Last weekend my range of choice had a Hunter Sight In program, where non members pay a few bucks and get sighted in with their weapon of choice. This year, the program started weeks earlier than usual,to help the folks participating in the early muzzleloader serason here in Md. While a member, I paid the money anyways(worthy cause), and checked the zero on my ML, 30-30 Model 94, and the "Deer" 870.I needed to recheck the zero,since I had run out of my old slugs and had purchased new ones.
As I waited for my turn, I shot the bull with the range officer, and commented on the light turnout. I've helped in years past, and have seen hundreds of hunters waiting in line. The RO mentioned that everyone seems to wait until the last minute,and the big slowup was the kind of fool that bought a shotgun, ML or rifle and had never shot it beofre showing up and expecting the harried ahd hassled range people to work magic with their instrument of choice.
Speak of the devil, up popped a fellow with a new inline still in the blisterpack. He said he'd bought a new ML because he "missed a good'un" last season and wanted to be sure he would get a deer this year. He had just left the store. On further questioning,he admitted that shot last year had been in excess of 100 yards, taken offhand, at a moving deer. The RO and I exchanged glances, and referred him to a most patient helper who mounted the scope, got it boresighted, and then sat down with the idiot and tried to get him zeroed. He was, of course, using all the Pyrodex pellets he could stuff into the thing.
'Bout the 3rd round, we heard a mild pop instead of the roar of the beast and saw something lob from the muzzle of this ML, and strike the ground halfway to the 25 yard target. Our Hero had forgotten to load the pellets.
Bt this time, I was nestled down at the bench, with a good cheek weld, and half a breath in my lungs as I slowly increased pressure on a clean,light trigger. The ML load worked perfectly, and a 50 cal hole appeared in the target, about where I wanted it. A repeat shot duplicated the hit, and my range work with the ML was done for the nonce.The 870 was next, zero was perfect and a few 3 shot groups showed the slugs were grouping well.
Back to shotguns.While the early sight in was meant for MLs, if someone showed up with another type weapon, they were allowed to sight it in. Quite a few had shotguns, and few of those were performing up to snuff, or maybe the shooters weren't.
A guy two benches down was having a major flinch. His scoped 500 was kicking the heck out of him, and he was jerking the trigger.
Another guy had an 870 with what looked like a Holo dot scope(?), and he was not making the ROs day. Keeping them on one 50 yard target proved difficult. Bet he had play between the receiver and bbl, the most common cause of inaccuracy in the hardware.
One range helper I knew from decades ago muttered to me he hadn't seen such a bunch of no shooting folks since basic training. I agreed, and while I wanted to stick around and shoot the bull with folks I knew, I decided to head home.
And now the crux of the matter....
First, I admit that this was the first time I had shot this 870 since last season. However, before anyone gets indignant, I've shot my bird 870 bimonthly,and did an informal slug and buck match with the HD 870, so my 870 chops are up to par.
But, how many of us leave the weapon alone after deer season, and do little to correct any mechanical problems or practice?
I help a friend that's a guide out during the season,and it amazes me that folks that will travel to another state to hunt, spend thousands of dollars on the trip,and will bit*h about spending a few hours and dollars at the range making sure they can HIT something.
SO,are you and your shotgun ready for the season? If not, what can be done to remedy this?
Are you zeroed with your ammo of choice? Do you have sufficient ammo? Are there any problems you noted last season and forgot about until now? Have you gotten any practice in?
Questions, comments, donations?
As I waited for my turn, I shot the bull with the range officer, and commented on the light turnout. I've helped in years past, and have seen hundreds of hunters waiting in line. The RO mentioned that everyone seems to wait until the last minute,and the big slowup was the kind of fool that bought a shotgun, ML or rifle and had never shot it beofre showing up and expecting the harried ahd hassled range people to work magic with their instrument of choice.
Speak of the devil, up popped a fellow with a new inline still in the blisterpack. He said he'd bought a new ML because he "missed a good'un" last season and wanted to be sure he would get a deer this year. He had just left the store. On further questioning,he admitted that shot last year had been in excess of 100 yards, taken offhand, at a moving deer. The RO and I exchanged glances, and referred him to a most patient helper who mounted the scope, got it boresighted, and then sat down with the idiot and tried to get him zeroed. He was, of course, using all the Pyrodex pellets he could stuff into the thing.
'Bout the 3rd round, we heard a mild pop instead of the roar of the beast and saw something lob from the muzzle of this ML, and strike the ground halfway to the 25 yard target. Our Hero had forgotten to load the pellets.
Bt this time, I was nestled down at the bench, with a good cheek weld, and half a breath in my lungs as I slowly increased pressure on a clean,light trigger. The ML load worked perfectly, and a 50 cal hole appeared in the target, about where I wanted it. A repeat shot duplicated the hit, and my range work with the ML was done for the nonce.The 870 was next, zero was perfect and a few 3 shot groups showed the slugs were grouping well.
Back to shotguns.While the early sight in was meant for MLs, if someone showed up with another type weapon, they were allowed to sight it in. Quite a few had shotguns, and few of those were performing up to snuff, or maybe the shooters weren't.
A guy two benches down was having a major flinch. His scoped 500 was kicking the heck out of him, and he was jerking the trigger.
Another guy had an 870 with what looked like a Holo dot scope(?), and he was not making the ROs day. Keeping them on one 50 yard target proved difficult. Bet he had play between the receiver and bbl, the most common cause of inaccuracy in the hardware.
One range helper I knew from decades ago muttered to me he hadn't seen such a bunch of no shooting folks since basic training. I agreed, and while I wanted to stick around and shoot the bull with folks I knew, I decided to head home.
And now the crux of the matter....
First, I admit that this was the first time I had shot this 870 since last season. However, before anyone gets indignant, I've shot my bird 870 bimonthly,and did an informal slug and buck match with the HD 870, so my 870 chops are up to par.
But, how many of us leave the weapon alone after deer season, and do little to correct any mechanical problems or practice?
I help a friend that's a guide out during the season,and it amazes me that folks that will travel to another state to hunt, spend thousands of dollars on the trip,and will bit*h about spending a few hours and dollars at the range making sure they can HIT something.
SO,are you and your shotgun ready for the season? If not, what can be done to remedy this?
Are you zeroed with your ammo of choice? Do you have sufficient ammo? Are there any problems you noted last season and forgot about until now? Have you gotten any practice in?
Questions, comments, donations?
