You do know that Beretta doesn't recommend using less than 1 1/8 ounce loads in the Xtrema and the A400 right? You should be happy that it feeds them at all, much less with a 98% success rate!
Does Anyone Shoot Pumps Anymore???
- Thread starter 35 Whelen
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You do know that Beretta doesn't recommend using less than 1 1/8 ounce loads in the Xtrema and the A400 right? You should be happy that it feeds them at all, much less with a 98% success rate!
Still Shooting
Member
Comment from a friend
Some years ago, a young friend had invited a group of his customers on a week-long quail hunt. It was at a preserve in Georgia. He didn't own a shotgun, so I asked him what he was going to shoot. He told me one of his customers was going to loan him an 870.
Since I thought very highly of the guy in question, I had loaned him some tools previously. All came back in as good or better shape than when loaned, and on time. So I broke my rule about tools and guns (NEVER loan either to anyone!). I loaned him my 1932 Ainsley Fox 12 for the hunt. He came back and said, "Well, I took a little ribbing the night we got there. The Fox was in the gun rack with a whole lot of Perazzi's and Berettas. But a little after noon on the first day, I found out that after some serious shooting, all those fancy guns turned into single shots, and I still had 2 barrels." He ended the week as high gun in the camp.
I have 3 shotguns: an Ithaca 16ga. pump, an SKB500 20ga. O/U, and the old Fox SxS 12ga. I love the SKB for grouse and woodcock, although the Ithaca does OK there too, and I like my Fox for pheasant - but the Ithaca does pretty well there as well. When wading into quicksand (which I once did, on a very cold morning), the Ithaca is capable of being shook and dried out, and will still take a double on mallards - which it did.
I like my doubles, but I LOVE my pump! I had a Browning Sweet 16 briefly, but only briefly. I shot some trap with it, but it just didn't "come up" for me as well as the Ithaca.
There's theory, and there's practice. And there are experts at trap, skeet, and sporting clays. But I'm no expert, just an old set-in-my-ways bird hunter who likes pumps and doubles (in that order).
Some years ago, a young friend had invited a group of his customers on a week-long quail hunt. It was at a preserve in Georgia. He didn't own a shotgun, so I asked him what he was going to shoot. He told me one of his customers was going to loan him an 870.
Since I thought very highly of the guy in question, I had loaned him some tools previously. All came back in as good or better shape than when loaned, and on time. So I broke my rule about tools and guns (NEVER loan either to anyone!). I loaned him my 1932 Ainsley Fox 12 for the hunt. He came back and said, "Well, I took a little ribbing the night we got there. The Fox was in the gun rack with a whole lot of Perazzi's and Berettas. But a little after noon on the first day, I found out that after some serious shooting, all those fancy guns turned into single shots, and I still had 2 barrels." He ended the week as high gun in the camp.
I have 3 shotguns: an Ithaca 16ga. pump, an SKB500 20ga. O/U, and the old Fox SxS 12ga. I love the SKB for grouse and woodcock, although the Ithaca does OK there too, and I like my Fox for pheasant - but the Ithaca does pretty well there as well. When wading into quicksand (which I once did, on a very cold morning), the Ithaca is capable of being shook and dried out, and will still take a double on mallards - which it did.
I like my doubles, but I LOVE my pump! I had a Browning Sweet 16 briefly, but only briefly. I shot some trap with it, but it just didn't "come up" for me as well as the Ithaca.
There's theory, and there's practice. And there are experts at trap, skeet, and sporting clays. But I'm no expert, just an old set-in-my-ways bird hunter who likes pumps and doubles (in that order).
oneounceload
member
My wife's A400 Xplor - the 3.5" green one - reliably shoots not only my 7/8 loads, but even my 3/4oz ones - if they don't sit out overnight in freezing temps...
Good gun
My favorite and most used shotgun is my 20 ga 870 Special Field. I use it for both bird hunting and clay shooting. I am looking at o/u shotguns right now though. Autos really don't interest me except for maybe an 1100 Special Field in 20 ga. I do see them at the gun shows from time to time.
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35 Whelen
Member
Model 12 Still breaking the devil out of them clays...
Is that an Olan Mills photo?
Just kidding.That Model 12 has a beautiful stock. Is it factory?
35W
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
This will end up doing OK with 7/8 oz loads. It's had less than 1K through it so far. It used to gag on Fed Pinks, but now they flow right on through.
Back to pumps. Has anyone ever worn a name brand pump out?
Anyone?
Back to pumps. Has anyone ever worn a name brand pump out?
Anyone?
Not Olan Mills, but close... You ain't never seen a studio get so quiet until you walk thru the front door with a Model 12. Moms grabbing their kids, one guy slid in behind his wife. Bad part is I called ahead...
