johnmcl
Member
Hi all,
The week began well. A friend sold me his 870 TB early on Monday. It wasn't easy for him. In fact, I don't think the sale was final until he saw me shoot the gun. I kind of think he was checking me out, not unlike a date for his little girl. Things like handling the gun with honor and respect seemed to be more important this Monday than others. After a couple of warm handshakes, a round of trap and a few dollars, this gun and I were headed back to Virginia.
This gun is a work of art. Made in 1978 as a trap guy's trap gun, there's no extra tubes or pricey chokes here. Just a honking 30 inch ribbed barrel with a fixed choke. Then there's that legendary action that old 870's have and other guns only wish for. I can tell a gunsmith working for the love of the sport added a few points of elegance. There's an adjustable stock, a nice trigger job, and I can tell the barrel has been worked.
I run a Tuesday night trap league. I thought that the next league shoot would be the first opportunity for a test run, but my patience wouldn't allow it. I found myself on the trap range only a few hours after getting out of PRMD. So, a few days early, let's get onto the report:
This was a cool April afternoon, with 45 degrees of temperature and almost no wind. The sky was bright and the orange birds brighter. The trap range faces north. Federal 12 ga ammo is used today. I'm using a standard round of trap.
I noticed that one has to shoot lower than the 'barrel covers the bird' rule on my 11-87. I have found that about two clay's width is a good separation for me. I don't know if this is a function of the barrel to stock alignment, or the monte carlo stock alone. (Maybe someone can tell me....). In short, if I take my time and keep good separation, the gun does its job each and every time.
I like the adjustable stock. At first I was not so sure, but I noticed the gun swings and points better. (Ok, I do the swinging and pointing, the gun's just sitting there minding its own business, but you get the idea....) It is a function of weight and balance. The weight allows for a smoother swing and the pointing is a function of primarily balance. All things considered, this is a smooth gun to shoot.
On accuracy I have the distinct feeling I have the same problem with this gun as I do with my Garand. That gun shoots an order of magnitude better than I. The new aiming separation was something to work on, and I still overshoot the straight aways, but a pair of 20s with a new gun is not too bad at all.
Not all things are good, as with life. This gun is heavy. But for a guy that likes Glock 21s and Garands, this shotty seems pretty much in character. The other negative is that I should have bought a gun like this 10 years ago.
When I got out onto the range with this gun, I had my son in tow with his light 20. I caught him looking at this gun as I was shooting. This is one I'll know he'll be shooting with his kids, telling them about their crazy grand dad...
You know who you are. Thank you..
The week began well. A friend sold me his 870 TB early on Monday. It wasn't easy for him. In fact, I don't think the sale was final until he saw me shoot the gun. I kind of think he was checking me out, not unlike a date for his little girl. Things like handling the gun with honor and respect seemed to be more important this Monday than others. After a couple of warm handshakes, a round of trap and a few dollars, this gun and I were headed back to Virginia.
This gun is a work of art. Made in 1978 as a trap guy's trap gun, there's no extra tubes or pricey chokes here. Just a honking 30 inch ribbed barrel with a fixed choke. Then there's that legendary action that old 870's have and other guns only wish for. I can tell a gunsmith working for the love of the sport added a few points of elegance. There's an adjustable stock, a nice trigger job, and I can tell the barrel has been worked.
I run a Tuesday night trap league. I thought that the next league shoot would be the first opportunity for a test run, but my patience wouldn't allow it. I found myself on the trap range only a few hours after getting out of PRMD. So, a few days early, let's get onto the report:
This was a cool April afternoon, with 45 degrees of temperature and almost no wind. The sky was bright and the orange birds brighter. The trap range faces north. Federal 12 ga ammo is used today. I'm using a standard round of trap.
I noticed that one has to shoot lower than the 'barrel covers the bird' rule on my 11-87. I have found that about two clay's width is a good separation for me. I don't know if this is a function of the barrel to stock alignment, or the monte carlo stock alone. (Maybe someone can tell me....). In short, if I take my time and keep good separation, the gun does its job each and every time.
I like the adjustable stock. At first I was not so sure, but I noticed the gun swings and points better. (Ok, I do the swinging and pointing, the gun's just sitting there minding its own business, but you get the idea....) It is a function of weight and balance. The weight allows for a smoother swing and the pointing is a function of primarily balance. All things considered, this is a smooth gun to shoot.
On accuracy I have the distinct feeling I have the same problem with this gun as I do with my Garand. That gun shoots an order of magnitude better than I. The new aiming separation was something to work on, and I still overshoot the straight aways, but a pair of 20s with a new gun is not too bad at all.
Not all things are good, as with life. This gun is heavy. But for a guy that likes Glock 21s and Garands, this shotty seems pretty much in character. The other negative is that I should have bought a gun like this 10 years ago.
When I got out onto the range with this gun, I had my son in tow with his light 20. I caught him looking at this gun as I was shooting. This is one I'll know he'll be shooting with his kids, telling them about their crazy grand dad...
You know who you are. Thank you..
