Yesterday was an eye opener for me on the trap field. I have been shooting my Browning Citori Lightning Sporting Clays. This was my dad's clay gun and he passed it down to me when his days at the range were largely over. Naturally this gun has sentimental value, but in addition to that, it is a premium clay gun as well.
Yesterday I also took my 870 with a 26" barrel, modified choke (not ideal), and Magpul furniture. The problem is that the 870 was a lot more fun to shoot! Ergonomics were better, recoil was less, I just felt like the gun "worked" with me whereas with the Browning I felt like I had to work around the gun. In addition, the Citori got smacked in the stock by another gun's barrel and now there is a nice little mark there. I don't care what happens to the 870 but I'd like to keep the Citori in top shape...
If I hold the Citori wrong, it smacks me in the cheekbone. Recoil is heavier due to lack of a recoil pad. But I feel like a tool taking my tactical 870 to the field when I have a really nice O/U home in the safe. My performance with both guns was similar, but ideally I would get a 30" barrel for my 870 (the 26" I was using was not mine, it was borrowed).
What can be done to improve the fit on my Citori without making major changes to it that I wouldn't want to do to an heirloom? I don't see how the stock can be adjusted without cutting or replacing it. Should I just resign the Citori to safe queen duty?
Yesterday I also took my 870 with a 26" barrel, modified choke (not ideal), and Magpul furniture. The problem is that the 870 was a lot more fun to shoot! Ergonomics were better, recoil was less, I just felt like the gun "worked" with me whereas with the Browning I felt like I had to work around the gun. In addition, the Citori got smacked in the stock by another gun's barrel and now there is a nice little mark there. I don't care what happens to the 870 but I'd like to keep the Citori in top shape...
If I hold the Citori wrong, it smacks me in the cheekbone. Recoil is heavier due to lack of a recoil pad. But I feel like a tool taking my tactical 870 to the field when I have a really nice O/U home in the safe. My performance with both guns was similar, but ideally I would get a 30" barrel for my 870 (the 26" I was using was not mine, it was borrowed).
What can be done to improve the fit on my Citori without making major changes to it that I wouldn't want to do to an heirloom? I don't see how the stock can be adjusted without cutting or replacing it. Should I just resign the Citori to safe queen duty?