The stock is original, but has been high gloss refinished.
snooperman
Member
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I hunt with my favorite Ithacas in 12 & 20 ga..
and also use pump guns around the farm.
and also use pump guns around the farm.
wwace
Member
I wore out my first model 37 in about 1975.
I shot a lot of sub gauge sporting clays with a model 42 replica and a model 12 28ga replica, what nice guns.
As for a clays shotgun a nice O/U is hard to beat. I am selling my only O/U now to buy other guns as I have not shot it in about 10 years. pic below
Autos: a Beretta 390 is probably the best autoloader ever made. Remington 1100 or 11-87 I used to have to change O rings every other week when I shot leagues and a lot of trap. I always kept them clean and they would still have some feed/eject issues. The 390's I have never fail.
The more I read about shotguns, the more surprised I am whenever I read "every household should have one pump shotgun." While I do own one, I wonder if the real thought should be that every household should have one shotgun (or even just one long gun that isn't .22 LR).
Red Cent
Member
A cowboy is never without a pump (or two).
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Skribs, a basic pump shotgun of known make covers so many bases.
Protection, food,fun.
Frankenstein, my over publicized parts 870, has taken game from squirrels to giant Canada geese, gone 50 straight at trap, benches slugs into 2.5" at 50 yards and currently is stoked with buck in case The Revolution starts without me.
That's versatility.
Protection, food,fun.
Frankenstein, my over publicized parts 870, has taken game from squirrels to giant Canada geese, gone 50 straight at trap, benches slugs into 2.5" at 50 yards and currently is stoked with buck in case The Revolution starts without me.
That's versatility.
snooperman
Member
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I have to agree with Dave on this one,, a pump
in 12 ga is hard to beat for versatility and reliability. My old Rem 870 and Ithaca 37 in 12 ga are more than 50 years old and have never failed me after hundreds of hunts and thousands of rounds fired in general use. When I go to gun shows and gun shops 12 ga pump guns far out number all other types available and with reasonable prices. What is not to like about a good pump gun?
in 12 ga is hard to beat for versatility and reliability. My old Rem 870 and Ithaca 37 in 12 ga are more than 50 years old and have never failed me after hundreds of hunts and thousands of rounds fired in general use. When I go to gun shows and gun shops 12 ga pump guns far out number all other types available and with reasonable prices. What is not to like about a good pump gun?
I know it's versatile, but the belief that "every household should have a pump shotgun"...you can have fun and protection with things besides a pump shotgun. You can have a semi-auto or double-barrel or single shot, or you can have a rifle.
A lot of people (like me) don't hunt, and have no use for a lot of what a pump offers. All of my firearms are for both protection and fun (why I don't own any .22s). I feel that since I have a semi-auto shotgun, or if I had a rifle instead (be it a lever-action .357 or an AR/AK-type), that I wouldn't need a pump shotgun.
I do have a pump, but I think the "everyone should have a pump shotgun" is too narrow a scope. I think everyone should have a HD long gun, not specifically a pump.
A lot of people (like me) don't hunt, and have no use for a lot of what a pump offers. All of my firearms are for both protection and fun (why I don't own any .22s). I feel that since I have a semi-auto shotgun, or if I had a rifle instead (be it a lever-action .357 or an AR/AK-type), that I wouldn't need a pump shotgun.
I do have a pump, but I think the "everyone should have a pump shotgun" is too narrow a scope. I think everyone should have a HD long gun, not specifically a pump.
Got a Remington 870 when i got sick of seeing cracks in the old used guns stocks i had before.
Use it for everything, skeet, plinkin, huntin and works well most of the time
I think i need to polish the cartridge place in barrel so the cheap ones will not stick in it.
Use it for everything, skeet, plinkin, huntin and works well most of the time
I think i need to polish the cartridge place in barrel so the cheap ones will not stick in it.
oneounceload
member
I would agree with this statement. I have a HD pump somewhere in the back of the closet - my primary is a handgun of various types. My shotguns are for targets and upland, my handguns for SD/HD/plinking, my rifles for hunting/plinking.
It is hard to argue that a pump isn't a decent gun for all around; however, while it is a good jack-of-all-trades, IMO, I find it to be a master of none. Shoot targets with one? Sure, but there are much better built and balanced guns for that. Hunt upland? Sure, but there are better built, balanced and LIGHTER guns for that - waterfowl? Give me a semi. HD? Excellent choice, but again, some folks prefer the compactness of a handgun, while others prefer the less penetrating small cartridge rifle
Where the pump shines is in its cost compared to the other better choices. For someone who has limited funds and therefore only needs a tool, not something for fun, a pump can be a great choice
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