I HAVE A NEW STOEGER COUCH 12G SHOTGUN

[Rockyja]

I've never had a shotgun before, and would like some feedback from anyone, on what what type shell, cost wise, would be good for target shooting.

Any tips, and information would be appreciate. Thank you

Rocky

[hstout1143]

The inexpensive ammo in 7 1/2, 8 or 9 size shot is what you want for target shooting. The same sizes for small game and small birds, sizes 4 or 6 for ducks or pheasant although the firearm is not really suited for hunting.

[Rockyja]

Hstout,

That's very helpful. Thank you very much.

[JLA]

I have that exact model but in nickel. and it is a decent dove hunting shotgun.

I keep it loaded with 'catbusters' for stray animals around the property.

[JLA]

The one on top is my Nickel Stoeger Coach 12 ga. and the one below is my youngest boys .410 coach. Its a Baikal SxS that I cut down for him.

[Little Rooster]

cheap 12 ga ammo goes the furthest $$$$ wise in them. if your hunting you may consider what you are hunting for. I've shot a little bit of everything out of mine. I bought it for Cowboy action shooting but have used it for hunting.

[Rockyja]

Nice guns JLA

Being new at this, what are cat busters?

[3/2 STA SS]

Originally Posted by Rockyja

I've never had a shotgun before, and would like some feedback from anyone, on what what type shell, cost wise, would be good for target shooting.

Any tips, and information would be appreciate. Thank you

Rocky

Great looking double! (floors too) Enjoy it. I used #8 shot in mine....cheap and fun.

[Alpo]

The cheapest stuff around USED TO BE Federal Game Loads. I can remember, long about September, when there would be piles and stacks of them at Walmart, for a buck and a quarter, maybe a buck fifty a box.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c....aspx?a=223709

Ain't that cheap any more, but still are about the cheapest stuff around.

It's a light load, designed for quail and squirrel at 20 yards or less, so it has a small payload and little recoil.

[Alpo]

Shotshells.

Some are marked in "dram equivalent". This goes back to black powder days. A dram is 1/16 of an ounce - about 26 grains. So if you loaded a shell with 2 3/4 drams of powder, it would kick THIS much, and throw the lead THIS fast. Put 3 drams of powder in it and it would kick harder and throw the shot faster. When smokeless first came out, they would mark the boxes, saying "this is the equivalent of 3 drams of powder" or "this is the equivalent of 3 1/4 drams of powder", and the old black-powder shotgunners knew what it meant. Some makers have started going away from that (mainly because no one knows what it means anymore) and are putting a velocity on the box. But there are still some out there marked Dr. Eqv. You might see some that say, "3 1/4, 1 1/8, 7 1/2". That means 3 1/4 dram equivalent, 1 1/8 ounce of shot, shot size 7 1/2.

Just remember, the first number will be the dram equivalent. The larger the number the faster it throws the charge, and the more kick it has.

Shot sizes. The bigger the number, the smaller the pellet. There is bird shot and there is buck shot. Both are numbered, but there is a little cross-over confusion. Bird shot goes from #2 (the largest numbered) down to #12 (the smallest), while buckshot goes from #4 (the smallest numbered) up to 000 (the largest). While both birdshot and buckshot have a #2 and a #4, they are not the same size.

Shot weight. This is, simply, the amount of shot in the shell. It usually ranges from 7/8 ounce (in light target loads) to 1 1/2 ounces (in heavy duck or turkey loads). The more pellets being thrown, the better the chance of hitting the target, but the heavier the shot charge, the more recoil.

Shell size. Modern 12 gauge ammo comes in 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" shells. Your gun will be marked as to what size it takes. You can use smaller, but do not use bigger. Normally, the bigger the shell, the heavier the shot charge and the higher the recoil.

[bntyhntr6975]

Couch gun, I like that. lol. The Stoeger coachgun is well worth the $379 price tag. Great feel (especially the beavertail forearm) and reliable. The 3" chambers are a big plus, but both barrels with 3" mags is a handful. Still has choked barrels, though. To some that's a plus I guess.

[JLA]

Originally Posted by Rockyja

Nice guns JLA

Being new at this, what are cat busters?

I am very glad you ask.. They are one of my specialty loads of my own concoction.

I reload my own 12 and 20 ga. A catbuster load is simply a trap load, which is a 1 1/8 oz column of shot at approximately 1145 fps, with the lead shot replaced with a load of 6mm airsoft BBs. I use the heavy weight .25 gram BBs and they do a number on feral animals and have absolutely no recoil.

