How to get started?

And – if you happen to have a shooter at your club who somewhat frequently (maybe a couple of times a year) sells off their gun to move to something they shoot better – you might land yourself a good deal and the opportunity to shoot said gun before it get sold.
I found myself at the receiving end of this good fortune, and made off with a Citori 725 Trap for a very reasonable sum of money.

If you start off shooting a club gun, or even your own first gun – make it known (ask around) that you're in the market for a Trap gun.
Trap shooters are almost always selling one of their guns!
 
Just wanted to update you guys...
I did want to wait to buy a shotgun, but saw a Used Bettinsoli X Sport T16 over/under, 30 inch barrel, adjustable comb, 5 chokes, original case, excellent condition supposedly, for 1200 including tax and shipping from Reliable. Can't find much about this specific model, but seems like decent reviews for similar ones of the same brand.
Having been tracking used prices on shotguns for a bit, looking for 30" and above, this seemed like a great deal so I went ahead and took the risk.
 
machohugeaxe said:
Just wanted to update you guys...
I did want to wait to buy a shotgun, but saw a Used Bettinsoli X Sport T16 over/under, 30 inch barrel, adjustable comb, 5 chokes, original case, excellent condition supposedly, for 1200 including tax and shipping from Reliable. Can't find much about this specific model, but seems like decent reviews for similar ones of the same brand.
Having been tracking used prices on shotguns for a bit, looking for 30" and above, this seemed like a great deal so I went ahead and took the risk.
Click to expand...

Enjoy your new gun and let us know how you make out.
 
Just gonna pop back in here with a basic question. The shotgun has arrived, looks brand new actually... skeptical it has ever been shot.
It came with the standard 5 chokes, CYL, IC, M, IM, F
Do people typically use the same choke in both barrels? Would that mean I would have to buy a couple of additional ones, whichever ones I end up using the most?

If that is the case, can anyone make any recommendations as to a brand or resource for looking at compatibility?
 
Trapshooting, I use mostly the bottom barrel. Mod or IM in bottom barrel and away you go.

I have a tighter choke in the top barrel just in case I shoot wobble where a follow up shot is allowed. I have never shot doubles.
 
rmsg0040 said:
Trapshooting, I use mostly the bottom barrel. Mod or IM in bottom barrel and away you go.

I have a tighter choke in the top barrel just in case I shoot wobble where a follow up shot is allowed. I have never shot doubles.
Click to expand...

That makes sense, never thought about which barrel to use first but from a recoil perspective thats logical. I put improved cylinder on the bottom and mod on the top for now, might be more beginner friendly.
Thanks!
 
I've been shooting trap 40 years. My go to choke is IM. Some may argue and rightly so it's a bit tight for 16 yd targets but I like to see inkspotted targets. It helps me build confidence seeing them destroyed and helps me keep my focus in the zone however a LM is plenty from 16 if you are shooting them in the spectrum of the average distance of most shooters, around 32 yards or 16 yards from the house. For doubles I shoot IC bottom, IM or LF on top. Bottom barrel always for singles or first shot in doubles for me for reduced felt recoil unless your gun is equipped with a Gracoil, RAD or some such similar device then you really won't notice any difference.
 
Most prefer to use the bottom barrel. You feel less of the recoil with the bottom barrel.
Most prefer to use modified, IM, or IC. Some prefer to use full. There is advantages to each choice.
Full is more fun because it is more of a challenge. The clay breaks nicer.
IC may let you hit more often but a lot of time it's just a little chip and sometime hard to see. It's one thing when you hunting upland birds and you just want a little nick to take them down and leave lots of yummy meat but with clay shooting if you don't see it, it's a miss.

Most important thing: have fun.
 
Don’t mean to change the subject or anything. But I’m new too and I just wanna know , am I gonna get laughed at for shoot my old upland side by side?
 
Any laughing I ever heard on a trap or skeet field had nothing to do with a persons choice of gun. It was always because we were having fun. I've heard and been on both ends of some good natured teasing and b _ _ l busting over a fellow shooters choice of gun but it has always been in fun and not mean spirited.
 
DanRivers said:
Don’t mean to change the subject or anything. But I’m new too and I just wanna know , am I gonna get laughed at for shoot my old upland side by side?
Click to expand...

The first time I ever showed up to a trap field I had my 870 Wingmaster. Everyone was super nice and supportive and just let me know that I MAY be at a disadvantage using a "field gun" for trap. Some rounds I hit 12. Sometimes I hit 18. Nothing beats trigger time, and a $2k gun won't automatically make you a better shot. As my old man says "A good carpenter doesn't blame his tools"
 
DiMP said:
The first time I ever showed up to a trap field I had my 870 Wingmaster. Everyone was super nice and supportive and just let me know that I MAY be at a disadvantage using a "field gun" for trap. Some rounds I hit 12. Sometimes I hit 18. Nothing beats trigger time, and a $2k gun won't automatically make you a better shot. As my old man says "A good carpenter doesn't blame his tools"
Click to expand...

I’ve never met a successful shooter who didn’t shot some sort of trap gun.

Nothing worse then trying to make a living with junk tools.
 
JIMMY 808 said:
I’ve never met a successful shooter who didn’t shot some sort of trap gun.

Nothing worse then trying to make a living with junk tools.
Click to expand...

True. But I never understood the people who say "Don't even try unless you buy a $2000 gun"; There is so much "snobbery" in the gun world sometimes**. Show up, HAVE FUN, slowly improve, and buy things as you can afford them. I'm glad I never bought an expensive gun because now where I live the local trap range only shoots on days/evenings where I have other commitments so I haven't got out to an actual trap range in over 8 years now and shooting clays from a hand thrower doesn't require a mortgage-payment valued gun

**This isn't meant as a shot at anyone specifically. I ran into the same issue when I was asking for advice on accessories for 600+ yard rifle shooting. I asked about bipod recommendations and received replies on here like "Sell your gun, scope, and everything you own and buy something better (or in a different calibre, or.....)"
We complain sometimes that our sport is dying and less new people are coming out to matches/events/etc, but when new people do show up we belittle them based on their gear
 
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