Pump shotguns

[kent]

Its pretty hard to justify a shotgun that holds more than two in the mag here as it then classed as a firearm which requires a good reason in law. Now trying to justify a deer rifle calibre over a .22 lr for rabbits is easy not so for a pump shotgun though possible just not as easy. Of course you are then restricted to that good reason in use, you cant take it game shooting or duck shooting unless it says so on your ticket! Of course it then has to be restricted for wildfowl. In practice a few Keepers and pigeon shooters own big mag shotguns all I know choose auto over pump. Before the law changed a few more had pumps for vermin and knock about shooting but now I suppose the small world of practical shotgun is their only home
You see even the company pro-shot mis feeds in his vid - this is why people buy auto over pump, along with mag capacity
There is a trick with pump shotguns so they can fire instantly a round is chambered, it also works on auto guns so for the sake of encouraging and informing the wrong people how they can get a full auto etc. so I wont say more but a few of the pro trick shooters do have their pumps modified this way no doubt, they just hold the trigger down and the gun goes bang, bang, bang each time a shell goes in.
Pumps here are so popular here in the UK that if you went into a biggish dealer you might not actually find one on the rack, remember we cannot leave loaded guns by the bed or door to "deal with a problem" as the guy in the video suggests "defensive" guns don't exist in regular households- its a different market without a real defined place for a pump gun

[Naj]

Matter of interest, seeing you mentioned it earlier, are the 'cartridge catchers' effective?

Naj

[farmboy]

You see even the company pro-shot mis feeds in his vid

He explains why in the video,he is known for his speed,the gun was "tweaked" for speed competition shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzHG-ibZaKM

so I wont say more but a few of the pro trick shooters do have their pumps modified this way no doubt, they just hold the trigger down and the gun goes bang, bang, bang each time a shell goes in.

They may modify them for "trick shooting" but not for competition. Some of the older shotguns would do that but modern ones will not.


remember we cannot leave loaded guns by the bed or door to "deal with a problem" as the guy in the video suggests "defensive" guns don't exist in regular households

kent,you are right,over there,shotgun by the bed,no. Our 2nd Amendment protects us,even when it is not needed. Home defense shotgun/hand gun etc protects us if it is needed.

[farmboy]

kent,I am so sorry! It looks as if I have mis quoted you. Mods please fix my post!

[Springfield Pointers]

I have never understood how one keeps accuracy if you're swinging a shotgun and still having to rack the next round into the chamber. Also, while we're at it, would you still cal two birds a "left and a right"? I suppose then it would be ok for me to go and hunt antelope with a 50 cal mounted and belt fed machine gun on the back of my pickup? I mean after all, it's really convenient - not to say practical.

[kent]

Matter of interest, seeing you mentioned it earlier, are the 'cartridge catchers' effective?

Naj

Totally if correctly made and fitted. I don't use them on shotgun ever by accident I trained my current dog into it while doing gunshot familiarisation works pretty good once you steady them up again
Did a rabbit clearance with a mate and they were fitted to our .22's as a condition, the added advantage is when you clear on coming to a fence etc you don't end up grovelling about looking for the live round you just fumbled
Don't generally use them though

[kent]

I have never understood how one keeps accuracy if you're swinging a shotgun and still having to rack the next round into the chamber. Also, while we're at it, would you still cal two birds a "left and a right"? I suppose then it would be ok for me to go and hunt antelope with a 50 cal mounted and belt fed machine gun on the back of my pickup? I mean after all, it's really convenient - not to say practical.

When your familiar its said to help you through muscle memory leading to an automatic drill, the issue with doubles is thinking about the second bird too much and as it forms a drill it cuts think time perhaps?. Got to be honest as I haven't used one much to me I should likely use a pump like a single shot with a quick back-up for wounders or late seconds

On your second point your coming onto what is sporting and what is not, that's a tough one as only the user can decide on that one and I think if you sided against any using more than a two shot then you might have to also go against anyone with two guns and a loader. So is it ok for me to shoot deer at longer ranges by rifle than they can detect my presence / threat just because I can etc.? Sporting or not gets very complex under the surface but I guess the 50 cal belt fed will be a no to every hunter I have ever met

[Naj]

Matter of interest, seeing you mentioned it earlier, are the 'cartridge catchers' effective?

Naj

Totally if correctly made and fitted. I don't use them on shotgun ever by accident I trained my current dog into it while doing gunshot familiarisation works pretty good once you steady them up again
Did a rabbit clearance with a mate and they were fitted to our .22's as a condition, the added advantage is when you clear on coming to a fence etc you don't end up grovelling about looking for the live round you just fumbled
Don't generally use them though

Thanks, that's interesting & I'll have to look into them a bit more. My current dog learnt a bit differently to yours when I began 12 bore familiarisation & got into the habit of retrieving the plastic wads.

On the 'sporting' question, not sure if it's because I've shot with a 'double' for most of my life but I've been using a 3 shot semi-auto for most of the last season & have rarely used the third shot when hunting over a pointing dog (there's generally not a need for it), & on the few occasions I have it's generally been to finish off a bird I clipped with my second shot. I have & would attempt three kills in the air when flighting fowl but so far have only managed 'doubles'. But since I have often sneaked away from a flight when I consider that I've shot enough for my needs (usually 3 brace where duck are concerned), & I also followed this practice when shooting with a S/S, I'm comfortable with that from a 'sporting' perspective.

Naj

[kent]

quite correct too I feel. missing twice and connecting with the third is bad form IMO - have I ever done it? Mmm, no comment!

[Valiantsteam]

Regarding pump/semi automatic shotguns within the Uk .
They tend to be frowned on as they are rightly or wrongly ? associated with the less desirable elements in this world .
Certainly from the safety point of view seeing either a side by side or a over/under broken at the breach is reassuring to a point ,but seeing someone with a pump/auto there is always the doubt is the thing loaded ? is the safety catch on ?
Having been involved in game shooting well over 50 years and having been a keeper on a shoot anyone who presented either a pump or semi auto would be asked to put it in the vehicle and get something more suitable.
One shoot I used to attend on a very private estate the gentleman who owned the estate would not even allow over and unders on shoot days .but this was many years ago and al the people shooting were titled gentry and had no doubt had inherited quality English guns from ancestors .
Before stopping my drivel for the benefit of the American gentleman you say you would like a pair of quality English side by sides ,decent ones do fetch big money these days and there is a lot of them being sold at crazy prices that have seen better days .
In 1980 I was looking to buy a decent English side by side and of course no internet to assist then ,I searched high and low with a budget of approx.£3000 which at the time could get you something half decent ,most of what I looked at was vastly overpriced and not in the best of condition ,then out shooting with an old friend now sadly shooting in the sky he said why not take a look at A.Y.A range of top quality side by sides .to cut a long story short I went to A.YA. who were in Ipswich ,was measured up and bought a pair of matching Number ones for £2500.they told me it would be about one year to wait for them .sure enough about 11 months later I received a letter saying guns were nigh on finished and would I agree to allowing A.Y.A to have them on there stand at the Game fair for that coming year .and they would have there top engraver there finishing of the engraving as an exhibition to the public ,they sent me 4 free entry tickets for the fair. So of I went with friends I went to the A.Y.A stand and there were my guns being engraved ,the engraver asked would I like my initials on the stocks gold oval .when I went later to collect the guns from the stand they were sitting in a beautiful black calf skin double case ,I said I did not order the case and A.YA. said its our gift for allowing the guns to be used on the stand .35 years later and LOTS of shooting the guns are as good as the day I got them .So there we are well worth looking at for value for money .