Thank you all (from TFL, THR & GT) that have helped me in my shotgun selection process. Was that a hard decision or what? The Rem. 870 Marine is on the way! Now that the hardware issue is settled, I need help in the most crucial part of shotgunning: software. I will like to start as a baby that I am (in shotgunning that is). Crawl first then on and on. My primary objective is home defense with hunting a distant second. What will be the best shells to start learning with, what do I need to know about this gun and its usage that are not usually stated in the manuals? From my experience with handgunning, I know that practice, practice and some more practice is the golden rule. How about dry practicing with shotgun? What do you sages say.
Hardware in, now What?
- Thread starter hunter44
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I would head down to the local Wal Mart (or your local gun store) and buy up about 1000 shells of their cheapest target loads. ($14.88 for 100 Win or Rem from Wal Mart) Get the lightest loads possible.
They don't kick much and are great to get the handling / mounting / shooting and loading of the SG down.
Also grab some of the ammo you want for HD and pattern the gun and play with that too. I think I have stuffed about 600-800 rounds of 00 buck through my new SG in the last 4 months or so.
I also purchased a couple of instruction videos (Awerbuck etc.) for basic "serious" Shotgun HomeDdefense techniques. My wife and I practice shooting / reloading on the move (if possible where you shoot), from cover etc. Doing things like only ever loading the SG as you would in a HD situation (Dave McCracken has excellent posts on how to do this and many other things), seem to help with creating the necessary combat type habits / muscle memory.
It was great to see how my wife went from handling the SG quite timidly to nailing an humanoid target at 20 paces with full power buck with all 8 rounds while on the move (close to a jog run) at a 45 degree angle (moving to cover)....
She’s a good girl!
Shooting with light loads is important at first. Although I found that putting some 3" magnum buckshot and slugs through the gun quickly corrects incorrect stance and technique.
Above all else though, shoot that gun as much as you possibly can.
Regards,
HS/LD
Edited my spelling
They don't kick much and are great to get the handling / mounting / shooting and loading of the SG down.
Also grab some of the ammo you want for HD and pattern the gun and play with that too. I think I have stuffed about 600-800 rounds of 00 buck through my new SG in the last 4 months or so.
I also purchased a couple of instruction videos (Awerbuck etc.) for basic "serious" Shotgun HomeDdefense techniques. My wife and I practice shooting / reloading on the move (if possible where you shoot), from cover etc. Doing things like only ever loading the SG as you would in a HD situation (Dave McCracken has excellent posts on how to do this and many other things), seem to help with creating the necessary combat type habits / muscle memory.
It was great to see how my wife went from handling the SG quite timidly to nailing an humanoid target at 20 paces with full power buck with all 8 rounds while on the move (close to a jog run) at a 45 degree angle (moving to cover)....
She’s a good girl! Shooting with light loads is important at first. Although I found that putting some 3" magnum buckshot and slugs through the gun quickly corrects incorrect stance and technique.
Above all else though, shoot that gun as much as you possibly can.
Regards,
HS/LD
Edited my spelling
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
The floating threads at the top of the forum have lots of stuff to help a rookie,44. HS nailed most of it, here's the cherry on top...
If one has the right attitude, getting proficient with a shotgun is a simple matter of fit, form and technique. Attitude means committment...
As for what you need to know that's not always in the manuals, the best way is some lessons with a qualified instructor.
Some great shotgunners should never be let near a rookie. Shooting and teaching are two different kettles of fish. A student will do better with a decent shooter with great instructional skiils than he/she will with an uncommunicative Hall of Famer.
Many ranges have an instructor that works well with newbies, call around and see what's available for free or a pittance.
And basic shotgunning is basic shotgunning, whether one's looking to get proficient at clay busting, HD/CD, or hunting in its myriad forms.
Second choice for instruction, the stuff we've got right here. Lots of cognizant folks here, and the only dumb questions are those that do not get asked.
And if anyone's shy, they can PM me, and I'll do my best to answer PDQ....
If one has the right attitude, getting proficient with a shotgun is a simple matter of fit, form and technique. Attitude means committment...
As for what you need to know that's not always in the manuals, the best way is some lessons with a qualified instructor.
Some great shotgunners should never be let near a rookie. Shooting and teaching are two different kettles of fish. A student will do better with a decent shooter with great instructional skiils than he/she will with an uncommunicative Hall of Famer.
Many ranges have an instructor that works well with newbies, call around and see what's available for free or a pittance.
And basic shotgunning is basic shotgunning, whether one's looking to get proficient at clay busting, HD/CD, or hunting in its myriad forms.
Second choice for instruction, the stuff we've got right here. Lots of cognizant folks here, and the only dumb questions are those that do not get asked.
And if anyone's shy, they can PM me, and I'll do my best to answer PDQ....
labgrade
Member In Memoriam
One not answered yet = about dry firing. Go ahead, but I would check the firing pin (takes a couple minutes to do so) before dedicating (again) to HD. Had a pin break once & sent shivers. FWIW & YMMV
The more you can look at a target, mount & be instinctively on point, the better. Lots of time holding & mounting makes for good company.
Actually shooting goes a long way too.
BTW, wherabouts in So FL? Have a bud down that-a-way that might provide some 'structions if you'd want.
The more you can look at a target, mount & be instinctively on point, the better. Lots of time holding & mounting makes for good company.
Actually shooting goes a long way too.
BTW, wherabouts in So FL? Have a bud down that-a-way that might provide some 'structions if you'd want.
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