Tell me about skeet/trap/sporting clays guns

[TheFrenchCanadian]

Over the years, I've done my share of bird hunting (migratory and upland) with my old beat up Remington 870 12ga. Recently I've discovered trap shooting, & I'm really enjoying it.

A buddy of mine bought a 12ga O/U Baikal w/extractors not too long ago, & I find it much better to use on the range than my pump action. I'm starting to think about getting one of my own (exclusively for range use, not for hunting), and have a few questions. I'm thinking of getting something in the $500 - $1000 range, with screw-out chokes, single selectable trigger & a vent rib barrel.

Now, on to the questions!

1. 12gA vs. 20ga: How effective is 20ga compared to 12ga when it comes to shooting clays? Do they pattern differently or are they pretty much the same? My wife wants to try shooting trap, & I pretty much know that 12ga recoil will turn her off, but what's 20ga recoil like? What about ammo selection & availability?

2. Extractors vs. ejectors: I find the extractors on the Baikal nice, 'cause I'm lazy, & I don't have to bend down to clean up the range ! I noticed ejectors are a lot more money (roughly $150 or so...), since I won't be using this gun for hunting, is there a need for ejectors? Are there any shotgun shoots where you need more than 2 shots on the range?

3. Trigger configuration: I like the select-fire single trigger & I think that's what I want, but I realise that it's more complex that a double trigger. How much more of a hassle is it to shoot with double triggers?

If you feel I've missed anything, feel free to suggest it - any other advice given will be glady considered!

Thanks all!
TFC

 

[Mike Oxbig]

Been pondering the same questions myself as i now have a clay thrower and only a pump 12gauge.
Me thinks i'll subscribe to this one.
Can't help but wonder if this would have been a better question posed in the "sporting clays" section?

 

[TheFrenchCanadian]

...Can't help but wonder if this would have been a better question posed in the "sporting clays" section?

Yeah, maybe you're right... Mods, would you mind relocating this one for me??

Thanks!
TFC

 

[straightshooter]

Can't help but wonder if this would have been a better question posed in the "sporting clays" section?

No doubt about that - more likely to have the right people see it there.

I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to the clay sports, but I have shot trap and sporting clays for years. I'll offer my 2-bits worth and no doubt others will add to it.

12 vs. 20 guage. For competition shooting, I'd recommend 12 guage. While both 12 an 20 are well suited to clay sports, depending on the load used, you may have more pellets in the air with a 12 ga round. The pattern that you'll get depends on several factors, the most influential being probably the choke selection. For your wife, a 20 ga is a good idea. Be careful, though. Felt recoil is a factor of the load/charge versus the weight of the gun. A heavy game load fired from a lightweight 20 ga will kick harder than a heavy game load fired through a heavy 12 ga. Ammo selection is second only to 12 ga in most areas and is usually only a very slight premium over the same ammo in 12 ga..

I've never seen a situation where ejectors are necessary for clays (although they'd be handy if you were playing a game where fast reloads are an advantage). Many clubs have a rule where, if a hull hits the ground, it belongs to the club. If you reload and you want to keep your hulls, extractors would be an advantage. Otherwise, it's pretty much a preference thing.

Both single and double triggers are learned muscle memory. Old habits die hard. Whichever one you're most accustomed to will probably be your preference. I shoot both. Most shooters will tell you that single selective is best for clays. Personally, I don't think there's a great deal of difference, except in serious competition. If you think there's a chance that you'll get into competitive shooting, chances are extremely good that you'll want a Beretta or a Krieghoff U/O. Why? Because they're reliable and can take the high volume of shots without excessive breakdowns (but so can lots of other makes) and, more importantly, because many of the other competitors will have them. In the heat of competition, if your trigger group fails, you can replace it quickly and easily AND you can borrow one from another shooter in a pinch. If you don't intend to shoot competitively, don't worry about it. Buy whatever make and config feels comfortable to you.

SS

 

[Claybuster]

Good answers from straightshooter. I agree that 12 gauge is preferable for the reasons he mentioned.

Extractors do just as well as ejectors for all clay shooting with the exception of a couple of very esoteric, fun type games like flurries. My guns have ejectors but rarely are the shells ejected to the ground because I reload and at our club they ask you not to leave hulls on the ground.

A double trigger is a great choice in the field because of instant choke selection but on a clays gun they are rarely seen. A single trigger, either selective or non-selective, is the usual choice.

