How is a low shooting shotgun fixed?

[bernie]

I have a shotgun that I have shot for quite a while and finally patterned once because I was convinced it was not hitting where it was aimed. The pattern center is about a foot and a half low at 40 yards. It has remchoke tubes, and so far, I have only checked the full. I love the gun, but I would like it to shoot properly.
Thanks.

 

[HSMITH]

Bernie, I have owned a PILE of RemChokes that are just plain junk. Out of round, nowhere near the constriction indicated, and just plain old CROOKED!!!!

Get a good choke tube. I have had good luck with Hastings, Briley, Tru-Lock and some others. IMO Hastings is the best bang for the buck in chokes. Then pattern it again. The way you should pattern is to mount and shoot as fast as you can at the target spot you are using for an aiming point. DON'T look to see where it is hitting, just shoot. Shoot a MINIMUM of 5 shots, 10 is better. Mount and shoot the spot, then look away as you load the next. then mount and shoot again. The pattern center will be a big hole, and THAT hole is where your gun shoots for you. When you have done this with a good choke we can help you evaluate what the gun is needing to fit you and hit where you are looking.

PS, this must be done offhand and if this is a hunting gun it needs to be done in your hunting clothes if at all possible.

 

[P95Carry]

I use some Colonials H - how do you rate them? I got them to suit my Baikal and they seem pretty good. I have the knurled ones, including a set for steel.

 

[Sistema1927]

With a shotgun you are looking for a correct stock fit. Length of pull, size of comb, etc. With English guns you can spend quite a bit of money getting a shotgun fitted to your body. Here in the USA we buy shotguns off the rack and then wonder why they won't shoot where they should.

In my own experience, I have found the "standard" stocks to be too short for my stature. The addition of a recoil pad helps some, but while this helps this is still no substitute for having a shotgun tailored to me.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

If there is not a physical problem with the gun, such as a choke tube quality issue or some sort of damage to actually cause the gun to shoot low, then your choices come down to three probable issues.

The first issue is that maybe it is the shooter. Have somebody else shoot the gun for verification, ideally somebody good with a shotgun. If it shoots correctly for that person using the same ammo, then it is likely you causing the gun to shoot below where intended.

Ammo could be an issue. Different loads (shot and powder) can pattern quite differently. This can be verified by trying different types of ammo and loads.

The other aspect is a perspective issue. If not damaged, improperly made, or the ammo, then the gun is shooting where it is supposed to shoot. The problem is not the gun, but the sights. The gun is shooting 'low' relative to where the sights indicate to you where the gun should be hitting. So your correction may be a sights issue.

 

[HSMITH]

Chris, I have never used them.

 

[P95Carry]

Thx H

 

[sm]

HSMITH - Again we agree. I have used NuLine quite a bit , I have use them for mumbley something years. The word "Old" comes to mind...

Chris - Colonials worked fine in my limited use /testing.

Rest of the folks gave great information.

I'm big on gun fit to shooter , as mentioned above eariler , the off the rack gun just may not fit you. Have someone experienced assist, ESPECIALLY an experience gun smith if LOP, pitch, cast ... or installtion of recoil pad is needed.

Unload Gun - Check Thrice, and any time you set it down - check again.

Close eyes and CORRECTLY mount gun to face 3 times, on the fourth - what do you see? Are you looking down the rib, over the rib , or "back of" receiver?

If you do this in front of a mirror , and the gun fits, your eye will be slightly atop the rear looking straight down the rib.

Sometimes shims b/t stock and receiver will be enough...other times more may be required, pitch, cast ( on or off) LOP, etc...

Good Luck

 

[enfield]

Aim high . . .

 

[bernie]

Thanks for all of the input so far guys. The gun does fit me, my eye will fall into the right "groove" every time I shoulder the arm.

As far as aiming "high" goes, that sounds good in theory but it is a little difficult to aim high on a duck that is rapidly falling into the hole that you are hunting. When aiming high, you will not be able to see the duck, and he will zig when you zag.

I have an 870 with another set of remchokes, I will try them this weekend and see if changes any.

 

[bernie]

Just a quick update. I did fire the shotgun today with another full Remchoke that I had. It patterned much more correctly. I never thought a choke tube could screw up the pattern so much! Lesson learned. Long story short, I am going to get a good aftermarket choke tube for my waterfowl hunting.

 

[HSMITH]

Just another strike against Remington. They really need to get their act together.

Glad you got it identified Bernie. I also like a gun that shoots a little high. If with a good choke you still want it a little higher try this: go to your computer/office store and pick up a couple cheap mousepads, one thin and one medium and one thick. Tape them on the stock like the monte carlo cheekpiece on a rifle stock. Odds are very good one of them will put the pattern right where you are looking. You can then figure out what to do for a permanent modification once the correct thickness is known.

 

[sm]

HSMITH -

I have to agree again about the "choke QC".

I used moleskin on combs , being self stick and all. IIRC Pachmyer still make the nice stick on pad - see Lyman> Pachmyer.

You can't hit if you can't see it - gun gotta fit If'n you expect to hit what you see

 

[Jim K]

It is NOT a DIY proposition, but bending the barrel is an option if a gun really shoots way off. Not practical on a sxs or ou double, but will work OK for single barrel guns.

Jim

 

[HSMITH]

Jim, my experience bending barrels has been that they will slowly move back to or nearly to where they were to start with. Target or hard use guns that get hot seem to go back pretty quickly. I have had to bend as many as 5 times to get one to stay close to where I want it. Has this been your experience too?

 

[Jim K]

I have not had a lot of experience bending barrels; as I said, it has been the last resort when everything else fails. In my limited experience, if the barrel goes back it is because it was not bent far enough. There is a fine line there, and every one that worked and stayed was one I was sure I had bent too far and ruined. The first one I did I was really apprehensive, and was prepared to buy the guy a new barrel if it didn't work. It did, and I did maybe a half dozen and never had to buy a barrel.

Jim