Why use pump action shotguns?

Question

Why would a well-to-do person use a pump action shotgun? Wouldn't an automatic be better, since it could be fired more rapidly, but needs only half as many hands?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Why would a well-to-do person use a pump action shotgun? Wouldn't an automatic be better, since it could be fired more rapidly, but needs only half as many hands?[/nq]
Since shotguns aren't used as often or as regularly for combat, the speed with which they can be fired isn't usually an issue. As a hunting weapon the pump is fast enough and a lot less complicated and prone to malfunction, so there hasn't been a huge cry for semi-auto scatterguns.
There certainly are semi-autos on the market, but they tend to be rather expensive and at least have the reputation of being somewhat unreliable. Plus, depending on the jurisdiction, there can be legal issues where a semi-auto is concerned. I'm home for the holidays and if I really needed to, I could stop in to the local megastore and pick up a shotgun and some shells, for as little as a couple hundred bucks. I could also spend thousands on a high-end collector's item, but niether would be semi-autos - they'd either be pumps or double-barrel models.

Life Continues, Despite
Evidence to the Contrary
Steven

Usenet · Answer

On Fri 23 Dec 2005 11:11:29p, "Asbestos Jeff"
[nq:1]Why would a well-to-do person use a pump action shotgun? Wouldn't an automatic be better, since it could be fired more rapidly, but needs only half as many hands?[/nq]
But then you miss the effect of showing the pump action working and hearing of the "clink" as the shotgun shell enters the chamber.

Lever actions are cooler. Remember the Rifleman as the Winchester .94 circled each time it was shot. Swirling action! You knew this dude meant business. How does that compare with "plink, plink, plink..." no swirling, no pumping... nothing... just "plink, plink, plink..." as he pulls the trigger. YAWWN.
(Or something like that.)

RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"

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@reader1.panix.com:
[nq:2]Why would a well-to-do person use a pump action shotgun? ... fired more rapidly, but needs only half as many hands?[/nq]
[nq:1]Since shotguns aren't used as often or as regularly for combat, the speed with which they can be fired isn't ... enough and a lot less complicated and prone to malfunction, so there hasn't been a huge cry for semi-auto scatterguns.[/nq]
You're arguing technicalities with the industry that gave us a gattling gun on an asteroid?
A pump action shotgun looks more macho. They like using them in movies for the same reason they never show the bad biker dude starting up his hog using the electric starter.
jaybee

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Jacques E. Bouchard, on the way to the fridge for snacks on 12/24/2005 stopped to say :
[nq:1]A pump action shotgun looks more macho. They like using them in movies for the same reason they never show the bad biker dude starting up his hog using the electric starter.[/nq]
Yeah, that one-hand pump some characters do is pretty **** in a show-offy way. Kinda like the co-pilot who landed a DC10 one-handed 'cause he was showing off for me (I was on the flight deck, too).

Jeri Jo & Little Garcia Bear

Usenet · Answer

Jeff,
If they are well to do, they might also know alittle about muzzle velocity and that slight extra boost a pump gives you.

In an semi-auto gun of any kind, the cocking action for the next shot is a result of the previous shell's blow back. In addition to launching the projectile, the shell also carrys the burden of pushing back that stiff cocking spring for the next round.
In any pump action, or other manual cocking gun, of any kind, all things being equal, you will get more power out of the muzzle, where it counts, by letting the shooter carry the physical burden of cocking the hammer mechanism for the next round.
That would be only for the "ballistically schooled" well-to-do that wants to maximize carnage with each round.
A.N.D.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]In an semi-auto gun of any kind, the cocking action for the next shot is a result of the previous ... the next round. That would be only for the "ballistically schooled" well-to-do that wants to maximize carnage with each round.[/nq]
Are you sure about the physics of this?
The energy that goes into cocking the gun for the next round comes from the rifle's kick. Perhaps if you had the gun locked into place, so it couldn't move at all, there would be a trivial difference - but beyond that I think you'd experience the effect you're describing as reduced kick rather than reduced muzzle velocity.
You get equal force in both directions, right? In one direction, that's pushing the bullet forward. In the other, you're pushing the gun (and the cocking mechanism) backwards.
To the extent you have any effect, then, I think it'd only be noticeable if the gun was bolted into place. Otherwise, I think the primary difference would be in slightly (probably trivially) reduced kick. Of course ,that might also translate into slightly (probably trivially) improved aim.
-Ron

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[nq:1]Why would a well-to-do person use a pump action shotgun? Wouldn't an automatic be better, since it could be fired more rapidly, but needs only half as many hands?[/nq]
"The Street Sweeper"
Now there's a macho gun. (Even a cool name.)

Usenet · Answer

@reader1.panix.com:
[nq:1]Why would a well-to-do person use a pump action shotgun? Wouldn't an automatic be better, since it could be fired more rapidly, but needs only half as many hands?[/nq]
First, a small quibble: regardless of the type of action pump vs semi- auto mounting and firing a shotgun one-handed ain't easy, especially if the gun in question has a traditional "monte carlo" style stock (as opposed to a pistol grip). And Tom Knapp notwithstanding, rapidity of fire is not usually an issue with a shotgun. The whole point of a shotgun is to fire multiple projectiles with a single shot. Not to mention that controlling recoil/muzzle flip of full-power 12 ga buckshot loads, much less slugs, in rapid fire is going to be a pain in the shoulder pocket.

That said, there are lots of reasons why a person might opt for a pump- action:
1) maybe their preferred shooting sport doesn't allow competitors to usesemi-autos.
2) maybe the shooter's primary concern is that the gun be able to fireany and all types of ammo in any configuration. Inertia driven systems (i.e. Benelli) are notorious for not cycling properly with light "tactical" loads and/or when the gun is tricked out with a bunch of high- speed, low-drag stuff foreend with integrated light, extended mag tube, side-saddle, pistol grip, etc. (The additional weight and/or additional recoil dampening throws off the balance of the inertia driven system.)

Incidentally, I suspect that the difficulty in getting some semi-autos to cycle properly with light loads (read "blanks") has something to do with the prevalence of pump-guns in movies. In addition to the machismo factor that Jaybee noted, of course.
2a) also related to reliability, gas driven systems tend to need cleaning more often than pump guns, so maybe the shooter would like to prepare for the worst case when he or she might not be able to clean the gun prior to depending on it.
3) Ergonomics. e.g. the Mossberg's tang-mounted safety is much moresouth-paw friendly than the safety on most semi-autos.
4) maybe the pump-gun just happens to be more readily accessible.
5) maybe the operator wants to use the sound of the pump action aspsychological intimidation.
6) maybe the shooter would like to learn to use a pump-action theorizingthat it's easier for a person who knows how to shoot a pump gun to shoot a semi-auto than the reverse. (Sort of like it's easier for a person who drives a stick-shift to drive an automatic than it is for the automatic driver to drive a manual.)
Will any of those reasons do? - Mark
P.S. I am not your armorer. ;-)

Usenet · Answer

Yes... but it's not as visual, so they won't be using them in movies. It's the same reason why you have to flip open a communicator on STAR TREK - so that we can see that the device is in use. Movies are very different than real life, and you have to write accordingly.

- Bill

Why use pump action shotguns?

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