First Time Shooting

G

gregisthegreatest

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
Location
London Ontario
Today was my 1st time ever shooting a shotgun. I thought it was going to recoil like a mofo so I was a little nervous. My 1st 3 shots on the trap field were "air balls". After that I ended up with 19 using a 870 remington. How good of a trap gun is that? What trap guns would you recommed that "cost less"?
 
Remington is not very expensive shotguns. The Stoegers are well made and inexpensive also. The Mossbergs models are a little cheaper . They offer back-bored and ported barrels that help tame recoil and the thing I prefer about the Mossberg is that the safety is on the tange, not on the trigger guard.

You'll really appreciate a tange safety if start doing tactical or other shotgun competitions. When hunting, I definatly prefer my safetys on the tange. S.I.R seems to have the best prices on the Mossberg.

Personaly I prefer a over and under for Trap & Skeet, but everbody needs a pump gun!
 
Last edited:
The 870 is about the lowest priced Trap gun there is, before you buy a trap gun though....make sure you won't be shooting other games like skeet or sporting clays or hunting....you would be at a disadvantage using a trap gun for these other uses. If you still want a trap gun....remember...doubles is a trap event and the learning curve for doubles is harder with a pump gun. Remington and Beretta make good semi-auto trap guns, you can't scrimp on quality as Trap guns usually go through more ammo a year than a lot of guns go through in a lifetime!!
 
Happiness is a warm gun may be confused due to the warmth of his gun! Mossberg does not make trap guns anymore(they used to) Stoeger's only Trap guns are Berettas and I don't think you would use a beretta or any other trap gun for tactical shooting?
 
gregisthegreatest said:
Today was my 1st time ever shooting a shotgun. I thought it was going to recoil like a mofo
Click to expand...

Keep in mind trap loads are the lightest thing you will ever shoot from a shotgun ;) - Try some 3" slugs to learn what shotgun "recoil" can be like :D
 
Welcome to the site. I've got bad news for you, your bank account will soon be foreever in jeopardy. Ammo, guns, more ammo, more guns, even more ammo, even more guns, you get the picture.

Don't worry about a special trap gun for a while. Just get a shotgun and start shooting!
 
ben hunchak said:
Happiness is a warm gun may be confused due to the warmth of his gun! Mossberg does not make trap guns anymore(they used to) Stoeger's only Trap guns are Berettas and I don't think you would use a beretta or any other trap gun for tactical shooting?
Click to expand...

True, I may be confused by the warmth of my guns. I wasn't refering to trap specific guns. Any shotgun will do, to get you into the sport. I was refering to the least expensive pump shotgun for a newbie to purchase.
 
G37 said:
Keep in mind trap loads are the lightest thing you will ever shoot from a shotgun ;) - Try some 3" slugs to learn what shotgun "recoil" can be like :D
Click to expand...

ben hunchak said:
Why would a new shooter be encouraged to do that?
Click to expand...

I don't think G 37 is encouraging 3 " slugs for a new shooter.
He is just stating the fact that trap loads are at the bottom of the "recoil like a mofo list".

Greg it sounds like the 870 fits you pretty good.
 
The recoil was nothing when I was shooting. I've heard alot of stories about people hurting themselves so I was nervous the 1st time. From what I've read I think my 1st gun should be an "all around" pump or semi. Then I'll prob end up buying something else next week. Goodbye bank account.
 
ben hunchak said:
The person who posted was asking about trap guns.....he was also not asking for as much recoil as possible!!
Click to expand...

The person who posted also said he thought shotguns recoil like a mofo; "mofo" is short for "Mother Fu*Ker" - As the shooter is new to shotguns I was just pointing out that shotguns can recoil like a "mofo" depending on what's being shot out of them.

I don't think anyone here would ever suggest shooting trap with slugs - relax :rolleyes:
 
19 out of 25 first time out ... 76 percent.

I'd say you answered your own question about how good that 870 is.
You do your part - it will do it's !!!

Welcome aboard. No go shoot loads more shells !!!

A little practice you'll be up in the 20's and looking for a 25 straight in no time.
 
I'm sold on the 870. I'm gonna grab a new 870 combo A.S.A.P. (being about 4-6 weeks). You can get a combo brand new for under $500 in a store so I think that would be the best cheapest place for me to start. Can't wait to try a slug!
 
Gentlemen:

If I may offer some advice. I to went through the same situation you are in and leaned a few things.

Fist in my opinion, believe there is no better first shot gun then an 870 Wingmaster. This is also a great gun to get started in Trap with. It the type of gun that can grow with you, as you grow in experience. There are so many parts and options that you can configure the gun to whatever you want.

Further, a lot of guys get hung up on “NEEDING” to have one with a 3" chamber, but to date 99% of my shooting has been with 2.75 shells, and I have owned both chamber sizes. Further, if cost is and issue, one can generally pick up a good used WM with 2.75 chamber for around $250 to 300. These guns are usually miles ahead of the express in terms of machining and smoothness of action.

When I started trap, I used a standard 12 gauge 870 Wingmaster with a 2.75 chamber and a 30" fixed modified choke. I shot that for about a year. Then I reached a plateau in my shooting level, and thought that a proper Trap butt stock would help. (They have a higher comb for a better cheek weld). So I got one, and I picked up another bird or two consistently. I started shooting handi-cap and wanted more choke flexibility. So I sold my barrel and picked up a 30" vent rib barrel, with front & mid beads and Rem chokes (read screw-in choke tubes)in full, modified and improved cylinder. Now I could use a more open choke for 16 yards, and a tighter one for further back.

I found my concentration was wandering, and needed to focus better. So I bought an extra full turkey choke tube, here on the board, and used it @ 16 yards for training purposes. With this choke you really have to concentrate, because just a minor lapse will cause a miss.

I wanted to shoot doubles and had some success. I decided I wanted a Fatter and longer pump grip that would allow more flexibility where to position my front hand, and fill the hand better. So I looked and bought one off the board. I got to a point where I was shooing 41 out of 50 with that gun.

Further, there are a lot of top trap shooters using “release triggers”. These are triggers that fire not when you pull the trigger, but when you release it. Many shooters that have developed a bad flinch find this type of trigger helpful in curing it. Well I got nosing around, an low and behold, I found a release trigger group for my 870 as well.

In certain light conditions, I was haveing issues seeing my front bead, so I just picked up one of those fiber optic beads that are held to the rib magnetically, and off to the races I went

So as you see, the 870 is defiantly a flexible, durable shotgun.

I hope this helps, and if I can be of further assistance, please let me know.

Regards and all the best

R
 
Last edited:
nice thing about a 870 is that you can make it into just about anything. like my 870. I think it was originally a trap gun for the previous owner. Then it was used for deer (rifled barrel and smoothbore), ducks and turkey. Now I have a 12.5 on it with a pistol grip buttstock.
If you want to try some shotguns (cheap shotguns), I have a few around. Stoger sxs, benelli nova, 2 870s, and a few others. 870's go for alot on the EE but other guns that would work just fine for trap go relatively inexpensive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom