Oct 02 2007
Postal Match 4 Results: Better…
Finally a few minutes in which to shoot the match mentioned here, for added value I dragged both the Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870 out, along with the Smith and Wesson Model 14. Cool temperatures, occasional sun and no one else in evidence around the range.
Perfect.
In accordance with the course of fire set out originally I set up three targets at 50 meters, load the 870 with four 1oz slugs, and shouldered the shotgun. Aiming down the sites I take aim, pull the trigger and COMPLETELY FORGET THE AMOUNT OF RECOIL INVOLVED! Wow. No time for reflection, first shot was a direct hit, two more headshots follow with the only threat to my safety being the sore shoulder I’m rapidly developing.
50 yards and three clearly re-deaded zombies. According to the match rules I should advance to the 20 yard line, but before I do I load the two remaining 1 oz. slugs into my Mossberg 500 and with only a tiny bit of trepidation pull the trigger after lining up the fibre optic front sight. Two shots and two clean misses (both sailing in about 5″ too high), as a side note the folding wire stock on the Mossberg is NOT comfortable when shooting slugs, go figure.
Finally moving to 20 meters I load two rounds of 00 buck and again take aim at the shambling hordes. Results here were truly disappointing, both targets were hit but only one had any pellets land within the “kill” zone.
Without further ado I load the S&W Model 14 with 5 rounds and finish off the targets firing one round at the shotgun wounded zombie, and two each at the unaffected shamblers. A quick stroll to the targets and confirmation that this time, at least, I’m not “officially” devoured, all the zombies are down and I didn’t even have to resort to the “hail mary” stage of the match.
Technically I was one target short for this match, and had originally planned to shoot one of the final targets twice, but I think the results speak for themselves (excuse the green masking tape in the photos, as I had to patch the targets from the previous match when my printer ran out of ink).
I’m afraid I’m still not a huge fan of the shotguns as an anti-zombie weapon. While slugs seem to both be accurate and deadly enough to get the job done the trade off for expense and space doesn’t seem worth it, particularly considering that at 20 yards we had a 50% kill rate with buckshot (I had considered 20 yards a “safe” distance for shot up until now).
For my $0.02 a good carbine remains the undisputed master of zombat.
Nice shooting from 50 meters!
I’m not a big fan of shotguns. The ammo is bulky, load time sucks and the recoil is meaty. But they definitely have their place in the zombie world. Nothing beats a nice AR or AK.
I have to admit, I’m jealous of your M14S. I wish we had them in the US. Hard to stomach paying $1000+ for a Springfield.
So you didn’t learn your lesson in 1982, when I told you to jam that gun tight into your shoulder
If memory serves, Piet outshot you that afternoon, dusting the first pigeon he went after. That would have been my trusty old single-shot Baikal duck gun, I believe … may it rest in peace.
Now that I know the distances, I can tell you that 50 yards is a LONG way in the shotgun world. Mossberg makes a “home defense” .410 but it hasn’t got rifle sights. The comments on the last post were right though, the .410 can take a .45 Long Colt Cartridge, but in anything other than a TC you’re better off with a .410 rifled slug. at the closer distances I think you’d have done much better with a heavy goose or turkey load using lead (if you can get it in Canada) or steel in sizes BBB or T with a full choke.
P.S. I agree that at almost ANY distance past 25 yards the rifle or carbine is a lot better than a shotgun. My M-1 carbine, my AK or my PS-90, hell even a Ruger 10-22 is a better option. and if you wanna have cheap inconspicuous power, a levergun in .357 mag or .44 mag develops about 400 FPS higher velocity in a 16″ carbine than in a 7″ pistol, and since E(in foot pounds Energy)=M(in grains)V^2(in feet per second)/450240 the 400FPS adds a LOT of energy and some distance as well. They also tend to hold 10 shots and be invisible on the political radar. The better ones accept optics. God I miss my Winchester 94 trappers.
Red: Thanks! I’m not a shotgun kinda guy typically, which was the reason we decided on shotguns for this match, but after beating my shoulder up I think I’m gonna stick with long guns, the hardest hitting rifle I own does significantly less harm to my shoulder, and is easily good for double the distance.
Ah the M14S, she’s a nice rifle, too bad about her lineage but seeing as I can’t have a real M14, and the Springfields are even more expensive up here than they are down there, it’ll do quite nicely.
(I’d still like an FN, too bad they’re prohibited)
Dad: Grrr…. trust me when I say I’ve learned that lesson (learned in the same manner that so many have been learned since), but despite jamming it in tight to my shoulder the kick was still significant, and almost unexpected. Took all the fun out of things.
Thomas: I only have three loads for the shotguns, slugs, 00 buck and No.7 shot which was for practice. I’ve almost zero range time with the shotguns, and neither has a choke (as I was given to understand slugs don’t work so well with them).
100 yards feels like a comfortable distance these days, and I’ve few reservations shooting long guns at those distances, it was my ignorance of the distances and effectiveness of the shotguns than prompted this match. I figured that 50 or 100 yards with a slug should be reasonable, and that on a shotgun with no choke 20 yards should be ok. Seems I was in the ballpark, but it’s nice to “know”.
I’m afraid I’m one of those people that needs to experiment first hand before accepting the articles online as fact.
I’m afraid I’ll be sticking with the VZ58 or AR15 if the dead reanimate, the shotgun would be relegated for fixed defence or some such as far as I’m concerned.
Not bad…if you still require some lessons, then give me a call
Come on out and show me what I’m doing wrong Marc, you’re welcome any time.