[RedStripes]

Just bought a Remington 870 and while waiting for the DROS I am trying to learn something about how it works. Anyone know of any good basic instructional videos. I shot a rifle once years ago so I know next to nothing about firearms. I am going to go to the range and try to figure out how to shoot it, any help so I don't blow off a limb? Or is it simple enough that any idiot can figure it out.

[bden]

First - Keep the pointy end pointed towards stuff you don't mind busting up, keep your nose picker off the bang switch until you're ready for it to go bang, never trust that some little gremlin didn't come along and load it while you weren't watching, and always make sure you know what your shot's gonna hit.

Most gun ranges and shops offer safety classes. Take one! They're fun, informative, and very helpful. Many will go over cleaning recommendations as well. Find a friend who knows a thing or two about shooting to take you out your first time or two. Having someone knowledgable around will help the first trip be much more fun, enjoyable, and safe. Make sure you get a good bit of info on how your 870 works from the place you bought it at before bringing it home too.

[Dirtbiker]

This is the dangerous end.



All kidding aside, please read the manual fully and familiarize yourself with all controls.

[aippi]

You can go to www.aiptactical.com and under the customer service link, you will find a link "Breaking in the 870" follow that and you will break it in right and your reward will be a super smooth shotgun. And by god rack the thing like you have a pair.

[HondaMasterTech]

For stuff like this, though it isn't always the best, YouTube is your friend.

[GrimLock]

Originally Posted by aippi

You can go to www.aiptactical.com and under the customer service link, you will find a link "Breaking in the 870" follow that and you will break it in right and your reward will be a super smooth shotgun. And by god rack the thing like you have a pair.

I read what you said on your website and I've only put 40 shells through my 870. So I need 60 more pulls of the trigger lol.

I agree about racking it hard, that's the only way to do it. The sound is beautiful I mean it's loud and convincing.

[rkt88edmo]

BAAUUR?

Thumb on the side hold or thumb over the top?
Is the toe in the pocket?
Cheekweld?

[eccvets]

First thing to do is the strip it down (get a friend which knows how or look youtube for videos, there are many!), clean the hell out of it, lube it up, and then take it to the range. Just make sure not to buy/use any gauges of shells which arn't made for your gun, you really don't wanna mix up/put in a 20 guage shell in a row of 12's... Talk about bad news bears!

oh yeah, get yourself a knoxx specops stock with reduce recoil so you can enjoy your new gun instead of hating it and buying nsaids for the pain.

[Greg-Dawg®]

Read the manual.

[Black Majik]

Originally Posted by rkt88edmo

BAAUUR?

Thumb on the side hold or thumb over the top?
Is the toe in the pocket?
Cheekweld?

Ah, it's refreshing to see Dave's mantra on here.

+1 BA/UU/R.

[Justin562]

Originally Posted by Greg-Dawg®

Read the manual.

you can go to your ffl dealer an ask to give you the owners manual from the box it comes in.

[mmartin]

Originally Posted by aippi

And by god rack the thing like you have a pair.

Originally Posted by GrimLock

The sound is beautiful I mean it's loud and convincing.

love my benelli all to pieces, but sometimes I miss having a pump shotgun
that sound is sweet, isn't it?

what are your plans for learning to shoot? trap? it can really help to go with someone who's an experienced shooter (and knows how to teach), or take a couple of lessons. trap can be frustrating at first because you can't see where you need to correct. an experienced shooter can really help you there. once you start to hit, it's truly great fun.
megan

[Utha Schleigle]

For shot guns - {in my opinion} you must aim then shot gun to get the pattern to work the best for you.

Next you know what choke and barrel length in on your shot gun and how this effects your desired shooting application.


The great thing about shotguns is how versatile they are. Regular guns have one projectile size with choice of FMJ/Hollow Point/AP/Tracer/ECT. With shotgins there are a lot of choices for each application or target.

The best thing is to shoot it with different rounds at varying yards and see what the gun can do.

[bplvr]

Where are you located ? My wife took the shotgun class at P2K in SD
and loves her H/D pump. She feels totally comfortable with it at the range, in the kitchen ,or the B/R. Get a Knoxx no-recoil stock.Shoot all day with no pain.

[armedoffroader]

Originally Posted by HondaMasterTech

For stuff like this, though it isn't always the best, YouTube is your friend.

X2...helluva resource there! For cleaning, breakdown, shooting tips etc. Ive found youtube to be a great resource

[tankerman]

Originally Posted by RedStripes

What do I need to know about my shotgun?

You probably will never have to clean it.

[Revoman]

Best advise is to go with an experienced shooter, or to a trap/skeet range that has help.

Clean and lube your new gun, buy the correct ammo for it, some are magnum, others are not. Get the correct gauge for sure.

Of course this is probably a no brainer, but........Before you fire it, make sure of where the business end is pointed and that it is away from anyone or anything that you do not wish to shoot.

When you fire it, make sure that everything is tight to the stock, shoulder, cheek especially. You want to move with the recoil, not have it slap you when your cheek or shoulder is away from it. Do not have your thumb over the top of the stock too close to your nose, it will make your eyes water when your thumb contacts your nose.

