870 Express Shurshot Turkey Shooting High

[Marquezj16]

So I beat my shoulder up today. I started out with a box of Rem Target Club followed up with a box of Rem Turkey Load, Winchester 00 Buckshot and finally Winchester Rifled Slugs.

Barrel is Remington 870 12 Gauge 3" 21" Rem Choke with Extra Full Turkey Choke Tube Vent Rib Matte Black.

Distance to target is 10, 20 and 30 yards. At 40, I'm outside of the berm lane and pistol shooters to the right would not be happy with a shotgun going off 10 yards behind them, so I did not go back farther than 30 yards.

I aim with the bead directly over the turkey target from Rem website (red circle on turkey head. This resulted in hits above the target. I wish I would have taken pictures. I then put the bead under the target which resulted in some pellets hitting the red circle and then I put the bead about 4 inches low of the red circle and that's how I was able to get on target. This was consistent with all four loads and the farther away I was from the target, the lower my aim to hit the red.

The grouping is great as I was repeatedly hitting the same area and pretty much destroyed the backer board. The slugs at 30 yards were pretty much touching.

However, I'd like to be able to put the bead on the target and be on. The idea of aiming low is putting me off a little.

How can I change this point of aim? I don't sink my cheek on the stock as much on a shotgun as I do my rifles so could that be my problem? Do you think it could be the turkey choke? Your information/advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

 

[oregunner]

I got a deal from Cabelas on a Shurshot stock and tried mounting it on one of my Remingtons. The comb is high, like a trap gun, so for a lot of people it will raise your rear vision, which will make you shoot high. You might try getting into the gun harder, and looking straight down the rib. I think this stock is also designed to be used with a scope, where you would need to keep your head up. You might try using a higher front sight, which would also help correct the issue. You might try another choke, but I don't think that is the problem. Mark

 

[zippy13]

Elevated the front bead (and/or lower the rear sight).

 

[Marquezj16]

Truglo

I was thinking of maybe getting this.

 

[Dave McC]

Are you seeing ALL the rib when you shoot? Scrunch down harder on the comb with your cheek if so.

 

[oneounceload]

Just as Dave said - if you are seeing ANY rib, you will be shooting too high - either your head is not on the stock, or the gun does not fit you properly

 

[Marquezj16]

I mount the same way I shoot my other shotguns (Beretta, Weatherby, and Rem 870) and I don't have the same problem. I'll look in the mirror and see if there's a difference.

 

[TheKlawMan]

I am confused as to how you can be mounting the sureshot the same as your 870's more traditional sloped stock. I am also wondering if that shurehot stock is designed to lift the eye up higher to see through a scope.

 

[highvel]

Maybe you are concentrating too much. Try starting from a low position swing the gun up and fire, after a couple of shots you will see how the gun fits.
Or, maybe after a few boots of heavy recoil you are scrunching up at pulling the trigger?
I have a Mossberg that shoots low when I need it in a hurry but shoots fine at the pattern board, the stock needs to have a little less drop and all should be good !

 

[Marquezj16]

When I say mount, I mean how I shoulder, cheek rest and sight. Same pattern.

I did not get a chance to look last night to see if I can see any rib. I've never noticed them before.

 

[hogdogs]

With my guns and my cheek weld, at 30 yards with a full speed (power) load, I would have the tturkey head fully above my bead for a head shot. Bead would be on his little throat...
Brent

 

[oneounceload]

When I say mount, I mean how I shoulder, cheek rest and sight. Same pattern.

Just because you do your part the same every time, doesn't mean the stocks are all shaped exactly the same to give you the same results

 

[Doyle]

I aim with the bead directly over the turkey target

That's part of the problem. A shotgun bead should always be placed UNDER the desired point of impact. Dot the "i" with the bead.

 

[Marquezj16]

I aim with the bead directly over the turkey target from Rem website (red circle on turkey head. This resulted in hits above the target. I wish I would have taken pictures. I then put the bead under the target which resulted in some pellets hitting the red circle and then I put the bead about 4 inches low of the red circle and that's how I was able to get on target. This was consistent with all four loads and the farther away I was from the target, the lower my aim to hit the red.

That's part of the problem. A shotgun bead should always be placed UNDER the desired point of impact. Dot the "i" with the bead.

Did that too and it was still shooting high. 4" below target was my aim at 20 yards and that resulted in being on target.

 

[Marquezj16]

Just because you do your part the same every time, doesn't mean the stocks are all shaped exactly the same to give you the same results

That's why I asked the question. I was making sure I was not doing something different. I may have to adjust the way I mount, higher on the shoulder and lower my cheek more on the stock.

if you are seeing ANY rib, you will be shooting too high

I checked on whether I can see the rib last night and it's a negative. Just flat up to the bead.

Try starting from a low position swing the gun up and fire, after a couple of shots you will see how the gun fits.

I'll give this a try next time.

Thanks

 

[classicshotgunner]

Some barrels with vent ribs have been known to shoot high from P.O.A. It could also have the barrel threaded at an angle causing the choke tubes to not go into the barrel completely straight. It has happened before and will happen again. Not saying that is definitely what is wrong with your shotgun but it's a possibility. If it were me I would try a taller front sight bead put in with blue locktite. That way it could be removed if it had to be. Another option is to put the barrel in an exhaust pipe bending machine and bump bend it a little at a time until it's P.O.I. is at the P.O.A. It can be done without any damage to the barrel. I have a good friend that owns a auto repair garage and he has an exhaust pipe bending machine that he lets me use. I've did a few before on a Ithaca model 37, a Remington model 870 Wingmaster, a Marlin model 55, and a Winchester model 370 single shot that had a 36 inch barrel on it that got bent after being dropped from the cab of a pick up truck (none were my shotguns). I wrapped them in 1 layer of electrical tape and bump bent them a little at a time, then tested them on the shotguns until they were right. You couldn't find a scratch on any of the barrels or even tell the barrels had ever been put in the bending machine. One other option is to contact Remington and have them trouble shoot your problem and fix it.

 

[Marquezj16]

Range time and pictures

I went back to the range with the 21" turkey barrel with extra full chocke and the original 26" barrel with modified choke for my 870 Express.

And here are the results. I aim with the bead under the center of the target.

Turkey Barrel

Original Barrel

The turkey barrel groups higher than the original barrel. I just have to compensate when using that barrel.

 

[zippy13]

Why not try the x-full choke in the 26-in barrel?

 

[Marquezj16]

Why not try the x-full choke in the 26-in barrel?

Funny, I was actually thinking of that for the next time I take it out to the range. And using a different choke on the 21" barrel as well just to check if it's the barrel or choke that's causing the higher grouping.

 

[AZAK]

I also have this exact same model.

I currently am running a Vortex Strikefire red/green dot on it, mounted with a Remington brand (really B-Square made) saddle mount. I really like this set up! So far, so good. I run slugs through from time to time, scope has held up great.

Part of the reason that I went to the Strikefire scope is that I didn't want to "dot the i" as was mentioned above, especially when shooting slugs, and now I can adjust exactly where I want to aim.