Here's the results of the Summer Shotgun Shootout:
The premise was to determine which method of loading the '97 Pump was fastest.
The methods used were:
- Single Loading from the belt into the breech. Method used by Tutler and others. - (97x1).
- Double Loading, putting one in the breech and one in the magazine. This is the method used by the Durango Kid on his video. - (97x2).
- Over the top, putting the shells directly into the breech over the top. Shadow Creek can grab up to 4 shells at once, in his big meaty hand, and does not have to go back to his belt as often! - (OT).
- Stoking the magazine tube on the clock - (Stoked).
Also included, just for fun, were:
- Mule Ear Doubles - (Mule)
- Hammerless Doubles - (SxS)
- Single Shot Shotguns - (Single).
Before the test, there was some feeling that the '97 Stokers' would have an advantage. This proved to be false, in fact Stoking (on the clock) was just about the slowest method of loading a '97.
This sample, although small, is probably not that far off in predicting the quickest ways to load a '97.
Be sure and read the interesting comments at the bottom of the page, below the table.
- The test was to load and shoot 6 shells at a 1' square target about 31' away.
- All guns started empty, open at port arms.
- Misses added 5 seconds to your time and pretty much put you out of the running.
| OA | Shooter | Style | Order | Time | Club | ST |
|---|
| 1 | Handsome Valentine | 97x1 | 1 | 7.84 | Nevada Rangers | NV |
| 2 | Mercury | 97x1 | 2 | 8.30 | Silver City Shooters | NV |
| 3 | Capt. Fox | 97x1 | 3 | 8.48 | Cajon Cowboys | CA |
| 8 | J. "Slim" Chance | 97x1 | 4 | 10.65 | River Bend Rangers | MN |
| 13 | Spaghetti Slim | 97x1 | 5 | 11.23 | Silver City Shooters | NV |
| 10 | Spaghetti Slim | 97x2 | 1 | 10.83 | Silver City Shooters | NV |
| 20 | Sierra Kid | 97x2 | 2 | 35.73 | Silver City Shooters | NV |
| 11 | Cliffhanger | Mule | 1 | 10.84 | Cajon Cowboys | CA |
| 17 | Borzoi Kid | Mule | 2 | 21.19 | Silver City Shooters | NV |
| 18 | Indiana Slick | Mule | 3 | 23.51 | River Bend Rangers | MN |
| 4 | Shadow Creek | OT | 1 | 8.67 | Nevada Rangers | NV |
| 12 | Two Dogs | OT | 2 | 11.21 | Cajon Cowboys | CA |
| 21 | Durango | Single | 1 | 44.48 | Silver City Shooters | NV |
| 19 | Old Scout | Single BP | 2 | 30.24 | Cajon Cowboys | CA |
| 7 | Doc Peabody | Stoked | 1 | 10.07 | Nevada Rangers | NV |
| 16 | Midnight Desperado | Stoked | 2 | 16.90 | River Bend Rangers | MN |
| 5 | T.L. | SxS | 1 | 9.04 | Cajon Cowboys | CA |
| 6 | Slugs | SxS | 2 | 9.56 | Up the Creek Gang | LA |
| 9 | Deadeye Dakota | SxS | 3 | 10.82 | Nevada Rangers | NV |
| 14 | One Eyed Rider | SxS | 4 | 11.66 | River Bend Rangers | MN |
| 15 | Kentucky Reb | SxS | 5 | 15.41 | Silver City Shooters | NV |
Comments:
"I had the
paramount privilege of watching our own CAS EOT World Champ, "Tequila," shoot
this past week-end in Texas and witnessed a real exhibition. The guy got off
six shots, loading his model '97 shotgun from the belt, in 6.35 seconds. To
prove it wasn't a fluke...we had him do it twice more. Times were 6.4 and 6.8
seconds. (he musta fumbled on that last one!) The great thing is, my hubby
had the video camera out and got it on film. We play it back nightly instead
of watching TV. We're hoping it rubs off. The other great thing is, he's one
of the nicest guys I've met in the game.
P.S./ He loads left-handed over the top. So do I...now!"
A major Tequila Fan,
"Aimless Annie"
(Note from Doc Peabody: Tequila's scores are not entered because he wasn't officially shooting the SSS).
"I think the only advantage of stoking is when you have to move or reach for the ammo. If distance is involved the stoking might make sense. Other then that I believe I can double load as fast or faster . It also might be faster in some cases to stoke from a box or prop. Loading from the belt is faster by conventional means. It might be good to experiment to try the other situations."
Evil Roy
"I think the smoothest, most streamlined reloading
method would be from a left shouldered '97, loaded & pumped with the right hand.
A well skilled shooter with this method would be impressive to watch."
Buckskin Frank Leslie
"I was running the timer for most of the shooters and the stokers
were typically taking between 12 - 13 seconds just to get the first shot
off. Now I am sure that this could have been reduced by some practice, but
it still takes an amount of time to get the shells in. I am of the firm
belief that between the various methods, stoking a '97 offers no
significant advantage."
Jonathan "Slim" Chance
Thanks to all those who participated.
Doc Peabody, Painless Dentist & Proctologist,
(another over-the-top convert)