Other than that, have fun! Shotgun shooting is really a barrel of fun, especially shooting clay targets.

[Noraku81]

I love my 870 to death! But first things first. When you pick it up, clean the crap out of it like you've never cleaned anything before! There's some good videos on youtube to show you how. I highly suggest reading the owners manual and taking a safety class before you go shooting. (hey you have ten days to kill, right?) Next, take a defensive shotgun class. Its awesome and you'll learn how to effectively use your shotgun.

[HUTCH 7.62]

That you just bought the most redneck kickass shotgun ever made.

[Two Shots]

Fast forward 60 years and think of the smile when your kid gives "Grandads" 870 to his son and it's still functions like new, excellant choice for your first shotgun.
I have nothing to add, I believe all the above posts cover everything.

[HondaMasterTech]

Kickass Redneck Shotgun

[Utha Schleigle]

A Remington 870 is the classic shotgun - everyone make accesories and replacement parts for it. It will never go out of style.

What exeact barrel length - mag tub capacity - choke was on the gun you bought??








Your gun will have the modern long front forcing, if you have modified choke or ????? choke. Stove pipe is for HD.


Before buying an extention - make sure you know how many the factory tube holds - so you do not go over the 10 round maxium. Hence a 3 round extention in a 8 round factory tube - 8+3=11=BOZO NO NO.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Squidbillie approved

[bden]

Originally Posted by HUTCH 7.62

you just bought the most redneck kickass shotgun ever made.

Originally Posted by Two Shots

Fast forward 60 years and think of the smile when your kid gives "Grandads" 870 to his son and it's still functions like new, excellant choice for your first shotgun.

You guys rule! This is why I love Calguns.

I should have added this earlier, but here's the NRA safety rules. Great stuff to know, and a great organization to consider joining.
http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp

[HondaMasterTech]

Originally Posted by bden

You guys rule! This is why I love Calguns.

I should have added this earlier, but here's the NRA safety rules. Great stuff to know, and a great organization to consider joining.
http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp

What you love is the part of me I rubbed off onto HUTCH! lol

[HUTCH 7.62]

Originally Posted by HondaMasterTech

What you love is the part of me I rubbed off onto HUTCH! lol

you wish you could rub off

[RedStripes]

Originally Posted by Utha Schleigle

A Remington 870 is the classic shotgun - everyone make accesories and replacement parts for it. It will never go out of style.

What exeact barrel length - mag tub capacity - choke was on the gun you bought??

Your gun will have the modern long front forcing, if you have modified choke or ????? choke. Stove pipe is for HD.

Before buying an extention - make sure you know how many the factory tube holds - so you do not go over the 10 round maxium. Hence a 3 round extention in a 8 round factory tube - 8+3=11=BOZO NO N.

Thanks for that scan very interesting. I got 18.5 inch barrel and extender for 7 round capacity. I have no idea about the choke I am not sure what that is.

Listening to the advice here I am going to look around youtube but I also got one of my buddies who shot at Camp Pendelton in ROTC to go to the range with me so I can learn more safely. 7 days left feels like a long time reminds me of waiting to open presents as a little kid at Christmas haha

[mmartin]

my 870 has changeable chokes... a choke goes in the end of the barrel and helps regulate the pattern and spread of the shot. different chokes give wider or narrower spread, so you use whichever one is going to give you the best spread at the proper distance for what you're going to be shooting.

different choke for hunting quail (which are close) and geese (which are much further away). for quail, you want the shot to spread sooner, for geese you want the shot to stay closer together for a much longer distance...

(hunters, check my work here, I'm just trap/skeet/sporting clays)

megan

[RedStripes]

Originally Posted by mmartin

my 870 has changeable chokes... a choke goes in the end of the barrel and helps regulate the pattern and spread of the shot. different chokes give wider or narrower spread, so you use whichever one is going to give you the best spread at the proper distance for what you're going to be shooting.

different choke for hunting quail (which are close) and geese (which are much further away). for quail, you want the shot to spread sooner, for geese you want the shot to stay closer together for a much longer distance...

(hunters, check my work here, I'm just trap/skeet/sporting clays)

megan

Thanks for clarifying. It is the same model used by police with the shirt barrel. The tag just said Remington 870 and I didn't know to ask about the choke and the guy didn't tell me. They had a huge selection of used shotguns but I'm glad I went with the Remington. I will ask about the choke when I pick it up.

[Utha Schleigle]

Most likely you have choke type "improved clynder" or "clyninder bore" - whitch means te lightest ammount of choke. 18.5" barrel is HD gun.

Different manufacturers have and had varying names for types of choke at different times.

Different ways of producing the choke effect are mostly manufacturer's in different countries.

Stove pipe = Straight tube at end. NO choke at all.

Clyninder bore = no choke or slight choke

Improved clynder = light choke

Modified choke = more restriction

3/4 choke = more choke

full choke = full constriction.

Your gun can have interchangeable chokes and barrels.