My intro to shotgunning

[MrSpiffy]

For my first post in the shotgun forum, I just wanted to say hi.

I tried just shooting shooting some clays a few weeks ago and was instantly hooked! Since then I've picked up a new 870 Express to try my hand at the clay sports. I'm still pretty new to guns in general, but enjoy shooting a lot, and think I'll have a blast shooting clays. I haven't had another chance to go and shoot, yet, as it's frickin' freezing here in Wisconsin. But I can't wait to go as soon as I can. It came with a mod choke. Will that be fine to start with? Or should I look at something a little less constricting as I'm learning?

Anyway, here's my newest acquisition! Remington 870 Express synthetic w/ 28" barrel



And for anyone curious about the rest of my small collection:

 

[Milkmaster]

Welcome to the forum of shotgun lovers!

You didn't say if you were hand throwing the clays or at an actual trap course etc. I find that manually thrown clays even with a portable thrower from a guy next to you are going to be much closer than those from a trap range. That modified choke will be fine for now. There is plenty of time for changes later that may improve your scores. Find someone experienced locally to help you learn the clay games. The the whole clay target hobby will open up to you and provide a lifetime of fun and expenses. Some guys shoot with muti-thousand dollar shotguns, and others shoot with exactly the same gun as you bought. Sometimes there isn't a bit of difference in the scores! Practice and learn to use your new shotgun. That is the biggest factor and even more important for now than the choke.


Enjoy!

 

[MrSpiffy]

At the range we went to, they had a trap range with hand-fired throwing machines that could do doubles, if desired. And even though I was thoroughly awful (What can you expect your first time ever shooting a shotgun?), I still managed to break a few clays. I admit that seeing that little orange disc flying apart was fun! And once it warms up I definitely intend on getting in some practice. (I spent a few minutes today just aiming the shotgun along the ceiling lines, like Dave McC and sm (along with others) have mentioned doing for aiming practice.)

Thanks for the warm welcome!

 

[bgeddes]

The Remington you bought is about the single best universal firearm available (tied with the Mossy 500), in my opinion. You can hunt almost anything in North America, small game to Whitetails, even waterfowl. With a second, shorter barrel, it is a great home defense weapon.

Congrats, and be sure to will the shotgun to someone, it will still be a good gun beyond our days.

 

[Snarlingiron]

Yep, the modified will be good to start with. Congratulations on a great shotgun. Follow Dave McCracken's Mantra, BA/UU/R.

Buy ammo/use up/repeat

As you gain experience, you may want to add to your choke selection.

 

[chute2thrill]

practice with that gun and the evil clays will no longer be a problem... great choice...

 

[throdgrain]

You know if they arn't expensive I think I'd buy a Imp Cyl choke for clays to begin with, might make life a bit easier.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Welcome aboard! Shotgunning is an open ended activity, you can make as much of it as you want or stick to some basic stuff. It's all good.

Here's a list of what your fine shotgun needs.

Ammo.

Range time and frequent exercise.

And some time, pick up an IC tube and maybe a Full also.

Enjoy....

 

[Shotgun Dave]

MrSpiffy

Welcome to the forum Mr.Spiffy,

Listen to milkmaster and Dave, they really know their stuff. I have learned so much in the past three months via these folk's advice. I am new to clay shooting also. I had one goal in mind and that was to beat the "best shooter" in our little group and last weekend I had the supreme pleasure of doing just that. We tied on the skeet range and he picked the five stand range and the toughest shot on the course, straight up! This was to break the tie. I shot both and he missed both. Why I wanted to do this, just don't like the bragger type of person. Anyone can be beat, some days are good, some are not. My whole family is not hooked on this sport, four grown boys and my wife. It does not get any better than that. I was using IC chokes that day and busted 22, which is better than I have ever done before.

Remember opinions are like AH's everyone has one, but these guys shoot straight.

Shotgun Dave

 

[czarjl]

Nice 870, I started out with the exact same setup. It’s a great gun and like bgeddes said you can hunt anything with it. I loved mine for shooting trap… I got some of my best scores with mine. I have acquired other shotguns since I got my first 870 but for some reason when in go to the safe to get a shotgun for what ever I’m doing it is the first one I grab (some times I have to put it back and give one of the others a turn so they don’t feel left out). Its also a great platform to build on, there is no limit to aftermarket accessory you can add if that your desire.

 

[MrSpiffy]

Thanks again to everyone for the warm welcome! I'm definitely looking to have some fun with my 870. I know it'll take some time to become good at handling it, but I'm excited.

