do you practice with your home defense shotgun?

[carterbeauford]

I have quite a bit of time behind my Remington 870 in its original form, but have not practiced with it at night or since I converted it to a home defense gun with 18.5" barrel and pistol grips. I put about 25 rounds through it after dark using a Surefire 6P clamped to the magazine the other night. Hitting a B34 target at 25' to 25 yards was no problem. I used both hip shots and "aimed" shots holding it as I would a stocked shotgun and looking down the barrel. Curious as to how others practice with their shotguns.

As a side note, if your shotgun is configured similar to mine, I would recommend a shooting glove for your right hand. Learned that the hard way the next day.

 

[Pilgrim]

I had a pistol grip only shotgun for one day. I replaced the pistol grip with a full stock.

Pilgrim

 

[Dave R]

You mean shooting skeet, trap and sporting clays is not enough?

 

[sm]

It is rumored I do and I have fired a few rds thru a shotgun.

I kilt a charging rabid racoon with a shotgun exactly like the one I keep handy at home recently. A NEF Youth 20 ga single shot. I used a slug, DRT, still I shot him again because Ruark said to.

Last time out with one Shotgun I have with over 200k rds I have fired thru it, I ran ~ 75 slugs and 125 target loads.

About half the slugs shot at steel from the bed of a moving truck, and about half the target loads at skeet targets again while standing in the back of a moving truck. Truck just had to be moving, just keep the truck moving..I ran a straight btw.

Do not ask me what a "normal" round of skeet is...I used to know...

Yes I have reasons to be doing this...same reason I was atop the high house on a skeet field sniping with slugs at small coffee cans out to 50 steps/yards.

[Yes I mean on the HOT tin roof of the sucker...thank goodness for rope and a bunk bed matress...]


See...I turned out all right.

:shotgun smilie:


You should ask some of the ladies I have instructed what all I have them do. Not that I have not instructed guys...just I am selective and I at this prefer to assist ladies.

Like at least 50 and most times 100 repetitions of correctly mounting gun to face , using correct basic fundamentals EVERY day.
Using Dryfire Safety Rules, the gargage has miniature targets and they 1) practice all 8 stations at skeet, 2) various defensive drills.
One other bit they do to get the shotgun "an extension" of themselves" is to go around and do daily activities around the house with a slung shotgun. Cook, vacuum, dust, make beds, laundry, fold clothes, iron...

They too are "all right".


s

 

[Mooseman]

I practice with my shotgun at my local range. It's an 18.5" barrell with a pistol grip. I always shoot from the hip at a range of about 7-10 yards. I find I can hit a man size target easily so I practice fast follow up shots. I'm sure there are better methods out there but this method happens to work for me.

 

[hoji]

I have an 870 Magnum Express that has the 18.5 barrel, full pistol grip stock, mag extension, theworks. I put at least 1000 rounds per year through it, and I work it hard. Recently, I broke the slie assembly tube right off at the threads[ anyone who has had a tactical shotgun course remembers the command " rack it with authority!"} and this is how I train.
I set up moving targets,multiple targets, low light, and shoot / don't shoot.
I train with both buckshot and slugs.

 

[XavierBreath]

I practice moving throughout my home with my shotgun, as well as multiple targets at the range. To me, it is no different than the training I do with my CCW. At home, the shotty is my weapon of choice, so I have to be adept with it. Proficency does not come from watching videos and reading about it. Proficency comes from doing.

 

[Bob F.]

sm: you forgot to tell the kiddies (&NSA & NHTSC) that you were, in fact, wearing a crash helmet and seat belt while poised atop a specially designed safety seat (by Simpson) and wearing your 5.11 Tac gear!

Have shot a few slugs and buck loads, and more target/birdshot loads thru my 870HD, not NEAR enough! Looking forward to one all-day range session soon, with my CCW, 870, and longrifle. Have some cardboard silhouettes, old t-shirts, and ball caps. Range will be 0 to 300yds. Might play a little at 500yds. Roll-over prone to 100yds w/ G-19. Session expected to teach me that I need more practice!

Stay safe.
Bob

 

[carterbeauford]

You mean shooting skeet, trap and sporting clays is not enough?

At night, with a flashlight mounted on the gun? Totally different scenarios.

I can see how drawing across a flying clay target would help if you were aiming down the barrel at a moving BG at any range, during the day.

