What Happened to the Love for the Shotgun?

[typetwelve]

It may be a generation thing. Seems the older generation (boomers) that have used shotguns most of their lives for hunting and clays feel the same way you do about tactical shotguns. I also have some doubts about marketing not driving this "new" shotgun trend.

I got into a serious discussion about tactical shotguns on another forum with someone who trains people to use tactical shotguns. He was a proponent of the add ons like a ghost ring for more accuracy using buck shot. Not being a clays shooter or wing shooter he disputed my idea about being able to accurately hit anything without a rear sight of some type on a shotgun.

All that tells me is there was a serious lack of shooting skill using a shotgun on his part. I think he was heavily invested as a trainer and didn't like someone picking apart his mantra of tactical shotguns being the end all, be all, of HD.

Actually shotguns have been around for a long time being used in the same capacity they are today, they just got loaded up with things you don't actually need to be effective. Marketing has driven the tactical shotgun market to extremes. My dad used a model 97 with a 16" cyl bore barrel to carry his operating cash to and from his business. That was in the 60's. Effectively, it is equal to any tactical shotgun on the market today. I still have it in my safe and that's where it stays. I prefer a pistol for everything defensive. And it isn't because I don't know how to use a shotgun. I'm pretty sure I could win some money from that trainer in any venue he cared to participate in that didn't require crawling around under tables and jumping over logs. YMMV.

Interesting point...

Even though I'm not "that" old (42), I feel like things have evolved...or changed, or whatever you want to call them. Sometimes for the good, sometimes for the not so good.

I won't say what "modern" techniques I disagree with point by point, but I'll admit that I have quite a few that I don't agree with. Many of these are taught by all the mall karate dojo type "tactical" weekend retreats.

Addressing what you said, many moons ago, my first shotgun was a plain old Rem 870. No rear sight, bead front. I just had to have the tacticool shotgun, so I bought the FN TPS I mentioned earlier...it has full "tactical" sights.

Was it any easier to shoot? Could I hit a fly at 250 yds?

Nope.

 

[Joed49]

Over 45 years ago I gave up shooting skeet. I was heavily involved in pistol and that took most of my time.

Starting last summer I decided to take it up again. Having fun but certainly not up to my skill level when much younger and shooting NSSA.

Always like the shot gun and I have 3 Defensive types, 2 skeet OUs and 1 hunting semi auto..

You just hit the reason I don't like shotguns. Each one has a special purpose and you have to buy another one to do a different task.

I started out with duck hunting shotguns but then got into rifles. Next were defensive shotguns but a short time later it was skeet shooting.

Right now I have a defensive shotgun and an O/U for skeet. I have no doubt at sometime in the future one of my friends will come up with a new purpose to buy another shotgun. I'll pass on it, rather stay with rifles and pistols that do not specialize in one purpose.

 

[Farmer17]

You just hit the reason I don't like shotguns. Each one has a special purpose and you have to buy another one to do a different task.

I started out with duck hunting shotguns but then got into rifles. Next were defensive shotguns but a short time later it was skeet shooting.

Right now I have a defensive shotgun and an O/U for skeet. I have no doubt at sometime in the future one of my friends will come up with a new purpose to buy another shotgun. I'll pass on it, rather stay with rifles and pistols that do not specialize in one purpose.

Actually one shotgun will do almost everything you want with it quite well. A cheap 870 or Mossberg pump with interchangeable chokes will handle every kind of flying game plus deer, hogs, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, bear, etc. For skeet, trap, or sporting clays they would do excellent as well and I bet a lot of the top shooters could use one and beat most other shooters with a $10K Perrazzi or Kriegoff. For self defense it would do just fine and I personally don't like lasers, pistol grips, folding stocks, luminous sights, or other tactical add-ons. If you simply must have a short barrel they can be purchased inexpensively and installed in 15 or 20 seconds.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

It may be a generation thing. Seems the older generation (boomers) that have used shotguns most of their lives for hunting and clays feel the same way you do about tactical shotguns. I also have some doubts about marketing not driving this "new" shotgun trend.

I got into a serious discussion about tactical shotguns on another forum with someone who trains people to use tactical shotguns. He was a proponent of the add ons like a ghost ring for more accuracy using buck shot. Not being a clays shooter or wing shooter he disputed my idea about being able to accurately hit anything without a rear sight of some type on a shotgun.

All that tells me is there was a serious lack of shooting skill using a shotgun on his part. I think he was heavily invested as a trainer and didn't like someone picking apart his mantra of tactical shotguns being the end all, be all, of HD.

Actually shotguns have been around for a long time being used in the same capacity they are today, they just got loaded up with things you don't actually need to be effective. Marketing has driven the tactical shotgun market to extremes. My dad used a model 97 with a 16" cyl bore barrel to carry his operating cash to and from his business. That was in the 60's. Effectively, it is equal to any tactical shotgun on the market today. I still have it in my safe and that's where it stays. I prefer a pistol for everything defensive. And it isn't because I don't know how to use a shotgun. I'm pretty sure I could win some money from that trainer in any venue he cared to participate in that didn't require crawling around under tables and jumping over logs. YMMV.

You are right. If the shotgun fits.......You never see the front bead when shooting at moving game. The eyes are on the the bird.....The hands follow the eyes as to position and lead......Bang, dead bird.

 

[Rudi]

The shotgun really is the quintessential American gun. Woe be to he who gets on the wrong end of one.

 

[Rayfan87]

My Winchester 1200 has 2 barrels, the one that it lives with most of the time is an 18.5" cylinder bore for home defense, I also have a 28" with a set of winchokes that could be used for just about any purpose. When I still lived in an area that mandated shotguns for deer I thought about buying a rifled barrel for it. I'm thinking about getting an O/U for getting into trap or skeet, but if I had to go out and shoot a round or two I could make do with the 1200. I suppose if I was going to start major duck hunting g I might look into a semi auto, but once again if I was going to go I could with no problem.