Dual purpose gun trap/skeet

Sailingvan

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Hi all,

I realize that this question might have been have been asked before but was unable to find much info after a few searches.

I was at the range today watching a seasoned trap shooter with a beautiful o/u hitting every bird that flew and realized that shooting clays was something I really wanted to do. He left before i could ask him for advice. We also have skeet at our range and I was advised by a few old timers to try to master trap first.

I realize that there is a difference between trap guns and skeet guns and am not quite sure what sporting clays are.

My question is is there a quality all around gun that could be used for all clay disciplines and games? And if so could anyone recommend a suitable gun?

I would like to spend a reasonable amount of money on a quality gun i.e. 1 to 2 thousand maybe a bit more. I have looked at monoguns made in washington state ,FAIR brand italian guns and some turkish guns. The fairs are quite beautiful light and balanced and for another hundred bucks they can be fitted to you.

I know that buying the most expensive equipment does not make you a better shot but would like to purchase a heirloom quality gun but the choices are many. I realize that one can spend many thousands on a trap gun but i am assuming that for 1 or 2 k or so something decent can be had.

Could someone point me in the right direction?

Thank-you in advance for your learned replies.

Sailingvan:canadaFlag:
 
The 391 is a very good choice as an auto loader ... for clay targets, my own choice was the 391 Parallel Target SL model.

For an over & under, Iwould look at either the Browning Citori XS Special or 625 Sporting, or the Beretta White Onyx or 686E Sporters.
 
Don't overlook good used shotguns such as the Browning Superposed.
Have them choke tubed with $$ saved compared to a new gun.
You can find them in excellent condition at bargain prices if you look hard enough.
 
Skeet hard to learn, easy to master....

Trap easy to learn hard to master....

Suggest a break action combo with a 29 or 30" O/U for skeet and a 32" single bottom set up for trap. Browning good bang for the buck - Beretta creates heirlooms. However, you wont find any combos in your price range.

Probably need to stick with a semi.
 
Krieghoff K-80, swap out stocks, and barrels using the same frame(action), single barrel(unsingle) has adjustable impact, double bls. have individually adjustable poi., and matching adj. buttstock. Trap and skeet in one package.
 
Skeet is where its at. I have a Winchester Super X2 sporting and I use it for sporting clays, skeet and trap. I wanted a reliable 12 ga that fit me well and had interchangeable chokes for all the target shooting and hunting that I do. Buy a nice semi auto. Make sure that it is made to shoot light target loads.
 
Take whatever 12 gauge you have now and get at it.

A true trap gun will not work that well for skeet and vice versa.

You will be able to see lots of different guns the more you shoot. Lots of guys wil let you handle and shoot their guns as well.
 
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"A true trap gun will not work that well for trap and vice versa."



So what should you use for trap then? I've been using a trap gun for trap for over 30 years and it works great. All the shooters at the Grand American are using trap guns.
 
Trap guns are good for trap but not as good for other games. Guns set up sporting clays are a reasonable compromise between trap and skeet guns. If you are going to shoot trap and nothing else get a trap gun. If you are going to shoot a variety of games then get a gun in a sporting clays configuration with a longer barrel and choke tubes. A good choice would be the Beretta 391 Sporting or Parallel Target.
 
Skeet hard to learn, easy to master....

Trap easy to learn hard to master...

Personally,I found skeet relatively easy to learn,but I haven't yet mastered it and likely won't ever do so.As for trap,I just find it boring compared to skeet,so I no longer bother with it.

If I was to have one gun for all of my clay target shooting,it would be a long barreled skeet gun,or a sporting clays gun.
 
To each his own to what he prefers. Both can be fun. As far as mastering either?;) Even the great shooters do not think they have mastered either game. Those who come close are great shooters.
 
How can you not master a discipline that throws the same target path every round? Thats why skeet is easy to master. Trap machines throw random target paths. I know a trapshooter and watched him shoot skeet (with his trap gun), he calls the target while he's loading his gun and smokes them every time... why? He already knows what the target path is going to be.

The only way you get bored of trap is if you are shooting from the 27 yard line (which takes years to get there) breaking 25 straight every round. In that case, you shouldn't be bored, you should be making a living.

Just having some fun with you skeet boys!
 
How can you not master a discipline that throws the same target path every round? Thats why skeet is easy to master.

If it is that easy to master,every round should be 25 straight,and every four gauge shoot should be a perfect 400.So just how many perfect 400s have you shot in a four gauge skeet shoot?
 
How can you not master a discipline that throws the same target path every round? Thats why skeet is easy to master.

You make it sound easy. Either trap or skeet, the targets are easy to break and the odd straight happens. To master either game, you must master yourself and that is not easy. If as you say skeet is easy to master, you should have no problem putting together a quick hundred with a 12 gauge . No need to use a trap gun from the unloaded start like your talented friend.
 
Personally,I found skeet relatively easy to learn,but I haven't yet mastered it and likely won't ever do so.As for trap,I just find it boring compared to skeet,so I no longer bother with it.

If I was to have one gun for all of my clay target shooting,it would be a long barreled skeet gun,or a sporting clays gun.

stubblejumper,you may find trap boring but the objective in the game of trap and as well skeet is to shoot perfect scores every round,and not how many can I break this round.Put that pressure on yourself everytime you step to the line and you will see you wont find it boring.
I shoot trap,skeet and sporting clays and I find myself defending trap to the recreational skeet and sporting clay shooters all the time.These are mostly bird hunters who love there wingshooting.Dont get me wrong,I do more than my fair share of goose population control,henss the username goozeman.But wingshooting and clay targetshooting (trap,skeet and sporting clays) should not be consider in the same way.Just my 2 cents.Keep shootin'em in the lips stubblejumper.....cheers! goozeman ;)
 
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