Which Section 1 Shotgun?

Rusty Gate

Well-Known Member
Wanting to start Practical Shotgun later in the year so looking for advice & recommendations.

Hoping not to buy the wrong thing straight off like I normally do.

Can any section one be used or are there models/tupes that just don’t work for whatever reason
 
I assume the shtogun game is somewhat similar regardless of location.

So first you should decide how "involved" you want to be. Basically, how are you going to load the shotgun. Dual load is somewhat intuitive, you only need suitable harness and little bit of practice. Not overly complicated or error prone, compared to loading singles. Quad load requires practice. I'm leaving detachable mags and speed loading tubes for now... (i.e. Open Division)

Now you can look at the shotguns. Of course you need to have enough capacity, either off the shelf or with aftermarket parts. This depends on division.

Next how they are (or are going to be) "opened" for the loading procedure. If you stay with dual load, not so critical. Learning the hand/finger positions you can get by with most shotguns.

Next you're going to decide whether you want optics, if yes how they're attached. No point in crippling otherwise good shotgun with unsuitably mounted optics.

Then there's the fit. Might be different than in game shooting, since you're optimizing for different things. You might be able to get something that can be adjusted up to certain point.

Why loading was first and fitment last? Practical shotgun is not a game of shooting, but "not missing" and loading...
 
I'm a retired practical shotgunner, did my basic course in 1986, I've shot 3 European Championships and 1 Worlds.
Take a look at what the match winners are currently using..
Standard Manual Division its Nova and Supernova pumps. I had a Supernova
Standard and Modified its Beretta 1301 and Benelli M2. I shot Xtrema 2, the 1301 is the out of the box PSG version of gas guns.
Open Division I'm not really sure at the mo, Dissident Arms( very expensive) always did well. I shot a Bora 99 with a Firebird lower.
If I was buying now I'd go for Armsan RS1.

Go and help at a match if you can you'll then see for yourself.
Where in the country are you and have you joined a club yet?
 
I would suggest that if not already a member of a club then join one.

I don't shoot shotgun but my club has a thriving Practical Shotgun section, the members are incredibly helpful and a mine of information plus they will usually let you try out their guns, best way to sort out what does and does not work for you.

Personally I would hold off buying until you have done a little bit more legwork.
 
Vepr 12 if you can find one or if you're on a budget an armsan RS-1. I used to own a typhoon F12 and it was a piece of sh*t
 
What are they like in the UK as the non UK version appears to have a 20” barrel.
Most used in the IPSC matches I’ve seen have been 24” don’t think I’ve seen a 21” at a match. May have been but not enough to notice

To my mind the 1301 is the best Standard and Modified division gun around. Very reliable. Fast cycling. Soft shooting.

All they really need is a good port cut and a good tube.

The Benelli M2 is of course a solid contender and never a bad choice. Just that in my experience the 1301 does everything a little better.
 
Most used in the IPSC matches I’ve seen have been 24” don’t think I’ve seen a 21” at a match. May have been but not enough to notice

To my mind the 1301 is the best Standard and Modified division gun around. Very reliable. Fast cycling. Soft shooting.

All they really need is a good port cut and a good tube.

The Benelli M2 is of course a solid contender and never a bad choice. Just that in my experience the 1301 does everything a little better.

Wouldn’t have seen a 21”, 24” is minimum for a semi auto FAC shotgun in the UK.

My mates got an M2 6 shot, lovely but the stock / LOP is quite short IMO… for me anyways.
 
Most used in the IPSC matches I’ve seen have been 24” don’t think I’ve seen a 21” at a match. May have been but not enough to notice

To my mind the 1301 is the best Standard and Modified division gun around. Very reliable. Fast cycling. Soft shooting.

All they really need is a good port cut and a good tube.

The Benelli M2 is of course a solid contender and never a bad choice. Just that in my experience the 1301 does everything a little better.
I've shot the Benelli M4 and the Beretta 1301 a fair bit , they're both great shotguns . Like you , I find the Beretta to be the better shotgun , a really impressive firearm .

AB
 
Wouldn’t have seen a 21”, 24” is minimum for a semi auto FAC shotgun in the UK.

My mates got an M2 6 shot, lovely but the stock / LOP is quite short IMO… for me anyways.
I was talking about my experience outside the UK in reference to the comment about the non UK one being the 20” (meaning the 21” I assumed)
 
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