I am curious if any of you shoot multiple type of shotgun actions for different purposes?
I have 18" and 28" 870s. The short barrels are for home defense. I have hunted and shot clays with the 28" barreled 870s. But, for skeet and hunting, I was thinking of going to a semiauto. I just shoot them better at flying objects.
Do you mix up your action types or just stick to one platform for everything?
One platform. Consistency.
Semi for run & gun games
Pump for training & hd
Years ago when I competed in International Skeet,I used a Remington 1100. It was $400 back in the 80’s! I liked how the semi-auto action helped to absorb the felt recoil. I was shooting about 1500-2000 rounds of target loads a month and never developed a flinch or shoulder problem. For that,I’m grateful! For HD,I went with the 870 pump,and I go with low recoil buckshot and slugs. I’m more accurate with the lighter loads.
I shoot clays with a semi and use a pump for hunting and home defense.
I shoot a Remington 1100 for Trap and Skeet but use my Vang Comp 870 for HD before I’d consider the 1100.
We issue Mossberg 500s and 590s at work, I have a 590 at the house, I use an 11-87 for bird hunting.
I haven’t had any issues except trying to pump my 11-87 while pheasant hunting:o:D.
I spent my whole life running pump guns for the most part. I could see an issue if I used a pump at work but did the majority of my shooting with a semi.
Not any more. I parked the 1100 and Benelli to stay with the 870 for all of my gun games, home defense and law enforcement. I still use semi-auto pistols and rifles for those aspects of the job or sport but that trombone shotgun is in the blood after 40+ years of use.
My personal view after spending most of a lifetime switching back and forth between clays and 3-gun: Training with an auto, to include high volume clays, will likely end in a terminal brain fart with a less used pump - especially in a high stress situation.
I’ve seen more malfunctions with pumps than (quality) autos on skeet, SC and 3-gun ranges. This won’t be the case for people that actually spend serious training time with the pump and generally only shoot tactical.
I currently shoot A Class Sporting Clays with a semi in 12ga and use O/Us for the sub gauges. My pump has been in the back of the safe for two decades and will remain there. A 1990s era M1S90 resides in the front pew and still gets some use for 3 Gun.
From what I’ve seen, the Benelli pump is a more forgiving performer than the 870 and the high end Wing Master 870s work better than the low budget models.
Sounds like the Benelli M3 would be the perfect shotgun for you. Best of both worlds, Pump/Semi convertable.
Based only on a friend’s eval, and he’s a master class shooter, the M3 is a poor choice - at least for competition. Competition is generally a pretty good proving ground and I don’t know anyone that runs one. I think this was put to rest in another thread also, but it might be worth a search.
I shoot a Win SX3 for ducks and clays, and have a Maverick pump for HD. No issues for me. They’re such different animals. It would be like having issues shooting a shotgun because you shoot an AR as well.
I’m going to run my first semi-auto in my next match, because honestly I’m sick and tired of losing time against the guys with semis in those shotgun heavy courses. I know, I know, if you are good with a pump, it isn’t much slower than a semi, so I’ve been told. But I ain’t that good, nor will I get that good, because if I have the time and money, it is going to rifle and handgun training.
I hunt with semi, pump, and SxS. Variety is the spice of life man…
I keep my 870 loaded with buckshot, but really my HD is my M&P 9mm.
Have multiple barrels (four) for my 870, of course multiple chokes:
. Turkey
. Deer
. HD
. Rabbit & upland birds | trap/skeet
I shoot O/U guns (12 and 20) for skeet, trap, and birds. I’m just way better at hitting flying objects with them. I have a Winchester 1300 pump for HD and tactical training, although I’d grab my Glock or AR first in that situation. I’d like to try some 3-gun eventually. I’ll probably start with my 1300, and depending on how it goes, maybe move up to a semi.
This is a great topic. I never really thought about this, as I’m a big proponent of sticking to one platform for pistols and rifles, but to me shooting clays, or birds is different enough that I don’t feel like the switch hinders my performance but I’ll definitely watch to be more conscious of this in the future.
I use an O/U for game birds and sporting clays. I keep a long barreled pump shotgun near my door for shooting pests. I have a pump shotgun and semi shotgun for home defense, but neither are my go to guns for home defense–mainly because I’m not that good with them compared to AR-15s and auto pistols.
I have an 11-87 thats in the safe wearing an 18 right now and is all dressed up as a Tactical model with a magazine extension, Vang big safety, Factory premier spring to lighten the trigger a hair, Daves Meal works funnel, and charge handle with Synthetic stocks that I stippled… it wears a 26 inch barrel with out the extension (well sometimes I leave it on, 8 rounds at the trap club is really funny) when I want to crack clay.