870 Police Mag

[yyj200]

I would like to try some clay pigeon shooting.
I have a Remington 870 Police Magnum,wooden stock, shiny blued finish, 20 inch barrel.
I have opportunity to purchase a 26 inch, ventilated rib barrel, with 3 chokes.
1. Rem Mod . .
2. Imp Cyl
3. SK.1
Barrel has bead sight at muzzle and another along the rib aprox 11 1/2 inches back along the rib.
Would this be an adequate barrel to start with? If so what do the chokes represent, and how would one use these sights? Thanks.

 

[Longwalker]

The 26" barrel would be a fine choice to start target shooting with your pumpgun. Experts would reccomend a longer barrel for shooting trap, which typically presents targets about 30 yards away. But your 26" barrel is quite versatile.
The modified choke would be an appropriate choice for trap, and is the tightest constriction of the three. The SK 1 choke has very little restriciton and so the shot spread will be quick and will produce an open pattern appropriate for skeet shooting, in which targets are generally within 20 yards or less. The wide open pattern is a help when shooting skeet targets that may be only 5 yards away at station 8.
The Improved Cylinder choke is what I would choose to shoot sporting clays, where targets can be anything from long crossing or going away shots to very close incomers or bouncing rabbit discs close in and on the ground.
The two beads on the barrel might be a disadvantage if you actually use them to "aim" - you don't aim a shotgun, you point it instinctively. Too much attention to the "sights" is the cause of many misses by people who don't understand the difference between shooting shotguns and rifles. The two sights should form a figure "8" just under the lowest edge of the target when you have properly mounted your gun. Practise mounting your gun indoors several times every day. Focus on a small spot on the wall and mount - quickly and from a low gun position until proper gun mount becomes second nature. When you have practised sufficiently, the two beads will always look right when you look at them - then ignore the sights and go break some clays!

 

[yyj200]

Thank you very much for your feedback, I appreciate it. Take care.