what is the "proper" way to load two shells into an 870 for doubles?

[Sven]

Feel free to laugh at this dumb question, but I'm stumped.

Background: I shot doubles for the first time with the 870, got 30/50... mostly hitting the first and missing the second. I was trying to figure out the "best" way to load two shells into the 870 is when at the trap field...

Here is what I was doing... with the action open I'd push a shell into the mag from below. This flipped the feeder up so I had to rack the slide... then pull it back partly and drop a shell in and manually feed it.

I know there has to be an easier way... do I load the second below as well and then fully rack it?

Thanks!

 

[Dave McCracken]

I load the first one by dropping it through the ejection and loading port, closing the action and loading the second one into the mag.

And your query is not dumb....

 

[GigaBuist]

Not a dumb question.

I only ever shoot singles but for a while I loaded one in the mag and would rack the slide to get it into the chamber. Somebody corrected me on this and now I just drop a shell in through the ejection port, ram the slide home, and shoot.

For what it's worth I've heard that "Evil Roy" of Cowboy Action Shooting fame uses the same technique Dave described. I -think- the report I saw said he could pick up a shotgun, load them in the above manner, and get off both shots right around 1.3 seconds. The author of the article said that he had his grand daughter demonstrate it in "slow motion" for them and I think her time was 1.9 seconds.

So, not only does it work, but if you do it right it works fast.

 

[Sven]

Nice! Makes sense now that you say it.

 

[sm]

I also do as Dave shared, be it pump or semi.

I am right handed, so I keep right hand on gun, feed with left.
Two shells from pouch, one tossed in port, hit the button / rack slide, feed mag tube and weak hand moves to forearm ready to shoot.

Handy for Crazy Quail when you do not get a lot of time to feed the gun /keep the gun running before the clay(s) are tossed like in Doubles.

Doubles: You are doing fine.
Quality Practice tip: As you know one has to hit the first bird first, for if you miss it, the second will goof you up not only on score, also timing for the second bird.

So have two clays [doubles] tossed with the intent of only shooting the first bird, and dry-firing the second.

Saves a few shells in practice, but the important part is getting the hold points down pat, and where you are going to break the first bird.

The reason a lot of folks hit "harder" targets, like the second one "getting away" is...they are shooting the darn thing and letting the human computer , eye hand coordination do what they are supposed to.

Thinking gets one into trouble by measuring and all.

Once you get first bird figured out, the again have doubles tossed, dry-fire the first bird where you know you can hit it, and then shoot the second bird in Quality Practice.

Breaking this Doubles up into smaller pieces helps. Then of course do shoot both birds in Practice.

But lots of bad habits can be broken and corrected by only shooting one, and dry-firing the other in Quality Practice.

Steve

 

[islandphish]

You'd never know you could load a shotgun through the ejection port if you learned everything from tv and movies. It's funny how all those super tough guys never fully load up their shotguns.

I was always taught to load through the ejection port. I'm a pheasant hunter and you never know when a bird will get up. You get out of the truck start thinking about the dog and boom! they are up. Standard practice with my dad and I is to get out and whoever is not running dog will get loaded right away. You might have just parked your truck on one. It's along the same line of reasoning that you don't unload until you are actually at the truck. Those birds may have been running or you walked right by them on the way in.

Get out and get ready quick. Not the same as on the trap line but whatever, it's a good habit.

 

[toivo]

Yeah, no offense but it sounds like out of the three ways to do it, you chose the hardest way. I was taught to drop one in the ejection port, close the action, and then push one into the tube. Your question is not "dumb," nor am I "smart." I just did what I was told to do.

 

[HuntAndFish]

I do it similiarly to what has been described ...

1) safety on and slide back (open action)
2) drop a shotshell in through the open ejection port (brass to the rear)
3) close the action
4) flip gun over and load one into the magazine.

Now I'm ready to point in and take the safety off...

 

[win71]

Dave's is good. It will also help in a combat reload. At least if one is in the chamber and something goes wrong while loading the tube you can fire at least one shot.

 

[Big Az Al]

Always thru ejection port

Just don't push the release on a semi until your thumb is clear. That has only cost me one nail, but no birds, by the way did you know you can hold a screem in for a long while!

Also on doubles the first bird for me, is just enough movement not to be spot shot, and then find the second bird with my eyes, before I let the gun move, that way your mind can bring the barrel to the bird, when I look at the barrel to find the bird, I get used to dead lost calls from the puller, I do both techniques. When I do the first, I even look like I know what I am doing, when I do the latter that beer when the guns get put away turns into a whiskey!

If you ever shoot a flurry event, two shooters, 25 or 30 birds thrown 3 seconds apart, get used to dropping one in the ejection port, and have a good partner. Spectators should be advised to bring a blanket, they don't get as dirty when it really gets going, that way!

 

[W.E.G.]

crimp toward the enemy