Friday, September 5, 2014

Can Pump-Action Shotguns Be as Fast as Semi-Automatics?

 

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.

4 comments:

  1. 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.

    Not 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.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. In the first couple of seconds, any one of these guns, in trained hands, can lay down one hell of a lot of lead.

      Agreed and thanks for the info. I use a Saiga 12.

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  2. Had an auto, then picked up a pump. I kept forgetting to pump it. :-( I finally got better.
    Terry
    Fla.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I kept forgetting to pump it. :-( I finally got better.
      Terry

      Cute. :)

      Delete