Weatherby SA-08 Youth

[119er]

Well I got the Weatherby SA-08 in today. My initial impression is that it seems fine to me and is what I expected for the price. It is made in Turkey but looks to be of quality on par with budget pumps I own (870 Express and Win 1300). If it runs good with a variety of ammo I will say it is a great deal for what I paid; just shy of $500 from Bud's Gun Shop. Kudos to them by the way, I ordered this on Monday night and got the call Wednesday morning to pick it up at the local FFL!

The purpose of this purchase is to introduce my girlfriend to shooting informal skeet/trap. I figured that a youth 20 gauge semi-auto would be the ticket to get her into the sport and also introduce any younger shooters as well. If she really takes to it, we can upgrade the gun later. There is a local club, PSC, that I have been a member of for several years, yet I haven't ever used their skeet/trap facilities. It has been years since I have shot clays and that was with a 20 gauge Nova I no longer own. I'll do another thread about what I may be looking at for myself.

 

[oneounceload]

You'll want to have her eye dominance checked. Many females are cross dominant and that can lead to a lot of frustration. I am sure there are some good folks at PSC that check her dominance and fit.

She'll to make sure about gun fit - and there is a LOT more to that than LOP of the stock; there is also DAH, DAC, cast, pitch, toe in or out, etc. If these aren't correct, she'll start to feel it, won't be as successful and that is bad ju-ju.

 

[119er]

Understood, we are both right hand, right eye dominant. When we first started dating I was thankful for that! She shoots with me frequently and listens and learns very well. She is a great pistol shot, and holds her own with irons from the M1A and AR-15. She handled the gun earlier and said she loved it. Usually I hear about the weight or length but she really liked this one. I'm sure it could always fit better, but for out of the box I'll take it. Not sure how much option there is for modifying this one. It did come with some butt stock spacers.

I was thinking about a trip to my cousin's property to get familiar before stepping here on a range.

 

[119er]

Took the gun out to the range this evening and shot at a plate rack just to run it. I thought we were in for trouble at first because it would short stroke every time, failing to eject and re-chambering the empty. This is with the "light load" piston in it. That was with Winchester Super X. I pulled the gun apart several times to check everything. I had completely stripped it and cleaned everything and re-lubed. I can't stand that oil guns are shipped in. Next I pulled out a box of Remington Gun Club loads and they didn't cycle either. Next was a box of Rio #8 that has high brass and it was hit or miss on cycling. Then on to Remington Shur Shot Heavy Dove and it was 100%. Once that box was complete it ran the Rio's without trouble. Then it ran the Gun Club w/o issue. It still refused to run the Super X or the Winchester Universal. Sure am glad I went to Academy for a selection of ammo before committing to an online order! I'm sure after a couple more boxes it will be smoothed out.

As an aside, is it worth keeping any of the hulls? I reload metallic but I am not sure I want to jump into shotshell. I barely have time for metallic cartridge loading.

 

[rule303]

Any of the Winchesters with aluminum bases are problematic in a lot of guns. It also isn't unusual for the SA-08 to need a break in with a box of heavy loads before they will run 100% with target loads. As far as saving hulls- any Remington hulls, and Winchester AA's are worth saving to reload, or to give to someone else who reloads.

 

[119er]

If no one else is around I may put the hulls in a box and set them next to the trash can if anyone wants them.

 

[oneounceload]

There aren't any aluminum bases - they are either brass, steel or brass-washed steel. If you gave it a good cleaning and it is still malfing, check the piston and the gas ports. Sometimes those ports need a pipe cleaner and solvent.