE difference!
The second thing I learned is that a shotgun which is sold as a 'security'
shotgun (ie: home defense) with a 20" barrel is NOT to be compared to a Winchester Model 12 "Featherweight" with a 28" + barrel and Birdseye Maple stocks. At least, not in terms of perceived recoil and definately in terms of indexing between targets and MOST definately in terms of pellet pattern when the Model 12 is a Full Choke and the 590 is a smooth-bore no-choke "cylinder" barrel.
I'm minded of the Star Trek movie "Undiscovered Country" here, if only because everthing I thought I knew about shotgun shooting just went out the window.
The Model 12 was set up for bird shooting. It was a fine trap-gun, because with the long full-choke barrel I could take my time shooting Clay Pigeons and pick up the last bird of a double ... often a triple ... when it was no more than 4' off the ground. Back in the '60's I was pretty smug about keeping up with my father's Beretta over/under with modified/IC choke on the trap range. If my fathere was still alive today, he would be chuckling about my new-found modesty. In fact, I can't help but think that he's looking down on me and smirking about my humiliation when the parameters of shotgun shooting have changed so dramatically .... although the word "parameters" would never have occured to him.
What he would have said was: "Kicked your butt, did it? 'Bout time, Boy!"
Yeah, it kicked my butt and it was all my fault.
I wasn't PREPARED for this kind of stuff, darn it!
[whine!]
The thing is, the pump on the 590 is lighter than I was accustomed to (years back, when I used shotguns much more frequently than I have recently) with a much heavier forward slide grip.
With the massive Birds-eye Maple forward slide grip, it was enough just to overcome inertia and get it moving. By the time it got to the end of its travel, it just naturally always locked into battery.
With the much lighter material, you have to muscle the pump to get it to reliably lock into battery, and I haven't got into the habit of SLAMMING the pump forward.
As a consequece, I 'very often' don't have a round completely chambered when I pull the trigger.
And it shows.
The Hobo Brasser was very patient about filming me as I took on a six-plate rack, and I have to say that the first run through worked perfectly. I hit every plate just right, and my trigger speed increased from the first plate to the last.
Unfortunately, there was a 'wardrobe malfunction' with the camera so I don't have a video of a good, clean run.
What I DO have is a whole series of videos where I either missed a plate, or (more frequently) I short-stroked the slide and while I was ready to shoot, the shotgun was not.
No, it's not the fault of the gun. It's just something that I don't consistently do right. Someday I'll get it right, every time. But today, it's just an exhibition of what NOT to do with your Practical Shotgun.
Ultimately, the 'last thing' I learned (but really the 'thing' I should have already realized) is that I need to find a spot on my loading bench where I can install my antiquated Lyman Versa-Mec Progressive Shotshell Reloader.
Lucy, you gotta lot of 'splaining to do.
The first thing I have to offer is actually something of a revelation to me, although it shouldn't be.
When you buy a new gun, you have to practice with it before you can claim any degree of expertise.
Even though I've been shooting guns of all types (name a type ... I've shot it, if it was invented before 1970 and it's a man-personal firearm) for fifty + years, I've just learned that I don't know much about what I will henceforth refer to as "Practical Shotgun".
Last Monday, April 16 (the day after I bought the shotgun) I spent about an hour on the range with SWMBO and the 590. First thing I learned is that when you're shooting Buckshot (#4, #00 and #000), that stuff makes a helluva kick. SWMBO said it was 'fun' and I wasn't about to contradict her since it was the first time she ever shot a shotgun and I didn't want to contradict her. But it kicked me around pretty good. I didn't have a bruise, but I had a lot of aches that I couln't account for otherwise.
Today, I met The Hobo Brasser at the Albany Rifle & Pistol Club range and gave the Mossberg a good workout. I shot the 590 with two loads of birdshot ... my #7-1/2 downloaded from 1-1/2 oz to 1 oz of shot, and his #6 birdshot. I also shot his 1100 in 20 gauge, and his autoloader (sorry, I hope The Hobo will tell usthe make and model) 12 gauge semi-auto "Practical Shotgun".
The FIRST thing I learned was not news to me: when you have a shotgun with a rigid stock, and it's too short fora physiognomy which only can be described as a "Beer-bellied Spider Monkey", a slip-on rubber recoil pad can make a HUGE difference!
The second thing I learned is that a shotgun which is sold as a 'security'
shotgun (ie: home defense) with a 20" barrel is NOT to be compared to a Winchester Model 12 "Featherweight" with a 28" + barrel and Birdseye Maple stocks. At least, not in terms of perceived recoil and definately in terms of indexing between targets and MOST definately in terms of pellet pattern when the Model 12 is a Full Choke and the 590 is a smooth-bore no-choke "cylinder" barrel.
I'm minded of the Star Trek movie "Undiscovered Country" here, if only because everthing I thought I knew about shotgun shooting just went out the window.
The Model 12 was set up for bird shooting. It was a fine trap-gun, because with the long full-choke barrel I could take my time shooting Clay Pigeons and pick up the last bird of a double ... often a triple ... when it was no more than 4' off the ground. Back in the '60's I was pretty smug about keeping up with my father's Beretta over/under with modified/IC choke on the trap range. If my fathere was still alive today, he would be chuckling about my new-found modesty. In fact, I can't help but think that he's looking down on me and smirking about my humiliation when the parameters of shotgun shooting have changed so dramatically .... although the word "parameters" would never have occured to him.
What he would have said was: "Kicked your butt, did it? 'Bout time, Boy!"
Yeah, it kicked my butt and it was all my fault.
I wasn't PREPARED for this kind of stuff, darn it!
[whine!]
The thing is, the pump on the 590 is lighter than I was accustomed to (years back, when I used shotguns much more frequently than I have recently) with a much heavier forward slide grip.
With the massive Birds-eye Maple forward slide grip, it was enough just to overcome inertia and get it moving. By the time it got to the end of its travel, it just naturally always locked into battery.
With the much lighter material, you have to muscle the pump to get it to reliably lock into battery, and I haven't got into the habit of SLAMMING the pump forward.
As a consequece, I 'very often' don't have a round completely chambered when I pull the trigger.
And it shows.
The Hobo Brasser was very patient about filming me as I took on a six-plate rack, and I have to say that the first run through worked perfectly. I hit every plate just right, and my trigger speed increased from the first plate to the last.
Unfortunately, there was a 'wardrobe malfunction' with the camera so I don't have a video of a good, clean run.
What I DO have is a whole series of videos where I either missed a plate, or (more frequently) I short-stroked the slide and while I was ready to shoot, the shotgun was not.
No, it's not the fault of the gun. It's just something that I don't consistently do right. Someday I'll get it right, every time. But today, it's just an exhibition of what NOT to do with your Practical Shotgun.
Ultimately, the 'last thing' I learned (but really the 'thing' I should have already realized) is that I need to find a spot on my loading bench where I can install my antiquated Lyman Versa-Mec Progressive Shotshell Reloader.
Lucy, you gotta lot of 'splaining to do.
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