Semi-Auto Shotgun "Test Drive"

chambered221

What type of targets are you guys shooting in your tactical matches ???

We shoot mostly pepper poppers and have no problems with them using a standard 1 1/8oz sporting load of #7's (1200fps)
I've also used my sporting clays load that consist 1oz #8's !!!

slimjim

we have clays to break, pepper poppers to be knocked down, wheel targets with plates to be knocked off, and steel silhouettes that have to be knocked over plus paper targets for slugs at short range and steel out to 100 yards. At our local matches, most use 1oz #8 like you. This 3-gun match is known for having a little more challenging targets. One of the guys who has shot this particular match before recommended #6 shot for the extra knock down power. We even have to use buckshot on some targets.

chambered221

Sounds like a lot of fun !!!

If your running any kind of sights try going to a tighter choke to put more pellets on target. I know of a couple of guys that use a turkey choke in steel matches.

slimjim

chambered221 wrote:

If your running any kind of sights try going to a tighter choke to put more pellets on target. I know of a couple of guys that use a turkey choke in steel matches.

I think this sounds like a good idea. However, my 18" barrel has no choke capability. My buckshot at 25 yards is a 2' by 2' pattern. It will be interesting to see how my 20ga does in this match. I'm expecting, since this is my first one, that I'll be the weak link with lots to learn. I hope it is fun but its going to be a long day with 5 stages.

slimjim

Well, completed the 3-gun match at TacPro today. The 20ga Mossberg pump shotgun with 18" barrel worked better than the shooter. I really felt I was going to be out-gunned by the 12ga's but that was not the case. I was knocking the stell off as good or better. Probably because I was using high-brass #6s while most of them were using low-brass #8s. I also patterned my shotgun which may have made my aim a bit better. The pump was not at too much of a disadvantage. All stages were moving so there was time as you moved from one target to the next to pump in a new round. If you didn't miss, thus didn't need a follow-up shot, my time didn't suffer. One stage was on foot down a path in the woods. You had to maneuver to avoid trees in the way of your shots to knock down steel targets sitting on metal posts. The second was moving in a 4-wheeler. They drove down a dirt road at 5+mph and you engaged out the passenger side at steel targets, some up to 25 yards away (and I had no choke). Lefties definitely had the advantage. I got the reload down real fast while I was walking but reloading in a bouncing vehicle was a challenge. I dropped two rounds which cost me a failure to engage and failure to neutralize on the one target I missed. Great fun!!!

Ominivision1

slimjim wrote:

They drove down a dirt road at 5+mph and you engaged out the passenger side at steel targets, some up to 25 yards away (and I had no choke).

Now that sounds neat.

Pumpkinslinger

Slim, that sounds like a heck of a lot of fun! We have some tactical rifle matches at our range but I haven't seen one yet. I did look at the area they are using and it looks to be "up close and personal" type shooting. They have a .22 rimfire class so I may have to give the SIG 522 a try!

slimjim

This match when from up close and personal to 160 yards. Not long enough to waste any of my handloads on. Just used 55 FMJs. They warned us next time we will be shooting past 300 yards which is where I like to be.

Ominivision1

slimjim wrote:

Probably because I was using high-brass #6s while most of them were using low-brass #8s.

I think the idea between low and high brass shotgun shells was to provide easier extraction with with more powerful loads. I have reloaded shells both high and low brass since 1972 and reloaded both low and high brass shells with same amount of powder, wads, shot with no problem including heavy loads.

"The reason for high brass was after paper hulls were fazed out. Paper hulls often produced pinhole burn-through where the powder was. When the powder amount was higher than the brass section a burn through could occur. Magnum loads (additional powder height) paper shot-shells were made with a higher brass head to protect against burn through. In those days of past it was not a gimmick but a necessity.

Just my 2¢ worth.

chambered221

Drive-bys.............definitely adds a different element to shooting !!! Very Happy

stovepipe

slimjim wrote:

Well, completed the 3-gun match at TacPro today. The 20ga Mossberg pump shotgun with 18" barrel worked better than the shooter. I really felt I was going to be out-gunned by the 12ga's but that was not the case. Great fun!!!

I freakin' told ya!!! Razz

Good job rackin' that slider Mister Man! Smile

And Onmi is correct..brass height has no bearing on power of the load. They do look nicer and reload better- from what I gather there.

Elvis

great fun by the the sound of it. keep us posted.

Arizona Hunter · Member Joined: Jul 22, 2006 Posts: 275

I don't need one yet, but I would like to try a Maxus, SX3, Versa Max, Vinci and Xplore 400. sure would be nice if one place had all of them on hand to try side by side. Of course I could just use my 835 pump for ducks/geese... but I don't deserve that much felt recoil now do I?

slimjim

If you are looking for recoil reduction, you need to place the Beretta on your list with their hydraulic recoil pad.

Elvis

Arizona Hunter try some different loads and get a decent recoil pad I use a h&r pump for ducks n geese useing 3" oz and 1/8th loads and recoil is not too bad.