Best Barrel Compromise for Sporting/Skeet/Trap?

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bradu

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Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone can offer any thoughts or tips regarding barrel length for my first O/U.

I'm not really sure what sports(s) I'll prefer at this point (skeet, trap,SC's) but today sporting clays appeals to me the most as a fun/recreational shooting activity. "Golf with a gun" sounds like fun :).

That said, my question is this: What would be a good barrel length for general use in all of the above? I'm thinking about a sporting gun with 30" barrels that I would use for all three disciplines. Then if sometime down the road I get more serious about any of them, I could buy a discipline specific gun.

Am I out to lunch? Or does that sound like a reasonable way to go?

Any thoughts/suggestions are welcomed.

:cheers:
Brad
 
bradu,
I see you are from Calgary. May I suggest that you go to the a.h.e.i.a. range south of Calgary. Open Tuesday to Sunday. They have rental guns and trap and skeet and 5 stand sporting ranges.

or go to Silver Willow Pheasants and Sporting Clays at Carstairs. They have a few rental guns. Don Day the oswner is also a Browning dealer and has a few demo guns.
 
30 inch if you plan on shooting more skeet but most of the serious sporting clay shooters are using 32 inch.The extra 2 inch helps in sighting,follow though, and weigh is good for reduced recoil.
 
I went with 30" o/u to start out and have no regrets. Later on I bought 34" BT-99 for trap (after trying it). Just couldn't pass it up because I ran a straight with it first time out. Later on I bought a 28 inch Beretta to use for skeet, sporting and doubles. Couldn't pass it up either. It really is a matter of personal preference in many ways, as I like all three guns. The only thing I am sure of from using all three is that I found the 30 inch Citori o/u a bit heavy (slow?) for skeet in the beginning and I gained a bird or so with the shorter barrel. But it was still a good learner gun. In fact, I'm not even sure that the extra weight is a bad thing as it forces one to make a smooth swing, rather than a fast one, and to pay close attention to foot position, point of aim and so on. I suspect more knowledgable shooters might feel this is important. In fact, I have been looking forward to going back and trying the 30 inch Citori when I finish what I am doing with the stock. Just to see how things go and how I feel after a year of using the Beretta. All things being equal, and acknowledging there are many variables to consider, 30 inches might be the best compromise. Another thing I'm reasonably sure of is that I wouldn't buy a dedicated gun, e.g. BT-99, skeet, etc., starting out. The Citori, with its chokes and two barrels gave me the opportunity to try anything that was going, e.g. doubles, singles, handicap, skeet, sporting clays, 5 stand. It was all fun and it gave me a really good chance to find out what I liked doing.
 
Thanks for the advice/thoughts gents.

Covey, I'm thinking to head out to the Calgary Firearms Center Friday (assuming they are open on good Friday and the weather smartens up a bit). Do you know if they have anyone out there to give newbies the rundown on the different sports?
 
bradu said:
Thanks for the advice/thoughts gents.

Covey, I'm thinking to head out to the Calgary Firearms Center Friday (assuming they are open on good Friday and the weather smartens up a bit). Do you know if they have anyone out there to give newbies the rundown on the different sports?
Click to expand...

They may be closed on Good Friday, but they are mostly open from Wednesday to Sunday. There is nearly always someone around to give newbies a run down on the different clay games. The grounds manager, Martin is usually around and is also available for safety instructuion and basic fundamentals. There are always a bunch that are willing to give free instruction, but keep in mind you get what you pay for.
 
"keep in mind you get what you pay for" Yep that's generally very true, but for the moment it'll do. I'll give them a call on Wednesday to see if they're open Friday.
 
Over the years I've owned a number (maybe too many ! ) of O/U's and shoot all the clay target sports, including International Trap & Skeet, and have observed the preferences for barrel length.

I would say that 30" seems to be the overwhelming most popular choice.

There are a few who like a 34" barrel for ATA Trap singles, and 32"-s seemed to be preferred for Sporting Clays, however not all can handle that little bit of extra length effectively. I see far more 30" inch guns at the International bunkers and skeet fields. For NSSA Skeet, it seems to be mostly 28" and 30" barrels, with more competitors these days going to the 30-inchers. The 26" inch O/U guns are fewer and fewer, and are somewhat hard to move on resale. In the pre-80's they seemed to be in the majority.

32" inch guns can be a bit of a handicap in Skeet requiring an adjustment of hold points and can be awkward to those of shorter stature. Depending on make, balance can also be a bit of a problem. At a little over 6', I'm comfortable with a 32" DT10, and previously owned a couple of 32" Browning 425's. For me, the 30" and 32" guns are effective for Sporting, Trap and 5-Stand, but a little less so at the International games. If Skeet were a major part of my shooting, I'd opt for a 30" gun. If Sporting & Trap were the majority, I'd go with a 32".
 
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