Found this on the web. Not sure if it’s been posted before.
http://www.rem870.com/2012/04/27/full-interview-with-chris-costa/
Good read. Kind of interesting to see why he left Magpul. Of course it makes sense.
Yeah that kinda sucks for him, still he managed to keep a level of professionalism when speaking on it.
Great interview. I like his idea on a handgun instead of a shotgun for Home defense
Interesting read. One thing though… He makes it sound like anytime you shoot a long gun with irons that you must close your non- dominant eye… WTF?? I can’t be the only person who shoots iron sights with both eyes open.
I saw that reference to closing an eye, too, and thought it was odd. I’m right-handed and right eye dominant. I keep both eyes open when shooting handguns (always iron sights), any long gun with rear peep and front post, long guns with open rear and post front, long guns with red dots, long guns with scout scope, long guns with low magnification conventionally-mounted scopes, all the preceding from either shoulder, and shotgun with only a front bead from the right shoulder. As a new shotgun shooter, I’m still working on training my brain to allow me to keep both eyes open when shooting a bead-equipped shotgun from my left shoulder. I don’t want to limit my peripheral vision in any serious situation by closing an eye if I can avoid it.
Other thoughts on the interview:
I agree with his comments about the value of a squared stance with a fighting shotgun and also about the shorter stock. I run Hogue 12" LOP stocks on both my 870s and find them much more amenable to good fumble-free gunhandling than the OEM 14" LOP stocks. Interestingly, the pics accompanying the interview don’t depict the use of a squared stance. My guess is that Mr. Costa didn’t pick the pics.
I agree with his comments about handguns versus long guns for home defense. If one has to move around while defending the home, IMO a handgun with light makes a lot of sense. If one can fight from an ambush position, then a shotgun or rifle would IMO be preferable.
I wonder if his comments about the desirability of the Vang Comp system were more valid before the introduction of Federal’s buck loads with the FliteControl Wad and Hornady’s Titewad loads.
I don’t really understand his comments about older 870s allowing the shooter to begin racking the slide faster than a newer 870. If he was talking about generally greater slickness associated with higher round counts in older guns, then okay I get that. And yes I understand that Wingmasters and 870P models are slicker out of the box than an Express model. But it sounded more like that he was addressing an unspecified change in the design at some point that results in a need to hesitate after firing before racking, to prevent a stoppage. My two 870s are both Express models (model 25077)made in the last seven or eight months. Each has about 450-550 rds through it, and each is noticeably slicker than when brand new. I can notice no need to pause before racking the slide to prevent a stoppage with either gun. Can anyone set me straight on this?
On some of the 870’s if you have rearward pressure on the forend during and after the trigger press it wont allow you to cycle the action until you back off a little. It really messes with rhythm.
Thanks. Have you noticed that this affects only some years of production? Is it just a random thing that affects some guns and not others in the same year? Is it fixable?
I understand your point but I also get his. I am one of those weirdo’s that cannot shoot long guns accurately at distance with both eyes open-just one of those things. Close range isn’t an issue, just further out.
Anybody catch the pics from the ooooollllllddddd “Power series” book on SWAT? 
We may need to start a new thread rather than derail this one further. You might try an eye patch on your non-dominant eye for a while. I’m cross eye dominant and that helped me get to where I can shoot any long gun (w/ any sighting system) with my right (non-dom) eye, both eyes open.
How good are you shooting off handed, with both eyes open on your non dominant eye with irons? I think that’s what he is talking about.
ETA: didn’t see your other post. Not everyone can do that, but if it works for you, rock on.
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My 870 is circa 2002, it does it. I dont know about a fix but it was probably put in for some lawyer. It’s some type of lockup,not so much a problem if you use the “stretching” technique but it’s enough to cause a studder.
Great read thanks for posting.
Very good read. Though I don’t agree with everything that Costa says, I find him to be a great instructor with very well thought out techniques and ideas. I really enjoy his training DVD’s, and am always up for hearing what he thinks on a subject.
Very interesting read. I’ll bet Chris learned to be less trusting going into any business venture. I wish him the best of luck with his new business. The Magpul DVD’s got him a lot of exposure that should help him in the future.
Is Travis still with Magpul Dynamics?
No. He left around the same time. He’s started his own business, Haley Strategic He’s got some new DVDs out that are pretty good. More one on one geared without the whole class being in the video. They are called “Make it Ready with Travis Haley”. I’ve seen the handgun and adaptive carbine ones.
Very interesting, thanks.
your timeline is a tad bit off…:rolleyes: