18 inch barrel and clays

[Fly Navy]

I just bought a Remington 870 Express Synthetic with an 18" barrel for home defense. I'd also like to play around with it. With the cylinder bore and 18" barrel, is it still possible to informally play around with the clay shooting sports?

 

[sm]

Fly Navy,
Cyl Bore is fine for skeet. The distance is 21 yds from a station to the center stake. Many people shoot skeet with cyl bore.

One can actually adjust the pattern by the payload. I'll explain- you're going to pattern this gun anyway right? Pattern with the inexpensive promotional Dove/Quail load, then using a Skeet load ,pattern. The pattern will be different even with same load (2 3/4 dr 1 1/8 oz of #8 ) for example. The difference is the promo load has chilled shot (softer and deforms quick) whereas the skeet/target load has Hard shot. These are worth buying and using for getting accustomed to gun anyway. SAVE the target hulls.

Now for Trap one needs an tighter choke because the clays are further out. I have shot Sporting Clays with a cyl bore --but this was a close quick course, many/ most SC courses require a bit more choke.

HTH

 

[Fly Navy]

I very much want to pattern this shotgun, especially with the buckshot too. However, the range I shoot at doesn't let you do that yet I need to find someone with land to do that.

 

[sm]

Cheat

I know you have to know someone with land in the country, farm, something. Run by an appliance place and snag a cardboard box, say like a dishwasher, washer/dryer. Break it down and transport. Put back together. Cheat again- use some fishing or weedwacker line , about 1 inch down from top horizontal and paralell string the line ( punch through and secure) Repeat along base, steal ...err borrow clothes pins and you have an easy to hang and secure target for a sheet of paper ( newspaper works*) and the sheet won't blow away and flap.

Shoot buckshot, slugs, whatever. Make notes (notebook) loads, yardage, lot #'s, etc. Even take a pic if want.

Break down box, dispose of proper...save clothes pins. People wonder why I have clothes pins/line in my range bags...now ya know. shotgun, rifle ,handgun, targets stay put.
I bring my own teddy's pre strung for pistol too

* If one runs by a newpaper place , you can get all the plain paper that you want...it usually has some blemishes (they have name I forget) but they can't print on it. I ran by at 2 am once , got a pickup bed full, I brought the guys on the docks coffee and a whole pie. Hey we all like treats, nice fellows, even they tied it up and help load it up. Nice goes along way.
I even told them what I was up to, sometime later one of the guys came to the club and I helped with his shooting. Little RKBA mixed with lessons.

HTH

 

[Dave McCracken]

Cylinder is perfect for skeet, good for many shots at 5 stand and Sporting Clays, not so good for trap, and I was soundly trounced recently at Wobble trap by a guy with a 20" Cylinder bore pumpgun.22/25 is a good score for most folks with ANY shotgun at Wobble.

BA/UU/R with that thing,especially games with doubles to get your shucking up to speed, and have fun. A few months and cases of empty hulls from now, you'll be surprised to learn the weapon feels like a body part and stuff you shoot at is destroyed in very short order.

 

[Fly Navy]

Excellent thanks for the tips!

Actually, I don't know anyone in the country right now, I just moved down here to Pensacola. I'm SOL in that department. But that sounds like a great idea!

 

[sm]

OK People in FL give this guy a PM or email he needs a place to shoot.

He said the soda's on him...you did say that didn't you...oops

 

[Poodleshooter]

I know that my scores at slow "backyard" trap, even with tight reloads were pretty poor when I shot it with an 18" riot barrel. It really affects my swing, even on straightaways.

 

[Fly Navy]

Poodleshooter

Would you ... reiterate that lol. I'm not sure what you were saying.

And yes, anyone with land I will glady supply "soda"

 

[9mmMike]

You can always add a mag extension and sling swivel to put some weight back on the nose. This will help the swing, a little.
I shoot tons of "back-yard" trap with my 20" rifle-sighted 870's. Granted most of these are straight aways unless we get the range to ourselves and set up some crossing deals but we normally bust more than we miss.
I've been shooting a Vang'd 870 with a 20" barrel and it does OK. I probably break more with my regular 20" IC 870 though but I am determined to improve with the house gun so that's the one I usually take.
I've only shot SC once and it was quite humbing but a real gas.
Can't wait to go again ,maybe at the next TFR shoot in Sept.
Mike

 

[Dave R]

I have shot quite a few hand-thrown clays with my Bro's 18" pump gun. Works fine. I have always wanted to put tubes in an 18" smoothbore. The Marlin Guide Gun of shotguns. The 'smith said its pretty rea$onable. Just haven't got around to it.