Sporting Clays

[Golfer]

Rip, my father's 1100 and my 11-87 have never had any problems with shell ejection even using 8 shot low brass.  I use 7-1/2 shot most of the time because it's what I buy for trap shooting but I also keep 9 shot for skeet on hand.  When on the range I usually use an over/under which obviously doesn't matter but for dove neither Remington has ever had a problem that didn't directly result from the gun needing cleaned.

We didn't and still don't clean them after every use, we use them as the utility guns they are.  Mine's been submerged in water, frozen shut, used to smack rose bushes out of the way, a walking stick and even dropped out of a tree stand.  That's not to say we don't take care of them but with synthetic stocks in the field and a little TLC at home when it gets wet or dirty they're just about the most bullet proof guns you can have.  

If yours is having problems ejecting the 8 shot shells you can check a few things:

-That the O-rings around the magazine tube are still in good condition.
-That the metal ring below the O ring is oriented the right way.  If you reinstall it upside down it hinders ejection (some say by design for trap shooters who actually didn't want the shell to automatically eject on a trap range) which would cause your problems.
-That the spring that is installed in the stock isn't putting too much pressure on the slide in the action of the gun.

I've seen them all.  I'm sure the gun is cleaned regularly and the O rings are in good condition if you care for the gun reguarly.  My bet would be flip the piston ring (the metal ring) from its position and give that a try.  If nothing else the spring could be making things a little tight.

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
My son shot his first two rounds of Trap today. He did really well for a first timer. He hit 10 of 25 the first round, and 8 of 25 the second round.

I hit 20 of 25 first round and 18 of 25 second round. (Hey, it's been 7 years since I touched my shotgun other than a bi-annual cleaning-oiling, what can I say?)

7 more Saturdays of trap before our goose hunt.

Cost FWIW:
Each round costs $3.50. Box of shells=$4.50. Total cost for 2 of us shooting 2 rounds each is $32.00.

4.50 for a box of shells?  You do realize that you don't have to buy the gold plated shotgun shells, right?

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by lasersailor184
4.50 for a box of shells?  You do realize that you don't have to buy the gold plated shotgun shells, right?

That is our local Walmart "Winchester" ammo price, 8 shot! WA state taxes the crap out of the 3 "F's". (If it flies, floats, fires )

The gun range gets $6 a box.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Golfer

-That the O-rings around the magazine tube are still in good condition.
-That the metal ring below the O ring is oriented the right way.  If you reinstall it upside down it hinders ejection (some say by design for trap shooters who actually didn't want the shell to automatically eject on a trap range) which would cause your problems.
-That the spring that is installed in the stock isn't putting too much pressure on the slide in the action of the gun.

I've seen them all.  I'm sure the gun is cleaned regularly and the O rings are in good condition if you care for the gun reguarly.  My bet would be flip the piston ring (the metal ring) from its position and give that a try.  If nothing else the spring could be making things a little tight.

I've checked, replaced all the above. Even went as far as tearing everything down, boiling the metal parts in hot water, letting them dry, and re-assembling (with the help of my Dad who is a retired-amatuer gun nut) and to no avail. Replacing the spring actually made it start a non-eject on higher grain rounds (6 shot and lower!)  I'd say today about 1 out of every 20 rounds jam (2/4 shot) and every round jams on 7 1/2 or above shot.  I open for any other suggestions if you have them. I do know that the gas-operated 1100's are famous for this problem, but not everyone has the problem.

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
That is our local Walmart "Winchester" ammo price, 8 shot! WA state taxes the crap out of the 3 "F's". (If it flies, floats, fires )

The gun range gets $6 a box.

Ah, I can understand the taxes.  We used to get them for roughly $2.50 a box here in Pennsylvania.  Though, the 2 Wal-Marts up here at school no longer sell firearms and ammo, the 1 back at home still sells ammo, but not firearms.


If you plan on shooting a lot, you might want to look into loading your own shells.  Best bet is to look for a used loader.  You can make your shells as light, or as hot and heavy as you want.  I like mine when it kicks really hard.

My father calculated that w/o the cost of the loader factored in, it costs roughly 2.10-2.25 to load a box, depending on sale prices and the like.

[Ripsnort]

Incidently, I've yet to try teflon lubricant on the rings (that are suppose to be kept dry, free of oil) I think I'll try that next.

