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I need some advice on shotgun practice. I keep a Remington 870 with a
Copstock and Light at my bedside. When I take it to the range I use birdshot and then as I am finishing up I fire about 4-6 rounds of 3" magnums. What rounds are best to practice with while being reasonably economic.

First, I'm not an Expert!!!

Second, I like the Remington Sporting Loads, 100 rds to the brick at Wally World for about $17. Cheap, and good enough for me. Plus, I have to believe my 870 likes Remington ammo!

Sounds good to me, especially the Remington liking to eat Remington

My 870 eats everything I throw at it. I usually pick up a bunch when Academy has them on sale... like they did this last week when I was there. They had 3 or 4 different types for $3.99 / 25. I grabbed a few boxes even though I didn't really need them.

The Copstock is great when shooting the pistol grip.

You could do something like the “jungle run� which seems to be a part of any 3-gun match now. It embodies all of those shooting, reloading, movement.

You could set up a dozen, probably more, static targets like clay pigeons on furring strips, at different angles and positions, in different orientations to the “path� you plan to use. Practice the “run� in both directions, retreat and advance. Maybe a path for about 25 to 50 yards.

Another drill involves the use of cover along with the shoot and move concept. Just make the setup so you have a 2-3 points of cover with your varied clay pigeon positions.
Then try to:
1. Shoot from both sides of cover
2. Shoot on the move between cover positions
3. Reload multiple times during the drill, both from behind cover in the middle of movement and in a “cover down� on the threat.
4. Practice clearing or cornering skills with the shotgun, including both slow and fast corners/clearing from both sides.
5. Quickly mounting and firing from the different "ready" or movement positions you use (equivalent of practicing your drawstroke)

You can expand the drills to incorporate transitions to pistol also.

FM
I don't run anymore. I could put my mobility scooter in reverse real fast I like the ideal of the various ways to practice. I especially like the ideal of the clay pigeons on the strips of strings. Those are not very expensive and fun to shoot. I am sure there are places for shotgun events like the IDPA type. I will have to ask HighVelocity and others. That sounds like a good way to get some shotgun practice in.

There is a 3-Gun match at the Blackhawk range in the San Antonio area Sunday 4 November sponsored by the River City Shooters. It is based on the Mystery Mountain Match.

carlson1 wrote:FM
I don't run anymore. I could put my mobility scooter in reverse real fast I like the ideal of the various ways to practice. I especially like the ideal of the clay pigeons on the strips of strings. Those are not very expensive and fun to shoot. I am sure there are places for shotgun events like the IDPA type. I will have to ask HighVelocity and others. That sounds like a good way to get some shotgun practice in.

LOL, oops Well you could keep with the spirit of the drill and move and shoot, use of cover etc...

I haven't seen any official IDPA shoots with shotgun stages. I helped with an IDPA practice group and we worked in shotgun and "found" gun scenarios.

One subject that would be good to cover is retrieve the shotgun from a place you normally have it at home/car and shoot the scenario. You would have to simulate the closet, bed, safe, or trunk to kind of match up to where folks keep their shotgun and have the shotgun at the same readiness as the shooter normally does.

Does anyone have a sling for their Remington 870, and how is it attached???

Carl,

I am also not a shotgun "expert" by any means, but:

Considering your mobility situation, I would recommend that you do practice clearing drills in your home, particularly in the dark. I do that, and unless my wife has moved the furniture around I can get through the house pretty well without damaging myself or belongings too much. From prior discussions I believe you are already into that mindset anyway, but a little reminder can help.

For practice I would suggest the cheapest low recoil ammo you can find.

OK, why that? Well, once you get into a serious social situation, with the adrenalin rush and enough practice and muscle memory, you will hardly notice the recoil, and of course CopStock claims that recoil reduction.

Next I would ask what you use as a home defense load? I load up with four rounds of buckshot and then transition to slugs in case things are so bad that buckshot won't do the job. Of course if things are that bad I figure I am going to be fighting my way to the gun safe and hoping I can work the lock, so I can go to a rifle.

See if you can get into one of the IDPA three gun matches, even with the scooter most clubs will encourage your participation (except for the occasional idiots) and support your efforts.

Also considering your situation, get one handed firing, one handed reloads, shooting while moving, and out of position shooting practice (twisting in the seat, etc.) even if it means getting some snap caps to use at home.

I had a good friend, for many years, who was confined to a wheelchair due a spinal injury, and he used to get into some of the most amazing positions to practice. just so he would know how his body would handle it.

Lucky45 wrote:Does anyone have a sling for their Remington 870, and how is it attached???

I bought a sling swivel kit specifically for the 870, where one swivel screws into the stock and the second is attached to a replacement end cap for the magazine. If you go this route, check the swivel kit carefully. Remington uses two different 'detent' schemes to keep the cap from coming loose. I have 2 870s and they are different. You can get the kit for each type or a universal kit where the replacement cap fits either scheme. Then pick the sling you like. My stock is wood so I picked a nice brown leather sling to attach to the swivels.

Lucky45 wrote:Does anyone have a sling for their Remington 870, and how is it attached???

I use a single point sling by GearSector that attaches to the Knoxx Spec Ops stock on my 870. I can use the sling for multiple guns just by detaching from the 870 adapter and reattaching to my M4 adapter or others. I really like the sling and the company owner, Jason, has been a delight to deal with. You can get almost any type of adapter for almost any kind of stock. You can find it at: http://www.gearsector.com.

Jim thanks for the information. I use the buckshot. I have used slugs. I have a tactical light on the weapon and practice the clearing. I have a pretting easy floor plan.