New to trap and skeet...
- Thread starter ssyhitomike
- Start date
Depends on your budget really, but I started out with a Mossberg 500. When I got better I upgraded to a Beretta A400.
You don't want anything too light because you will be firing a lot of shells in a short space of time, and a light gun will beat you up.
You don't want anything too light because you will be firing a lot of shells in a short space of time, and a light gun will beat you up.
I echo what the other gentlemen are saying. I just wanted to add, that "shotgun fit" aka "gunfit" is really important when shooting shotgun sports. Think of shooting a rifle with rings that are waayyy too high or too low. A $5000 shotgun that does not fit you well, won't shoot as nice as a $500 that fits like a glove.
I started with $125 single shot cooey, then moved up to a Beretta A400 once i learned that i was crazy addicted to trap lol
I started with $125 single shot cooey, then moved up to a Beretta A400 once i learned that i was crazy addicted to trap lol
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Trap you can start with whatever you have, a basic pump gun with removable chokes is fine.
A beginner will really struggle at skeet with a pump gun. Semis and over/unders are highly recommend. You want a heavy gun, look for models that say "sporting" as opposed to "field". Lots of budget options from Turkey, but if you really want to stick with this sport, the Turkish guns don't tend to hold up with the volume trap/skeet shooters go through. If you want to do both trap and skeet make sure you have removable chokes.
I started with a Browning Citori sporting.
A beginner will really struggle at skeet with a pump gun. Semis and over/unders are highly recommend. You want a heavy gun, look for models that say "sporting" as opposed to "field". Lots of budget options from Turkey, but if you really want to stick with this sport, the Turkish guns don't tend to hold up with the volume trap/skeet shooters go through. If you want to do both trap and skeet make sure you have removable chokes.
I started with a Browning Citori sporting.
as far as the sporting terminology don't get to involved with that
skeet shooting is shooting with a flat shooting gun a field gun so is sporting clays
trap sometimes is shot with a gun that shoot to a point of impact a bit higher but not always depends on your style
Today pumps for skeet is outdated but in the 30's-60's pumps were common place along with cutt's compensators
in that time span there were 100 straits shot with pump guns and some of the best shooters were woman
do some research on the history of skeet shooting
Most of what you will get here is regurgitated internet jargon
Shot trap and skeet from 1973 ish to 1993 ish tournament and recreation shooting
i would shoot 10,000-15,000 rounds in a 6 month time span
i shot semi's pumps and settled on o/u when i got serious
skeet shooting is shooting with a flat shooting gun a field gun so is sporting clays
trap sometimes is shot with a gun that shoot to a point of impact a bit higher but not always depends on your style
Today pumps for skeet is outdated but in the 30's-60's pumps were common place along with cutt's compensators
in that time span there were 100 straits shot with pump guns and some of the best shooters were woman
do some research on the history of skeet shooting
Most of what you will get here is regurgitated internet jargon
Shot trap and skeet from 1973 ish to 1993 ish tournament and recreation shooting
i would shoot 10,000-15,000 rounds in a 6 month time span
i shot semi's pumps and settled on o/u when i got serious
Research shotgun fit, learn what drop at comb and cast are, before you purchase a shotgun. A quick, easy way to get an idea of whether a shotgun fits you, is to close your eyes, then shoulder the gun, and without moving anything else, open your eyes. You should be looking along the rib, not down at it, and it should be centered left to right. A semi auto or O/U are ideal for skeet or trap, but a pump or single shot will work for trap. Go with at least 28" barrels.
Humble yourself look up this name
Carola Mandel
look at her records and look at what she was shooting for shotguns
In this high tech world we focus on what we should buy to be a good shooter but that's not it at all
you will not buy perfection you will earn it
another master shooter
Judy Warden Brown
Carola Mandel
look at her records and look at what she was shooting for shotguns
In this high tech world we focus on what we should buy to be a good shooter but that's not it at all
you will not buy perfection you will earn it
another master shooter
Judy Warden Brown
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It's not about what is required to be a top level shooter, only a very small percentage of most club members will ever earn their 75 or 100 straight patches. It's more about buying a shotgun that will make it easier to learn the game and to shoot to your skill level. Having a shotgun that actually fits the shooter, can make it much easier to learn the game and progress. I have seen shooters that couldn't shoot 20, earn their 25 straight patch the first day they actually shot a shotgun that fit them.
