N00b question - 870 cycling

[rhenriksen]

I'm very much a beginner when it comes to shotguns. No problem with pistols, but this 12 gauge thing is a very different experience!

I've got a new 870 TAC-2, stock - just the front bead sight. When I shoot it, two things occur:

a) plenty of muzzle rise, and a nice cheek slap even though I have the stock at almost full extension. I haven't had a spotter to watch, but I suspect that the stock is rising up, rather than the receiver coming back to hit me. It's more of an uppercut impact.

b) I think I'm pulling the gun back into my shoulder with both my shooting hand and off hand. When I pull the trigger, the fore end comes back unintentionally and the bolt is back halfway or even almost completely to the rear. When I then complete the rearward motion of the fore end (successfully ejecting the shell), there is no round ready to load into the chamber. I have to close the bolt, then do another back/forward of the fore end to load the next round.

Should I be pulling back w. my shooting hand, and pushing forward with my off hand? Any thoughts on the 'cheek slap' (jawbone uppercut)? I'm 5'11", 180#, pretty typical arm length.

thanks,

RNH

 

[Fred Fuller]

I don't know from anything about how you're using the gun, how it fits you etc. All I can tell is from what you've said here.

We give pretty much standard advice to new shotgunners over and over and over and over here. Same thing every time. Here it goes again...

Start CONVENTIONAL. Plain jane. Box stock. No gimmicks, no fuzzy dice, no curb feelers. A plain ordinary shotgun.

Get a gun that FITS. If that means getting help getting a stock fitted to you- get help.

Learn proper form and gun mount. That means hands-on help from someone who knows, and from someone accustomed to helping folks get started.

Start out with LIGHT LOADS.

I bought one of those stocks once upon a time and screwed it onto an 870. I thought it might help in a couple of ways, and I thought my wife might like it. The 'tube' was so thick it prevented a proper cheek weld and basically offset my eye from the proper place. I wasn't impressed by the 'recoil reduction.'

And my wife hated it from the moment she laid hands on it.

That stock didn't even spend the night on the gun. We went back to a properly fitted (for my wife, 12.5" LOP) conventional stock, with a premium recoil pad. That's what works, for us at least. Too short stocks are easier to use effectively than too long stocks. All you have to do when using short stocked shotguns is not wrap your shooting hand thumb around the stock, you keep that thumb parked over on the knuckle of your trigger finger. If you forget where the thumb goes, that thumb will bop you in the schnozz under recoil the first time you pull the trigger and make your eyes water. Next time, you'll remember.

I would suggest you try an 870 with a conventional stock and see how that works. Better yet, an 870 with a conventional stock fitted to you properly with a premium recoil pad. At least it would give you a basis for comparison with what you have. It might let you know what's doing what as far as what you are feeling when you press the trigger is concerned.

And as for the forearm- I shoot pump shotguns 'push-pull.' That means pulling back with the shooting hand, and pushing forward to a degree with the support hand to help control the gun as far as muzzle rise and recoil is concerned. It's sort of like that 'dynamic tension' thing they talk about with two handed grips on pistols sometimes. Proper stance, form and gun mount help control recoil also, the idea with a pumpgun is to 'ride' the recoil and let it help you run the gun. All this is easy to demonstrate in person, and not at all easy to convey with mere words.

As to having to double cycle the action, I frankly think you're short stroking the gun. Pump it back HARD, till the forearm stops. Then pump it forward hard till it stops again. Pump it like it belongs to someone else, in a deliberate two count cycle. One is BACK till it stops, two is FORWARD till it stops. You won't break it. And if it doesn't function then, something is wrong with the gun.

And one more time- start out with light loads...

hth,

lpl

 

[throdgrain]

Lee, for every one of you on this forum there's 10 of the other kind it seems.

I find that a bit dissapointing, but stick with it

 

[chevyforlife21]

it sounds like your puttin a death grip on ur gun and thats part of the problem hold it tight enough that it wont fall outa ur hands but not super strong grip.

 

[oneounceload]

Any thoughts on the 'cheek slap' (jawbone uppercut)

Sounds like your stock doesn't fit properly. What Lee said is very true. Those of us who answer these questions say the same thing every time - the gun must FIT to reduce felt recoil, eliminate cheek slap, and help you hit targets.