I finally had a chance to take my KSG out for a quick shakedown shoot this evening. To summarize--I like it!
My setup
I've never been a fan of optics on a shotgun but I had an Aimpoint Micro H1 on hand after selling the AR it had been mounted on and thought I'd give it a try. Mounting it up front on a Yankee Hill riser (the high mount I had been using was too high) proved to be a good combination--quick to acquire like a bead, but still accurate enough for slugs.
Ammo
(L to R) Imperial "Special Long Range" #2 shot, Winchester Super X Magnum 00 buckshot, Sellier & Bellot 1 oz slug.
Range report
I first tried some of the old Imperial ammunition to check functionality--I fired five into the backstop without any issue. The first thing I noticed was the heat from the muzzle--even through it was a warm summer evening the blast of heat was surprising. The second this I noticed was the kick--the was the first time I had fired a 12 gauge this year and one shot of the high-brass ammo was all it to to refresh my memory!
Next up I tried the Winchester buckshot at 10m.
Here are the results of the five rounds--pretty good!
After that I wanted to try a few slugs at 25m (standing)
I was pretty pleased with this group--a little low and to the right ( I was aiming at the neck for some reason)
Next I wanted to check accuracy at 50m, again from the standing position.
I was getting a little flinchy but the group is not bad...still a little low and to the left. I'll adjust the Aimpoint to bring the group up. (not the small holes are from one shot of the Imperial #2--I wanted to show my wife the shot spread at 50m).
Summary
I know that 21 rounds is definitely not a torture test but the shotgun functioned perfectly. There were no failures to feed, fire or eject, from either magazine tube. The action is much smoother than expected--cycling the action is markedly easier than with the 870 I owned previously. The straight-line design does keep recoil to a minimum, too. Nothing can repeal the laws of physics, of course--there's still kick, but it's straight back into the shoulder not upwards.
My setup
I've never been a fan of optics on a shotgun but I had an Aimpoint Micro H1 on hand after selling the AR it had been mounted on and thought I'd give it a try. Mounting it up front on a Yankee Hill riser (the high mount I had been using was too high) proved to be a good combination--quick to acquire like a bead, but still accurate enough for slugs.
Ammo
(L to R) Imperial "Special Long Range" #2 shot, Winchester Super X Magnum 00 buckshot, Sellier & Bellot 1 oz slug.
Range report
I first tried some of the old Imperial ammunition to check functionality--I fired five into the backstop without any issue. The first thing I noticed was the heat from the muzzle--even through it was a warm summer evening the blast of heat was surprising. The second this I noticed was the kick--the was the first time I had fired a 12 gauge this year and one shot of the high-brass ammo was all it to to refresh my memory!
Next up I tried the Winchester buckshot at 10m.
Here are the results of the five rounds--pretty good!
After that I wanted to try a few slugs at 25m (standing)
I was pretty pleased with this group--a little low and to the right ( I was aiming at the neck for some reason)
Next I wanted to check accuracy at 50m, again from the standing position.
I was getting a little flinchy but the group is not bad...still a little low and to the left. I'll adjust the Aimpoint to bring the group up. (not the small holes are from one shot of the Imperial #2--I wanted to show my wife the shot spread at 50m).
Summary
I know that 21 rounds is definitely not a torture test but the shotgun functioned perfectly. There were no failures to feed, fire or eject, from either magazine tube. The action is much smoother than expected--cycling the action is markedly easier than with the 870 I owned previously. The straight-line design does keep recoil to a minimum, too. Nothing can repeal the laws of physics, of course--there's still kick, but it's straight back into the shoulder not upwards.
