ME:Don't use your Shotgun as a Club... Unless you must

Gun Watch ^ | 2 October, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

In a dramatic video from Maine, a neighbor uses his shotgun as a club to drive off Pitt bulls attacking a neighbors Basset hound.   It is a bad idea to use your firearm as a club.   The firearm may be damaged, and not operable when you need it.   In the video, the man in the blue shirt (MIBS) is showing clubbing the attacking dogs with the shotgun, then shooting one of them.

Link to video

That is what is shown, until you look at the time stamps.   When you check those, it is clear that the man in the blue shirt runs up, shoots one of the attacking dogs, then starts using the shotgun as a club.   Could it be that he ran out of ammunition?

The sequence of events from the moment he first appears on the scene until he is returning, takes 27 seconds. 

The video has been heavily edited for television distribution.  Let this be a lesson to those who take video as gospel.   Events may not be as they seem.

You can see the MIBS running to aid the Basset hound.  He is in the upper right corner of the frame.  Time stamp 5:29:29, camera 1.   TV video 1:41



MIBS shooting attacking dog about six seconds later.   Time stamp 5:29:35.  TV video 0:39.  Camera 1

MIBS using shotgun as club, six seconds later.  Time stamp 5:29:41, camera 2.

Here the MIBS is returning, past the dog he shot 19 seconds ago.  Time stamp 5:29:56.  Camera 1.

There is another lesson to be learned from this video.   Bring more than one cartridge.   Did the MIBS just grab one cartridge as he ran out the door?

Keeping a tube full for what appears to be a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 could have been very helpful.  Maybe the shotgun was set up for migratory birds, with a two shot magazine, and a warning shot was fired.  

If more details become known, I will update the story.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

I am not sure why the video editor at the TV station chose to change the sequence of events to show the MIBS using the shotgun as a club, before shooting it.

[yarddog]

Only the Mosin Nagant should be used as a club.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Looks like Keith Olbermann.

[subterfuge]

If the bassett hound is ok I say job well done.

[Redcitizen]

This must be the guy who said “I have too much ammo”.

[OftheOhio]

Yes, job well done. I carry a five round sleeve on the butt-stock and a 5 round strip attached to the receiver on the 870 now. Mix and match. Gives me comfort, haha. 00 buck or Federal super slugs. Oh, I’m Marine trained with a underarm shotgun stance too. Make my day.

[Sasparilla]

Most all WWI vintage mitary rifles function well as clubs. That’s why they have the extra stock length. So does a Garland.

[wrench]

And a steel butt plate

[yarddog]

Yes but I would not want to take a chance on damaging a 1903 or a Garand.

[gaijin]

Great post.

[Terry L Smith]

Club? No. Straight thrust? Yes, from either end. No swinging.

The same applies to lever action rifles. Except those with the big ‘D’ ring. Why? ‘D’ means DENTAL!

[Fightin Whitey]

Looks like Keith Olbermann.

lol

The only thing Olbermann can shoot is his mouth off.

[Vigilantcitizen]

I keep an old walnut stock single shot 12ga by my bed...it functions well as a club.

[marktwain]

Thanks. It is a good story. None of the neighbors wanted to be interviewed on camera, because they feared retaliation from the Pitt Bull owners.

[yarddog]

It is probably a good idea to never use a gun as a club and especially not if you hold it by the barrel.

[Blue Jays]

Hope his pet is doing OK.
I owned a Pitbull Terrier in the past. She was sweet as pie and loved people.

Needless to say, all dogs should be leashed or fenced-in.
No good comes from dogs roaming unsupervised.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Also use buckshot. I had to do the same with two dogs and used waterfowl shot. I had to shoot them over and over and over.

[wrench]

Bird shot works great on snakes. For dogs, grab your poodle shooter, the round is perfect for yotes and such.

[marktwain]

Bird shot usually works fairly well if the range is less than 15 feet.

[subterfuge]

I like the way you think...well done.