got a shotgun - now, what can i *do* with it? or... tell me about shotgun games.

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pauli

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thanks to a deal with a very generous high roader, i've now got a shotgun - a 28", mod choke, 3" chamber, 12ga nef pardner. fifteen or so years old, apparently, and never been fired. based on what i've read here, i'm trying to find some johnson's floor wax to put on the blued barrel and reciever (which appears to have some sort of color case finish, though presumably not case hardened). but beyond that... i'm trying to figure out how best to learn to use it. i'm proud to say i've figured out how to work the action all on my own ;)

now, going to the range with some light birdshot loads seems logical enough (assuming i can find them, but hopefully one of you guys will tell me there's a value pack at walmart with my name on it). after that, though... putting hundreds of holes in the same piece of paper seems somewhat quixotic. slugs would make it something more familar to me (one shot, one hole), but this thing can't weigh more than six pounds - and i'm foolish, but not that foolish.

so, i'm wondering about the various shotgun games. there seem to be several to choose from, and i know little about any of them. are any suitable for someone wielding a single shot? is it suitable for shotgun 101?

a pump gun is clearly in my future, but right now my wallet says "you've already got a shotgun!"
 
Skeet, trap, sporting clays, five-stand, I think there's another one or two.

There's three-gun comps too.

Very fun. A small, moving target is much more fun than putting holes in paper, though you'll do some of that, for finding your pattern.
 
... 28", mod choke, 3" chamber, 12ga nef pardner.
pauli - Even though this a Single shot - shotgun you have a most unique tool.

Right up front , I'm going to honest - Clay games were doubles are thrown you will be handicapped. That said , many times with perrmisson beforehand , the rest of the squad will allow to shoot single targets only.

What you have is a great learning tool, many scoff and laugh at the fixed choke Single Shot, you have a chance to really learn some stuff.

First - DO NOT even consider changing the bbl length on that gun. Besides the BATF woes, you will lose the choke, and end up with something that is a tad better than worthless.

-Get a copy of Bristers' Book. Read up , especially the section or Chokes, loads, patterns...

- IME/ IMO for the guns similar to yours that I have patterned, the 2 3/4 dr 1oz "light " target loads ( hard shot) are very very good for tight patterns at trap, doves and such. The promo "dove and quail " load from Rem, ( really soft and crappy chilled shot) patterend akin to IC . Fed Bulk pack , the 3 dr 1 1/8 oz load in #8 is good too.

-2 3/4" Fed 1oz Forster slugs...*grin*....venison anyone?

YOUR gun may very well be different. That is why you have such a GREAT gun .Fixed modified choke means , when you pattern the gun , you will see quicker the differences in loadings for task, distances shot at and so on.

Choke Spinners don't always learn this lesson....they have chokes and spinners tho' ;)

You would not believe the # of folks I had doing "Correct" mounting gun to face drills with single shots. A very safe gun to make sure unloaded for this. It amazed these folks, how the mounting drills increased stamina, and when they actually shot the SS how good they were with it. It really helped on the repeaters they borrowed or rented at ranges.

FWIW....My mom uses the 20 ga version for HD. Her NEF , throws some of the best patterns AND slug groups I have ever seen. I have shot / patterned many a gun. Some folks' guns I patterened - with more money than the price of a NEF, for choke work and such - that would not shoot as good as hers out of the box.
 
Congrats, you've a good shotgun. It'll work well for trap singles, wobble, and all singles in Sporting Clays, etc. Go shoot the heck out of it.

Best to stick with lighter loads.
 
Congratualtions. A trap range on singles and wobbles would be a great place to play as it's a single shot game. just go buy a bunch of the Wal Mart value pack in the lightest loads and shoot the heck out of it. Watch some other shooters and there will usually be a nice older fellow around who'll give you some pointers that will be worth their weight in gold.

A slip on recoil pad or a vest with a pad is a good investment too, makes it much more pleasant.
 
... 28", mod choke, 3" chamber, 12ga nef pardner.

I think he means the new Chinese pumpgun that NEF's introduced.

Right?... :scrutiny:

That said, I might consider trimming the barrels down to 22-24" & getting screw-in chokes installed. Or (if it's the same type of Chinese clone as the Norincos), you may be able to have 870 barrels fitted---ask a gunsmith for sure.


As for games, everyone's listed some good ones. My personal favorite is "Produce Skeet".

Go by your local grocery store. Get as many out-of-date fruits as you can cheaply--some will even give them to you free if you ask. Watermelon, honeydews, & cantelopes work best.

Find a deserted stretch of land w/ plenty of space b/t yourself & anyone else.

Set up your produce on the ground for static targets. If you're more daring, rig up a slingshot to launch them into the air.

Shoot 'em all.

Best of all, you leave the mess there for all the animals to "clean up"... :D

Try it sometime...
 
seeker_two dang you ! :D

< scratches chin, gets up ..walk...open drawer...dig , dig, finds it..drops it....picks it up....walks back...>

2004 Sporting Firearms : H&R 1871 , LLC / NEF

:confused: why did they use the name "Pardner" For two different platforms:confused:

New Pardner Pump ( model NP1-228) 12 ga , American Walnut, 28 " vent rib, 3" chamber, Front bead, Screw in Choke ( comes with Mod) , ....etc.

Then we have Pardner , Pardner Youth, Turkey, Youth Turkey, Waterfowl.- Single shot .

:scrutiny:
 
no, it's a break action single shot, not the new pump.

thanks for the advice guys. i've been trying to find brister's book for some time... no luck yet. did find a copy of sixguns at the last gunshow, but keith!=brister ;)

Find a deserted stretch of land w/ plenty of space b/t yourself & anyone else.

deserted stretch of land... in nothern virginia. hehehehe. i wish :(
 
pauli ,

Thanks for clearing that up for us.

Seems like some member keeps suggesting that Brister Book....I have had good sucess - and others have as well according to feedback -

www.abebooks.com

HTH,

[I need to take my own suggestion, I need Two more Brister Books and Phil Sharpe's... "Complete Guide To Handloading" myself]
 
Up until April of this year I owned the exact model of shotgun that you do now, and loved it. I will, however, reccomend a slip-on recoil pad. You'll thank me later. I promise.
 
you know, i actually had a dream about my shotgun last night... i was stuck in a house (mine, but laid out completely differently), and a group of people i was with was being terrorized by velociraptors. we solved this, however, when we got someone to go to the gun shop and get a box of magnum slugs. as this was a dream, they were quite pleasant to fire, but did a number on the velociraptors (and a wolf that showed up somehow).

so, even the single shot is good for peace of mind ;)
 
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