Warning

 

Close

Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Confirm Cancel
BCM
User Panel

Posted: 4/18/2015 4:15:39 PM EDT
ASUSA Tactical Shotgun 1

28 Feb 15 - Tactical Shotgun 1 - Asymmetric Solutions - Farmington, MO
0900-1200: Classroom Instruction / Dry Training
1200-1300: Lunch
1300-1700: Range Time

BIG TAKE AWAY: FEED THE BEAST!

The instructor asked not to use his name but he's the primary shotgun instructor for ASUSA. He serves with a police agency and has time on a SWAT team and as a primary shotgun instructor for his agency. He has significant time on the shotgun and as an instructor is general - both were very obvious with the way he handled the shotgun and provided instruction. He is not currently on the ASUSA Staff web page.

CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION / DRY TRAINING:
The morning was cool and we stayed in the main ASUSA classroom for our initial instruction. We started off with a review of the 4 rules of firearm handling:
Treat all firearms as if they are loaded
Keep your finger straight and off the trigger
Do not point your firearm at anything you do not intend to destroy
Know your backdrop.

We then covered the different shotguns in the class. Over all, we had 7 students running a variety of different shotguns. The ubiquitous Remington 870 was well represented and so was the Mossberg 500. One student had a Benelli M3 and he ran it as a pump-shotgun as that was the primary area of instruction. Of the 7 shooters, approximately 4 students were running shotguns with pistol grips. Most of the instruction did not favor the use of pistol grips and favored the standard stocked shotguns. There were two students running optics (Bushnell TRS-25) as well - more on the optics later.

Slugs:
Our instructor then began a discussion of the different ammo available for shotgunners. We discussed slugs - make sure you use rifled slugs in a smooth barrel. Slugs can be used to increase the effective range of the shotgun.

Buckshot:
Most used and suggested was the good old fashioned OO Buck. No preference to either full-powered or reduced recoil loads. No mention of #1 Buck either. Highly suggested Federal Flite Control ammunition - makes average shotguns pattern much better.

Other Shot:
Did not recommend anything less than #4 shot for any serious use.
Did briefly discuss cutting shells to make them function like a slug. We didn’t spend much time discussing this at all.

Slings:
The instructor was ambivalent about slings on shotguns. The sling he had was a very basic sling run to its full length to make slinging it in a hurry easier. It seemed as if many slings were in the way during transition or operating the pump. It seemed if every style of sling required a compromise somewhere.
3 Points - not good for much besides confusing the user.
2 Point - good for control of the shotgun, bad for transition and often just operating the pump.
1 Point - good for transitions and operating the pump, gives up some control when slung.

Unloading:
We spent some time discussing a “less obnoxious” way to unload the shotgun than simply pumping the action. Use the shell latch to empty the tube and then use the pump to empty the last one. This keeps from spreading shells everywhere. If in a hurry, just take a knee and operate the pump near the ground to keep shells from going everywhere.

Loading:
The instructor covered different types of reloading - mostly combat and tactical loading. The combat/speed reload is the standard method taught by many trainers - use a cupped hand to drop a shell into the open action and then use the same hand to close the action. You can either reach over the top or from around the bottom - whichever is easiest with how your shotgun is set up (over the top does not work as well with optics on the top of the gun). We used dummy shells to practice these techniques before moving to the range.

Stance:
The stance for using a shotgun was very similar to that used when shooting a carbine. The biggest difference for me was moving the buttstock from the shoulder and closer to the centerline of the body - not so much on the shoulder but more on the pectoral muscle. Foot position was very close to squared up to the target, on more of the balls of your feet with knees slightly bent. Upper body was aggressively forward leaning to control the recoil more effectively.

My Shotgun:
Scattergun Technologies / Wilson Combat Remington 870 - Border Patrol Model (http://wilsoncombat.com/new/shotgun-...p#.VSWKDmRVhBc)
Vang Comp modified barrel (barrel work and compensator) (http://www.vangcomp.com/shop/install...on-your-barrel)
MagPul SGA and Forend (https://www.magpul.com/products/sga%...gton%C2%AE-870)
MagPul Gen 1 MS3 sling using MagPul stock and forward sling mounts (https://www.magpul.com/products/slings-and-sling-mounts)
EssTac Shotgun cards and Velcro (http://www.skdtac.com/Esstac-Shotgun-Card-p/ess.106.htm)

RANGE TIME:
The first drill we did was to pattern our shotguns and confirm slug zero. Patterns were shot from 7 / 15 / 20 / 25 yards. There were various types of OO Buck being used by all the students (Federal (non-Flite Control), Remington, Estate, Herters). Patterns grew fairly quickly as we backed away. Most ammo held on the IPSC targets all the way back to 25 yards. The Vang Comp system on my shotgun worked very well and the groups did not expand to more than about 6 inches even at 25 yards.

Slugs were fired from 25 yards just to see where they were hitting. It really pays to get out to the range and shoot the slugs to see if your gun likes them and where they hit. There wasn’t a huge difference between guns and ammo but having only a bead sight made accuracy with slugs a little more difficult.

From this point on we switched to birdshot for all the remaining drills. Most folks were using various types of 7 1/2 and 8 shot.

Load 1, Shoot 1:
Basic drill of the day - combat/speed reload of one shell into the open loading port and then shoot it. EssTac cards on the side of the shotgun worked very well for this drill.

Load 2, Shoot 2:
Same variation as above with the addition of putting one more shell into the tube following the combat/speed reload. Again, the EssTac card made this drill fairly easy to do.

Load 3, Shoot 3:
Add one more to the tube. Works on loading plus operating the pump.

Load to Capacity, Shoot to Empty:
More of the above - you can really start to go through ammunition in this drill!

Select Slug Drill:
Basic slug changeover drill. Depending on the type of shotgun and the technique you use determines the number of shells you will lose. In an 870 you could lose as few as 1 or as many as 2. Mossbergs lost 2 in this drill. We did this drill quite a few times (no slugs are actually needed as you’re just practicing the actions).
870 Changeover V1: Crack the action back between 1/2” and 3/4”, then stop. Use your support hand thumb to push the other shell back into the tube. Finish the action stroke to remove the shell in the chamber. Drop slug into the action and move the pump forward.
870 Changeover V2: If you choose not to push the shell into the tube, move the action all the way open, then vigorously tilt the shotgun to remove the shell on the shell carrier. Finish but dropping the slug into the open loading port.
500/590 Changeover: Same as 870 V2 - Work the action full open, roll vigorously to the port side to remove the shell from the shell carrier. Drop slug into the open loading port and close the action.

This was basically the last drill we as the weather was getting bad (about 3 inches of snow fell during our range time). These were basic drills to emphasize FEEDING THE BEAST.

***New info!  ASUSA is opening a second facility in the Jacksonville, Florida area.  They said the majority of these classes will be offered with additional classes focusing on maritime operations***
Link Posted: 4/18/2015 6:46:48 PM EDT
[#1]
Topic Moved
Link Posted: 7/16/2015 11:07:52 AM EDT
[#2]
Asymmetric is fantastic and the shotgun classes are terrific. You work hard in them and learn a lot!
Close Join Our Mail List to Stay Up To Date! Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.


By signing up you agree to our User Agreement. *Must have a registered ARFCOM account to win.
Top Top