[Charon]

Charon- you'll want to shoot your shotgun just to get some rounds through it but if you really enjoy clay shooting, renting a gun might be a good option too. There's a range here that has Beretta 391 sporting models for $15 a day(costs $1100+ new). Another range has $10/day rentals but I'm not sure what they have. If you're paying $3-4 extra for a box for 16 gauge, that difference covers your rental for 1 round of SC. Shoot more than 1 round and it will save you money plus you get to shoot a really nice shotgun that's tailored to the task at hand.

Thanks for the advice. The range I go to doesn't rent weapons, but it won't be too much for me to get some 16 ga shells for few sessions to see it's something I want to take on as a hobby.

   Hi Charon

Take a look at Berretta 391 urikas , fantastic all around gun, comes with multiple chokes.

Bell was shut down for numerous reasons ,one being loaning guns to the mob for hits then selling them to law abiding citizens. it has been in the family secrets trial.

we'llhave to hook up one day and hit my club
http://www.northbrooksportsclub.org/

LOL. I didn't know that about Bells.

I wouldn't mind hitting your club  mtndog, but on  scale of 1-10 with shotgun shooting sports I register about a 1 or 2. A newb is being generous, though I am safe around firearms. I actually grew up about a half mile behind the original Northbrook Shooting Club, when it was in Northbrook. I had a friend in HS that was a competitive shooter who based out of the club. Had a really swell late 60s Corvette too.

Charon

[mtndog]

hi Charon
  it would be my pleasure. weekends can be busy at the club. Can you get off on a wed or thurs afternoon? the club is open 12 to 5 on Wed, and 12 to 10pm on thursdays. Shooting under the lights is fun.
  dont worry about being a newb,we'll have ya breaking 20 plus on yer second round.
  You could try my 12 and 20ga. berrettas, as well as a 12 ga.browning ultra o/u to get a feel for different shotguns.they all have their pros and cons.

mtndog

P.s.   its a small world , i recieve NPN

[Halo]

(quote)  Halo,

My brother shoots at Bull Run all the time. I think he's one of the range officers. I've even shot there; pretty nice place.

He's an excellent wingshot, was a Class A trapshooter at one time and shoots every game that's available at Bull Run.

He'd probably help you out for nothing. If you're interested, let me know and I'll check with him.

Be advised, we'll be heading out to SD on a 3 week pheasant hunt soon, so get in early or wait a while.

(unquote)

Thanks, Toad, good info and offer.  I think I'll be okay with the sporting clays class Sunday and then wing it from there.  I might have made a mistake buying the classic field 1100 12-gauge because it does not shoot the lightest loads like Winchester AA low noise low recoil.  

I'm renewing my recoil research and so far see that some older even highly experienced shooters go to 20, 28, or even 410.  The range oriented 1100s are more expensive so I'll probably not go that route.  

I'll know more after my first sporting clays round Sunday.  I might just use one of the range 20-gauge over and under Brownings.  

(quote)  They probably don't have a problem with it because its unlikely that the 1100 will eject an 8 shot casing. Mine never has, not enough powder there to back that action back enough to eject it!  (unquote)

Rip, as I understand shotgun shells, the shot size has nothing to do with any ejection problems, it's the amount of powder to operate the recoil mechanism.  For example, my current model 1100 Classic Field will not eject Winchester AA low noise low recoil No. 8 shot (min dram equivalent, 26 gram), but it does fine with Federal Top Gun Target Load No. 8 shot (3 dram equivalent, 1 1/8-oz shot).

[Toad]

You might look into the Benelli Comfortech guns; they have a specially designed stock that is supposed to reduce recoil ~30%. Beretta also has the Kick-off system on some guns. Both of those solutions are rather pricey.

A 20ga autoloader won't kick much and while some folks will tell you it's a handicap to use one for trap, it won't make much difference at all on 5 stand, skeet, crazy quail and most of the shots at a SC range.

Enjoy!

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by Halo
Rip, as I understand shotgun shells, the shot size has nothing to do with any ejection problems, it's the amount of powder to operate the recoil mechanism.  For example, my current model 1100 Classic Field will not eject Winchester AA low noise low recoil No. 8 shot (min dram equivalent, 26 gram), but it does fine with Federal Top Gun Target Load No. 8 shot (3 dram equivalent, 1 1/8-oz shot).

Actually, it's the shot WEIGHT and amount of powder that BOTH contribute to cycling the action.

I'm too bored to read over the whole thread, but you probably don't want to start to learn clay sports with anything less then a 20 guage.  Once you have your basic skills set pretty well learned, then you can switch down or up.

