Shooting Shotguns at the Range? Why?

[tactikel]

I would never shoot a shotgun at an indoor range (my range allows them) except to sight in a scope or red dot.
The shotgun is so versatile you could hunt/compete/plink with it every week and not get bored.
+1 on becoming and maintaining familiarity with the gun, and to validate it's reliability. oh yea, and because its FUN :banghead:

 

[22-rimfire]

Thought I would address some of these statements. I see I got a few of your hackles up with my opening post.

You are just barely familiar enough with your shotgun to be a danger to yourself and others during a high-stress situation.

This is just one model that I have not shot much. It is your basic 870 Police and I have shot 870's many times grouse and small game hunting. The function is the same and instinctive.

Sorry but that statement just sounds wrong to me. Any gun you own you should be skilled with and that means practice. Also you just implied that most shotgun owner's don't practice either because you don't personally see it. I would argue the opposite that most shotgun owner's I know in fact shoot regularly, mostly because I met most of them at the trap range shooting leagues.

Sorry, in my experience only skeet and trap shooters shoot their shotguns regularly and they often bird hunt. That is certainly not a defensive scenario unless the bad guy is in a helicopter.

Deer hunters will sight their guns in and shoot a few of the pounding slugs at the range just to make sure they are hitting "close" for the most part. Personally I have never used a shotgun for big game hunting and have little desire to plink at the range with heavy buck shot or similar loads. I can't say it's fun.

Shotguns either fit you or they don't. Speed and skill comes with familarity with the gun and how it fits you. I have familiarity and the gun fits reasonably well for it's intended purpose. Plus the shotgun is not my No. 1 home defense firearm.

 

[Tim the student]

I shoot shotguns at the range mainly because I like to shoot shotguns at the range.

 

[oneounceload]

I prefer shooting my shotguns at my gun club, but then, mine all have wood stocks, deep-blued finishes, and long barrels

 

[Rshooter]

I would never shoot a shotgun at an indoor range..

All I can say sir is that you must be blessed with better shooting opportunities than I at this time. I would prefer a outdoor range but the nearest is just short of another state. I know what my guns can do at 100 yards so now I work to know my gun intimately at 25. Even the USMC used to use 1000 inch targets when access to the 500 yard ranges was limited.

 

[22-rimfire]

RShooter, you have at least one public range in Knoxville and another one south of you along the Hiwasse River. There is a club in Athens that also has outdoor facilities for a very modest annual fee.

By the way, in regard to shotgun shooting, I have never claimed to be a good wing shooter. It's just not something that I have developed a keen interest in. That truly is a skill and takes practice. Pointing a shotgun at an intruder inside your home takes little skill. Instinctive shooting (aka pointing) is a bit different as that takes practice.

 

[kostner]

I worked at a range in a very dangerous area and I sold more Remington 870's and Mossberg 500 for the sole reason of HD. Every morning when sweeping the range I'd find hundreds of hulls. Mostly 00 & #7 we do not allow slugs. Most of these people have never heard of shooting clay's.

 

[Magic_Man]

I shoot my shotguns at the indoor range all the time b/c you can never have enough practice w/any of your firearms + I enjoy shooting them. The outdoor range closest to me has not opened back up yet.

 

[V1K1NG0]

I shoot shotguns all the time and clays are seldom my target. I shoot them just for familiarity and because they are just fun. Here is a few pics from my last range trip with my buddies 14 yo boy. The smile says it all. Targets were milk jugs, coffee cans, cow patties, a wood pepper popper (didnt last long), helium filled ballons and some old telephone books.

I also shoot my shotguns in indoor ranges that permit it. If they dont have a problem with it then I dont. The way ammo seems to fly off the shelf, shotguns just seem to keep the party going.

On another note: Take a kid shooting. It pays for itself.

 

[Yo Mama]

I got my mossberg when I was 18. Fit my needs, as you have to wait for the handguns at 21. I used it for HD, then bird hunting, then bought an 870 for the birds, and the mossberg went back to HD.

Another reason you left out was ammo cost! Although I think the price of shotgun rounds is rediculous vs. years ago, presently it's still cheaper than my 9mm or 45s.

 

[Dr.Rob]

First time I used an 870 in a 'tactical' side match I came in 2nd. Not because I was 'good at tactical stuff' (there were a number of cops I shot against) but because I know how to handle my shotgun and I hunt with it for upland birds and larger game and enjoy busting clay pigeons. The guy who WON the match used a double barrel shotgun. (Shooting on the move reloading enganging targets at multiple distances.)

Buying a Ferarri doesn't make you a formula one driver, nor does owning a camera make you Ansel Adams. But seriously, if you are keeping a weapon for HD you really SHOULD practice with it a lot.

 

[MagnumWill]

I have my 590 for home defense, but a friend of mine and I figured out that we could bust clays like nothing with it. We'll be doing that more frequently.

 

[Rshooter]

Pointing a shotgun at an intruder inside your home takes little skill.

IMHO Pointing a shotgun at a person takes more skill than any other shotgunning exercise than you will ever do otherwise. If it is not the worst case of fear and worst case of butterflies you have ever had at once than you are doing something wrong. I did not have to pull the trigger but it was not simple.

 

[22-rimfire]

Pointing a shotgun at a person takes more skill than any other shotgunning exercise than you will ever do otherwise. If it is not the worst case of fear and worst case of butterflies you have ever had at once than you are doing something wrong. I did not have to pull the trigger but it was not simple.

It is an experience I don't want to add to my journal. I have no idea how I will react. More than likely, it would be much as you state. But it is a good comment. Am I ready for such an event? Probably not. But you never know until it happens. What happens will depend on so many things at the time that I have no idea what I would do for sure.

I had a serious car accident late at night once. My memory of the accident in terms of the geography/terrain/obstacles was much different from reality. I went back later to view the scene for about 30 minutes to understand what happened and to judge myself in terms of how I reacted.