blackscot
07-27-07, 09:46
I shot entirely handguns for many years until starting to get involved in 3-gun type matches a few years back, when I bought the plain-jane 870 pictured below as a cheap way to get into the game. For a brief period I also had it fitted out for home defense, but then decided on other arrangements to fill that role, so the shotty is now a strictly for-fun gun.
But with a couple of limitations. The plain-bead front sight has always been too low for my point-of-aim when naturally mounted on the gun, so I have to scrunch down on it for any accuracy such as longer range slug shots, which is not only awkward but creates a pretty nasty slap on the wrongly-positoned cheekbone. I know there are some aftermarket front sights that sit higher and could fix that problem.
But not another problem, which is that the cylinder choke doesn't produce a tight enough group to knock down some types of steel targets at matches where birdshot only is mandated (no 00 allowed). I could (1) have the barrel customized to accept a screw-in choke, or (2) replace the barrel with one having the tighter-grouping improved cylinder. An advantage of solution 2 is that I could also get a barrel with rifle sights, thereby solving the first problem. But not.....
....the fact that I'm going to hit 50 next year, and frankly at this point, am not that keen on getting kicked around by high-recoiling weapons. Yeah I know -- call me wuss -- but that's how it is. So yet another option would be to replace the 870 altogether with some kind of semi-auto that would be a little more shoulder friendly. Obviously considerably more $$$ needed to go that route though.
As the final consideration to factor in, I'm not at all a dedicated 3-gunner, but would just like the few-times-a-year option of showing up at a couple of really well run venues in my area. So having a high-performace match shotgun is not critical for me, but at the same time I want something that is going to do the job effectively, and preferrably in an enjoyable manner.
I'm mostly just venting here while pondering these matters, but any insights would be appreciated -- thanks.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n232/blackscot/870/factory_stock.jpg
But with a couple of limitations. The plain-bead front sight has always been too low for my point-of-aim when naturally mounted on the gun, so I have to scrunch down on it for any accuracy such as longer range slug shots, which is not only awkward but creates a pretty nasty slap on the wrongly-positoned cheekbone. I know there are some aftermarket front sights that sit higher and could fix that problem.
But not another problem, which is that the cylinder choke doesn't produce a tight enough group to knock down some types of steel targets at matches where birdshot only is mandated (no 00 allowed). I could (1) have the barrel customized to accept a screw-in choke, or (2) replace the barrel with one having the tighter-grouping improved cylinder. An advantage of solution 2 is that I could also get a barrel with rifle sights, thereby solving the first problem. But not.....
....the fact that I'm going to hit 50 next year, and frankly at this point, am not that keen on getting kicked around by high-recoiling weapons. Yeah I know -- call me wuss -- but that's how it is. So yet another option would be to replace the 870 altogether with some kind of semi-auto that would be a little more shoulder friendly. Obviously considerably more $$$ needed to go that route though.
As the final consideration to factor in, I'm not at all a dedicated 3-gunner, but would just like the few-times-a-year option of showing up at a couple of really well run venues in my area. So having a high-performace match shotgun is not critical for me, but at the same time I want something that is going to do the job effectively, and preferrably in an enjoyable manner.
I'm mostly just venting here while pondering these matters, but any insights would be appreciated -- thanks.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n232/blackscot/870/factory_stock.jpg