New to trap, looking for advice
- Thread starter DRJS
- Start date
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
One thing that you are going to come to realize in time. There is no such thing as one gun does all. Different disciplines demand different guns. They are made for the intended discipline for a reason. So many factors come into play it would take a book to describe it but suffice it to say, if you want to shoot trap on a regular basis buy a trap gun. If you want to shoot skeet on a regular basis get a dedicated skeet gun, for 3 gun or action games use a dedicated games gun. If all you want to do is shoot occasionally then try to find something you feel confident with but if you think you may go into a discipline seriously do not short change yourself by not using a discipline specific gun.
^^^^ This !!!
As soon as I got my PAL/RPAL just recently, I bought a cheap 870 28" bbl (because it was cheap, because I am cheap, because it had a $30 rebate, and because if it's broken in the future, I have good reason to get a new shotgun and the wife won't argue _much_), and a few flats of Challenger target loads.
I did try shouldering an 870, a Benelli Nova and SuperNova, and a Browning BPS, and found that although the Novas shoulder the best (to me), I can't justify the price for the little added comfy.
Shot 2 rounds of trap for the first time last Saturday at Silverdale, missed a lot of birds, but I know it was all me and with practice I can get better. At the moment just trying to have fun and learn the game, but I know now that it could be addictive!
HTH!
Maritime Storm
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Riverview, NB
Here's my story, take it for what it's worth. When I was 14, I was blessed with being in the right place at the right time to be introduced to trap and skeet. My mother's boss at the time was the president of the local gun club, as a birthday present I got slightly used 870 Wingmaster combo(about mid-seventies build) and offered a job as a trap boy at the club for events. Naturally one watches for a length of time before the bug bites, and have you to try the game. Like everyone of us, I couldn't hit squat the first few times out. I knew little about gun fit, or patterns. The more I shot, the more I learned, the more I listened to well meaning individuals who felt I needed the latest Perazzi, or Beretta 686EELL to hit clay targets. Buying into some of that, and not having the means to step up to the Perazzi, I sent that Remington off to the local smith, had the barrel threaded for screw in chokes(you can't shoot trap with a modified choke afterall I was told) ordered in a couple of cases of Federal Paper 1 1/8Oz skeet loads. Results, I won E-class in trap that year. The next year something in Sporting Clays magazine convinced to head to a pattern board, POI was off almost a foot and half low at 30yrds. The gun didn't fit, knowing that I knew I could do no better with it. It also had a dislike for reloads. 2 serious dents in it armour it had to go. I traded the gun for a nice old Neumann Bros SXS, I realized later monetary wise I got short end of the stick. 30" barrels, Full/Full and 25yrds 1 1/8 loads threw and 18" pattern, little tight for skeet but here's the kicker the patterns were just above center. Back to the smith, shorten the barrels to 26", that's when he points out proof marks, nitro and black powder proofs on this gun. I reload, so I did the next logical thing, dug info on loading black powder loads. 1Oz of #71/2 over 65gr of FFG in a Federal Paper hull was magic in the gun, first round of Skeet shot a 22, shot a 20 in Trap same day with cyl. bore. Whereas, you can imagine what came next, that inexpensive old girl wasn't built for any amount of target shooting, after a few years, it became a wallhanger. I simply wore it out. Some inexpensive guns aren't made for the durability range work requires. The next shotgun I came accross to fit like a glove, was a surprise to me, I picked a new H&R Pardner for bird season about 5 years ago, returning to simpler things if you will. As is now standard practice for me, the first thing I did was to pattern it, choked modified it prints a nice just above center 22" pattern at 30yrds. Now realizing I may have something of note here, I ordered a second, this time 32" Full choke, POI is exactly same place and size, except at 40yrds. It creates wonderful inkballs at the trap field, it is reasonably pleasant to shoot, and I shoot it well being a twin to my principle hunting gun it creates no issue on either field. The moral of this long story is real simple, the lawyer or doctor beside you may have $10K to dump on a Kriegoff, but you don't need a Kriegoff to outshoot him, gun fit is far more important than the name on the side of that gun. Providing it is of a decent quality(to hold up to work it will do) and it fits you'll hit targets. Someone on here recommended against a 870 Remington, my advice is simple, IF a 870 Remington fits you well, buy one and shoot trap with it. If you can afford a Beretta 686 or a BT-99 and it fits you even better, but don't feel you have to spend a fortune to play this game. Afterall, Trap and Skeet were created to help hunters practice in the off season. No one on this or any other board should discrourage you from any of the shooting principles. Practice in the off season provide a more effective and humane way of putting birds on the table during hunting season. We need more hunters on the Skeet and Trap field on this country.
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Maritime Storm
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Riverview, NB
Westward summed it nicely, I shot a 63 IIRC that day. I said to Ma's Boss when he said I won E-Class, "Is that good or bad?" "Bad, but you get a prize". I don't claim to be Jon Kruger or Smoker Smith be any means, I typically post in the low-90's high-80's. I shoot with some good shots on occasion, 1 shoots a K-80, 1 shoots a 870 Remington Express, the other shoots a BT-99 on the trap field. This club hosts a sporting clays fun shoot on Boxing Day, it draws in some hunters. The hunters typically don't fair much worse than the target shooters on average. Years ago, I attended one these shoots and this older gentleman came in with a Baikal 43-KH, he missed 2 or 3 of the longer shots with it, and ended the day in 2nd place. This gentleman knew his gun from years of shooting it at game, his son talked into taking in the shoot. It opened a few eyes. Another example I like to point out, is my father. Dad has never in his fired a shot a clay target, yet I've never seen him miss a Grouse on the wing. My father gives me this lecture every year or so near the start of bird season, "A Cape Bretoner needs 3 guns and only 3, a .22LR for Rabbits, a 30-30 Winchester for Deer and a .410 for birds". I usually hear this speech as I pull my 12ga out of it's case to head through backyard at his place. Dad shot, until he stopped hunting, an EL Faisan .410 hammered double, it has a broken and repaired stock(funny story I'm not getting into), it patterns tight and spotty at 25 yrds. Yet I've never seen him miss a shot with it. For Dad that gun works.
- Location
- Mid Vancouver Island
Browning and Beretta O/Us seem to be some of the more popular choices out there.Are there places someone could go and shoot a vast array of shotguns for comparison?
What are the popular shotguns on the market?
Will def. be bringing down a few bottles to the range next time I get the chance
As for where you might go to try out a variety of shotguns, I will second Brent's suggestion below. If you're from Nanaimo, it's not a long trip to the Courtenay range. Thursdays and Sundays starting at 10am. Lots of active shooters at our club, and I'm pretty sure most people would let you try their gun. Maybe steer clear of the higher end guns (Krieghoffs and Kolars), lest you find yourself falling in love with a gun that will cost you $firstborn.
Quoted for Truth. Edited for clarity.
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Maritime Storm
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Riverview, NB
Summoned real simple didn't it.
