How do you familiarize yourself with a new SxS?

H

huntingfish

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I just got a new SxS and I was wondering how you go about discovering how it performs and behaves?

I'll shoot every chokes at different distances, so see how it patterns (on paper).

I got a box of clay pigeons that I want to try out as well, to see how it swings and get a hang of it (rarely shoot flying birds).

Anything else you do when you get a new SxS?

David
 
Side by sides require different cleaning and lubing procedures than most semi or pumps. Keep your hinge pin well lubed with a quality gun grease. STP or Lucas oil additive work wonders as a pin lube also. Learn to close the gun properly tp prevent undue wear on moving parts. Lastly mount the gun and swing it along the line where the ceiling meets the wall 20 times a day. Practice making the mount clean and efficient. Other than that enjoy it.

Darryl
 
Same way I familiarize myself with any new shotgun. Pattern it at 16 yards to determine POI and barrel regulation if it's a double barrel. Shoot a round of skeet and then a round of sporting clays.
 
Do you guys try a few types of ammo? I bought a bunch of federal target loads (the cheapest) 2 3/4" #7.5. I think they are 7/8oz.

It's an SxS and not a semi, so it shouldn't matter too much, provided the extractors don't have a hard time with the hulls.

David
 
You can try some different types of ammo but it really doesn't matter what the name on the box is as long as the shells work for you. I wouldn't use slugs for determining point of impact unless you intend to hunt with them but rather the target or hunting shells you do intend to use.
As others have said, lube the gun properly, practice mounting it then go out and shoot it at whatever turns your crank be it skeet, 5 stand or sporting clays.
 
You shoot the gun at a large square of paper with shot to determine if the barrels are regulated, and to determine where the gun shoots for you. Since you mention that you are "ground-swatting", not sure any of this matters.
 
First you start off by introducing yourself to your new gun, ask it lots of questions and try to get an idea if you have anything in common. If you do then you can move onto the next stage, going out on a shooting date and see if it's going to be a lasting love or just a temporary infatuation....;)
 
Even before shooting, I always like to hold the unloaded gun in a stationary safe carry position as I look at something, then I close my eyes and mount the gun to what feels like that point to see where it's actually pointed after I open them. I do that a lot until I get a feel for it. Nowadays I would then get at least some practice mounting it and shooting a bit, of course it a lot would be better. One you start shooting, you might to want vary the circumstances, ie standing, walking, what carry position, if you want to use it for hunting. Or just go out and hunt with it, if you lack time and ammunition.
 
With any new gun, I try it at a game I am familiar with and consistant at. In my case that is skeet. If the new gun hits quite a few less targets than what is my typical score, then I shoot several target loads at a patterning board (just mount and shoot like a moving taget). If the patterns are off, I will shoot off a bench to see if it is the gun's regulation or my fit/mount. If it cant be fixed with some LOP or easy stock adjustments, I sell it. Not worth the aggravation or the effort trying to train yourself to hit with it.

You should be able to tell where it is gonna shoot just by doing the mounting practice that some other posters have described.

Dont bother with slugs.
 
huntingfish said:
@Arietta: Would you shoot slugs in both barrels to see where it shots? It would be easier to determine than when shooting birdshot, no?
Click to expand...

I am not Arietta, but you are assuming that your slugs would go the same place as centre of your shot load - I don't think you can bank on that?? It might, by happy circumstance, do so, but not, at all, to be expected to do so. Need to actually shoot and pattern what you plan to use for real - hunting, or skeet/clays - slugs or shot. Depending on the build, your left barrel and right barrel might send loads to different places - and that can change with various loadings, various grip, various mounting.
 
I usually pattern my shotguns on a target board first then go hunt or shoot clays, not very complicated. I'll check the POI at 30 yards with a MOD choke and then pattern at 40 yards with full choke and call it "good enough" for hunting and trap.
 
Big Bad said:
Even before shooting, I always like to hold the unloaded gun in a stationary safe carry position as I look at something, then I close my eyes and mount the gun to what feels like that point to see where it's actually pointed after I open them. I do that a lot until I get a feel for it. Nowadays I would then get at least some practice mounting it and shooting a bit, of course it a lot would be better. One you start shooting, you might to want vary the circumstances, ie standing, walking, what carry position, if you want to use it for hunting. Or just go out and hunt with it, if you lack time and ammunition.
Click to expand...

One thing I left out is to practice with the safety, specifically to automatically release it as you mount the gun so that the barrel is available to fire as soon as it's pointed correctly. If you have a single selective trigger with matching safety, this is even more important as you may want to fire your secondary barrel first to get the tighter (or more open) choke. If walking up game, those more complicated safeties are of course trickier to operate smoothly.
 
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Big Bad said:
One thing I left out is to practice with the safety, specifically to automatically release it as you mount the gun so that the barrel is available to fire as soon as it's pointed correctly. If you have a single selective trigger with matching safety, this is even more important as you may want to fire your secondary barrel first to get the tighter (or more open) choke. If walking up game, those more complicated safeties are of course trickier to operate smoothly.
Click to expand...

Have bin bitten by that once when a bird took off while hunting with a new shotgun. By the time I was on it, I remembered "oh dang, forgot to take the safety off". It was too late.

David
 
Big Bad said:
Even before shooting, I always like to hold the unloaded gun in a stationary safe carry position as I look at something, then I close my eyes and mount the gun to what feels like that point to see where it's actually pointed after I open them. I do that a lot until I get a feel for it. Nowadays I would then get at least some practice mounting it and shooting a bit, of course it a lot would be better. One you start shooting, you might to want vary the circumstances, ie standing, walking, what carry position, if you want to use it for hunting. Or just go out and hunt with it, if you lack time and ammunition.
Click to expand...


I actually prefer to do this before I purchase the gun, It's saved me from wasting time, money and energy on a gun that doesn't fit me dozens of times!
 
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