Outwardly they look just like a normal shotshell even use the same wad and crimp. They load just like you would load your own buckshot. Loading the 6mm airsoft BBs is very similar to loading #4 Buck. procedure is the same. They are fun to shoot and my youngest boy wes loves to shoot them too. Hes 5. they have that little recoil a 5 yr old can shoot the 12 ga SxS by himself.

[MadScotsMan]

Love those coach guns. No school like old school.

[bobski]

they kick like mules.
personally, i dont enjoy kick, so if given a chance to own a gun that looks cool or will not kill my arm, i'll take the gun that wont kill my arm.

[Rockyja]

l finally went to an indoor range, and shot some ammo with my Couch gun. I purchased 4 boxes (reading off the box) 12guage 2¾ Federal vital-shok with 00 buck 9 pellets 1325 fps 5rounds per box for under 4 bucks.

I used the range standard human target at 30 and 40 feet. I figured that would be about how far my assailant would be. Any closer then that I’d use my 38 revolver with hollow points, because it would better my chances of reloading faster.

I’m a big guy and was surprised when I felt that recoil for first time. It pushed me back a bit. I was ready for it on second, and it hurt a little less. I have to learn to respect that weapon.

I was please with the results. With my untrained eye, it looked like all the shot hit fairly close together, around a 12 to 15 inch diameter. It was about the same at 40 feet.

Again, I’m new at this shotgun stuff, so I’m not sure if that was a good pattern, or if it was the right ammo. All I can say is that it felt good and looked good to me. I think this is the ammo I’ll use for home defense ONLY! LOL I’ll need a very good recoil pad.

Since I’ll be using it for target practice most of the time, I’ll find a cheaper load with less recoil, or reload and use JLA’s catbusters recipe. Sounds Good.
___________________
"Hey!", I shouted, "Don't run, you'll only die tired!"

[Alpo]

Television/movies tell us that you shoot a shotgun and it throws a patter about 3 feet wide, started two inches in front of the muzzle, and you don't even need to aim.

Bull.

Get a flashlight. Just a normal flashlight. Get about 2 feet away from the wall and turn the light on. There's a spot an inch, inch and a half, on the wall. Now go to the other side of the room. Turn on the light. Now there's a spot a couple of feet in diameter.

That's the way a shotgun works. The pattern gets larger, the farther the target is from the gun. You shoot a guy with a 12 gauge, at ten feet, and he's gonna have a one-inch hole in him. What this means is, you have to aim.

You said you practiced at 30 to 40 feet? You must have a helluva living room. Biggest room in my house is 16 feet in it's longest dimension. Unless you got some really large rooms, or you will only be using it outside ("burglars stealing the car" kinda thing), I'd suggest practicing at about 14 feet. Shoot silhouette targets, and see where the big hole appears.

[bobski]

i wish you knew me and lived closer. id have coached you differently. (pardon the pun)
youre gonna be sorry you started your target experience with this gun. you wont make it past 4 boxes before youre black and blue...and your gonna lose the targets under those sbs bbls.
granted, you made your purchase...im happy for you...but i sure wish you could have chosen differently.
maybe in a few months, youre gonna see what i meant.
take no offense, but i do tend to speak up front and honest based on 3 decades of target shooting.
the money youre about to spend on add on's is going to raise the cost of an already poorly designed gun. so, in the end, youll have spent just as much trying to make it livable with no guarentee, when you could have just bought a nicer gun with pads and better design to reduce kick. id stop now, admit your mistake and go a different direction before that gun and your desire to pursue targets sucks you into a money hole.
unless you reload, the only factory shell out there that wont kill you may be the winchester 1oz #8 load known as the universal. if you can find 12ga 7/8oz loads, though pricey, grab them. good luck!

[bobski]

hey rockyja...serious...minn isnt all that far. its a days ride. we got ryan42 coming form indiana and and carver from shreveport LA and thats about the same, so its not impossible. why not join us 14 july and learn target shooting the right way? even borrow my guns if you want. read up on the tff.com mo fun shoot sticky and consider it. id love to get you off on the right foot. i got 3 slots still open.

the best advice i can give you -ja is shotguns are like shoes. you wear the right shoe for the right dance.
you have a coach gun now. its called a coach gun for a reason. its not meant to be shot a lot. its designed to intimadate and be seen from a coach seat.

target guns are called target guns for a reason. to break targets and break a lot of them without killing your arm.

when you fall for the 'do all gun', you comprimise in areas of gun features that ruins both experiences whenever you use it regardless. you might want to park that coach gun and let it be your shoes for home protection and get a real target gun now. think it over. ask me any questions and ill do my best to steer you right.

