Remington 870 thoughts

[Ed/Pa]

Looking at buying a 12 ga. for the wife who has a short LOP. She's been shooting a 20ga.O/U mostly for trap presently. She shot an 870 12ga.last week ( that was cut down) and her scores improved dramatically. The need to step up to a 12 seems emminent. I dont really want to spend a ton of money nor does she need a fancy gun, just one that is fuctionable. My thoughts are an 870 express w/ 28" barrel. No Matter what ,I'd have to cut the stock down and get a better recoil pad...I guess I'm just looking for an approval........your thoughts ? Remember this gun would be for trap and some sporting clays.

 

[ndh87]

Most people generally agree that a semi auto or over and under is best for trap/skeet; however, i have yet to find an inexpensive auto or o/u. I've shot skeet may times with my mossberg 500 and it works just fine. IMO the 870 has a slightly shorter and smoother action. An 870 would be my choice if i needed an inexpensive skeet gun.

 

[IDriveB5]

I don't think you need to step up to a 12ga. The difference between her scores and the difference between 12ga and 20ga may have been coincidental. The difference may have been in gun fit. Were target loads used in both?
The difference between a poorly fitting gun and a well fit shotgun are much greater than 12ga/20ga.

That being said, an 870 would be a great choice, I love both of mine.

 

[Ed/Pa]

IDRIVE////...target loads used in all tests.The 20 fits her fine, I cut it down for her and installed an adjustable butt plate and pad, but 7/8 ounce loads are rough on a new shooter at trap. The 12 with 1 1/8 loads made all the difference in the world. She shot my gun (browning citori) which is way too long for her and smoked 5 out of 5 birds. Then she picked up the cut down 870 wingmaster and did the same. Go figure? I dont think in her case it's as much a case of fit (although very important) as it is with the birds getting out to far on her. The 12 just seems to give her that extra milli-second to get on the birds and crush em.

 

[IDriveB5]

I might try having her pattern both guns and see if there is a difference in point-of-impact in the two guns.
I shoot almost all the clay games with 1oz loads out of my 12ga 870s. I dont think I have ever missed a shot due to the amount of shot I was throwing down range.