FINALLY!!!

[gWebber]

Finally after waiting forever it seemed like (life getting in the way).

I opted to take a private lesson at my local indoor range, they don’t do Shotguns except private lessons ... which as this is my first time firing a shotgun (other stuff yes, shotgun no) I thought would be a good idea anyway.

Started with one round of bird shot just to “feel” the gun and after that several brands of 00 Buck 2 3/4”. Stayed mostly on center slightly low, slightly left on a couple. Last three a touch high and right for one big hole .

Of the shells I used I liked the Wolf brand the best, only a touch more kick (not as much as expected) but a lot of punch.

The old girl performed perfectly, even instructor said it was a very smooth shooter.

[nugi]

Very nice! Feels good to finally shoot it?

[JOG]

Sweet looking Remington!

[gWebber]

Very nice! Feels good to finally shoot it?

Yes, felt great, actually less kick than I expected .. maybe due to assorted brands of 2 3/4” shells. Though the Wolf rounds even short had a pretty good kick.

[gWebber]

Sweet looking Remington!

Thank you. I really like it. Plan to go more tactical at least until I get a second gun ... then this will get restored as close to original as I can get

[ChillyB]

Good for you to take a course. Shotguns are super versatile.

[Scorpion8]

Nice! Way to go, those courses give a person a lot of confidence.

[gWebber]

Good for you to take a course. Shotguns are super versatile.

While this one was a basic safety and shooting “how-to” type thing, the instructor was really good and likable guy.

[gWebber]

Nice! Way to go, those courses give a person a lot of confidence.

Yes, it was one on one instruction and the instructor was reassuring. Good confidence booster for sure.

[gWebber]

I forgot to mention (though likely visible in photo) the first 2 3/4 shell of bird shot spread out pretty fast. Shooting from 10 yards the 20” open bore barrel spread out and covered the whole target from the neck down and full width.

Most of the 2 3/4 00 buck shell seem to roughly 5 or 6” inches.
The Wolf 00 buck seem to pattern a bit tighter , though hard to be sure with the increasing gapping hole in the target.

While the Wolf 00 buck had a bit stronger recoil than the other brands, it was still controllable (even by this novice).
I’d bet I could manage to turn a pie plate into a doughnut in about three shots.

All in all at the end of twenty rounds I felt pretty confident with the gun and getting on target repeatedly without spending a ton of time doing it and keeping a fair grouping that would punch a big hole in whatever.

For a one hour class it was a ton of fun, now I just need to find someplace to really practice a bunch. Meanwhile, drills with dummy rounds.