[Halo]

Thanks for correcting that, lasersailor.  I kept thinking I should add weight of shot but somehow didn't.  Duh on me.  

Had an interesting session today at a gun shop range with a do-it-yourself trap thrower.  Compared target loads of 12-gauge 2 3/4 No. 8 Winchester AA low recoil low min. dram equivalent 26 gram with Federal 3 dram equiv 1 1/8 oz shot (yes, drives me nuts when shell manufacturers do not post the same info for point by point comparison).  

In my perception, the Winchester low noise low recoil (which people assume to be 7/8 oz) in a Stoeger Coach shotgun (side by side double barrel) is about the same perceived recoil as the Federal 3 dram 1 1/8 oz in a Remington 1100 Classic Field semi auto.

I used Limbsaver pads on both them, and that helped.  My Remington 1100 becomes a single shot with the Winchester low noise low recoil because it won't eject spent shells.  

Both loads in an H&R 28-inch barrel single-shot breakopen were more uncomfortable, probably because of its lighter weight.  

The 1100 has a 26-inch barrel, the coach shotgun a 20-inch barrel.  Unfortunately, the nearest sporting clays range bans shotguns with 23 1/2 inch or less barrels.  I thought that quite unreasonable until a gun shop guy reminded me the shorter barrels make more noise even if they do shoot as accurately as many longer barrels.

The nearest gun range is in a highly populated area, so I can understand the importance of minimizing gun noise.  Which is another reason why can't take home defense shotguns there and blaze away with however many rounds the magazines hold.  

That range also limits powder load to 3 drams.  

Fortunately another range farther out allows any size barrels.  

So at last I'm finally familiar enough with my Remington 1100 to use it confidently Sunday in my first sporting clays round.  

Although ... since I have a free gun rental, I might just use a range Browning over and under 20-gauge.  Never shot a 20-gauge, so that would kill two birds with one shot (to use a shameless cliche here).

[TalonX]

And, I have chokes in both barrels that are imp cylinder.....  It can be an issue on a long double (think ducks).

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by Halo
Thanks for correcting that, lasersailor.  I kept thinking I should add weight of shot but somehow didn't.  Duh on me.  

Had an interesting session today at a gun shop range with a do-it-yourself trap thrower.  Compared target loads of 12-gauge 2 3/4 No. 8 Winchester AA low recoil low min. dram equivalent 26 gram with Federal 3 dram equiv 1 1/8 oz shot (yes, drives me nuts when shell manufacturers do not post the same info for point by point comparison).  

In my perception, the Winchester low noise low recoil (which people assume to be 7/8 oz) in a Stoeger Coach shotgun (side by side double barrel) is about the same perceived recoil as the Federal 3 dram 1 1/8 oz in a Remington 1100 Classic Field semi auto.

I used Limbsaver pads on both them, and that helped.  My Remington 1100 becomes a single shot with the Winchester low noise low recoil because it won't eject spent shells.  

Both loads in an H&R 28-inch barrel single-shot breakopen were more uncomfortable, probably because of its lighter weight.  

The 1100 has a 26-inch barrel, the coach shotgun a 20-inch barrel.  Unfortunately, the nearest sporting clays range bans shotguns with 23 1/2 inch or less barrels.  I thought that quite unreasonable until a gun shop guy reminded me the shorter barrels make more noise even if they do shoot as accurately as many longer barrels.

The nearest gun range is in a highly populated area, so I can understand the importance of minimizing gun noise.  Which is another reason why can't take home defense shotguns there and blaze away with however many rounds the magazines hold.  

That range also limits powder load to 3 drams.  

Fortunately another range farther out allows any size barrels.  

So at last I'm finally familiar enough with my Remington 1100 to use it confidently Sunday in my first sporting clays round.  

Although ... since I have a free gun rental, I might just use a range Browning over and under 20-gauge.  Never shot a 20-gauge, so that would kill two birds with one shot (to use a shameless cliche here).

To be completely honest, the only time I ever felt the recoil was a little soreness after shooting my heavily loaded shells through 4 rounds after about a 8-9 month hiatus.  Even on my lighter Mossberg 500, I never noticed any pain of recoil (only the pain of missing).

I think you're doing something wrong if you are so worried about the recoil.  You should be so focused on knocking the bird out of the air that you won't notice the recoil at all.

[Pyro]

Eskimo- I have no expertise, just a little general knowledge.  I'm not that far into it and while I'm a decent shot, I'm not great.  I know a couple things about Auto 5's because I own one but I shoot clays with a Browning Gold.