New to skeet shooting

"A good carpenter doesn't blame his tools" is one way to look at it. But the other side of the same coin is a good carpenter doesn't buy crap tools. There are people who will tell you that unless your gun is $2000 that you shouldn't show up, but I'd say you'd be further ahead by using the shotgun you have and buying $2k worth of shells and getting trigger time in. You won't come first place using a field gun, but it doesn't mean you won't have fun
 
Can you pump fast enough to take 2 shots?

Will you enjoy picking up your shells after each round?

If you try it and like it, guaranteed you will be looking to upgrade at some point.
 
I started skeet with an old Remington 870, it was fine to learn the tricks of the trade and develop good swing techniques but the pump action really killed the mood on doubles but it was 100% fine on the first station with high and lows. After some time I got my hands on my first Remington automaster and used that for a couple months but it was a fixed full choke barrel and made it even more difficult to shoot at the clays. Ended up with allot of tail end hits. After listening to the old timers and getting an O/U shotgun with proper skeet chokes, I'll never go back to anything else.
 
There are a lot of fixed choke, short barreled (26 in), over and under skeet guns on the used market these days, as folks want longer barrels and removeable chokes. You should be able to get a name brand (eg Browning) for a few hundred more than the SXP. However, if you intend to use one shotgun for both hunting and sporting purposes, then the pump is the way to go.
 
I've been shooting shotgun sports for many years and I've yet to hear someone say that you shouldn't show up unless you have a $2000 gun, I'm not saying they don't exist but I don't know anyone who would say that and frankly I wouldn't associate with anyone who did.
That said, the Winchester SPX is a Turkish made gun and fine for occasional use or to try out the shotgun sports. If you decide that you like doing that then you'll probably want a better gun.
 
Falconflyer said:
I've been shooting shotgun sports for many years and I've yet to hear someone say that you shouldn't show up unless you have a $2000 gun, I'm not saying they don't exist but I don't know anyone who would say that and frankly I wouldn't associate with anyone who did.
That said, the Winchester SPX is a Turkish made gun and fine for occasional use or to try out the shotgun sports. If you decide that you like doing that then you'll probably want a better gun.
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Same, I've been shooting skeet 46 years and I've heard lots of good advice to buy a quality firearm for high volume shooting but I've never heard anyone mention a price point. I'm not a tournament skeet shooter but a bird hunter who likes to keep in practice. Most summers I shoot 1000-3000 rds with my field guns I hunt with so that I am familiar with them come hunting season. OP as the saying goes "run what you brung". I've shot many targets with 870's & Model 12's. If nothing else you'll learn to become proficient with a pump. I've shot with a gentleman who has shot nothing but the same 870 since I met him in 1982 and lord knows how long he'd had that gun. I'd say definitely 70's given the checkering and wood. It's a Monte Carlo stocked TB grade with beautiful wood and he has both a 26" skeet barrel and 30" full trap barrel for it. It looks new to this day aside from slide marks on the mag tube. It must have a god awful pile of rounds through it!
 
I've shot plenty of skeet with my SXP. It isn't my primary clay gun but I like the fun of a pump every once in a while. SXP is nice with the "speed pump" bolt which will chuck a shell like a semi with just a little pressure on the slide during a shot. Just need to close the action to take the second target. If you aren't in a big money tournament then who cares if the pump costs you a target or two during a round- you will be having more fun than everyone else- guarantee.

However- would I pick a SXP as my primary skeet gun? A pump probably wouldn't be my first choice- but at the same time it isn't a bad choice. You are likely going to buy a number of shotguns over time so just getting out there with whatever you have is probably the most important. After a few thousand targets you will realize that the cost of the gun is kind of irrelevant as the cost of targets and ammo really adds up... and you will know exactly what you want for the next one.
 
We have a huge variety of shotgun types and gauges at our club. As long as the gun fits, and is reliable, it is fine to learn to shoot skeet. We have had people show up with a shotgun that doesn't function properly, or that was way too big, or had a way too short cut down stock, and that has caused issues. A fixed full choke makes it tough as well, but even that isn't the end of the world to try skeet.
 
I get asked on a regular basis at our club why I shoot my old SxS hammer hunting gun, and why all doubles and call from the low gun position.
My reply is always the same " I don't shoot registered birds, and this is my hunting gun. I shoot skeet to stay in shape for birds, then this is why I call for the bird from the low gun."
Sure , I could shoot higher scores shooting NSSA station birds. from the gun up with a dedicated skeet gun, but that is not why I shoot skeet.
Shoot what you have, and you may possibly get bit by the skeet bug, or maybe just keep shooting your bird gun for fun, it's all good as long as you keep shooting!:d
Cat
 
iron cat said:
I get asked on a regular basis at our club why I shoot my old SxS hammer hunting gun, and why all doubles and call from the low gun position.
My reply is always the same " I don't shoot registered birds, and this is my hunting gun. I shoot skeet to stay in shape for birds, then this is why I call for the bird from the low gun."
Sure , I could shoot higher scores shooting NSSA station birds. from the gun up with a dedicated skeet gun, but that is not why I shoot skeet.
Shoot what you have, and you may possibly get bit by the skeet bug, or maybe just keep shooting your bird gun for fun, it's all good as long as you keep shooting!:d
Cat
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If shooting the highest scores possible, was my only goal, I would be shooting 12 gauge clays guns, and regular skeet, instead of shooting primarily 410 and 28 gauge, and doubles with the 20 gauge. But I enjoy the extra challenge of doubles and sub gauges, so I really don't care if my scores are a bit lower. I actually purchasd a used 20gauge Wingmaster, just to run some clean rounds with a pump, for something different.
 
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