870TB

[dmarbell]

I bought yet another 870TB. This time I bought a Remington 150th Anniversary Wingmaster built in 1966. The gun is very nice, not new, but real good for a 40-year-old gun. Monte Carlo stock, by the way.

I figure it's a classic collector-style gun I can shoot, and if I take care of it, will not lose too much value (if any at all!).

For trap shooters, and Remington shooters in particular, here is a pad question. Which Limbsaver pad works on the TB with the MC stock? The gun has the Remington pad on it, so will the Limbsaver help that much more? In particular, will the slip on version work ok, and which size? The LOP on the TB is about 13.5" vs. 14.5" on my 11-87 with it's adjustable pad, so I can stand to add an inch or so to LOP. Has anybody fit the slip on over the Remmy pad on an 870 with MC stock?

I also posted a question about cases, and I really haven't gotten good recommendations. Is there a good case that will hold this gun, 30" full choke, and my 11-87 Sporting Clays gun, also 30" with extended chokes. Someone recommended a 52" inch double-rifle case, wide enough for the two guns, but not broken down. Is that a good fit? I have found some John Hall cases, but it seems they are made for O/U guns. Can you make two semi-receivers and stocks fit?

Pics of the new TB to follow.

Danny

 

[ArmedBear]

Want pics!

13.5" is pretty short for an 870, with the trigger as far forward as it is. I wonder if that gun had been fitted in the past.

Your best bet is to take a pencil and trace the end of the buttstock, without the pad on it, and measure it.

Then go here: http://www.limbsaver.com/Technical/Templates/Default.aspx

Find the template(s) that look right, and match them with the tracing.

 

[dmarbell]

870TB Pad

ArmedBear,

Thanks for the advice on the sizing. I didn't see that on the web site at first. I called Limbsaver, and for a slip on they recommended a medium. I bought one on gunbroker.com. It should add about 1" to the LOP.

I'll get some pics on soon.

Danny

 

[dmarbell]

870TB Pics

Here you go.

Danny

 

[Dave McCracken]

Pretty wood, Danny. Americase has what you want. Not cheap, but not many are better.

 

[dmarbell]

Cases

I know you're right about Americase, Dave Mc, but the utilitarian in me balks at spending $350 or more on a case to hold two guns worth $1,350. I love my guns, but hey!

Maybe I'll have to go your route and upgrade to more expensive shooters?

Danny

 

[Dave McCracken]

Once upon a time, Danny, I had $350 sunk into a gold top Les Paul Gibson and another $200 sunk into a super strong case with 5, repeat, 5, padlocks. The idea was that despite casual theft, and baggage gorillas, I'd always have that guitar or another well protected.

Wish I still had both of them.

Look on Evil Bay for Americases. Also check your friendly local gun shop. Oft they have cases stuck away somewhere.

And upgrade is a slippery concept.....

 

[dmarbell]

Les Paul

Dave,

Yeah, if you had the guitar and case now you could trade them for a very nice gun!!

At my age, about 10 years younger than you, I bought a cheap banjo to learn on, about $200. I'm now looking at it like this: $200 buys a lot of ammo or reloading supplies.

Danny

 

[Dave McCracken]

Actually, Danny, I'd probably just play it.

Did find out that if I still had my 1958 ES335 Gibson it'd be worth well into 5 figures. Oh well....

 

[IDriveB5]

Beautiful 870! Would love to have one like that.

Here is what I did with my Classic Trap:

Limbsaver pad to fit Rem700, hard rubber stock spacer from Brownell's to add a 1/2". Positioned for a little more drop at the heal. The pad is slightly smaller than the original pad, but not too noticable, and allowed me to add the extra little drop.



(thats NOT a big gash in the side of the stock, just light reflection from a hastily set up pic )

 

[Dave McCracken]

Looks good, B5. What's the LOP now?.....

