A lot of people advocate leaving one's pump action shotgun in 'cruiser ready' or 'cruiser safe', which means that the chamber is empty, the mag tube is fully loaded, and the trigger has been pulled, so that you can just rack the shotgun to get a round into the tube and fight.
In my opinion, the step of pulling the trigger while the mag tube is loaded is unsafe and unnecessary. It eventually could lead to a negligent discharge if a round somehow found its way into the chamber due to inattention.
Regardless of the potential safety issues, I think it's preferable to train always hitting the action release lever the first time that you rack the bolt. That way, the bolt will come back whether or not it was locked forward. It doesn't take any significant extra time and is more reliable.
I had long had this opinion, but I was reminded of it recently in a Magpul Dynamics shotgun class where Chris Costa said something to the same effect.
Showing posts with label shotgun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shotgun. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Ejection port loading vs magazine tube loading on a pump shotgun
A lot of trainers teach that when your pump shotgun is empty, you should pull the bolt back, load a round into the ejection port, and push the bolt forward.
This is supposedly faster than loading from the magazine tube, but its speed is predicated on the assumption that you'd know exactly when you fired the last round, then pull the bolt back and leave it back.
That's a bad assumption. In a fight, it would be difficult to keep track of how many rounds you fired, especially if you're loading extra rounds into the mag any time you get a chance.
As a matter of training, every time you fire a pump action shotgun, you should automatically, without pausing, rack it completely, all the way to the rear and then forward. Your bolt should never be just sitting open to the rear during a fight. If your bolt is forward and you hear a click, the easiest thing to do would be to load a round in the mag tube, then rack the bolt completely back and forward to load the round. This has the advantage that you only need to practice one way of loading, which is a big advantage in keeping things simple.
Loading through the ejection port, you can load from the top, in which case you might have problems if you ever mounted an optic, or you can load from the bottom, which requires twisting your arm uncomfortably.
Loading through the ejection port, you turn the gun slightly inward to help the round fall in to the gun. Loading through the mag, you turn the gun slightly outward to give your support side hand access to the mag tube, which is consistent with the same direction you turn a handgun or a carbine when doing a speed reload.
Loading your first round through the ejection port when doing an administrative load is fine because the bolt starts out back because you started that way to show the gun was unloaded. But once the shooting starts, why would your bolt ever be back? This is perhaps a matter of training and preference, but I like to keep it simple.
Option 1:
Every time you fire, rack the bolt fully. Every time you hear a click, load through the mag(the same way you always load) and rack the bolt. When you get a chance, load more rounds through the mag.
Option 2:
Every time you fire, rack the bolt fully, except on the last shot where you only pull the bolt back You've been keeping track and you know exactly when you're on the last round, and you're not afraid of inducing a double feed if there indeed was one more round in the mag. Port load a round and push the bolt forward. When you get a chance, load more rounds through the mag.
For more technique tips: http://jumpthestack.blogspot.com/search/label/shooting%20tips
This is supposedly faster than loading from the magazine tube, but its speed is predicated on the assumption that you'd know exactly when you fired the last round, then pull the bolt back and leave it back.
That's a bad assumption. In a fight, it would be difficult to keep track of how many rounds you fired, especially if you're loading extra rounds into the mag any time you get a chance.
As a matter of training, every time you fire a pump action shotgun, you should automatically, without pausing, rack it completely, all the way to the rear and then forward. Your bolt should never be just sitting open to the rear during a fight. If your bolt is forward and you hear a click, the easiest thing to do would be to load a round in the mag tube, then rack the bolt completely back and forward to load the round. This has the advantage that you only need to practice one way of loading, which is a big advantage in keeping things simple.
Loading through the ejection port, you can load from the top, in which case you might have problems if you ever mounted an optic, or you can load from the bottom, which requires twisting your arm uncomfortably.
Loading through the ejection port, you turn the gun slightly inward to help the round fall in to the gun. Loading through the mag, you turn the gun slightly outward to give your support side hand access to the mag tube, which is consistent with the same direction you turn a handgun or a carbine when doing a speed reload.
Loading your first round through the ejection port when doing an administrative load is fine because the bolt starts out back because you started that way to show the gun was unloaded. But once the shooting starts, why would your bolt ever be back? This is perhaps a matter of training and preference, but I like to keep it simple.
Option 1:
Every time you fire, rack the bolt fully. Every time you hear a click, load through the mag(the same way you always load) and rack the bolt. When you get a chance, load more rounds through the mag.
Option 2:
Every time you fire, rack the bolt fully, except on the last shot where you only pull the bolt back You've been keeping track and you know exactly when you're on the last round, and you're not afraid of inducing a double feed if there indeed was one more round in the mag. Port load a round and push the bolt forward. When you get a chance, load more rounds through the mag.
For more technique tips: http://jumpthestack.blogspot.com/search/label/shooting%20tips
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sling vs no sling for home defense shotgun or carbine
A semi-common debate is whether or not one should attach a sling to one's home defense shotgun or rifle.
Sling pros:
You might need hands free to transition to a handgun, manipulate a flashlight or light switches on the wall, open or close doors, deal with children or other family members, or operate a phone or alarm panel.
If someone manages to grapple with you while you're slung it will make it harder for them to get the gun away from you, and you'll be able to use your hands to some degree to fight.
