So I've decided I like

Plink

Plink

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Busting clays...... :D

Tired it a few times early this year, but then service rifle season over took me and, well, I never tried it again... UNTIL... SR season was done.

So, I bought a decent clay chucker (Trius 1 step) some clays and some 7 1/2 shells.

Using a Remington 870 with a 28 inch barrel, no choke as of yet, just cylinder bore.

My neighbor and I went at it last weekend and it was a boat load of fun out in the back 40 here. However, my leading of the clays leaves a lot to be desired. Probably hitting 3 out of 5. And once they get out past about 30 yards, I miss them entirely.

Questions:
Choke selection; thoughts on what I should use for a choke?
Leading; any pearls of wisdom ie. clay is going straight away from you, straight across etc.
Any other considerations??

Not looking to be a Tom Knapp, just want to have some fun in the backyard.

I have found some generic stuff on the net, but would rather have some insight from folks here that do this on a regular basis.

Cheers.
 
It is fun ain't it?! But beware, it's can be an infectious disease...

The 870 is a great shotgun to be starting clay shooting with. My advice is to shop around and find a VR (Vent Rib) barrel (of a suitable length for you) that has the RemChoke. If you purchase it new, they generally come with 3 chokes in the box, (Imp Cyl, Mod and a Full). With the Cyl choke barrel your using now, you gotta to get on that bird quick. A tighter choke will reach further and make you a better shot as well, start with a Mod. Then try a few shots on a pattern board (I pattern test at 15 yds) to get an idea of where your POI is and have at it.

Good luck and good shooting to you!!
 
it's a blast for sure :D

it was an every weekend thing when I was a kid thanks to Uncle Gunnut ;)

that 870 will be a full or mod choke already if you haven't sawed the barrel off
it should be stamped on the barrel...iirc right side by the receiver...
 
BrotherRockeye said:
it's a blast for sure :D

it was an every weekend thing when I was a kid thanks to Uncle Gunnut ;)

that 870 will be a full or mod choke already if you haven't sawed the barrel off
it should be stamped on the barrel...iirc right side by the receiver...
Click to expand...


Actually, it has a screw in choke, which I thought was cylinder bore.. ?? Let me check. Came with a dinky little wrench as well.

So, all I need is a new choke.


It certainly is a fun sport and something you can easily spend an hour doing without realizing it's been more than 10 minutes. :D
 
Crossing shots the lead is not hard. Notice the flight line of the target and swing thro it to sustain the lead pull trigger. The speed and distance effect lead. Straight away shots I like to blast em quick and get the smoke cloud but if you wait you will see it crest that's the time to shoot it in the ass. Once they start dropping its all gravity so you have to aim lower.
 
Gotta love busting clays!

Just started doing it some this year, lots of fun! I recently purchased a rem 870 express, with an 18" bbl and 2 rd mag extension. No choke, just cylinder bore. Took it out the first time yesterday to try busting some clays with it, and did surprisingly well. We were just using a hand thrower, but after a couple of mags of nailing the clays I started to wait until they were really getting out there, and was still busting them with ease! We started tossing two clays at a time, and had a success ratio of about 75% with two clays. I was really surprised that a short barreled shotgun with no choke would fair that well.

I have shot a few different shotguns with clay and trap, from $300 870 expresses to $4000+ Italian trap guns with all the bells and whistles. I myself don't notice a difference in my ability to nail clays with the different shotguns, for me it is just getting used to how the shotgun shoots (POI wise), and getting used to driving that particular shotgun on target, they all swing slightly differently. I think that makes more of a difference then the choke does IMO.

With that said, I haven't taken my 870 to the trap club yet, and that will be the true test. I came in third in my schools trap shoot (amateur division, only 1 shot away from 1st place) with a borrowed $4000+ Italian trap gun. I'm hoping to take my 870 to the trap club this spring, and I really won't be surprised if I shoot just as good of scores with it as I did with that $4000+ scattergun.

P.S - how do you like that trius 1 thrower? That looks pretty handy to have, and its not at a bad price.
 
brybenn said:
Crossing shots the lead is not hard. Notice the flight line of the target and swing thro it to sustain the lead pull trigger. The speed and distance effect lead. Straight away shots I like to blast em quick and get the smoke cloud but if you wait you will see it crest that's the time to shoot it in the ass. Once they start dropping its all gravity so you have to aim lower.
Click to expand...

It is probably a good idea not to wait until the bird is falling before taking the shot because it is a difficult shot. This is doubly so with a trap gun, not necessarily what we are talking about here, of course, because most are set to shoot high. I find the same thing in skeet if I don't catch the first shot on a double quickly enough and the second bird is dropping a bit. Speaking of doubles, it just occurred to me that it might not be a bad idea to learn to take the shot fairly quickly in trap because it will give you a leg up for doubles where you definitely want to take your first shot quickly. All that being said, probably nothing should be rushed when shooting either. I guess that is what all the practice is about;).
 
If your 870 is a VR with only 1 choke that choke should be a modified choke so you are okay. Most of them when they only came with 1 were a modified.
 
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