Unless the shotgun is needed outside my home, however, any shot will be at close range. I wanted to see how close the beam of the flashlight was to my "natural" point of aim shooting from the hip. It was close enough at 25' and under.

I intend on doing this almost as often as I practice with my handguns, just gotta stock up on OSB board I have my own private 450 yard handgun/rifle/shotgun/whatever range, usually the 2x4' 7/16" OSB target lasts thousands of handgun and rifle rounds, about 3 blasts from the 870 and it was done for.

 

[Srigs]

I enjoy firing a few rounds down range trap shooting and at a friends burn pit in his yard. Love to see buckshot pattern on stuff.

 

[sm]

Bob F-

Yeah well...

'Nam Era Steel pot helmet, Flak jacket and Bushnell Avaitor style clear shooting glasses. Goes well with LL Bean Tennis shoes , jeans and blue oxford shirt.
Granted sometimes just straw cowboy hat with Gadsen Flag bandana around my noggin to keep sweat out of my eyes...rawhide shoelace to keep ponytail in place.

 

[ball3006]

No...............

I have shot so much over the last 50 years, I feel comfortable with my shotgun.........I bought my shotgun because it fit me so well that when I 'throw it up' it is right there.......chris3

 

[MadMercS55]

I've done ALOT of shotgun shooting over the years, skeet, just fun, tactical stuff, etc,etc. My main rig is a lightly customized Benelli Nova with tactical sling, light, side saddle, night sights, etc. My backup rig is an 870 with surefire forend. I try to put 5-10rnds through each one about once a month or so, just for function and to keep in touch with them. Last range trip was 10each, 5rnds slug, 5rnds 00 buck.

 

[lycanthrope]

The local range runs an IDPA setup every Thursday and after the pistols run, I'll bring out the shotgun and carbines.

 

[sacp81170a]

I've actually taken a tactical shotgun course(500+ rounds of slug and 00 buck in two days, OUCH!). We qualify with the shotgun every quarter and practice night fire tactical drills. We shoot slugs from 50 yards out, switching to buck at 20 yards as we move in. I've used my duty shotgun and my home shotgun for qualifications, so I know how each patterns and shoots.

 

[allmons]

Absolutely

I practice single assailant, room sweep and clear, then multiple assailant drill with combat reload. Training those muscles to do the same thing every time takes practice.

 

[coolridelude]

i have a 870hd it is full stock. i use it for clay shooting and it has takes 4feral hogs and 4 coyotes. the hogs range from 150-250lbs.


my friend has a wincherster defender 1300 with pistol grip and he uses that to shoot clays and he is very good at it.

we use one of those $40 clayshooters and he can hit 20 out of 25. we try to shoot our SG every weekend but if not it is every other week. we use about 150rds and outing.

 

[crofrog]

If you don't train with your home defense equipment you're a fool.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I feel comfortable with my shotgun but I need a lot more practice with it. You can never practice enough. I've been spending more time with the carry guns lately.
Someday I'd like to get to sm's level of shotgun prowess

 

[shooter429]

Not as much as handguns

Though

I've actually taken a tactical shotgun course

and had many days of sore cheeks and shoulders. Since you changed the gun substantially, it seems like a prudent thing to be practicing with it a bit extra in CQB scenarios.

Shooter429

 

[carterbeauford]

Had a couple requests via PM to see what my setup looks like, here's the best picture I have, I will shoot a better one. I use a TacStar barrel clamp to attach the light.

 

[Mannlicher]

I have been practicing for many years. I prefer an AR shorty to the shotgun though.

 

[Greybeard]

870 Police model tested at least once a season on .... quail - the original "fast movers". Got it threaded for choke tubes that also fit in more commonly used semi.

Coincidently, along with some other "special purpose tools", I just loaded the 870P for a short-notice trip up north of the Canadian River. Old rancher friend called last night and it seems that 5 bull elk have decided that one of his corn fields belongs to them. He said he drove them out with pickup again last night, "herded" them for over 2 miles to run 'em off. And 10 minutes later they were headed back to his corn field.

Yea, it's legal, even in June; elk are considered exotics in Tejas. And my freezers are about 1/2 empty. Hopefully, gonna catch 'em in the right place at the right time and introduce to some objects made by a company named Brenneke.