Fun and Equipment Failure......

[Dave McCracken]

Things have backed up dearly here lately. But today found me off work, the honeydews under control and a trio of Gun Club boxes needing the shells removed and used. So, off to PGC rode I. And instead of the Beretta O/U that's been my clays gun these few years, I took Frankenstein.

Foe those new here, Frankenstein is a parts 870 that had maybe 7 or 8 parent guns.

The finishes do not match, a piece of camo tape hides a hole in the stock, and only love would find it pretty.

I built it close to 20 years ago, and it's held up its end all the time. A good amount of food was gained thereby, and much fun.

But, the Beretta is a slightly better choice for clays.The extra weight and forward balance makes the swing keep on as it must,while Frankenstein's 26" LC barrel and corncob forend are more responsive to the gyres and gymbals of a live bird.

If the Beretta is a cavalry saber, my mutt 870's a rapier.

So after finding out 4 shots into a round that Range 7s wobble launcher was gerbusted, I set up with a couple trapshooters I knew and commenced to make noise joyfully.

Sometimes I get on the range as on a mission. I have a goal,oft to work on a given kind of angle or presentation. Today, it was to reacquaint myself with an old and valued companion.

I shot two rounds of trap and did not disgrace myself in good company. Both the guys I shot with are registered trapshooters, and their specialized tools were an interesting contrast to Frank and me.

Ever see a Sietz? They start well into 5 figures new, and this one had been new until Ernie skipped lunch for a decade or so and bought it. With the adjustable comb raised well up and some English applied to the butt plate, it fit him well and the scores showed it.

Jack had a nice Beretta top single well fitted, and also ground out a good score.

Me, I started with the butt trapped in my armpit and shot focused on the bird. Better of two rounds was 21/25.

After the guys had shot a handicap round, I got range 8 all to myself. With my last box, I decided to kick it up a notch.

Pushing the LM choke's capabilities at both ends, I shot from right behind the trap and took them rising like quail.

Dust.

Then I moved back to about the 21 yard line and out past both 1 and 5. The presentations were more like crossers than straightaways, and I enjoyed every shot regardless of score. Some misses happened, but enough broke to make me happy and help my angle shots.

As I wound it up, I thought that fun comes in many flavors.

Keeping things fun will do more for scores and expertise than any grim faced grinding out targets will.

I cased my old companion and noted the fiber optic bead had gone away at some point.

Guess I really do focus on the bird....

 

[Snarlingiron]

Well, Dave, it is strong affirmation indeed of the often quoted "It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian."

Of course, if the Native Americans that first confronted the Pilgrims had modern archery equipment, the poor Pilgrims probably would have not had a prayer.

I work with a guy that I taught to shoot a shotgun. He, at my advising bought an 870 Express. He steadfastly refuses to use anything else. I have a number of autoloaders, and when I offer one of them he always insists on using his 870. GOOD FOR HIM! He gets it. This is his only shotgun. He wants to learn to use it as best he can.

I cased my old companion and noted the fiber optic bead had gone away at some point.

Same thing happened to a buddy of mine recently. His conclusion was that it really didn't' matter. We had been shooting all day, and he really didn't have a clue as to when it fell off.

Good stuff, Dave. Next time out I'm going to pick up on of the less used shotguns. Maybe the Remington 11. Or even the Stoeger M2000. I can't do the pump guns on clays anymore. Makes my left elbow hurt like all get out, but mixing it up just adds to the fun, and the quiver.

 

[smithmax]

Dave, what's the story behind the building of your 870? Are there pics around here of it?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, Snarlin'. I have some spare beads around here somewhere, though I may be out of green. I'll put another in. Testing shows my scores stay the same but my hits get a bit stronger.

Smithmax, in the floaters at the top; look for one labelled "A Kitchen Table 870".

And the archives here have an old thread by me called "Some Pics".

Frankenstein is the most overpublicized 870 on the net, but that junkyard mutt of a pumpgun doth shoot when I do my part.