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I have shot "Sporting Clay's" a few times and just loved it. I love Semi Auto's but am not sure it's the right gun for the game (as I reload). So what are the top shooters using? I presume U/O's. And are removable Chokes absolutely necessary? Would Sk/Sk work ok? Or would I be under choked on certain stations?
 
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If you love semi's, why not a Benelli like Tom Knapp.

Check out the Benelli Supersports.

As far as chokes go, they are handy, but I've also seen good shooter go all day without changing the choke, but changing ammo. I would recommend havingscrew in chokes. I know I change mine around a bit, but usually from skeet, ic and mod. Plus in most of the sporting claycourses I've been to there is a long station where thefull is neccesary.

I started with an 11-87,
Then had to go over/under like everyone else and tried a Browning cynergy and then a Winchester Select Platnum.
Then I bought a Benelli sbeII for hunting. I like it so much I sold the others off and use the sbeII for everything.
 
I certainly wouldn't want to shoot sporting clays without removable choke tubes, most of the courses have everything from rabbits at a few paces to ducks high overhead, etc.
 
There is some beautifil dedicated sporting clays guns out there now like the eurosporting and the golden clays. Never used the supersport benelli but I've seen them used and they seem wonderful. Very expensive too with them well over $2000 last I checked?
 
frenchyguy said:
or a nice 8.5 inch grizzly.
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We didn't really need another example of why there is a second shotgun forum for the tactical tonys but thanks anyway. :rolleyes:

As for the original question a fixed SK/SK gun might have worked a few years ago at sporting clays but most courses have gone to longer targets. These days I'm shooting LM/LM for most courses and rarely use the more open chokes.

The semi does make hull retrieval more challenging. When I shoot my semi it's usually with the hulls that are at the end of their life or with Challengers. Most squads will wait while you pick up your hulls. Also where I shoot there is often a nice selection of once fired AAHS in the hull barrels. Dumpster diving is no sin. ;)

But regardless which gun you use get out and give it a try. It is a very different game from trap and skeet. More frustrating in many ways, more satisfying in others.
 
Most important of all,is that the gun fits you.If a shotgun doesn't fit,your shooting will suffer.I like o/u guns myself for shooting clay targets,but as far as semi autos go,I am really impressed with the new Browning Maxus.I have not shot trap in over 20 years,but a fellow from the shooting club lent me his Maxus,and I broke 20 out of 25 at wobble trap,last Sunday.
 
Win/64 said:
I have shot "Sporting Clay's" a few times and just loved it.
So what are the top shooters using? I presume U/O's.

And are removable Chokes absolutely necessary?

Or would I be under choked on certain stations?
Click to expand...


there are few guys at the local range here in Richmond that have one or three special loads for those Special Stations too ;)
When I say Special Load it is not a hunting load, but either a 1-1/10 ounce or an 1-1/8 in a different shot size.
There is something about different shot sizes at different ranges that mimic a different choke.
It is all about fun and you shouldnt beat yourself up to bad ...that is untill you start hitting 48 or 49 on a regular basis and by then you likely will know a thing or two more than me ;)
Check out a patterning board and prove it to yourself.
Enjoy,
Rob
 
Top shooters here at Oshawa skeet and gun club are using o/u's that are over 8lbs to suck up the recoil they have 32 inch barrels and all with removable choke tubes.The makes are Brownings,Beretta (DT10),Perazzi,Renato Gamba and the going trend is Krieghoff.But dont let
these high priced guns stop you from taking part in a great sport a good gas pipe for the sport is a beretta 391 sporting or the benelli.If you reload you can load lighter kicking shells with lower presure with good velocity if you shoot a light o/u under 8lbs.Remember you are going to shoot more than 100 shells a day at a sporting clay shoot.And about the skeet chokes as a one time ex Canadian Sporting Clays Champion once said to me leave them for the skeet field.
 
Appropriate chokes may depend on where you shoot. I use skeet chokes quite often for the courses set up by the Saskatoon club, we seem to have a lot of close fast targets where skeet choke is appropriate. I am only moderately skilled at sporting clays but have seldom needed to change chokes if I put in a skeet and a modified. I wouldn't feel very handicapped with a single barrel choked IC.
 
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