Hey guys, I've been shooting trap for about a year now and have gotten my scores up to a low 90's in singles, high 80's in caps and I'm shooting a Remington 870 classic trap. I really like the gun but I kinda feel like I've plateau'd and my scores haven't improved in awhile. The gun shoots pretty "flat" for me and I think I'm missing birds because of it. My question is, I've been contemplating having a money maker rib and adjustable comb done so I could get the POI up to 80/20ish so as I don't have to lose sight of the target. This is probably gonna cost in the $700 range to have done. Would it be better to set this gun up the way I want or just trade it in on a break open single barrel so I can fit in with the rest of ya's? I love the reliability of my 870 and I'm a young guy on a tight budget so these break open guns that need higher maintenance kind of scare me. Any opinions would be appreciated. -Zach
Learning to shoot a new gun can be frustrating and a long process.
You can build a rib made out of wood to find your desired rib height and you will meed to build up the comb as well.
A Jack West stock with adjustable comb is a good investment for your 870 and once you find your idea comb height, you can have a none adjustable rib installed, perhaps cheaper and more to your liking.
I find adjustable ribs almost unnecessary for me. Once I find the right comb height, i adjust to rib to get my figure 8 alignment and seldom move the rib again.
Just get a Jack West stock for your 870 and adjust the comb to get the POI that you want. You will probably get a gap between the beads, but don't worry, just get used to shooting with the gap, instead of a stacked beads. Best investment I made for my 1100. Mark
Oscar, I wasn't intending on getting the adjustable moneymaker rib just a taller fixed rib which would be around $500, and the website shows $200 for the adjustable comb. Thats where I got my figure.
Rick, I've looked at the Jack West Stocks and theyre ok but I really like the wood on my gun(it's some of the nicer I've seen on an 870) and I've already got an adjustable butt-plate on my stock now so I figured $200 wasn't bad to have the adj. comb done.
For many years, people would build up their combs with resin/epoxy and sand it smooth it to the height they found worked best. If you took off too much, put more resin back on.
Cheap, amd you can leave it clear, paint it or put an adhesive pad on it.
You can fix soft adhesive comb pads in 1/16, 1/8 and I think in 1/4 inch that will be soft to your face and hide the resin.
Add on rib and adjustable comb would achieve the result you are looking for. If you don't mind seeing a little rib, just build up the stock to raise the POI. You don't need to spend much money.
From your pic. it looks like you're on the right track, as several have said raise the comb a little at a time until the birds are breaking the way you want and don't look at the rib or the space between the beads, or just blacken the beads out completely. You should not be consciously seeing the rib, just a "fuzzy blob sight picture" as the muzzle comes to the target and tune your timing to what you want to see as you pull the trigger. If you "see" the rib as you pull the trigger you will hesitate (stop) your swing and shoot behind. A friend shot an 870 like yours (very well, I saw him run 100 with it) decided he just had to have a SBT, after a year or so of bad scores he sold the SBT and is now back to his 870 (he kept it) and his scores are returning. JMO Ross Puls
PS. I'm still shooting my mod.31 TC, tried SBTs--O&Us--semi autos just like the "feel" and operation of a pump.
On a different tact. Spend a little money on some lessons from a qualified instructor that also has some experience in gun fit, or maybe just a gun fitter. I did my own "fix a break" and did OK, then I had a gun fitted and the targets started smokin'. Just sayin!
For some people, the gap created between the mid and front bead when the comb is raised causes a distraction. A simple remedy is adding a bump, which is nothing more than raising the mid bead to close the gap. Raising the mid bead will bring the figure 8 relationship back into play.
As you raise the comb you can experiment closing the gap by taping a piece of material, wood, plastic or metal over the mid bead until you close the gap.
Utilizing a bump is a low cost alternative to investing in a rib and will confirm raising the poi gives improvements you are looking for with little expense.
If you're looking for a more upright head postion while maintaining your current poi, then a higher rib is in the offing.
Go to the top of the food chain as fast as you can afford to. It will end up costing you a lot more money in the long run the longer you drag your feet. Unfortunately I have learned it the hard way..
First get an adjustable comb installed and get the POI where you want it. If there is a little rib visable between the beads and you can't live with that, then look at installing an add on rib. Buying a high end gun isn't going to make you shoot better. Having a gun that fits you and that you are comfortable with will. Craig
I agree just get a adjustable comb and pattern it until you get the sweet spot you need. The rib is not necessary that figure 8 huey is just that baloney start with the comb and only change one thing at a time slow progress is better than multi confusion.
Good stuff guys, I really appreciate all the input. I'm gonna shoot this weekend and then send it off to have the comb done. Once I get it back I'll adjust it and pattern it to get it shooting the POI that I want, then I'll go the balsa wood route and figure what rib height and bead placement I need to get the figure 8 back. I know its not necessary but I like to have the figure 8 to reference every time to know the gun is in the same spot. Just a habit I guess. Again thanks guys I'll let you know when I break my first 100 straight.....
Great question that all of us go thru. If you can, take a round or two at the club with someone's breakopen (Bt99, Beretta, TM1). Pending funds situation, save up and keep your 870. Take the suggestions above with the slip on or the time old favorite Mole Skin to increase the stock height.
Moneymaker's been around for a while and can do up your barrel right if you decide to save and go for the higher rib. Anyway - enjoy and keep shooting.
One last suggestion take out the middle bead or just blacken it out one less distraction that is not needed. Try this first something easy to do and reverse if you do not like it makes the adjusting to the new comb height simpler
One last suggestion take out the middle bead or just blacken it out one less distraction that is not needed. Try this first something easy to do and reverse if you do not like it makes the adjusting to the new comb height simpler
Here'a picture of Perazzi's bump system, as you can see the higher the comb (poi) the higher the bump to maintain the figure 8 relationship. This can be done on any gun by adding material over the center bead. It's a low cost solution when raising the poi and maintaining the figure *
basically you need to do both, modify your thinking, and upgrade your expectations. you do not need a fancy trapgun to shoot winning scores, you need something that is dependable, trigger is consistant and shoots were you look. The rest is up to you to put it on the target, everything else is sugar coating. you can't buy targets, but you can buy comfort, and beauty.
Its all good advice here so all I could add is go with Ross's advice and if you still feel you need to raise the center bead PM Surfer to see where you could get Perazzi bump system.
Just take your time and make "ONE" adjustment at a time and give yourself time to get used to it. Write down what you did so if you think your in need of a change you can change it back and start over or go back to a setting that worked better. Stay with the course, you'll find the answer your looking for...Good Luck
Thanks for all the ideas guys this has been a lot of help, lots of stuff I haven't even thought about. I'll post some pics of what I decide to do in a week or two and give you some updates. I did shoot a personal best of 94 in singles today so I am improving. Slowly.
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