[Rockyja]

Originally Posted by bobski

i wish you knew me and lived closer. id have coached you differently. (pardon the pun)
youre gonna be sorry you started your target experience with this gun. you wont make it past 4 boxes before youre black and blue...and your gonna lose the targets under those sbs bbls.
granted, you made your purchase...im happy for you...but i sure wish you could have chosen differently.
maybe in a few months, youre gonna see what i meant.
take no offense, but i do tend to speak up front and honest based on 3 decades of target shooting.
the money youre about to spend on add on's is going to raise the cost of an already poorly designed gun. so, in the end, youll have spent just as much trying to make it livable with no guarentee, when you could have just bought a nicer gun with pads and better design to reduce kick. id stop now, admit your mistake and go a different direction before that gun and your desire to pursue targets sucks you into a money hole.
unless you reload, the only factory shell out there that wont kill you may be the winchester 1oz #8 load known as the universal. if you can find 12ga 7/8oz loads, though pricey, grab them. good luck!

Bob, thank you for your candid remarks, and yes, my shoulder was very sore, not black and blue, but very sore. Other then that, I’m really not a 71 year old idiot, Bob. I do have common sense, contrary to what you may think.

First of all, I didn’t buy the gun because I felt it was the best. I got it because it brought some childhood memories of outlaws and Indians shooting it up with the stage couch driver and his sidekick who carried this particular rifle.

I used that type of shell because I wanted to see what it would do to me and the target. Do I plan to shoot that load again? No. But I will keep that shotgun by bedside, and that load in the drawer beside it. It made a believer in me, that it is a great home defense load. If and when I shot it for fun, I’ll be sure to use light target loads.

Thank you for being so concerned of me being sucked into a money hole. I’ll try my best to follow you lead.

Thanks again for you comments...

[Rockyja]

Originally Posted by bobski

hey rockyja...serious...minn isnt all that far. its a days ride. we got ryan42 coming form indiana and and carver from shreveport LA and thats about the same, so its not impossible. why not join us 14 july and learn target shooting the right way? even borrow my guns if you want. read up on the tff.com mo fun shoot sticky and consider it. id love to get you off on the right foot. i got 3 slots still open.

the best advice i can give you -ja is shotguns are like shoes. you wear the right shoe for the right dance.
you have a coach gun now. its called a coach gun for a reason. its not meant to be shot a lot. its designed to intimadate and be seen from a coach seat.

target guns are called target guns for a reason. to break targets and break a lot of them without killing your arm.

when you fall for the 'do all gun', you comprimise in areas of gun features that ruins both experiences whenever you use it regardless. you might want to park that coach gun and let it be your shoes for home protection and get a real target gun now. think it over. ask me any questions and ill do my best to steer you right.

Thank you very much for the invite Bob, and as I said, I'll probably leave the couch gun, right beside my bed for home defense. My T/C is the hand gun I enjoy shooting the most. Again, thank you for your invite.

I'm sure it would be great fun. But I have commitments pending..

[JLA]

Im starting to wonder.. Do you keep this shotgun stuffed in the cushions of your couch Rocky? Its been pointed out, albeit rather jokingly and somewhat indirectly, that 'couch' typo for Coach.. No biggie.. Just wonderin.

[Rockyja]

Originally Posted by JLA

Im starting to wonder.. Do you keep this shotgun stuffed in the cushions of your couch Rocky? Its been pointed out, albeit rather jokingly and somewhat indirectly, that 'couch' typo for Coach.. No biggie.. Just wonderin.

JLA, very funny, I can't believe I didn't,'t notice that error. I could blame it on the fact that I haven't had my eyes checked in 2 years, but the truth is, i just screwed up. Ha ha

I'd better start having My 9 year old boy edit my stuff before I send it out, and it's the shells that I have stuffed under the cushions..

[Alpo]

Ain't nothin' wrong with having a couch gun.

I, myownself, gots a La-Z-Boy gun, a bed gun, a toilet gun, a desk gun, a back door gun and a front door gun.

Damn. Just realized I don't have a kitchen gun. Gotta take care of that.

[ozo]

Although I have a Ljutic a Purdey a couple Perazzi
Mossberg and T/C shotguns,
I also MUST HAVE my Amantino's.........
There is just something of the nostalgia with them.

[ozo]

P.S.
Good choice Rocky