Ahhh... my first post noticed by the legendary Dave McCracken! I've been reading your 101 threads quite a bit, even the ones that I'm not really interested in putting into practice just yet. (Like the upland guns, and other hunting advice, reloading, etc.) There's a lot of great stuff in those threads! Thanks for putting those together for us. Did you ever get around to putting that book together..? I saw a lot of teasing on when that book would be done, and I definitely want a copy!

As far as chokes go, I'll try out the mod choke for now. I haven't even shot the gun, yet. If I find it's too tight, or I'm too curious to pass it by, I'll give the IC choke a try and see if it helps. Besides... I like a challenge. So, the mod choke will definitely keep me honest when I'm starting out.

 

[ilmonster]

MrSpiffy, I feel your pain. I live here in Milwaukee and haven't shot clays in two months (actually, I usually shoot pistols indoors during the winter). An 870 is a fine SG to begin the clay sports with, and shoot most anything else with. It'll last the rest of your life. Adding a Skeet, IC and Full choke with prepare you for truly any shooting situation. Mod. or Full will work for trap, Skeet for skeet, and IC for sporting clays and 5 stand. Not sure where in Wis. you live, but if you are ever in the Milwaukee area, I'd be happy to take you to Waukesha Gun Club to try some skeet, trap, 5 stand, etc., although it would be nice if it was, say, 25' out or better! Welcome!

 

[MrSpiffy]

Yeah, I plan to do a little handgun shooting indoors myself. I used to live in the Milwaukee area (Franklin), but have since moved to Madison. There aren't a lot of places to shoot up here, but I plan to join a local club to do some trap, skeet, and target shooting, and maybe even join a league at some point. (No idea when... I've only shot "trap" once, and it wasn't even real trap shooting, just a thrower and some clays. Besides...I've only shot a shotgun once! So leagues may have to wait )

I do head to the Milwaukee area fairly often, as I have family there. So, I'd love to head to the Waukesha Gun Club sometime! I've driven past it, but haven't had a chance to shoot there. Once it warms up a bit, I'd be happy to take you up on the offer.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Aw, "Legendary" is stretching things a bit. Maybe opinionated is closer.....

A couple things...

No book yet. Project on back burner until I can retire again and have time to do it right.

The threads have much in them to digest. And, with a plethora of input on them from folks with centuries of accumulated experience I've little to boast about.

The best teacher here, once one has decent fit and technique, is some ammo and range time. Be safe, have fun and get better.

 

[MrSpiffy]

Thanks, Dave. I definitely look forward to putting in plenty of practice this year. I'm headed for a club orientation tomorrow night, so hopefully my practice time will start shortly! Too bad I don't live near MD, or I'd try to head out to PGC to get some pointers.

Do you (or anyone else) have any pointers on how to properly mount the shotgun? Any diagrams or anything? I know the gun should be in the "pocket between shoulder and chest. But without someone showing me somehow, that's still a little too vague for me to grasp.

 

[Bill of Ojai]

Mr. Spiffy,

I love 870's and have used them for hunting, skeet and trap games. Always believe you can shoot clay games with the gun you hunt with. No real need for multi-thousand dollar specialty shotguns, although they sure are pretty!

Shotgunning is different than rifles. With the gun securely mounted in your shoulder, lean forward at the waist as you shoot. This will eliminate the bruising people complain of.

Any skeet and trap range will have someone who can instruct you on the games. Stance, leads, aiming, etc. It's worth the time and money for a little pro instruction.

Have a blast!

 

[sohcgt2]

Get the Imp/Cyl choke and get to know your local range operator/pro. They probably won't give you lessons for free but you can get a few pointers by being friendly, and don't forget to pattern with all your chokes at several distances. Most skeet/trap ranges have patterning boards so you can see exactly how wide the shot spreads at a given distance.

 

[MrSpiffy]

Thanks for the advice on stance and posture, Bill. I've read several places recently that have mentioned leaning over the front foot to reduce felt recoil and improve accuracy. I could have used that advice when I first shot a few weeks ago. My shoulder was sore for several days. I'll definitely give that a try.

sohcgt2, I'll keep an eye out for a patterning board, but I don't know if the club I just joined has one or not. And I definitely will try to meet other members and try to get in practice with more experienced shooters to learn from them. Thanks for the tips!

 

[ilmonster]

Also, since you mention that your shoulder was sore for several days after you shot, in addition to leaning into the gun, make sure you use light loads. You're only trying to break a somewhat fragile clay, not kill a goose. I probably wouldn't go any heavier than a 1 oz. light target load (Win. AA or Rem. STS factory loads are great). In fact, if you can find a 7/8 oz. 12 ga. load, that would be even better (that's what I reload on my MEC reloader). No need to beat yourself up with 1 1/8 oz. 3 dram loads like I did the first time I shot a SG 5 yrs. ago, ouch!