I am looking for a O/U shotgun to shoot ATA trap, doubles and next year try International Trap. I’ve been looking at an assortment of brands and models and have a few questions from those who shoot regularly. What is the difference in design between a “Sporting Clay” and a “Trap” unit? Is it the drop of comb, barrel configuration, or what? Should I look at only a Trap gun or can a Sporting Clay do the same? Then we come to barrel length. ATA trap shooters have told me to go to a 32” barrel. Fine but is this to long for International?
Difference between Sporting Clay and Trap guns
- Thread starter Super Scout
- Start date
Don't know much about International Trap but for American(ATA) Trap, trap guns are stocked much higher usually and the rib is also usually higher. These features are so you will see the target better and shoot to a higher impact, for the trap birds that are always rising. This type of a gun would be a disadvantage for any other than rising clay birds. A sporting clays gun will shoot much flatter and probably pattern 50/50 or so, whereas many trap guns shoot 70/30 or even 90/10 and I've heard of higher patterning trap guns.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Ben described the ATA style Trap Gun pretty well.
International Trap guns have a low rib, and are generally set up to look flat & shoot flat, but are invariably "higher" stocked than a Sporter, they tend to have the regular forend shape rather than Schnabel forends, are not of the
Monte Carlo style stock, and for the most part, adjustable combs aren't
that common. Most International Trap guns are fixed choke, "Full & Fuller" for singles, and for Doubles Trap, Fixed choke full on the top barrel with an interchangeable lower barrel. Most are 30". Electrocibles guns seem to be a little higher in the stock yet, and are often 28", like the shorter Live Pigeon guns.
If you look on the Beretta International site beretta.com (instead of the US
berettausa.com site ) you should be able to discern a lot of differences in the various guns from the photos and specs.
IMHO, if you're going to shoot ATA Trap primarily, and only the ocassional round or two of bunker, go with the ATA type gun.
International Trap guns have a low rib, and are generally set up to look flat & shoot flat, but are invariably "higher" stocked than a Sporter, they tend to have the regular forend shape rather than Schnabel forends, are not of the
Monte Carlo style stock, and for the most part, adjustable combs aren't
that common. Most International Trap guns are fixed choke, "Full & Fuller" for singles, and for Doubles Trap, Fixed choke full on the top barrel with an interchangeable lower barrel. Most are 30". Electrocibles guns seem to be a little higher in the stock yet, and are often 28", like the shorter Live Pigeon guns.
If you look on the Beretta International site beretta.com (instead of the US
berettausa.com site ) you should be able to discern a lot of differences in the various guns from the photos and specs.
IMHO, if you're going to shoot ATA Trap primarily, and only the ocassional round or two of bunker, go with the ATA type gun.
Ditto to what Ben and Beretta_boy said.
I would add that the length of the barrel you choose depends on your physical conformation and shooting style. Generally speaking, tall folks find a 32" to handle better while for the shorter ones 30" and under may feel too "snappy". On the other hand, a short "explosive" shooter may find the inertia of a 32" too much. Handle both and see how they feel.
If you are going to shoot bunker competitively I would lean towards the shorther barrel of a sporting O/U with flush not extended chokes, and a low rib.
HTH
Florin
I would add that the length of the barrel you choose depends on your physical conformation and shooting style. Generally speaking, tall folks find a 32" to handle better while for the shorter ones 30" and under may feel too "snappy". On the other hand, a short "explosive" shooter may find the inertia of a 32" too much. Handle both and see how they feel.
If you are going to shoot bunker competitively I would lean towards the shorther barrel of a sporting O/U with flush not extended chokes, and a low rib.
HTH
Florin
