Here is her quote from the original Range Report thread I wrote:
Quote from "PT7 -- back into shot gunning with a Pump." http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=4306
When I did my Range Report on my new Stevens 320 shotgun, I hadn't taken any photos yet. So I did that over the weekend. OK, now some wandering thoughts on slug shooting --- for fun or for hunting. I really don't know what reasons support the observation NCG wrote about slug shooting: "Really should post more about it, since it's a type of shooting that you rarely read about, these days." Even on the shotgun forum I'm a member of, there is very little about slug shooting. Of course, shooting sports like trap and skeet are very popular. Also, s/g hunting is quite popular, but other than with slugs. Not sure why. I like it because the shotgun is a significant part of our frontier American history. Early on many folk used shotguns for protection, and more importantly, putting all kinds of food on the table. It was a staple firearm back then.North Country Gal wrote:Fascinating report, PT and great shooting with those slug guns. Been awhile since you posted about your slug shooting, so glad to see you back at it. Really should post more about it, since it's a type of shooting that you rarely read about, these days. Does need to get more exposure. I'll bet there are a lot shotguns, sitting around, collecting dust, being neglected by their owners for lack off opportunity to wing shoot or trap shoot. They could grab some slug loads and head to the nearest range and have fun like you.
Oh, yeah, I still think about giving it a try, sometime. Think I'll stick with a 20, though. Will likely be a pump, too.
The challenging part of shooting for me is that I need to have sights that work for my elder eyes. This Stevens has a ghost-ring rear and fiber-optic front, just as my Henry SGC has the receiver-mounted Skinner ghost ring rear sight and a bead front sight. The choice of shotguns with this configuration is somewhat limited, and I've not yet seen a s/g with wood furniture and this sight configuration....maybe I've missed one out there. Anyway, the basic iron rear sight on the Stevens works well for me.
Another reason I like this type of shooting is that inherently a shotgun's most capable range is 50-100 yards. If I use this s/g for deer hunting with slugs, I'd be practiced and ready for about a 40-50 yard range. A real plus for me is that this limitation of short-range shooting allows me to stick with the iron sights.
NCG said here about slug shooting, "I still think about giving it a try, sometime." Some other Henry Folk have said the same. And on the shotgun forum I share on, quite a few there echoed this thought. But I've yet to have a "comrade-in-slugs" come along. Maybe someday. Shotgun slug shooting is extremely fun and also quite rewarding to master such a skill.
Finally, I've recently come across a shooting organization (they call it a "club") which has the primary goal of "Looking just for SlugShooters, pure and simple." It's called the American Slug Shooting Association. http://www.slugshooting.com/default.htm I haven't read much yet about the details of their slug shooting competitions, but it does sound interesting. If there is a way I might be able to participate locally, it sounds like it would be a cool sport.
I hope to post some additional shotgun Range Reports as I get outdoors this spring and summer. Maybe there will be a spark of interest yet ignited. If anyone here does try out shooting slugs, I'll be all ears!
PT7