Finally got a 870

Big Tool · 07-17-2008, 01:25 AM

My mom had me get my dad a Gun for Fathers day so I picked him up a springfield XD9 sub compact. For taking care of his gift she bought me a little somethin.

I saw the 870 with the tube extender sitting there. I also had the gunsmith put on a high viz front sight. I just wanted to have it for a home defense gun in the bedroom.

Well turns out that's not all it's good for. Me, dad, brother-in-law, and my wife all went to go shoot skeet a few weeks later. My dad had just bought another 2,000 beretta O/U.

I brought my browning gold hunter and the 870. I mainly brought the 870 because i had never shot a pump and i was itching to shoot my new gun. I also figured everybody would get a kick out of my gangsta shotgun.

Well after a few practice shoots i soon found I was shooting much better with the 870 than my browning. So when we began competing against one another i decided to shoot with the 870.

Long story short I won the game we had goin, and couldn't be happier with the gun. Something tells me the short barrel was causing my pattern to be real wide leading to my higher score.

The beretta on the other hand must have a very tight pattern or something b/c my dad was shooting horribly. None of us could hit worth a crap with those things. He has a matching pair one's 20ga, the other 12ga, and neither one shot good for any of us.

I had never liked pump action guns. The whole idea seemed inferior to my automatics, but after shooting this gun it is very natural. After shooting the 870 for a while I picked up my browning auto. I went to shoot a double and accidentally tried pumping it.

ArkansasHunter · 07-17-2008, 01:34 AM

Great story B.T I prefer semi-auto shotguns yet I own 2 870's and a NEF Pardner Pump.

I'll confess my 870 Express made a better hunter out me, you just can't beat an 870 pump !!!!

Thanks for shareing your outting with us...A.H

EDIT Does the Berretta shotguns accept screw in chokes ??? If so as you prolly know your Dad may need to use a more open choke for clays.

Big Tool · 07-17-2008, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

Great story B.T I prefer semi-auto shotguns yet I own 2 870's and a NEF Pardner Pump.

I'll confess my 870 Express made a better hunter out me, you just can't beat an 870 pump !!!!

Thanks for shareing your outting with us...A.H

EDIT Does the Berretta shotguns accept screw in chokes ??? If so as you prolly know your Dad may need to use a more open choke for clays.

Yeah they have a hole box of chokes. They are really nice guns and were a pleasure to shoot, but it was obvious they were grouping to tight or something. We are all good shots with clays and birds and we were all having major problems hitting with the o/u's

My dad was steamed. Next time we will bring the choke tubes and try something different.

samuel · 07-17-2008, 07:01 AM

As long as you all got togather and had fun,thats all that counts. sam.

lefty o · 07-17-2008, 09:40 PM

just an fyi, barrel length has nothing to do with your pattern, its all in the choke.

Blackrock · 07-19-2008, 09:34 AM

My brother gave me an 870 Special Purpose all black with full rib and mid-rib bead in June. I got to shoot it last night 7/18 at out trap range and did fair with it but still didn't have the throwup and feel of my 870 Wingblaster. Best I could get out of it was 18 and I was shooting 23 with the Wingmaster.

The 870 SP does have three chokes and the Wingmaster is fixed FC.

Mike Franklin · 07-19-2008, 10:04 AM

A lot of hitting with a shotgun has to do with fit. If a shotgun fits you well you'll shot it well. I've taken several makes of shotguns out and couldn't shoot most of'm for crap. The ones that felt best shot best. Lenght of pull is a big deal.

07-17-2008, 01:25 AM	#1
Big Tool Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MS Posts: 597 Trader Rating: (0)	Finally got a 870 My mom had me get my dad a Gun for Fathers day so I picked him up a springfield XD9 sub compact. For taking care of his gift she bought me a little somethin. I saw the 870 with the tube extender sitting there. I also had the gunsmith put on a high viz front sight. I just wanted to have it for a home defense gun in the bedroom. Well turns out that's not all it's good for. Me, dad, brother-in-law, and my wife all went to go shoot skeet a few weeks later. My dad had just bought another 2,000 beretta O/U. I brought my browning gold hunter and the 870. I mainly brought the 870 because i had never shot a pump and i was itching to shoot my new gun. I also figured everybody would get a kick out of my gangsta shotgun. Well after a few practice shoots i soon found I was shooting much better with the 870 than my browning. So when we began competing against one another i decided to shoot with the 870. Long story short I won the game we had goin, and couldn't be happier with the gun. Something tells me the short barrel was causing my pattern to be real wide leading to my higher score. The beretta on the other hand must have a very tight pattern or something b/c my dad was shooting horribly. None of us could hit worth a crap with those things. He has a matching pair one's 20ga, the other 12ga, and neither one shot good for any of us. I had never liked pump action guns. The whole idea seemed inferior to my automatics, but after shooting this gun it is very natural. After shooting the 870 for a while I picked up my browning auto. I went to shoot a double and accidentally tried pumping it.

07-17-2008, 01:34 AM	#2
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,504 Trader Rating: (0)	Great story B.T I prefer semi-auto shotguns yet I own 2 870's and a NEF Pardner Pump. I'll confess my 870 Express made a better hunter out me, you just can't beat an 870 pump !!!! Thanks for shareing your outting with us...A.H EDIT Does the Berretta shotguns accept screw in chokes ??? If so as you prolly know your Dad may need to use a more open choke for clays. Last edited by ArkansasHunter; 07-17-2008 at 01:36 AM.

07-19-2008, 09:34 AM	#6
Blackrock Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SE Arizona's Gila Valley Posts: 213 Trader Rating: (0)	My brother gave me an 870 Special Purpose all black with full rib and mid-rib bead in June. I got to shoot it last night 7/18 at out trap range and did fair with it but still didn't have the throwup and feel of my 870 Wingblaster. Best I could get out of it was 18 and I was shooting 23 with the Wingmaster. The 870 SP does have three chokes and the Wingmaster is fixed FC. __________________ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails" Forbidden fruits create many jams

07-19-2008, 10:04 AM	#7
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,277 Trader Rating: (0)	A lot of hitting with a shotgun has to do with fit. If a shotgun fits you well you'll shot it well. I've taken several makes of shotguns out and couldn't shoot most of'm for crap. The ones that felt best shot best. Lenght of pull is a big deal. __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.

07-17-2008, 07:01 AM	#4
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,050 Trader Rating: (0)	As long as you all got togather and had fun,thats all that counts. sam.

07-17-2008, 09:40 PM	#5
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,691 Trader Rating: (0)	just an fyi, barrel length has nothing to do with your pattern, its all in the choke.