Jeff Johnston has heard more than one pump-action shotgun aficionado claim to be just as fast as their semi-automatic favoring peers. Is it really possible? The BullShooters take a closer look.
The Background
In many duck blinds and on quail hunts I’ve heard some pump-gunner spout: “A good pump gun in trained hands is just as fast as an semi-automatic.”
Well, being a fan of semi-automatic shotguns like the Benelli Super Black Eagle, or an M4 that can fire 8 shots in under a second, or nearly any other one, my BullShoot-O-Meter registered red faster than a Porsche’s tachometer in a drag race. So I had to ask: Is a pump really as fast as a semi?
The Initial Thoughts
Certainly it would seem that a mechanically operated semi-auto shotgun would have the advantage over a pump, which requires a brain to tell the shooter's muscles to pump it. But in reality, muscle memory can bypass cognitive thought with enough practice, saving time. Still, it’s tough to see how a pump could be faster.
The Expert Deferral
Jeff Cramblit is a professional 3-gun competitor who shoots for Team Benelli. His strong suit is the shotgun discipline.
More @ American Hunter
In one defensive gunfighting class I took, we had "speed races" with AR-15 carbines vs semi-auto shotguns vs pump shotguns. Score = time measured by a shot timer to get 5 rounds onto target at 7 yards.
ReplyDeleteNot surprisingly, the order of finishing was the same. Ar-15 did better than semi-auto shotgun did better than pump shotgun.
But, were the results significant? In our class with about 6 semi-auto shotguns and 12 pumps, all 12 gauge, the semi-auto winning time was about 1.3 seconds and the pump shotgun winning time was 2.1 seconds for 5 rounds.
Sure semi-autos are faster until they run dry, then both are about the same.
Use what you like, but I'm not convinced the difference between semi-autos and pumps is that big a difference. I might make an exception for someone using something like a Saiga 12 with a detachable box mag, that could get reloaded faster than any tube magazine semi-auto or pump.
In the first couple of seconds, any one of these guns, in trained hands, can lay down one hell of a lot of lead.
In the first couple of seconds, any one of these guns, in trained hands, can lay down one hell of a lot of lead.
DeleteAgreed and thanks for the info. I use a Saiga 12.
Had an auto, then picked up a pump. I kept forgetting to pump it. :-( I finally got better.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Fla.
I kept forgetting to pump it. :-( I finally got better.
DeleteTerry
Cute. :)