Teach me to Shotgun

[Tower75]

Hi, all.

So, I'm attending my first Practical Shotgun shoot at the weekend, very excited. This is something that's completely new to me. I can count on my left hand the times I've shot a shotgun.

Now, here's the question, now bare with me as I'm thinking far into the future here.

Say I love this shotgun of practical and I wish to purchase a shotgun. Am I right in thinking that any manual-repeating shotgun with a magazine of 3 or fewer cartridges is a Section 2 shotgun, but if the magazine is over 3 the shotgun becomes a Section 1 firearm and is treated as such?

What about self-loaders? Or again, are self-loaders classed by magazine size?

[saddler]

S.2 = two shot magazine, plus 1 in the chamber = irrespective of action type

[Tower75]

S.2 = two shot magazine, plus 1 in the chamber = irrespective of action type

Thanks, Saddler.

Might just get a cheap Over and Under then. Less hassle.

[saddler]

Some types of S.2 pump & semi can be converted to S.1 without too much drama, but sadly not the Remington's (at least with regard to a new magazine tube)

[Tower75]

Some types of S.2 pump & semi can be converted to S.1 without too much drama, but sadly not the Remington's (at least with regard to a new magazine tube)

Ah, is that when you slot in an extended magazine tube? I assume if you do that you need Section 1 pre-approval first?

[George G]

Do not buy and over-and-under or a side-by-side for practical shotgun. They are the wrong guns for the sport.

If you have not got a slot on your FAC for a Section I shotgun (a shotgun with a magazine capacity of over two rounds which must be held on an FAC), then buy either a pump or a semi-auto Section II shotgun (a shotgun with a magazine capacity of not more than two cartridges), which can be held on a shotgun certificate.

If you do buy a pump or a semi-auto shotgun with a magazine which has been restricted by a crimp in the magazine tube, examine it to see if it is a nice clean crimp which in due course, once you have been granted an FAC with an appropriate slot, could be removed by a competent gunsmith.

Try not to buy one where the crimp has been done with a pipe-cutter.

[saddler]

Some types of S.2 pump & semi can be converted to S.1 without too much drama, but sadly not the Remington's (at least with regard to a new magazine tube)

Ah, is that when you slot in an extended magazine tube? I assume if you do that you need Section 1 pre-approval first?

Adding an extended mag tube to a crimped factory tube changes the look of the gun & not much else.

You need to either have the crimp removed, or fit a new MAIN magazine tube, THEN add the magazine tube extension

[Tower75]

Ah, I see. All makes sense now. Thanks, guys.

[zanes]

When I looked into it, coverting an S2 to S1 was likely to be quite a bit more than just buying an S1 in the first place.

[techguy]

As George says, an O/U or SBS is completely the wrong gun don't buy one for PSG.

In fact, don't buy one at all until you have a slot for a S1 shotgun. That way you can try out all number of S2 shotguns from wherever you are shooting PSG and decide which one you want to shoot before you spend a few hundred £ plus.

If you *really* want a suitable shotgun and you have a SGC then I would highly recommend a pump of some description. I have a S2 hatsan escort pump. It's a fantastic cheap pump, and you can find them new for under £300! DO NOT BUY A HATSAN SEMI AUTO. They are pretty poor for PSG due to the loading mechanism (yes you CAN use them, but they are not the ideal shotgun for PSG and you would be starting out with a disadvantage). I now use my Hatsan if I take someone shooting that hasn't shot before. It's really easy to use and it's built like a tank.

If you want any advice on PSG, then don't be afraid to ask.. there's a few on here who shoot it, coach it, sell stuff for it and would probably sleep with their shotguns if they could