Combat shotgun shooting

[shakeyjake]

Anywhere to shoot a combat shotgun around the bay area? I took a class a while back and I would like to practice as not to lose the skills I paid for.Most ranges only let you shoot trap that I know of. Thanks

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[Merc1138]

I'm not sure what you mean about "combat shotgun". Aside from driving out to BLM land and doing your own thing, I don't think there are any ranges in the area that would let you do anything remotely close to any shotgun class I've seen or participated in(quick shooting, transition to sidearm, etc.) that wasn't actually a class, match, or other sort of private event.

Some ranges have regular 3-gun/2-gun type programs like Chabot http://chabotgunclub.com/matches/3-gun-program/

And there are others in the area(check the websites for various ranges to see what events they might have on their calendars).

[Squidward]

Try this site:

http://wheretoshoot.org/Find_Range/index.asp

[L84CABO]

I'm not sure what you mean about "combat shotgun".

He probably means a gun that is setup for defense...18in barrel, maybe a pistol grip, maybe ghost ring sights, light on the front, side saddle, etc. vs. a trap/skeet gun with a 26"/28" barrel setup for clays. Sometimes the trap/skeet places don't allow you to shoot clays with a "combat" shotgun. And shooting clays, while fun, is a different skill set than practicing for a defense or combat situation.

Then again, maybe you knew all that.

Wish I could help you OP. I'm at the other end of the state.

[AAShooter]

Livermore will let you shoot it on the trap range with appropriate ammo as long as it is shoulder mounted. You can shoot slugs on the rifle/pistol range but I think they have a minimum yardage of 50 yards.

No 00 buck can be shot out there.

https://www.lprg.org

[shakeyjake]

Thanks I'm going to look into the three gun at Chabot. Wow a new hobby on the way

[Merc1138]

He probably means a gun that is setup for defense...18in barrel, maybe a pistol grip, maybe ghost ring sights, light on the front, side saddle, etc. vs. a trap/skeet gun with a 26"/28" barrel setup for clays. Sometimes the trap/skeet places don't allow you to shoot clays with a "combat" shotgun. And shooting clays, while fun, is a different skill set than practicing for a defense or combat situation.

Then again, maybe you knew all that.

Wish I could help you OP. I'm at the other end of the state.

That's absolutely not what I was talking about at all. I even gave examples of what I was talking about. The OP mentioned a class, I was talking about things one might do in a class(that frankly, even a lot of "sporting" shotguns work just fine for). I was talking about the type of shooting, not the type of shotgun.

[Sig Marine]

The more appropriate term for the type of shoot you're looking for is "Tactical" shotgun. It's basically a variation of what you might get at a 3-gun match with shooting and loading on the move while being timed. I'm not familiar with the competitions available in your area but we have one at our range that is quite a draw for local shooters. Good luck finding one in your area, they are a great way to improve your skills while providing a source of comradery and a fun time.

[Chilidaugz]

Maybe the OP could elaborate on what he means by "combat shotgun"? I've taken some shotgun classes from Louis Awerbuck and Rob Haught, and practice port loading and slug select drills at the local indoor range.

i guess anything that has to do with:

-ghost rings
-buckshot
-slugs
-pistol grips
-no vent rib, bead sights
-red dots
-side saddles
-lights laser doo-dads

[Merc1138]

I was wondering what skills he learned in the class he wanted to do, as most of them seem to involve keeping the gun fed, which can be done at your local range.

A lot of local ranges have limits on how quickly you can shoot, can't generally do transitions with a sling to a sidearm(shotgun ends up pointed in a direction that now isn't facing down range, and a lot of ranges frown upon drawing from a holster anyway), you get 1 static target to shoot at(obviously trap and skeet aren't static targets, but then you're not going to be practicing reloading or swapping out the currently loaded shells for a different type, and you're stuck with limits on how many you can even put in the magazine), typically can't transition between positions(standing, kneeling, etc.) while actually shooting, some ranges(chabot comes to mind) have restrictions on what targets you can use on the normal public lines(no silhouettes or anything similar), some ranges limit you to birdshot(TM) while other ranges limit you to slugs(chabot on the public line), you're not going to be doing any drills that involve movement, etc.

Yeah, there's lots you can't normally just show up and do at a public range. No different than a lot of things people want to do with rifles and pistols as well, but can't due to general range rules(hence taking courses, looking for events, and so on).

Sig Marine was dead on mentioning looking for "tactical shotgun" rather than "combat shotgun", and it seems like the OP was already aware of 3-gun type matches and now he knows that there are ranges in the area hosting such events.

[Steve_In_29]

A lot of local ranges have limits on how quickly you can shoot, can't generally do transitions with a sling to a sidearm(shotgun ends up pointed in a direction that now isn't facing down range, and a lot of ranges frown upon drawing from a holster anyway), you get 1 static target to shoot at(obviously trap and skeet aren't static targets, but then you're not going to be practicing reloading or swapping out the currently loaded shells for a different type, and you're stuck with limits on how many you can even put in the magazine), typically can't transition between positions(standing, kneeling, etc.) while actually shooting, some ranges(chabot comes to mind) have restrictions on what targets you can use on the normal public lines(no silhouettes or anything similar), some ranges limit you to birdshot(TM) while other ranges limit you to slugs(chabot on the public line), you're not going to be doing any drills that involve movement, etc.

Yeah, there's lots you can't normally just show up and do at a public range. No different than a lot of things people want to do with rifles and pistols as well, but can't due to general range rules(hence taking courses, looking for events, and so on).

Sig Marine was dead on mentioning looking for "tactical shotgun" rather than "combat shotgun", and it seems like the OP was already aware of 3-gun type matches and now he knows that there are ranges in the area hosting such events.

Wow I am constantly being reminded why my local members only range is such a GREAT deal. As a matter of fact it has me reconsidering whether we will move out of State after I retire next year.

Pretty much as long as you don't shoot each other or range equipment (and pick up after ourselves) no one gives a rat's behind about how, what ammo or the speed at which you shoot. Heck I had the Club Prez pick up one of my rifles and bumpfire the whole mag. No range nazi RSOs to worry about either (we don't have RSOs).

I did have one of the Club Officers make a snide comment about how fast I was shooting once but my reply that, "when he bought my ammo he could worry about how fast I shot it" ended that conversation.

[shakeyjake]

Combat,tactical or defense shotgun. Shooting on the move,from none traditional positions,tactical reloads,multi targets, and other stuff like that.I don't know of anywhere I can do stuff like that without attending a class.Class are fine but I would like to be able to do some homework just retain what I've payed to learn.