august1410
Marcas Registradas
I went to the range this morning with a few shotguns. What is a range trip with Shotgun Joe without a couple of shotguns? I took along a 1979 Stevens 67E, 1933 Remington Model 11 and the 1959 Remington 878 Automaster.
I am convinced that the 878 Automaster is a criminally underrated shotgun. Immediately eclipsed by the 1100 when it was introduced in 1963, the 878 had only a four year life span from 1959 to '63. A vast improvement over its predecessors (11-48 and 58), the 878 is a smoothly working, easy shooting three shot semi auto that deserved a longer life.
At the time of its introduction it was lauded as a lightweight semi brother to the 870 Wingmaster. In fact, looking at the 878 and its components, it indeed looks like what an 870 would look like if it was a semi auto. In my eyes, it would have been a great utility gun that would afford those a solid shotgun for those who didn't want to shell out the money for an 1100.
Almost a year has passed since I bought the shotgun. The shotgun is 58 years old and shoots better than the "finer" shotguns I have. It is steady, accurate and, having a plastic butt plate and not a recoil pad, is a soft shooter.
Today, I shot some vintage shells out of the Automaster and it fed and fired every one. Gentle, deliberate fire and rapid fire. It's not often a smile comes to my face when I am shooting a shotgun (I have shot a few), but even in today's oppressive humidity it was a joy to be at the range.
A Remington 878 Automaster can be had for well under $300. That's quite reasonable for a gun that can double as a field of clay gun.
I am convinced that the 878 Automaster is a criminally underrated shotgun. Immediately eclipsed by the 1100 when it was introduced in 1963, the 878 had only a four year life span from 1959 to '63. A vast improvement over its predecessors (11-48 and 58), the 878 is a smoothly working, easy shooting three shot semi auto that deserved a longer life.
At the time of its introduction it was lauded as a lightweight semi brother to the 870 Wingmaster. In fact, looking at the 878 and its components, it indeed looks like what an 870 would look like if it was a semi auto. In my eyes, it would have been a great utility gun that would afford those a solid shotgun for those who didn't want to shell out the money for an 1100.
Almost a year has passed since I bought the shotgun. The shotgun is 58 years old and shoots better than the "finer" shotguns I have. It is steady, accurate and, having a plastic butt plate and not a recoil pad, is a soft shooter.
Today, I shot some vintage shells out of the Automaster and it fed and fired every one. Gentle, deliberate fire and rapid fire. It's not often a smile comes to my face when I am shooting a shotgun (I have shot a few), but even in today's oppressive humidity it was a joy to be at the range.
A Remington 878 Automaster can be had for well under $300. That's quite reasonable for a gun that can double as a field of clay gun.
