What would you do?

[ceh383]

So, I was at a fun shoot this morning, I shot ok...screwed up a couple stations...ran some others.
My shooting ability is not the question here. My squad got to station 7 and we had to wait a bit for our turn. I was up first in our squad so I watched the targets to get an idea of how I wanted to attack the targets when I was up. Then a friend tapped me on the shoulder and pointed behind me. What I saw when I looked...My gun cart down some steps and on its side, my gun in the dirt. I had both brakes applied so it couldn't roll on its own. Somebody either pushed it or hit it pretty hard.
There were 3 squads in the area, no one said anything :twisted:
How would you react if it were your gun?
Fortunately the damage was minimal and can be easily fixed...I just need to refinish the comb.



It's hard to see in the poor phone pic, but it is ugly!!!

[Thefeeder]

><

Nothing to do other then bite your lip and get it fixed.

You may want to try a self fix before looking at a stock refinish

I would try watering the dinged area to see if the dents will pop and when dry,

take some 000 steel wool and some good quality dark walnut scratch remover and see if you can blend in some color to the damaged area.

I would take off the butt pad and try a tiny spot to see how close the color is first.

You can also try some tung oil mixed with the scratch remover for another blend.

Go slow with a bit of trial and error

[ceh383]

Nothing to do other then bite your lip and get it fixed.

You may want to try a self fix before looking at a stock refinish

I would try watering the dinged area to see if the dents will pop and when dry,

take some 000 steel wool and some good quality dark walnut scratch remover and see if you can blend in some color to the damaged area.

I would take off the butt pad and try a tiny spot to see how close the color is first.

You can also try some tung oil mixed with the scratch remover for another blend.

Go slow with a bit of trial and error

I didn't see it happen, so I can't say for sure how it happened. It bothers me that no one said anything. If someone had said I bumped your cart and it took off, I probably said no worries, it is what it is.
I'll fix it, it's a Truoil finish that I did myself, so I know I can fix it.
I guess I'm just bummed that no one manned up to it

[Thefeeder]

><

I hear ya on the manning up. The good is that you can DIY.

The finish looks darn good....hats off

[ceh383]

I hear ya on the manning up. The good is that you can DIY.

The finish looks darn good....hats off

Thanks...
A friend of mine and I cut the comb and installed the pad adjuster...I did the finish on both. It's nice to have friends with the right tools

PS: Thanks again Dave

[LynnJr]

The better the piece of wood is on your shotgun the more likely it is that it will get knocked over by a jealous shooter.
Ask around to find out who bumped it and simply return the favour. You do this by grabbing the barrel of your gun with your palm and fingers and leave your thumb sticking out to snag his barrel.
Remember to say oooppss.

[bigbearbear]

Sorry to hear that, sounds like you've got it sorted out.

To be honest I would've just said "oh crap" and ignore the scratch. Unless the damage affects the gun functionally or worse, compromises the safety, I generally do not worry too much about their looks. The worst damage I had on my shotgun was also on a sporting clay range, after assembling the gun, I leaned it against the side of the car's trunk but I accidentally knocked it over when assembling my wife's gun. It took a dive directly into the dirt.

If you are in Bay Area's trap range, look for the world's most banged up Benelli Supersport on the rack with hair bands on it acting as shell catcher. If you see one, chances are it is mine.

Having said that, I do have a expensive O/U shotgun on order and waiting for delivery. I hope to minimize the amount of dings and scratches it will receive when I start using it, any may it never take a dive in a gun cart.

[trapperjohn]

[ceh383]

LOL ...I'll see if I can come up with another complex tool that you could really use.

Let me know when you return...