Difference between guns for clay sports

P

Pocketsx

Member
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
What are the main differences between over unders used for trap, skeet and sporting clays. I only ask because I'm looking for an all around o/u and in the Classified ads people will post "trap gun for sale". Also any suggestions on what to buy for around the $2000 mark? I want something I can use for all three disciplines. I got to try a browning xs skeet a month ago and loved it but can't find one for around 2000.
 
Guns for American trap are generally 32" o/u and 34" single with a very high rib and fancy multi-adjustable stocks.
Guns for International trap are generally 30" with a normal rib.
Guns for American skeet are generally 26-30" with low rib and come with tubes or barrels for the sub gauges.
Guns for International skeet are generally 26-28" with low rib, light weight, and open fixed chokes.
 
Point of impact of the shot pattern is the biggest difference . a trap gun is usually set up to have a 80/20 poi meaning that 80% of the pattern would be above you aim point .the idea being that trap is a rising going away target and gives you the ability to see the target . also a trap gun will have a parallel comb to give the shooter a more head up position on the gun . the gun will have full and imp mod fixed or removeable chokes . sporting clays guns will usually have a 60/40 pattern as you will be shooting a varity of different targets and more open chokes will be used . a skeet gun will also have the 60/40 pattern and a more parallel comb for heads up shooting and use skeet chokes .and sub gauge tubes for shooting the sub gauge events . in my opinion buy a sporting clays gun as it will be the most versatile of the 3 .
 
Last edited:
interesting comments, I started out with a browning auto five magnum with 32' barrel. The magnum part, you don't need, but I just changed the round brass disk order to use trap loads. It has served me well. I also have the browning single barrel and over and under guns.
 
As Rembolt indicated, most trap guns are set up to shoot a higher point of impact than other clay guns. Although I have seen and shot lots that shoot pretty flat. The bottom barrel on a trap O/U will usually shoot about 10% higher than the top barrel. The stock on a trap gun will be parallel, in other words the comb is on the same plane as the rib.

Buy a gun that is designed to shoot the main game you are going to play and adapt to shoot the other games.

The Browning XS and XT guns are fairly new to the market, so the price of them is higher than your price point.
 
The thing is, no matter what the gun is for and how its POI is supposed to shoot, it will depend on its fit for you. If the gun is set up to shoot 50/50 flat, and for you the stock doesnt have enough drop - you now have a trap gun because the POI is going to be high.

However something for all disciplines? I'd recommend a sporting model, with 30" or 32" barrels. I recommend that barrel length for resale purposes. 28's just dont hold as much value or interest buyers as much. The trend is for longer barrels on sporting guns.
 
True - I bought a browning citori 625 field with 28 inch barrels and wish I'd gone a little longer. Extended chokes help (a bit). I bought the gun to hunt with as well, so the slightly more manoeuvrable and slightly lighter (2 inches less barrel weight) are a blessing when upland bird hunting all day
 
Also - re: purchasing a gun with an adjustable comb. If you find a gun you like. You can have an adjustable comb put on it. Mines in the shop right now having one put on. I've talked to a few guys (that shoot sporting) and they've had the same mod done to their guns.
 
I like to shoot various clay sports on the same day and have a tough time adjusting from one game to the other using a BPS hunting version. Is it safe to assume that if one purchased a sporting version with an adjustable comb, you would pattern it with the comb raised to a position that achieves an 80/20, then lower and adjust the comb to achieve a 60/40, give or take for skeet and sporting clays. Then, when you switch between games you simply crank it up to shoot trap and lower it to shoot skeet?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom