20ga for 22 yard trap

My wife did while learning. She shot it her first season of registered trap. Her handicap was 19.0. With a mod choke and 7/8oz 1200fps loads it would inkspot targets as well as any 1 oz or 1 1/8 12ga loads. She went to a BT-99 though as she could not locate a shell catcher for the 20ga A400 and she did not like ejecting her empties at the next shooter to her right.
 
I looked for a catcher for my xplor series and the only one I could find was a tape on wire and I didn't want to ruin the finish. My 20ga xplor would likely hit the shooter 2 stations over lol. In skeet the empties almost make it to the next station

I was thinking Im for 16 and full for 22yard. I rarely shoot trap anymore but may get back into it
 
We shoot multiplex out west 50 singles ,50 handicap 50 doubles and 50 "sub gauge" which is anything else but 12.It is 16 yd. but was getting more popular until the shell crisis.
 
Lots of kids in our junior program shoot 22 yard trap with 20 gauge guns and they don't have any trouble breaking targets. It's really no different than shooting a 12 with 7/8's oz loads and I've broken lots of targets from the 27 yard line with those. Not my first handicap load choice obviously but if your on the target then it will break!
 
To effectively use a smaller gauge like the 20 at longer distances like 22 yards and beyond you need more shot ( eg 1 oz loads) or a tighter choke. The 7/8 oz 20 gauge will reach just as far and penetrate as well as the twelve but you still need at least 2-3 hits on the clay to break it. A tighter choke will provide the needed pattern density at longer ranges but that in turn requires more skill to hit that target with this smaller pattern. The 20 can do it but can you?
 
Ashcroft said:
To effectively use a smaller gauge like the 20 at longer distances like 22 yards and beyond you need more shot ( eg 1 oz loads) or a tighter choke. The 7/8 oz 20 gauge will reach just as far and penetrate as well as the twelve but you still need at least 2-3 hits on the clay to break it. A tighter choke will provide the needed pattern density at longer ranges but that in turn requires more skill to hit that target with this smaller pattern. The 20 can do it but can you?
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So Jim with your 10g you should be able to break a solid score before requiring surgery :) Yes..
 
I've shot quite a bit of it these last 4-5 years. Using full choke & #7.5 I'm averaging 22 albeit no 25's yet with .20ga.
I'm using my O/U but my kids shoot it with a youth model 870 in .20ga as well. They are also doing well with it and enjoy it.
 
If you think you can, you are right and if you think you can’t, well you’re still correct.

20 ga. 7/8 will smash targets at any distance a 12 will.

If you’re only managing 2-3 pellet breaks most of the time, well you’ve got bigger problems than what gauge you’re using.

The core of the pattern stays quite dense from cylinder through full. Centre the target in the pattern. Won’t matter what choke or how much shot you have.

How do you do that you ask. Easy. Look at the bird. Ignore the gun completely. When you have a gun that shoots where you’re looking there is no thinking to do.
 
[/QUOTE =sharp shooter;19228002]I've often wondered what would happen to clay targets with a 10 gauge.[/QUOTE]

I put the IC choke in a Gold 10 I owned many moons ago and headed out to the skeet range...it was interesting. I had been given a bucket full of 2 7/8" ammo loaded with 1 7/8oz shot. One and only time I have even seen the old 2 7/8" 10ga ammo! The same fellow also gave me a case of Winchester 3.5" 2 1/4oz 2's. Being the dummy I am I shot them all. I should have kept a box for my collection.
 
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I had my Greener 10 gauge SxS out at the range a couple of times this summer. With RST 2 7/8 ammo, it breaks the targets just fine.
 
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