- Location
- South Southern Ontario
Your getting some good advice.
Guns: stick to a 12 gauge most available as there in stock and some clubs sell them.
Semi auto: Mossberg 940 field model, its comes with stock adjustment shims and enough chokes for shotgun sports.
O/U if you can try out of few in stores or at a club but generally stick to the better brands like Browning or Beretta but try as many as you can.
And then you can find more specific guns for each sport, a Browning BT-99 for trap singles and a Browning 725 for trap doubles but a Beretta A400 for skeet and sporting clays.
The sky's the limit .,also budget and if you have a significant other.
Most importantly go to the range and enjoy the shooting sports.
And keep us updated always interested to see what new shooters choose.
Guns: stick to a 12 gauge most available as there in stock and some clubs sell them.
Semi auto: Mossberg 940 field model, its comes with stock adjustment shims and enough chokes for shotgun sports.
O/U if you can try out of few in stores or at a club but generally stick to the better brands like Browning or Beretta but try as many as you can.
And then you can find more specific guns for each sport, a Browning BT-99 for trap singles and a Browning 725 for trap doubles but a Beretta A400 for skeet and sporting clays.
The sky's the limit .,also budget and if you have a significant other.
Most importantly go to the range and enjoy the shooting sports.
And keep us updated always interested to see what new shooters choose.
Wow, some really great advice, thank you.
I'm going to do some more research and try to purchase something that fits me well, and is good quality. I really dont want to regret my purchase. The only issue is I need to have a gun, in order for the course required to join the club. I'm signed up for the course in early March. I have really never once tried either skeet or trap, it's hard to make a purchase of a quality gun when I'm not sure which I prefer...lol
By the responses, I gather that each sport requires a more specific gun. Im going to head to the local gun shop, and start trying out a few guns, and get a feel, I have a few weeks to educate myself better.
I'll keep you updated on my new journey.
Thanks again for the great responses.
I'm going to do some more research and try to purchase something that fits me well, and is good quality. I really dont want to regret my purchase. The only issue is I need to have a gun, in order for the course required to join the club. I'm signed up for the course in early March. I have really never once tried either skeet or trap, it's hard to make a purchase of a quality gun when I'm not sure which I prefer...lol
By the responses, I gather that each sport requires a more specific gun. Im going to head to the local gun shop, and start trying out a few guns, and get a feel, I have a few weeks to educate myself better.
I'll keep you updated on my new journey.
Thanks again for the great responses.
Although yes, each sport has different demands on the gun and shooter, I’d say, just get anything that you can afford and fits. It’s easy to go down the rabbit hole when you’re first getting into clays. I started with a Mossberg 500 shooting trap and skeet. With a pump, you’ll learn to rack that action real quick!
Moved on to a Beretta A303 semi auto.What changed significantly was the balance of the gun. The Beretta had a 26in barrel and was quicker to and more lively feeling when swinging. Not having to think about pumping allowed my mind to focus on leading the target more easily.
Now I primarily use an old over/under woh a 28in barrel. That gun is much lighter in barrel and is even more quick to swing and lively . For many people who shoot clays , there’s a preference to have more weight on the barrels, and it swings better when leading the target.
As I also use the same guns for hunting birds, I don’t have a dedicated sporting/clays gun. Is the gun you’d pick up primarily for clays, or is this also a hunting gun?
As you shoot more you, you will develop your own preferences . Do you currently have a budget in mind for your sporting shotgun?
I will say, that if you are unsure of whether you are going to shoot trap or skeet, a skeet or even a heavier field gun will be more versatile than a trap specific model. A trap gun with a high point of impact, usually makes skeet or sporting clays targets more difficult, than a flatter shooting skeet/sporting clays, or field gun,
Hi all, I'm leaning towards a field gun, with a semi auto action. I have concluded this would be the best route for myself.
Any recommendations in the $1000-1400 range?
It will still require me physically trying it, but I would like to get an idea of what works well in the real world.
Thanks you.
Any recommendations in the $1000-1400 range?
It will still require me physically trying it, but I would like to get an idea of what works well in the real world.
Thanks you.
If you shop around you should be able to find a 3" chambered SX-4, or a used SX-3, or Silver, in that price range.
And while this does help to fine tune fit, it has limitations, to get enough drop with my my A400, the comb angle was too much to be comfortable, and it made cheek position overly critical.
