Loading and Shooting a Pump Action Shotgun - (Paul Harrell)

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Not trying to take anything away from Mr. Harrell, but Widdowmaker Hill, a cowboy action shooter from Tennessee focuses on loading through the ejection port for speed (6 shots in less than 5 seconds):



Paul Harrell is known to say things like, (paraphrase) “This is based on my observations, my opinions, my experience....”

Probably why he is demonstrating one way and not another.
 
Not trying to take anything away from Mr. Harrell, but Widdowmaker Hill, a cowboy action shooter from Tennessee focuses on loading through the ejection port for speed (6 shots in less than 5 seconds):



Works quick in a "trick shoot."

Don't know about a combat shoot.

Those rounds perfectly perched still going to be there if he ran 40 yards, and maybe hit the deck a few times along the way?


The Harrell vid demonstrates more the "from the mag" speed shooting... and then "top-off" with ammo from secured locations.

Just a slick system.




GR
 
I like Pauls technique, especially for someone not overly skilled with a shotgun.

Im not much of a shotgunner, and while I have port loaded my pump guns quite a bit, its simply to get one run under the hammer while im topping up the mag.

Our situation is that we do a great deal of bird hunting from the truck on very steep terrain. What I do is hold one shell in my hand, and drop it in the port as im exiting the truck. While moving to a position that i might get a shot from (Im not following the dog down the damn mountain), ill put rounds in the mag. Ive had a number of birds we didnt see, jump right at the edge of the road when all I had was the round in my chamber. Shoot, and reload the chamber, then top the mag has accounted for a quite a few while not requiring me to be well versed, or dexterous.

Now thats hardly a combat/defensive situation, but shooting self jumped birds requires about as quick a reaction as anything, especially if you jump two or three.
 
I like Pauls technique, especially for someone not overly skilled with a shotgun.

Im not much of a shotgunner, and while I have port loaded my pump guns quite a bit, its simply to get one run under the hammer while im topping up the mag.

Our situation is that we do a great deal of bird hunting from the truck on very steep terrain. What I do is hold one shell in my hand, and drop it in the port as im exiting the truck. While moving to a position that i might get a shot from (Im not following the dog down the damn mountain), ill put rounds in the mag. Ive had a number of birds we didnt see, jump right at the edge of the road when all I had was the round in my chamber. Shoot, and reload the chamber, then top the mag has accounted for a quite a few while not requiring me to be well versed, or dexterous.

Now thats hardly a combat/defensive situation, but shooting self jumped birds requires about as quick a reaction as anything, especially if you jump two or three.

Sounds like you don’t give yourself enough credit. Sounds to me like you have a good plan with your shotgun.
 
Sounds like you don’t give yourself enough credit. Sounds to me like you have a good plan with your shotgun.
Thanks!

Weve been practicing that routine for a while now lol. I actually switched to a 24" O/U specifically so those first two shots would be easier to get set up for.
 
Big Paul is one of my favorites. I shoot a lot of shotguns, and his methods are what I have been doing for years. Big Paul is always knowledgeable, practical. I did enjoy the other video, just not for me.
 
What is interesting during the ammo shortage is the fact that I can still get both 20ga and 12ga training ammo at a reasonable cost of around $22 a box of 100. Stocked up again yesterday with 500 shell of each. I also can get buckshot at a reasonable cost. I have been stocking up Buckshot for years.
 
Overall pretty good and he doesn't suggest anything I don't already do. But 2 points pop out as either incorrect, or odd to me.

#1 the Mossberg safety isn't on the tang. It is mounted on the top of the receiver. If either shotgun even had a tang it would be farther back and under the hand as the gun is carried. I find the Mossberg safety on the top of the receiver much more difficult to use because I have to really reach for it with my thumb and then reposition my hand before shooting. It also places the safety in a position easily bumped where it can be moved to the fire position inadvertently or even broken. The military specified a metal safety on the 590 for this reason.

Photo of a tang safety. The tang is the metal part of the receiver between the wood on the stock. No such thing on the Mossberg or Remington.

67bc97a3959619aad7e2c7fff8b1d956.jpg

#2. He mentions shooting with both eyes open and claims you will see 2 beads. And you just have to know which one to use? I've always shot with both eyes open and I only see 1 bead.
 
Saw a lot of wasted motion a couple of places but mostly effective. I shoot both eyes open and don't even see beads after initial mount. Sixty years of shotgunning at game, trap skeet, quail walk and with muzzle loader(national trophies, black powder cartridge, (state titles), and modern( normally 94-95% average), so I'm no novice. I'm not knocking Harrell. Or Hickock. Or any of the youtube folks. Just saying that their way isn't the be-all and end-all of shotgun handling.
Biggest problem is if we're talking defensive reloading, I'm not going to be digging in my off side pocket for shells. Side saddle, stock sleeve, whatever.
I may have missed the point. When I hunted with a double, I carried two spare shells between the fingers of my left hand.
I'm rambling. Go get 'em, Paul.
 
Overall pretty good and he doesn't suggest anything I don't already do. But 2 points pop out as either incorrect, or odd to me.

#1 the Mossberg safety isn't on the tang. It is mounted on the top of the receiver. If either shotgun even had a tang it would be farther back and under the hand as the gun is carried. I find the Mossberg safety on the top of the receiver much more difficult to use because I have to really reach for it with my thumb and then reposition my hand before shooting. It also places the safety in a position easily bumped where it can be moved to the fire position inadvertently or even broken. The military specified a metal safety on the 590 for this reason.

Photo of a tang safety. The tang is the metal part of the receiver between the wood on the stock. No such thing on the Mossberg or Remington.

View attachment 950214

#2. He mentions shooting with both eyes open and claims you will see 2 beads. And you just have to know which one to use? I've always shot with both eyes open and I only see 1 bead.

This why I enjoy his videos so much. He makes it very clear that this is just the way he does things and his way may not work for everyone. He tends to just present the information and let you come to your own conclusions.
As for the tang, I’d say that’s just splitting hairs. Accurate yes, but splitting hairs. I think we would all agree it’s closer to a tang safety then one on the trigger guard.
 
Works quick in a "trick shoot."

Don't know about a combat shoot.

GR


What we got here is apples vs oranges. WH shoots that way because of the rules of Cowboy Action Shooting. Their rules are what they are to try to equal out the pump and side by side shooters.


Next,
As to the choice of putting the shell in the port under or over. Paul says he prefers under to keep from dropping the shell. In my years as shotgun instructor I've seen as many officers miss the port going under the action as over the top under stress with the same result of the shell ending up on the ground.
 
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