870 for Wingshooting?

**Sonic.45** · 16-02-2010, 21:54

Gents,

I am not a huge hunter, but I'd like to get into a set of tweeds and gumboots and head into the hills to take down some fine birds.

That being said, I'm not in the market for a R20k o/u or similar. What I have bought is a Remington 870 Wingmaster with 26" ribbed barrel. Is this acceptable? I'll be retaining it's wood stocks, but will most likely put a decent finish like Kalgards satin black Gunkote.

Will I get shunned for arriving with an American pump action? What are the limitations of the 870 in the wingshooting arena?

Finally, any Cape Town folk interested in taking a new guy out into the field?

**obasch** · 17-02-2010, 06:33

Don't forsee a problem there. Do you know what choke the barrel has? That may be your only drawback in having only one choke setting. If it is a fairly open choke, in American terms Improved (quarter) or Modified (half) even the single choke would not be too much of a handicap. Most hunters can improve their bags by using a more open choke.
Start saving for that double with your name on. Wingshooting becomes addictive.

**Sonic.45** · 17-02-2010, 08:00

Thanks. I have no idea what choke....if any.....it has. I'm a complete novice, my only experience has been with my standard 18" 870 on guinefoul and a couple of other birds.

I'm looking forward to this!

**johannvdg** · 24-02-2010, 10:10

Hi Sonic,

With the time and effort it now takes to get a firearms licensed in your name, let me give you some of my thoughts.

I lean towards double guns, for quite a few reason:

#1 being safety, (or perceived safety), with a pump gun the onus is always on you to keep on showing everybody that you shoot with that your gun is safe, with a double, you simple open the gun and even from a relative distance anybody can see that the gun is safe. Remember that wingshooting is a social sport, and if other guns do not feel comfortable around you, invitation will dry up soon.

#2 gunfit and design, most, if not all double guns are designed for one or another form of shooting moving targets instinctively, while the same is not true of pump guns, and yes, you can make it work, but the art of shooting flying is not making it work, but rather having the pleasure of shooting a gun that fits you perfectly and that you can just pick up and shoot, while only concentrating on the target.(I have used both and can relate how frustrating it is to miss a bird, or clay and bring your focus back to the gun, only to find that the gun was mounted incorrectly) I will also recommend that you take the gun to a competent stockmaker to fit it.

#3 you may meet the right guy, invite him on your shoot, and he may the reciprocate and invite you to his private grouse shoot on the Scotland moors, and believe me a pump gun will just not fit. http://www.gunsite.co.za/forums/images/icons/icon12.gif

You do not have to spend 20K to get a good gun, a fellow shooter recently picked up a decent second hand Browning O/U from a dealer for 13K, I bought a well used Beretta O/U for 4K, another guy bought a SxS Black Sable, with hand detachable sidelocks(nogal) for 4K privately. A friend gave me a SxS AYA for free, another friend picked up two Beretta Silver Pigeon for 10K each. Miroku O/U guns regularly sell for under 10K and then there is a large variety of entry level guns for less than 10K brand new. So get the message out there that you are looking.

My advice on entry level guns are simple, do it as a last resort only, as they just do not last, I started with a Baikal SxS, it lasted about 8000 shots, I replaced it with a second it lasted about 6000 shots(they were both loose), I now have the AYA, which is already 35+ years old and it shows no signs of being loose and the Beretta which looks well used on the outside, but still locks up tight. This is advise which I wish I had been give when I started out, although I may not have been receptive to it.

And if you think that you will never shoot 20 000 shots in your life, I thought so as well, actually in the beginning I bought shells by the box, yes 25 shells at a time, but as obasch has said, wingshooting is addictive and now I spend almost as much on shells as what I spend on fuel and tolls to get to the shooting places.

Having said all of that, any shotgun is better than no gun at all and the 870 with 26" will do in a pinch, you may just have to pass that invitation to Scotland on to me. http://www.gunsite.co.za/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif
You may even get a stockmaker to fit the gun for you.

Hope it helps and when you come on up to the Vaal join me, I'll keep an eye on youhttp://www.gunsite.co.za/forums/images/icons/icon12.gif

I agree start saving, because a double you'll want in no time.

Johann

**THOMAST** · 24-02-2010, 10:29

Well said johannvdg!
I remember the first time I was invited on a syndicated pigeon shoot. Pitched up in my Toyota Hilux with my well used Franchi Alcione and an equally well used shooting vest. Parked the truck well away from the Landies parked in a neat row and watched all the tweed jacketed shooters from a distence at first feeling very out of place.
But then the pigeons started coming in and we all had a good time, made a lot of friends that day. We all enjoyed the same thing, we just dressed differently!
Cant say I care for cucumber sandwiches though.. ;o)

**Peterv** · 24-03-2010, 09:46

Hi Sonic45,

You have already got some good advice; all that I will add is that I have several shotguns including a Rem 870 which is used exclusively as my "goose gun" - coincidentally Pierre has a pic of me with it on the top banner of the aim show website http://www.aimshow.co.za/ It has a MC 30 inch barrel and a magnum receiver which is why it is used for Spurwing over decoys.

I do prefer my O/U for general wing shooting and have nice s/s hammergun which I take for occassional walks - see pic below.

If you are serious about wingshooting in the longer term then a good double will be the way to go and as already mentioned there are good deals to be had - talk to Andrew Soutar of Classic Arms in Witbank - he always has some good options.

Cheers