Adjustable or fixed?

[skookumchuck]

Hi all, I'm new to trap and have been shooting my Winchester SXP pump gun. As I learn more I want to buy a dedicated trap gun and am trying to decide between a BT-99 fully adjustable, a BT-99 from the 80's with no adjustments and a new CZ All American Trap. How important do you feel having adjustability is? I don't expect to ever compete against anything other than my previous best and our club only shoots singles.
Thanks in advance.

 

[cosmic]

Well - I'll take a stab at an answer. How about 'it depends" Any gun "off the rack" may fit you as is - they are typically designed for a person of average stature. Sure, getting a gun that is adjustable has advantages, but only if the gun is fitted by someone who is knowledgeable in such matters.
Finally, if you buy a dedicated trap gun (eg high comb, single barrel), it would be sub-optimal for any of the other shooting disciplines such as skeet, 5-stand,etc.

 

[the spank]

I would not own a trap gun if I was serious about shooting trap(registered) that is not fully adjustable. Having a fully adjustable gun you can really get dialed in to your fit and shooting style if you understand how you are shooting and can make the adjustments is THE WAY TO GO in my opinion. For just casual trap any gun that fits you will work however if down the road after owning a non-adjustable gun you find you want to go fully adjustable the resale on non-adjustable models limits your audience to sell to. I just picked up a Browning 725 Trap Max. I'm looking forward to getting it set up and crushing targets.

 

[Ashcroft]

Assuming that your shooting continues to be club level singles targets the ability to adjust your gun for different disciplines such as doubles, skeet or sporting clays is of no importance to you. What is paramount for success is fit. If a gun fits you well without adjustments then an adjustable gun won’t make it fit better or increase your scores. Perhaps to get the fit you need you require an adjustable comb, butt pad, rib, trigger or whatever but if you don’t need them then they simply add unnecessary expense, complication and potential failure points. Yes, breakage or sloppiness, nothing comes without a price. If a gun fits without adjustment simple is better. Many many singles scores of 100, 200 and more straight have been shot with a good fitting good quality gun with fixed chokes and no stock or rib adjustments. Spank is correct in preferring an adjustable gun for himself as a dedicated competitor but you aren’t competing against anyone but yourself. I’ve shot a lot of trap over 40 years or so and competed seriously for 25 of those, I’ve owned BT 99’s, 99 Plus, not familiar with the CZ. For myself I know that old BT 99 if not modified will fit and I would buy it. Your choice may be different. Have fun, break ‘em all.

 

[warzaw]

Assuming that your shooting continues to be club level singles targets the ability to adjust your gun for different disciplines such as doubles, skeet or sporting clays is of no importance to you. What is paramount for success is fit. If a gun fits you well without adjustments then an adjustable gun won’t make it fit better or increase your scores. Perhaps to get the fit you need you require an adjustable comb, butt pad, rib, trigger or whatever but if you don’t need them then they simply add unnecessary expense, complication and potential failure points. Yes, breakage or sloppiness, nothing comes without a price. If a gun fits without adjustment simple is better. Many many singles scores of 100, 200 and more straight have been shot with a good fitting good quality gun with fixed chokes and no stock or rib adjustments. Spank is correct in preferring an adjustable gun for himself as a dedicated competitor but you aren’t competing against anyone but yourself. I’ve shot a lot of trap over 40 years or so and competed seriously for 25 of those, I’ve owned BT 99’s, 99 Plus, not familiar with the CZ. For myself I know that old BT 99 in not modified will fit and I would buy it. Your choice may be different. Have fun, break ‘em al


Spot on advise . I have a buddy who went from a Uni barrel Beretta to a Browning 99 he shot it well but it beat the snot out him and he is a big guy . We added a Mercury recoil devise it brought the Browning up to the weight and balance of his old gun and he has run many straights with that gun . And I love his old Beretta under barrel which I stole from him.

 

[skookumchuck]

Excellent advice, I would expect nothing less here. Now the million dollar question, how do I know if a trap gun fits correctly? Does anyone have a link to a video solely concerned with gun fit from a source they trust? I find the problem with learning stuff on youtube is a lot of the teachers should be students.

 

[Falconflyer]

Youtube is great but you have to be able to sort the wheat from the chaff so to speak.
Mount the gun and if your eye looks down the rib or barrel in the center and your not seeing too much rib or too little rib then you might be able to shoot it well assuming the length of pull is correct for you. If it has a mid rib bead then it should be in a perfect figure 8 however, the only way to find out for sure is to go shoot it and see what happens. Maybe you shoot it well enough but it's beating you up, if it is then something isn't fitting properly. It's really a case of finding a gun that you think will be close to fitting then go shoot it and see if it works for you.

 

[downwindtracker2]

I find the problem with learning stuff on youtube is a lot of the teachers should be students. That is a great line, and very true. If he has grey hair , he might know something. Then again he might not. Just old wives tales.

