[marklbucla]

I've totally standardized on the 870 and have three, one of each type. They're all set up the same: Hogue Youths, Factory +2, Wilson Follower. Only difference is the Surefire forend on the actual HD gun.

I haven't shot my HD gun in about two years, but I've been taking out the Police and Wingmaster. Question is, how often do I need to shoot my specific bedside gun?

[Robert Hairless]

Seems to me that with three 870 shotguns configured exactly the same, except for the SureFire forend on one, your practicing carries over from one to the other very nicely.

You already know that the SureFire changes the balance on that shotgun. You know better than anyone else if you are affected by that difference. I'm in a similar situation and I'm not affected by it.

I suppose that it's always a good idea to take a shotgun for an outing every once in a while just to make sure it's still functioning. I don't see why it wouldn't function though.

By an odd coincidence a few weeks ago I bought a police tradein Wingmaster that was made in 1969, evidently was in patrol car service for long enough to have had the wood furniture all but destroyed, but had never been fired. Lovely gun. I did a little cleanup and a little light lubrication and it shot like a champ from the very first shot.

As with all good messages, this one ends with a moral. Be sure to shoot an 870 at least every 39 years if you want to be sure it functions properly. Remember you read that here.

[MCgunner]

Get out and shoot. I hunt and am always shooting my shotguns, so I stay familiar that way. If I belonged to a skeet and trap club, I'd be melting the barrels off 'em. LOL We have traps and I sometimes shoot with the club, weekend country doubles shoots usually. They're like an autonomic reflex, an extension of my body when I bring one of my shotguns to my shoulder, just the familiarity of it being I hunt a LOT during the season. I'm a wing shooting junky, an addict, have been since I was 9 years old with my first .410. Now, I don't run around in a tacticool vest shooting paper at the range and hiding behind fake barriers with a shotgun, but hey, I KNOW my shotgun. I might not be the guy you'd want to lead your entry team on your drug task force, but I can defend myself in my bedroom. :D

Shooting is fun. Find a skeet and trap club, shoot a round of sporting clays even if you don't like hunting. Better than leaving it in a closet for 2 years letting it collect dust and you might just find it a lot of fun. One 870 will work the same as the other, ya know.

[Dave McCracken]

After just under 50 years of using 870s, my moves are pretty well grooved in.

My HD 870 gets fired little at this point in time. I did run a thousand shells or so through the others last year and will again. I do think ANY HD tool should be fired once a year to check function and then cleaned thoroughly.

[mswestfall]

Shoot the gun till you are confident in your ability with the gun.

It may be more helpful to practice your movements in a simulated HD situation. Design a HD drill. Set your alarm for 3:00 AM and hop out of bed when you are tired and run through the drill.

[Fred Fuller]

I'd at least shoot the ammo it was loaded with out of it every few months just on GP. As long as you are working with similar guns often, it isn't as critical to practice with the 'real thing-' but with shotguns, familiarity breeds capability, not contempt...

Stay Safe,

lpl/nc