Dave, Anybody.....What does it mean when.......

[cslinger]

Ok here is the background we currently own two pump shotguns, my 870MM and my wife's Benelli Nova SP.

Now I am pretty natural around firearms and can shoot just about anything well enough. Bring in the NOVA.

Now I have shot many a pump gun and never had a problem short shucking ever. With the NOVA it seems like quite often I find myself short shucking the gun. What basically happens is the shell seems to get hung up on the forward movement of the pump. The shells in question are your standard cheap bulk Federal/Winchester super light target loads.

So what's going on???? Does the gun just not fit me??? My wife does just fine with it and gets quite the chuckle out of the fact that I can't seem to shoot her shotgun. I love the NOVA, love the sights etc. but what is going on with the operator??????

So any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong or do you think that that the gun just doesn't fit me. I will say that the stock is too long for me and I prefer the 870 for this reason. Actually I am just kind of an 870 kind of guy but that's another story.

How would I overcome this, or can I? It's not a problem since the gun is her's so to speak and mine is the 870. It's just kind of an ego/damn it what is wrong with me thing?

Thanks for any input.

Chris

 

[sm]

I 'm not Dave or Anybody ...

I'm "Nobody" - at your service Sir!

It does in fact sound by your own admission the Nova does not fit you because the stock is too long.

Is the forearm in need of being shortened where it comes back over feeding area? We have to shorten the syn 870 ones....the wood ones do not cause problems.

We have hashed gun fit and how the gun balances between the hands. It is different when "shouldering" in a store and in actual use. We humans tend to scrunch around without knowing it - when trying something out. In Real use wer don't have time to "adapt to and scrunch around" . So we miss, short shuck or whatever.

I'm 6' and have 33/34 sleeve length . My Competiton guns I had 14 3/4 " LOP , I can shoot 15" LOP. I used to shoot with a BIG fellow that used 15 1/2 " , I would short shuck his 870 Trap gun - didn't fit me. The "between the hands" feel was not there.

That is why often on Serious SGs we use a shorter LOP , allows for vests and stuff that increase LOP.

My only thought would be to practice mounting, shucking and dryfiring her Nova. Ingrain the brain and muscle memory.

I personally shuck a "corncob" fore arm better than the standard 870 forearm. Same gun, Just change Fore arms and I shoot faster, less chance of short shuck....etc.

Like one see's on a Model 12, 37 ...etc.

I need to see if Boyd's still has these avail myself.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Try different shells. There's occasional ammo/gun incompatibilities which can cause the symptoms you wrote.

Or, go back to your 870 and apologize.

Maybe both...