 

[cosmic]

Well - For a start, your pump action likely has a neutral cast. Any trap gun you buy is likely to have a dedicated cast - so you should ensure the cast is correct. Also, any used gun may have already been altered for amount of cast, LOP, drop - these matters should be ascertained before purchase.
Finally, guns used for sporting purposes can be high mileage affairs. One should try to ascertain the amount of action wear before purchase. If you dont know how to do this, take someone with you that does. Case in point, a novice shooter at our club picked up a Beretta 682 from a dealers website. Cosmetically, the gun was a 9.5 out of 10. However, the gun was a very high mileage gun, and was not too far away from a rebuild. He was likely attracted by the price, however, this proved to be a false economy.

 

[scott9001]

Hey I have a bt99 plus from the 90s that I am looking to upgraded to abt99 max grade or a kx6, it is a wonderful gun feel free to send me a pm about it if your interested. They are fully adjustable, recoil reducer, adj comb, adjustable rib. I learnt early on with my first bt99 to get a adjustable one. My first was not adjustable and recoil was a bugger. This one with the features and it fits good there is next to no recoil. Fit is very important.

 

[Rob!]

So, here's my take on adjustable stocks. First, they are something between annoyingly distracting and some are butt ugly. More importantly there are many well intentioned "stock fitters" out there, but few masters of the craft. If you start adjusting it yourself, chances are you'll put on your winter coat and decide the LOP needs shortening. What you may not realize is that the new LOP changed cast and drop at face and likely more as well. Messing with fit is a little like messing with brands of aftermarket choke. It'll make you crazy unless you do it once - right - and leave it.

h ttps://www.amazon.com/Stock-Fitters-Bible-Rollin-Oswald/dp/1451570384 is the best reference on stock fitting I've found - but it does not make you a stock fitter.

For clarity, I am no stock fitter either.

 

[the spank]

18793651[/URL]]So, here's my take on adjustable stocks. First, they are something between annoyingly distracting and some are butt ugly. More importantly there are many well intentioned "stock fitters" out there, but few masters of the craft. If you start adjusting it yourself, chances are you'll put on your winter coat and decide the LOP needs shortening. What you may not realize is that the new LOP changed cast and drop at face and likely more as well. Messing with fit is a little like messing with brands of aftermarket choke. It'll make you crazy unless you do it once - right - and leave it.

h ttps://www.amazon.com/Stock-Fitters-Bible-Rollin-Oswald/dp/1451570384 is the best reference on stock fitting I've found - but it does not make you a stock fitter.

For clarity, I am no stock fitter either.

Though I do not agree adjustable shotgun stocks are butt ugly except for the PFS stocks I think they are a great addition to a dedicated clay target shotgun. I am of the mind as you are though to set it and forget it! Once you have it adjusted properly leave it as is and shoot it as set regardless of clothing etc.

 

[the spank]

Oops dbl post

 

[the spank]

Hey I have a bt99 plus from the 90s that I am looking to upgraded to abt99 max grade or a kx6, it is a wonderful gun feel free to send me a pm about it if your interested. They are fully adjustable, recoil reducer, adj comb, adjustable rib. I learnt early on with my first bt99 to get a adjustable one. My first was not adjustable and recoil was a bugger. This one with the features and it fits good there is next to no recoil. Fit is very important.

Hard to beat an original PLUS model! I kick my you know what for selling my two Citori Plus Traps. I had one in an O/U and another in a top single combo. Fantastic guns! I've recently purchased a 725 Max Trap with 32" barrels and am going to see if I can locate an unsingle barrel for it to have fitted to make a combo.

 

[Buckmastr]

So, here's my take on adjustable stocks. First, they are something between annoyingly distracting and some are butt ugly. More importantly there are many well intentioned "stock fitters" out there, but few masters of the craft. If you start adjusting it yourself, chances are you'll put on your winter coat and decide the LOP needs shortening. What you may not realize is that the new LOP changed cast and drop at face and likely more as well. Messing with fit is a little like messing with brands of aftermarket choke. It'll make you crazy unless you do it once - right - and leave it.

h ttps://www.amazon.com/Stock-Fitters-Bible-Rollin-Oswald/dp/1451570384 is the best reference on stock fitting I've found - but it does not make you a stock fitter.

For clarity, I am no stock fitter either.

Good post.

 

[scott9001]

Hard to beat an original PLUS model! I kick my you know what for selling my two Citori Plus Traps. I had one in an O/U and another in a top single combo. Fantastic guns! I've recently purchased a 725 Max Trap with 32" barrels and am going to see if I can locate an unsingle barrel for it to have fitted to make a combo.

a good friend of mine just had a 725 trap max combo imported from the USA, was not cheap but is a beauty of a gun. if you can find a unsingle do it!