Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Watch someone picking up and handling a shotgun new to them. We'll wave it around a little, then mount it, wave it around some more, ad infinitum. We're looking for that mysterious "Sweetness of Feel" that Gene Hill wrote about.
All shotguns, regardless of action type, gauge or weight, come in three flavors.
The first kind is that "Between the hands" feel that is celebrated by the lovers of British game guns. Here, at least 50% of the weight falls between our paws as we hold the shotgun, almost always a well made SxS of less than 7 lbs.. This is a responsive, quick feel that adjusts well to the jinking of a bird's flight. Great store is set by fans of this style when a break action shotgun balances right at the hinge pin. The trouble I have with this is that the length of the action can vary by an inch and moving the balance point an inch greatly affects how the shotgun handles.
However, a check of record books in just about any shooting sport shows few current record holders using SxS shotguns with a between the hands balance.
Universally, the top spots are held by wielders of either long barrelled O/Us or high tech autos. These have a Muzzle-Heavy, weight forward feel.
The extra weight forward means more inertia to keep the swing moving once one gets it started. Trap guns oft are extreme versions of this, 34" barrels on SBTs and even pump guns swing like wrecking balls. Partly this is a result of more weight forward, some is from leverage.
FYI, two of my 870s used for wingshooting with LC barrels balance right at the front edge of the loading port. OTOH, the 870TB I use for trap balances close to an inch out further even with the massive M/C stock on it.
Nigh all repeaters fall into Weight Forward territory due to the stuff protruding out front. One can add some weight to the butt end but this has more than 50% of the weight ending up outside the hands. Handling can be improved to some extent though.
The last flavor is Muzzle Light. Little used now except by grouse,woodcock and quail hunters in habitat where the idea of a swing is naught but a joke. In brushy places, one has to push the gun more than swing it and a muzzle light shotgun lends itself to the stroke.
Winchester's defunct and under-appreciated Model 59 had a recoil weight in the stock and a super light barrel made of fiberglass over a thin steel liner. It was quite butt heavy, and grouse fanatics like writer Frank Woolner sang its praises for fast work in thickets. Muzzle Light shotguns tend to speed but not surety. With no mass for inertia, the swing dies as soon as one stops pushing.
So you want to know what is "Best"? Heck, you can figure it out, and with some experience, you will.
Pixies do less well with WF than folks of more typical size. Obviously, their shorter arms have to work harder holding up the shotgun. Proper fit helps somewhat.
Bird guns and GP shotguns can be either BTTH or WF, and personal preference can rule here.ML shotguns are of limited scope.
And, quite bluntly, one can adapt fairly fast. Friend anapex has a couple Model 59s and a barrel heavy 870TC, and acquits himself well with either.
And one day, you'll handle a shotgun that fits and balances just right, and you'll look down, grin and say, "Finally".....
All shotguns, regardless of action type, gauge or weight, come in three flavors.
The first kind is that "Between the hands" feel that is celebrated by the lovers of British game guns. Here, at least 50% of the weight falls between our paws as we hold the shotgun, almost always a well made SxS of less than 7 lbs.. This is a responsive, quick feel that adjusts well to the jinking of a bird's flight. Great store is set by fans of this style when a break action shotgun balances right at the hinge pin. The trouble I have with this is that the length of the action can vary by an inch and moving the balance point an inch greatly affects how the shotgun handles.
However, a check of record books in just about any shooting sport shows few current record holders using SxS shotguns with a between the hands balance.
Universally, the top spots are held by wielders of either long barrelled O/Us or high tech autos. These have a Muzzle-Heavy, weight forward feel.
The extra weight forward means more inertia to keep the swing moving once one gets it started. Trap guns oft are extreme versions of this, 34" barrels on SBTs and even pump guns swing like wrecking balls. Partly this is a result of more weight forward, some is from leverage.
FYI, two of my 870s used for wingshooting with LC barrels balance right at the front edge of the loading port. OTOH, the 870TB I use for trap balances close to an inch out further even with the massive M/C stock on it.
Nigh all repeaters fall into Weight Forward territory due to the stuff protruding out front. One can add some weight to the butt end but this has more than 50% of the weight ending up outside the hands. Handling can be improved to some extent though.
The last flavor is Muzzle Light. Little used now except by grouse,woodcock and quail hunters in habitat where the idea of a swing is naught but a joke. In brushy places, one has to push the gun more than swing it and a muzzle light shotgun lends itself to the stroke.
Winchester's defunct and under-appreciated Model 59 had a recoil weight in the stock and a super light barrel made of fiberglass over a thin steel liner. It was quite butt heavy, and grouse fanatics like writer Frank Woolner sang its praises for fast work in thickets. Muzzle Light shotguns tend to speed but not surety. With no mass for inertia, the swing dies as soon as one stops pushing.
So you want to know what is "Best"? Heck, you can figure it out, and with some experience, you will.
Pixies do less well with WF than folks of more typical size. Obviously, their shorter arms have to work harder holding up the shotgun. Proper fit helps somewhat.
Bird guns and GP shotguns can be either BTTH or WF, and personal preference can rule here.ML shotguns are of limited scope.
And, quite bluntly, one can adapt fairly fast. Friend anapex has a couple Model 59s and a barrel heavy 870TC, and acquits himself well with either.
And one day, you'll handle a shotgun that fits and balances just right, and you'll look down, grin and say, "Finally".....