 

[IDriveB5]

Comes in at just a hair under 15". The 1/2" extra drop at the heel helps a lot too. The SM is just about the same with its straight stock. Really got to get out and pattern both of the 870s. Last time I went out they were having some winter league competition and 2 was being used

 

[dmarbell]

My 870TB

My 870TB and I shot our 3rd and 4th round of trap (ever) today. First 25 I had my new slip on Limbsaver over the existing Remington pad. LOP felt awkward, it was cold and I had t-shirt, sweatshirt, light jacket and shooting mesh jacket with gel pad. I hit more than I missed, but missed all five from station five.

Took off the slip on and shot 24. I am hooked forever.

I now have new prescription glasses for far vision, a spot on the left lens to stop me from peeking at the barrel and a wonderful trap gun that will bust any clay that happens to get in the way, by accident or otherwise. What a great life!

By the way, I have found trap to be a more congenial game than SC so far. Is skeet the same?

Danny

 

[Oldnamvet]

Congenial? All depends on who you shoot with. You'll find determined competitors in any of the areas. Sometimes they are so determined that it takes the fun out of it. Guys I shoot with don't even bother to keep score, and they are very good. We just enjoy ourselves. Biggest hassle to date for one guy was when he lost his straight by missing low 7 in skeet.:banghead:

 

[dmarbell]

Congenial

I should have said, more congenial SO FAR. Tomorrow is an ATA trap shoot at our club. Let's see how that goes. I adapted an engineering joke as follows: What's the definition of an outgoing trap shooter? One who looks at YOUR shoes when your talking to him/her.

I have a question about the shoot, though. The only guns I have to shoot trap doubles are 870TB and 11-87 SC. The TB is 30" fixed full and the 11-87 has IM choke (the most constricted). I plan to shoot 16 yard and maybe handicap (no count, or whatever it's called) with the TB. Is it kosher to shoot the 11-87 at doubles and hope the person to my right is tolerant? I bought a shell catcher, but it doesn't work at doubles, does it? It's new, so I haven't tried it. Is there a homemade deflector I can make tonight, or should I just forego the doubles?

Danny

 

[Dave McCracken]

Yes you do, B5, but you know that. I bet that stock will work for you with a little more BA/UU/R....

Glad the TB is working out, Danny. As to the 87 on doubles, where are the hulls landing? Some Remingtons are trained to toss the empties forward a bit.

Some 1100s were fitted with a wire that directed the hull down so it landed between posts.

While Trapshooters have a rep of being grumpy old guys, most I know are congenial if laconic on the line. The voice mikes discourage banter. Off line they are great company.

Even more taciturn are benchresters, who seem to be the most introverted of the shooting groups to me.

 

[dmarbell]

Trap Shoot

I joined the ATA yesterday and shot in my first event. I have been shooting some SC, but I’m new to trap. I shot singles (82/100) and 22 yard penalty handicap (61/100).

Dave, BTW I watched some semi-auto shooters, and the hulls didn't reach the next shooter. They might have rolled in front of shooter, but never peppered anybody. I met some really nice, helpful people who won't mind standing next to my 11-87 to see if it's a problem. Great bunch of people there. One more note: shot my first handicap round ever. The lady shooter to my left was shooting 24 yards, I was at 22. The guy to my right kept putting the voice-act. speaker near the 22 yard mark, so I did the same for the lady behind me when I thought about it. Mostly I didn't or forgot to, as I was concentrating on so much stuff. AFTER the 100 shots, the squad leader told me it was customary to pull the stuff for the next shooter. I felt like someone who drank soup from his bowl at a formal dinner! But, I wondered to myself why the squad leader waited so long to tell me. Maybe he didn't notice earlier, or was being nice to me so as to not distract me after any of the 25 rounders? Anyway, now I know!

I have strong binocular vision, so I am shooting with a spot on my left lens. It’s the best method I have found so far to stop me from looking at the barrel. However, I found that my peripheral vision was lacking with the gun pre-mounted. Picking up the target was sometimes slow.

Is there a book or video that teaches the proper mount for trap? Is this mount different from SC mount? I feel like I must have been putting my face down to the stock, instead of mounting stock to cheek, but I couldn’t adjust in the middle of the shoot. Any suggestions?

Danny