What you see on the range

[Gil Martin]

While working as a Range Officer I have encountered various situations from shooters. Last week a fellow was trying to sight in a 20 gauge slug gun at 50 yards with dismal results. He moved to the 100 yard range with even more disappointing results. He moved back to the 50 yard range and was totally frustrated. I offered some assistance and looked over his assortment of ammo which consisted of name brand rifled slugs and sabots. He had been shooting rifled slugs. Then I examined the slug gun and scope. His shotgun had a rifled barrel and would not shoot rifled slugs accurately. I suggested trying the sabots and he was amazed at the tight groups. I am amazed at what I encounter on the range. All the best...
Gil

[Elvis]

it is a great pity some guys dont do a little or indeed any reading before trying/buying shells.

[BigBlue]

Imagine how long that exasperation would have lasted if you weren't there to set him straight. Good job!

[dhc4ever]

Nice job, you've made a difference to someones day.

I've done similar when acting as range officer all part of the service imo, keeps people happy and focused, not frustrated and potentially a safety risk due to not thinking.

My only bain seems to be people of Slavic origin, if theres a safety snafu it is an 80% bet its a slav. Not always the same person either, I'm beginning to think its ingrained at birth.

[MacD]

Nice to be in a position to help and even better when your help is accepted.

[Vince]

Yup...seen similar "didn't think" situations many times on the range mate. Well done with your assistance. I'll bet he appreciated it as well.

[lesterg3]

Hey Gil, did you remember to tattoo "Remember to breath" backwards on his forehead?

[SingleShotLover]

Unfortunately this isn't just confined to the range. During our shotgun-only deer season several years ago, I heard a barrage of seven shots spaced over several minutes coming from a location on the property adjoining the one where I was hunting. About an hour later I dropped a nice buck and headed out. I ran across the hunter who had fired all those shots dragging his deer, which was pretty badly shot up - hit in various places from the neck to the hindquarters. He bemoaned the inaccuracy of his shotgun and slugs and swore that he would be buying a new gun for the next season. Curious, when I returned to retrieve my stand, I back-tracked his drag marks to where he had shot his buck. From the blood pool where the deer dropped to the base of the tree where his elevated stand was located was exactly 30 paces. Littered the the base of the tree were seven empty shells - Federal, Winchester, Remington and Brenneke. Obviously he had just dropped what ever he had accumulated into his pocket and gone hunting. Being either too cheap or just plain lazy had caused a lot of wasted meat and a less than clean kill.
Since shotguns are notorious for liking certain slugs and flinging others across the landscape, I had spent a lot of time several years before this incident trying various brands and loads through the gun I used for slugs (an Ithaca/SKB 900 with a modified choke that I had added a slug-scope to) and found that the best brand for that particular gun was the now defunct Activ slugs. Thankfully I bought a case of them and still have most of it left. That combination can shoot into 3 1/2" at 75 yards...as far as I trust non-sabot slugs and what I would consider a long shot in the heavy brush where I hunted. Research and practice does pay off.

[Elvis]

ever tried 00 buckshot through a rifled choke????
best bring pattern board back into 25 when you do as they will be around outside with none in centre.

[dhc4ever]

Elvis wrote:

ever tried 00 buckshot through a rifled choke???? best bring pattern board back into 25 when you do as they will be around outside with none in centre.

The voice of experience?

Nice of you to apply the scientific method in R&D eh, I mean you wouldnt have done that by mistake would you?

[Elvis]

tried #BB and #4 with same donut pattern. it was in interest of seeing what worked.