Short stroking a pump shotgun

[familyman555]

I had a problem this past weekend repeatedly short stroking my pump shotgun. From doing some general internet search it seems like this is a typical problem that crops up in competitions or other stressful rapid fire situations.

Other than going to a semi-auto, there doesnt seem to be a lot of tips around on how to avoid it.

One tip I found was to polish the slide bars so that it is easier to pump.

Another possible help, that I thought of, might be to position your hand farther forward on the slide so you are more likely to fully cycle the action when pulling back.

Are there any other ideas or dry fire drill tips?

 

[rcmodel]

Just get the mind-set that you are trying to break it every time you pump it.

rc

 

[cottonmouth]

+1 RC! Pump it like you are trying to tear it up and it'll do you proud every time. I've done it before while shooting at a turkey. Missed on the first shot, short stroked and it snapped, pumped her again and the ole tom went on over to the old country.

J.B.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

"Bounce" the fore-end off the receiver when you pump. If you do that, you'll KNOW you pumped it all the way.

 

[Boats]

Short stroking is not a design flaw of the pump shotgun, it is a training deficiency of the shooter.

Rack it like you stole it.

 

[CoRoMo]

What they said.
It ain't gonna break, believe me.

 

[WardenWolf]

Slam back, slam forward, fire.

 

[PTK]

Never be gentle with a pump. PUMP that action.

 

[GRIZ22]

Never be gentle with it was how I learned.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Running the bolt on a pump shotgun is a two step or two-count process. People short-stroke pumpguns because they are trying to rush things, to get it done in one step, or one motion.

Count One is to come all the way back with the forearm TILL IT STOPS and you FEEL IT STOP. Feeling it stop is the prompt to reverse direction and close the action briskly, which is Count Two. BACK - FORWARD, One, Two. Make that a conscious part of your practice, and you'll be doing it automatically soon enough.

hth,

lpl

 

[armslist]

I like that, Rack it like you stole it, haha.

 

[Virginian]

Practice.

 

[chas08]

Just get the mind-set that you are trying to break it every time you pump it.

Sounds like you have owned an Ithaca too. (LOL) Good advice.

 

[thunder173]

I'm not a shotgunner or sporting clay's shooter of any variety, but I had occasion not long ago to be invited to a shoot,..showed up with my old Mossberg 500 with a Poly-Choke on a barrel I hadn't had on the old "thumper" in years,..was actually a bit embarrassed about it when I saw what everyone else was shooting. Observed the other shooter's I was with. When it was my turn to embarass myself,...I did what I'd do if I was bird hunting. Did a round of 25 and busted 18 first time out. Afterwards, an elderly fella,...as in older than me even,...asked me how often I used that shotgun? When I told him, he was flabbergasted. Couldn't understand how I could get doubles off so fast with an old field pump gun. The answer,....practice. I also use a Remington pump rifle for deer, and a pump .22 for small game and target shooting. To frustrate them all even farther,...I shoot south paw.....'twas good day.

 

[Bix]

Running the bolt on a pump shotgun is a two step or two-count process. People short-stroke pumpguns because they are trying to rush things, to get it done in one step, or one motion.

Funny you say that, Lee. I found myself periodically short stroking at an Awerbuck class and that's exactly what he said to me. His advice was to slow down a bit and make sure I was cycling the action in two distinct steps.

Unfortunately, it becomes difficult for me to remember that sage advice after the timer beeps

 

[czarjl]

Slam it back, then slam it forward. You won’t break it, and if you do it had a problem to begin with or you should consider entering a strong man competition.

 

[familyman555]

There is a consistent message in all the suggestions. The good news is that the practice is fun.
Thanks to all!

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

Take out the slide stop, it will act like it's a semi-auto! (Just Kidding)

Practice!

 

[mljdeckard]

I've fired many thousands of rounds from my 870, if I've ever short-stroked it, I don't remember. I think it's just something I was taught, when you rack that pump, you jam it hard, you should feel the recoil, and immediately feel the same thump again as you pump. As you fire, you should already have a LOT of pressure on the slide, so that when the gun fires and it's released, it is moving immediately. Use the pressure as part of keeping the gun tight in your shoulder.

 

[Gryffydd]

As you fire, you should already have a LOT of pressure on the slide, so that when the gun fires and it's released, it is moving immediately. Use the pressure as part of keeping the gun tight in your shoulder.

This right here is what makes the biggest difference for me. When you do this it almost feels like doing it in one action, as once you've fired the only thing left to do is push it forward.

 

[Dave McCracken]

It took me 40 years to short stroke an 870.

Rack it like you mean it.

 

[foghornl]

The 1-2 action several folks describe is also how I was taught to use a pump gun.

If you should damage something, well maybe you should arm-wrestle 'Superman'. I havent wrecked anything on a pump gun in 18+ years. Pump it like ya stole it.