First, let's not discuss the ratio of shells to dove harvested.

I've had the 870 since the early/mid 90s (gift from my little brother). When initially getting it home, I did the rudimentary pulling of the barrel and nothing more to clean. Since then did the obligatory turkey hunt (a few times), and a couple rounds of skeet (learning). Today I did a full strip, clean, and oil/grease.

Gosh, should do this more often. Suddenly the slide and trigger do not feel gritty. Buttery smooth. Even the wife can rack with one hand.

Oh and about the dove, while tasting really great - a one breast to one box ratio in 105 degree weather does take a little fun out of it.

Sounds like you need a more open choke. Since your gun is older I'm guessing it's a fixed full or Mod. Start shooting a cylinder, improved cylinder, or skeet choke and your hit ratio will improve dramatically. If the gun has a 28" barrel you can just get 2.5" cut off, if 30" take 4" off. The doves will start to fall.

Just go buy another barrel to suit your needs.

Do you have the interchangeable choke tubes?

Interchangeable chokes. First two days I used a modified. Got one bird. Switched to a full turkey and got three more.

Problem is the distance. They were 40 - 50 yards away and up. The full had better results for me. First time flying bird for me. I just need to limit it to closer ones? There's a late hunt in November a second try.

The more you shoot at 40 yard birds, the more they become 50 yard birds... and so forth. I dove hunt with a 20 ga o/u IC over Mod and kill more than my share keeping shoots under 35 yards which both barrels will kill effectively with 7.5 or 8 HV field loads. Just blasting away at anything in the sky is what reduces the kill to shot ratio. But, I'll admit if you've been sitting awhile with no action, it's hard to resist.

quote:

Originally posted by NavyGuy:
The more you shoot at 40 yard birds, the more they become 50 yard birds... and so forth. I dove hunt with a 20 ga o/u IC over Mod and kill more than my share keeping shoots under 35 yards which both barrels will kill effectively with 7.5 or 8 HV field loads. Just blasting away at anything in the sky is what reduces the kill to shot ratio. But, I'll admit if you've been sitting awhile with no action, it's hard to resist.

In 110 degrees and it's your first.

I have decided that in the sport of dove hunting - the doves cheat. There is no doubt in my mind that they would have no trouble out-flying a Jap zero.....

quote:

Originally posted by jtedescucci:
I have decided that in the sport of dove hunting - the doves cheat. There is no doubt in my mind that they would have no trouble out-flying a Jap zero.....

Good thing is, Yuma, Arizona has a November hunt.

Doves really do have air brakes and afterburners believe me

You young people do know there were choke tubes in the 80s and 90s, right?

quote:

Originally posted by Beanhead:
You young people do know there were choke tubes in the 80s and 90s, right?

I've found, being in the firearms business, that young folks think everything has choke tubes,

polychoke or Cutts confuses them

lack of tubes makes them scratch their head (where do you change the chokes at??)

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
Oh and about the dove, while tasting really great

You're the kind of guy I love to dove hunt with. I love to shoot them but can't stand eating them.
My friends get to keep all of mine!