The Shotgun, by Louis Awerbuck

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Fred Fuller

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http://robarguns.com/blog/2013/08/07/the-shotgun-by-louis-awerbuck/

The Shotgun, by Louis Awerbuck

Posted by Justin Sheriff on Aug 7, 2013 in Blog

Revered by some, vilified by others, the shotgun has been – and will be – around for a long, long time. When technology has finally bypassed all of us, the so-called dinosaur gauge will still be defiantly and effectively spitting out its lethal projectiles. Composed essentially of a simple smoothbore launch tube, the Jeckyll and Hyde weapon can launch a multitude of lethal and less lethal munitions. Ranging from a bead buckshot, rubber, wood, plastic, flechette and slug projectiles to “less lethal” rounds such as beanbags, door breaching cartridges, flares, gas and fireballs such as the Dragon’s Breath, the user’s availability of specific ammunition for a specific mission is almost inexhaustible. Not only can the shotgun deliver tremendous close-up power, its large caliber slugs can be used to stay inside a 6-inch group at 100 yards. While this may seem laughable to a true rifleman, one need shoot only a two inch group with 12 gauge slugs to print a clover leaf – and most people these days can’t shoot a 6 inch group with a rifle under battle conditions anyway.

Although the weapon itself is simple in mechanical construction, taking advantage of the shotgun’s potential requires diligent training and knowledge of what the gun can and CANNOT accomplish. But to reach MAXIMUM potential from the Bastard Child of firearms requires an additional element – a gun “surgeon”. Sir Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls Royce, once said: “Take the best and make it better. If it doesn’t exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough”. Sixteen years ago Robar “operated” on a Remington 870 for me, taking one of the best and making it better. Robar improved what needed improving, without putting on any extraneous garbage. Not only is the external steel and wood finish, though field-worn, still in good condition, the weapon has NEVER, EVER malfunctioned, except for pilot error. Only a fool entrusts his life to an amateur – Robar’s work is as professional as it gets.
 
Never met the man - but reading the few memorials posted here tells me I should have...
Hope there are other trainers coming up that will carry on the knowledge that turns a simple shotgun into a very effective weapon for almost any situation.
 
While he will be missed by those who only seem to view a shotgun as a fighting tool, there are also a LOT of us who use shotguns for fun and recreation. Sure wish there was more of that here as well.
 
there are also a LOT of us who use shotguns for fun and recreation

Trigger time is trigger time. Powdering clays is good training, indelibly linking hand and eye, and the best preparation I had for fighting with a shotgun outside Louis' classes was quail hunting.

I ran across the OP and hadn't seen it before, just thought I'd share it.
 
That is one Loui's nicer written pieces. I was fortunate to have taken many classes from him over the years. I was looking forward to taking a shotgun class from him again in the fall. The last two years I had been shooting clays a lot and my loading has become really smooth. I was looking forward to him seeing how fluid I was at loading it. He would have made some sort of honest comment (he never BS'd). I like getting comments of approval from him.
 
Because of the recommendations on this site I took the shotgun course from Louis 4 years ago. I'm glad I did.
 
I am somewhat depressed since Tuesday PM over his passing. RIP Master:
quote:
It is extremely simple. It’s sights, trigger, follow-through. That’s all it is, that’s all it ever has been. Once the firing grip, the stance, the shooting platform and that type of thing are worked out. The actual operation of sending a projectile downrange on a steady target is sights, trigger, follow-through. Most people try to shoot too accurately and overthink the problem. They try for 103 percent and wind up with 40 percent. My draw to the game is the psychology of it, the whys and wherefores. It always has been. - Louis Awerbuck


I received private training from him last Fall, what an afternoon, we were the same age and he taught me how he had to change lately and yes it worked !
 
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