The gun tested by the Technical Staff weighs only 6 ¾ lbs. which is light for a 12-ga. shotgun, especially for an autoloader. This is an advantage for an upland field gun where the gun is carried for long periods, but the lightness increases recoil. The recoil is not very great with light loads, and can be endured even in prolonged firing. It is much more pronounced, however, with heavy loads such as 3 ¾-dram equivalent. With magnum loads, recoil is severe. In firing 2 ¾” magnum loads, the heaviest for use in this gun, the computed recoil energy is 45 ft. lbs.
Approximately 475 light, medium, and heavy factory loads of several makes were fired in NRA tests of this gun, and there were only two malfunctions. One malfunction was a failure to chamber caused by the back of the shell swinging out to the right during feeding. The other was a failure of the breechbolt to latch in the open position after the last round in the gun was fired. Many loads firing during these tests were 2 ¾” magnums. Reloaded shells were also fired in the gun, and there were no malfunctions with them. During prolonged firing, the stock became slightly loose. This was easy to correct by removing the buttplate and tightening the back retainer bolt.
Tests for patterning were fired at 40 yds. using 3 ¾ dram equivalent factory loads with 1 ¼ ozs. No. 6 shot and plastic shot-container wads. The average pattern percentage or average number of pellet hits in a 30” circle was 67% for 10 shots, which corresponds to improved-modified choke results from this modified-choke gun. Distribution of pellet hits was only fairly even, with patchiness in many patterns. Point of impact at 40 yds. was 4.7” below point of hold.
The Technical Staff fired the gun extensively in skeet shooting. Handling qualities were generally very good and the gun pointed naturally and quickly. However, the low shooting proved a handicap, and results were only fair with several scores in the teens. The highest score was 23X35. Many targets were not broken cleanly indicating hits by edges of the patterns.
Except for its low shooting, the Model 1000 is a fine gun. Due to its lightness, it would be better suited for hunting upland game than waterfowl which requires use of heavy loads for good effectiveness.
