I got laughed at the other day...

[sallen]

When I want to test out a new (or old) gun, I usually bring it out to the trap range, shoot a couple of shells, and if all seems okay, I’ll shoot a round of trap. Needless to say the guns don’t always fit in. I was testing a Winchester Model 1897 (circa 1902) for use as my cowboy action gun. At the time I was consistently hitting between 18-20 birds on trap, with my O/U. My test round netted me a 22, and this instantly became my trap gun. Two months later I broke my first 25 with it. It’s an old rusted gun that someone had carved his initials into years ago. I’ll occasionally complement some of the guys with the high end guns, mention that it would be a shame if a nice gun like that went missing, and offer them use of my dremel tool so they can engrave their initials on the receiver.

They are use to me by now, but I did bring up a tactical configuration with a red dot, and shot a round with that. No one said a discouraging word, but several wanted to try it out to see how it worked.

The only remark that I’ve had a couple of times was from the same shooter who asked about going out after to hold up a 7/11. I was using a Winchester Defender for skeet, which happened to be the only open choked shotgun that I owned.

I’m thinking about getting one of those 8.5” barrels to see how that will work as my new skeet gun.

 

[Ken The Kanuck]

Always have fun with a great bunch of guys when I go shooting at PoCo.

Mind you we have strict dress requirements ( mind you I'm a pretty snappy dresser and many like to try and ape my flair ) and it is considered a serious faux de paux not to bring a gun bearer. And the bearer should be suitably attired in the Raja style.

KTK

 

[Win/64]

Always have fun with a great bunch of guys when I go shooting at PoCo.

Mind you we have strict dress requirements ( mind you I'm a pretty snappy dresser and many like to try and ape my flair ) and it is considered a serious faux de paux not to bring a gun bearer. And the bearer should be suitably attired in the Raja style.

KTK

You must be a skeet shooter. They tend to wear "skirts".

 

[catnthehatt]

I used to shoot a lot of Trap. With a very nice Rem. Model 31 Trap. Probably one of the nicest pump guns ever made. A lot of Trap shooters today just seem to frown on Pump Guns. And yes there is a lot of "look what I have attitude" on the Trap Range.

One of the problemns I have encountered with our voice release traps is that
my son's custom 870 and my old M12 tend to set off the birds if our pick ups are not pointed away from the guns!
Other than that, no one laughs at the "corn sheller crowd" at our club.

Cat

 

[Skip]

I suck at trap and skeet because I rarely do it. And I rarely do it because, frankly, I feel somewhat inadequate about my competency at it when I'm on the line, even when the range is in "casual" mode, which is likely most of the time. Partly all of this comes about because of the lack of time I have to get out as often as I would like.
Interestingly, as an "old guy", I find folks generally less welcoming than might be the case if I were a youngster. Maybe its just my perception, maybe its because I should know how to do this by now
I know that it creates a self-defeating circle.
Clubs who truly wish to attract new blood to clay sports would do well to have something like a bi-weekly "down on the farm" night, where shooters can bring whatever they want to try just for the heck of it - leave the Perazzis at home. Provide a regular venue where a newbie can bring what he has and go have fun without feeling like he's dragging the team down by being there with what he has.
Most guys who've never tried it have no idea what they'll be able to do. Not everybody gets off on being publicly embarrassed (legitimately or not) on their first try. I wonder how many went away and never came back because they couldn't find the "niche" they needed to get over their shyness and ramp up their skills some. Its intimidating as hell having the line monitor yell "miss" and mark you down for a goose-egg all the way through the round... not a confidence builder...

Trap clubs could do their members a service I think by setting up a simple single station thrower (manual or whatever) apart from the formal lines, where newbies could work the kinks and comforts out before joining the regularly scheduled folks. Certainly, its something I would use, mostly to work out issues with the gun and me, so that when I was up on the line I didn't feel like village idiot (even if I shoot like him)

 

[Kenny]

Skip ,,At our club you can shoot what ever you bring. How serious you are about becoming a good trap shoot is reflected by what you shoot. It does not need to be a expensive gun, I know guy that smash targets with great regularity, with a 870.
I really don't see the problem here. If you show up to shoot trap with a assault gun, so are going to find that funny.
If I show up to a tactical shoot with my trap gun same percentage of people would find that funny.
I mean no high capacity mags, no heat shields, and no place to mount a bayonet. No pistol grip stock, and couldn't find a rocket launcher for it.

"Sorry about that just my febble attempt at humour"
What ever your discipline is, shoot often, shoot safely, and have fun

 

[THEGDB]

good post all good post, im now 2 months into trap shooting and have shot 6 out of the last 8 weeks my high score is a 22 . i have been using various shotguns from various people and I think im gonna go with a stoeger sporting competion over under . the price is right for my 1st trap gun at 700 dollars and i like the looks . anyone ever use or own this gun any comments on it?
THEGDB

 

[Assyrian]

..........I think im gonna go with a stoeger sporting competion over under . the price is right for my 1st trap gun at 700 dollars and i like the looks . anyone ever use or own this gun any comments on it?
THEGDB

Qik..Run and Buy it before you are told anything under $2000 is garbage

 

[Claybuster]

I think im gonna go with a stoeger sporting competion over under . the price is right for my 1st trap gun at 700 dollars and i like the looks . anyone ever use or own this gun any comments on it?
THEGDB

There is a thread in another forum that might be helpful to you. It would explain the comments from Assyrian.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=160151

I think you can do better than the Stoeger in that price range. The Stoegers aren't particularly well made and don't stand up to high volume shooting as well as other guns.

Consider used guns. Trapshooters are notoriously fickle and often guns with a lot of life left in them are sold because the owner has a desire for something new.

If you are shooting only trap singles I'd suggest a Remington 870. They can be had for well under $700 on the used market. If shooting doubles then a used Remington 1100 would be worth considering. They are both proven guns that will stand up.

Don't be in too much of a hurry to buy an o/u. Make the investment in practice targets and shooting instruction. In the long run it will make you a better shooter.

 

[Kenny]

Stoegers

Yep a used 870 trap is far better gun that a new Stoegers 0/U.
But if you have your mind made up I can hook you up with someone who has one for sale only seen about 500 trap loads.
The only decent shot gun made by Stoegers is thier model 2000 auto loader. and they acomplished this by using the Benelli action.
Maybe they should have struck up a deal to copy the Citori or Beretta action, in thier O/Us

 

[tommyg]

Grouse Man ,,well written I could not agree more.
Just wondered what you would expected showing up to shoot trap with tactical gun
Likely the same as showing up at a rolling thunder bowling pin shoot with a 30 " trap gun.

yea but at the pin shoot they'd want you to stop knockin' the pins over with the barrel without firin' a shot....lol

 

[THEGDB]

I like the 870 alot my friend has one and he uses it for trap , the only thing is I like to shoot doubles and singles , im gonna nose around a little i have a grand put aside now for my gun so i think im gonna see if i can get a used higher grade over under , gonna pass on the stoeger . semis are nice but i like the over under guns better I seem to shoot better with em LOL. Thanks for the advice
THEGDB

 

[THEGDB]

we had our local turkey shoot today and i did get a chance to try a stoeger over under and i liked the gun the owner has put about 2,000-2,500 rounds into it with no problems . I think i am going to get one of these for now , but will keep an eye out for a used citori apparently if you wait on a used one you will be waiting awhile so im gonna use the stoeger for now.thanks all for your opinions and advice.
THEGDB