Sling cons:
The sling has the potential of snagging on things, and it takes some small amount of time to sling the weapon on your body.
Some would say it's not needed since home defense engagements tend to be short and you would want the gun in your hands the whole time anyways.
Adds cost, since you need to buy a sling and potentially mounting hardware. This wouldn't apply if you would have bought a sling anyways for field / class use, just not for home defense.
Most slings will prevent you from easily transitioning the gun to your support side, e.g. if you wanted to go around a corner to the left.
Verdict:
Having a sling on a long gun for home defense is worthwhile. A well adjusted sling should not snag on anything and should be very quick to put on your body. The ability to use your hands without putting the gun may be tactically valuable for a number of reasons. A sling on a long gun is equivalent to a holster for a handgun, except it's even more convenient because it stays attached to the gun.
Sling pros:
You might need hands free to transition to a handgun, manipulate a flashlight or light switches on the wall, open or close doors, deal with children or other family members, or operate a phone or alarm panel.
If someone manages to grapple with you while you're slung it will make it harder for them to get the gun away from you, and you'll be able to use your hands to some degree to fight.
Sling cons:
The sling has the potential of snagging on things, and it takes some small amount of time to sling the weapon on your body.
Some would say it's not needed since home defense engagements tend to be short and you would want the gun in your hands the whole time anyways.
Adds cost, since you need to buy a sling and potentially mounting hardware. This wouldn't apply if you would have bought a sling anyways for field / class use, just not for home defense.
Most slings will prevent you from easily transitioning the gun to your support side, e.g. if you wanted to go around a corner to the left.
Verdict:
Having a sling on a long gun for home defense is worthwhile. A well adjusted sling should not snag on anything and should be very quick to put on your body. The ability to use your hands without putting the gun may be tactically valuable for a number of reasons. A sling on a long gun is equivalent to a holster for a handgun, except it's even more convenient because it stays attached to the gun.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Tactical shotgun: pistol grip stock vs standard stock
Pistol grip stock vs standard stock for tactical shotgun:
Note: Pistol grip stock means a stock that comes with a pistol grip. I'm not talking about shotguns with a pistol grip only. Those are not recommended because they are generally designed to be shot from the hip, are hard to shoot accurately, and put a lot of recoil in your hand.
Pistol grip stock pros:
Many of them are collapsible M4 style stocks with adjustable length of pull, making them easier to store, and making them easily adjustable for different shooters.
Some, like the Knoxx Spec-Ops stock have recoil reduction buffers.
If you shoot AR-15 / M-16 rifles or other rifles with a pistol grip, the ergonomics are similar.
You can keep your elbows lower and tighter with a pistol grip, which is safer for going around corners without getting your elbows shot off. With a standard stock you have to have your firing arm's elbow cocked up like a chicken wing.
Standard stock pros:
With a Mossberg, it's a lot easier to manipulate the safety which is mounted at the top of the receiver. If you have a pistol grip Mossberg, you have to release your firing grip to use your thumb to manipulate the safety. I do NOT like the pistol grip on a Mossberg, it makes manipulating the safety very slow and uncomfortable.
Generally sturdier with fewer pieces to break.
You can carry the shotgun held muzzle up in your hands(with a pistol grip stock, it's very uncomfortable to carry muzzle up). Not sure how much of a pro this is since I think carrying muzzle up is a bad idea for safety reasons.
Less expensive.
You can hit someone with the buttstock easily(not that I think this is a good idea). With a pistol grip stock it's pretty much impossible.
Overall I prefer the pistol grip stock, assuming a crossbolt safety(e.g. Remington 870). If the gun has a tang mounted safety(e.g. Mossberg) then a standard stock is much preferred.
Note: Pistol grip stock means a stock that comes with a pistol grip. I'm not talking about shotguns with a pistol grip only. Those are not recommended because they are generally designed to be shot from the hip, are hard to shoot accurately, and put a lot of recoil in your hand.
Pistol grip stock pros:
Many of them are collapsible M4 style stocks with adjustable length of pull, making them easier to store, and making them easily adjustable for different shooters.
Some, like the Knoxx Spec-Ops stock have recoil reduction buffers.
If you shoot AR-15 / M-16 rifles or other rifles with a pistol grip, the ergonomics are similar.
You can keep your elbows lower and tighter with a pistol grip, which is safer for going around corners without getting your elbows shot off. With a standard stock you have to have your firing arm's elbow cocked up like a chicken wing.
Standard stock pros:
With a Mossberg, it's a lot easier to manipulate the safety which is mounted at the top of the receiver. If you have a pistol grip Mossberg, you have to release your firing grip to use your thumb to manipulate the safety. I do NOT like the pistol grip on a Mossberg, it makes manipulating the safety very slow and uncomfortable.
Generally sturdier with fewer pieces to break.
You can carry the shotgun held muzzle up in your hands(with a pistol grip stock, it's very uncomfortable to carry muzzle up). Not sure how much of a pro this is since I think carrying muzzle up is a bad idea for safety reasons.
Less expensive.
You can hit someone with the buttstock easily(not that I think this is a good idea). With a pistol grip stock it's pretty much impossible.
Overall I prefer the pistol grip stock, assuming a crossbolt safety(e.g. Remington 870). If the gun has a tang mounted safety(e.g. Mossberg) then a standard stock is much preferred.
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