Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
I don't do much bird hunting these days, but if the opportunity or need arises....
Those who peruse these threads may recall one from two weeks ago from Supereverb called "Paging Dr McCracken". It concerned swapping stocks.
Long story short,. SR had stumbled on a real deal on a 28 gauge 870 Express. He wanted it for his twins, 8 or 9 years old. The 28 was near new in appearance but the hardwood stock had been modified into a straight grio and was meant for an adult.
Meanwhile back at Casa McC, the kids had not only ignored the 20 gauge 870 Youth Express I had bought for them 10 or 12 years ago, but had the temerity to grow up into young adults. Son's youngest, and he graduates from one of MD's best,albeit expensive, state universities next month. Daughter's in Grad School.
So, we had a shotgun no one could use well, and SR needed a short stock for his kids. You can connect the dots.....
We swapped last Friday in a downpour. I installed the stock and with more foresight than usual placed a shim to add a bit more drop before I tightened things up. With the buttplate and straight grip, it was trim and handy. just long enough to be used by a behemoth. Unless my scale is lying, it comes in at 6 lbs, 2 oz. That's a good lb less than Frankenstein or Number Six, my two wingshooting 870s. However, it balances right at the front of the loading port as they do. IOW, it handles like two shotguns I have plenty of history with.
As for the straight grip, the two doubles I've had with straight grips both shot well for me.
Today was the first time I could shoot it. A couple of boxes of 7/8 oz loads from Ye Ammo Stashe, 7.5s in Remington Game Loads and 8s in AAs traveled to PCC with me and the usual 12 gauge stuff.
I see a hand up. " PGC has that silly 23" barrel minimum rule, sir. Youth Expresses have 21" barrels. Wazzup?"....
I confess. I snuck it onto Range 9 before most of the Geezers showed up and the trapper was elsewhere. The lone Geezer there became a co conspirator when I let him try it out. But first....
Standing at Post 3, I shot Low Gun. I destroyed the first 5 targets,moved past Post 5 and broke my string with a bad mount. I hit three or four more, missed one and moved again. The little 20 pointed like a finger.
And a few times in that string I had flash Satoris where I know the clays are destroyed AS I trigger off the shots. Nigh instinctual insights that I've done it all correctly. Loud Zen.
More Geezers showed, and I showed it off a little. Another Geezer who owns many fine shotguns dry mounted the little 20, raised his eyebrows, mounted again and said just two words with a smile.
"Quail Gun".
I agree.
After the normal convolutions, I snuck it out again when the trapper went to lunch. It did its job nicely when I did mine.
Then, I climbed into the Cherokee and as the big Michelins did their job I enjoyed the ride home, listening to the Allman Brothers' Jessica.
I did a favor for a friend and came out ahead thereby.
Something of little utility here became much more useful and enjoyable,
I must be doing something right....
Those who peruse these threads may recall one from two weeks ago from Supereverb called "Paging Dr McCracken". It concerned swapping stocks.
Long story short,. SR had stumbled on a real deal on a 28 gauge 870 Express. He wanted it for his twins, 8 or 9 years old. The 28 was near new in appearance but the hardwood stock had been modified into a straight grio and was meant for an adult.
Meanwhile back at Casa McC, the kids had not only ignored the 20 gauge 870 Youth Express I had bought for them 10 or 12 years ago, but had the temerity to grow up into young adults. Son's youngest, and he graduates from one of MD's best,albeit expensive, state universities next month. Daughter's in Grad School.
So, we had a shotgun no one could use well, and SR needed a short stock for his kids. You can connect the dots.....
We swapped last Friday in a downpour. I installed the stock and with more foresight than usual placed a shim to add a bit more drop before I tightened things up. With the buttplate and straight grip, it was trim and handy. just long enough to be used by a behemoth. Unless my scale is lying, it comes in at 6 lbs, 2 oz. That's a good lb less than Frankenstein or Number Six, my two wingshooting 870s. However, it balances right at the front of the loading port as they do. IOW, it handles like two shotguns I have plenty of history with.
As for the straight grip, the two doubles I've had with straight grips both shot well for me.
Today was the first time I could shoot it. A couple of boxes of 7/8 oz loads from Ye Ammo Stashe, 7.5s in Remington Game Loads and 8s in AAs traveled to PCC with me and the usual 12 gauge stuff.
I see a hand up. " PGC has that silly 23" barrel minimum rule, sir. Youth Expresses have 21" barrels. Wazzup?"....
I confess. I snuck it onto Range 9 before most of the Geezers showed up and the trapper was elsewhere. The lone Geezer there became a co conspirator when I let him try it out. But first....
Standing at Post 3, I shot Low Gun. I destroyed the first 5 targets,moved past Post 5 and broke my string with a bad mount. I hit three or four more, missed one and moved again. The little 20 pointed like a finger.
And a few times in that string I had flash Satoris where I know the clays are destroyed AS I trigger off the shots. Nigh instinctual insights that I've done it all correctly. Loud Zen.
More Geezers showed, and I showed it off a little. Another Geezer who owns many fine shotguns dry mounted the little 20, raised his eyebrows, mounted again and said just two words with a smile.
"Quail Gun".
I agree.
After the normal convolutions, I snuck it out again when the trapper went to lunch. It did its job nicely when I did mine.
Then, I climbed into the Cherokee and as the big Michelins did their job I enjoyed the ride home, listening to the Allman Brothers' Jessica.
I did a favor for a friend and came out ahead thereby.
Something of little utility here became much more useful and enjoyable,
I must be doing something right....
