Ithaca Conversion

[LMWIS]

I have never shot clays before, and would like to give it a try.

I currently have an Ithaca M87 DS Police Special with a 14 1/2" bbl. Yeah I know it would be a lousy sporting clay gun, but the bbl's on this model are interchangable.
That said, would it be better to get a second bbl fitted, or simply get an entirely new shotgun?

(I am not a rich man...,)

 

[jewman22]

you might have some luck on the skeet field, however if you wish to shoot trap or sporting clays, you might want a new shotgun. A new Barrel for trap will work, provided you get the right choke.

I have used short barrel pump guns on skeet and do just fine, But trap will require a longer barrel (preferably 28" or longer) with a IM or Full choke.

And sporting clays can be more of a personal preference game for barrel lengths, but removable chokes are a must.

hope this helps. Good luck

 

[Beretta687EELL]

Short barrels are very noisy on the line. Will your gun break clay targets, yes. I suggest you look for a nice lightly used old Remington 1100 or a Winchester Super X-1. Warning ... clays will become a passion.

 

[Sapper33]

And sporting clays can ... but removable chokes are a must.

This it's a terrible stereotype that needs to stop being perpetuated! A fixed IC/Mod gun is a fantastic thing.

On to the original issue:
Go try shooting clays before you spend any money. But don't be it would be best to hanger the expectation of buying a new gun. Just like anything, trying to be good at everything, typically means never excelling at anything. If you like your gun now, don't mess with it.

 

[Covey Ridge]

If you are talking about shooting informal targets from a portable or hand thrower, give it a try with what you have. If you are talking about trap skeet or sporting clays a different gun than you have would be better. Before you decide what to buy, try to wrangle and invite to a club in your area that throws the type of target you are interested in. When I invite a newbie to show them the games, I never expect them to have their own firearm the first time. I usually suppy or take them to a place where they can try a few. BTW there are lots of firearms without tubes that work fine for trap, skeet and sporting clays.

 

[Covey Ridge]

This it's a terrible stereotype that needs to stop being perpetuated!

I do not think of it as a stereotype but I agree that the idea what one must have removable tubes probably keeps many from trying a sport that is a lot of fun. With the exception of world class or national events most sporting courses can be shot quite well with a hunting gun. I would bet that many targets are missed when the shooter is thinking about choke choice and would have been scored if focus would have been on the target.