The Baikal is a stout, solid gun but in the $1,000 range I'd be keeping my eyes open for a used o/u, perhaps a Browning, Beretta or Winchester. Clay target shooters are often fickle about their guns and frequently good used ones are for sale. And no matter what gun you buy first, it probably won't be your last.

Welcome to the addiction.

 

[mctonyb]

I'll offer some advise being that I have not been shooting clays that long and was in the same boat as you.

Firstly, the O/U is definately a better gun at the range then a pump or a semi. Depending on your club, you might/might not have to pick up your spent hulls. The O/U with extractors is easily the best choice here. My O/U has ejectors but I simply keep my hand over the spent shells and "catch them" for lack of a better term as soon as I break the gun and put them in my pouch. If cleaning up after yourself is not a rule at the club, then the semi is a good choice too. You can find a semi with removable chokes for a lot less than an O/U.

Another good thing about an O/U is you can pretty much shoot whatever load you want in it. Buy some heavy 1 1/8oz shells when you start off to get lots of lead in the air. And in the future when you want to shoot more, but with a lighter load, get some AA's or even the reduced-recoil/noise and shoot them too. Unless the O/U has an inertia trigger you can shoot whatever load no problem (chances are if it's a cheaper gun I'd say it would have a mechanical trigger).

With a semi you have to be more precise with the load type. Most cheap semi's won't cycle a light load and you'll be forced to only shoot singles all day. For example, my semi doesn't like anything less than 1oz with a decent dram. Also, a semi means you have to go collect all your hulls after a round (if your club requires it).

A pump, well, would work. You'd just have to be quick on the pumps (and steady) for the doubles.

I could probably ramble on some more, but I think you get my drift. There's pro's and cons to each gun, buy the best one you can afford.

FYI, I like shooting my heavy semi the most. Weird.

 

[ben hunchak]

You mentioned that your wife might like to try trap or skeet/sptg. clays......If it were me i would go with a 12 ga. semi. such as a Beretta(gas operated). Being gas oper. it will cut down on the recoil and in 12ga. it should be easier to hit with for the new shooters.

 

[Claybuster]

Unless the O/U has an inertia trigger you can shoot whatever load no problem (chances are if it's a cheaper gun I'd say it would have a mechanical trigger).

Both types are found in guns in all price ranges. Inertia triggers (ones that need the recoil of the first shot to reset the trigger for the second shot) are generally simpler to build and have fewer moving parts. I've owned both types and of the inertia trigger guns only had one, a Beretta, that wouldn't work with the Winchester Low Noise-Low Recoil.

Most cheap semi's won't cycle a light load and you'll be forced to only shoot singles all day. For example, my semi doesn't like anything less than 1oz with a decent dram.

What type of semi is it? The recoil operated guns like the Benelli or Stoeger are a bit less accomodating about shells. But the gas guns, notably the Beretta 391 and to a lesser extent the Browning Gold, are very tolerant of light loads. My Beretta 391 Sporting shoots a 7/8 ounce handload at 1150fps with no hang ups.

 

[Grouse Man]

The above comments are all on target.

Keep your eyes open for a used name brand O/U, they're in the exchange regularly. Nothing wrong with a gas gun, though. My wife shoots a 20 ga. 1100 and it's an absolute pussycat.

Another thing to think of is that there are a lot of beautiful older semi guns which have really lost value as hunting guns if they have 2-3/4" chambers, fixed chokes, and can't shoot steel. Browning A5 or Double Auto, Beretta 300 series, Winchester Super X-1, etc., have had their day in the sun. But they would still make a nice clays gun. Ream the Full choke out to about Imp Mod and you'll have a nice clays gun. If you get a really good deal on one you could afford to have choke tubes installed.

 

[gth]

Another thing to think of is that there are a lot of beautiful older semi guns which have really lost value as hunting guns if they have 2-3/4" chambers, fixed chokes, and can't shoot steel. Browning A5 or Double Auto, Beretta 300 series, Winchester Super X-1, etc., have had their day in the sun. But they would still make a nice clays gun. Ream the Full choke out to about Imp Mod and you'll have a nice clays gun. If you get a really good deal on one you could afford to have choke tubes installed.

Good point.

There are a ton of these older hunting semi's out there too and at a reasonable price if you know where to look. A good used 1100 could be had for likely around $300. Easy to find parts for and likely last a lifetime.

An 1100 is not out of place in any of the clays games, A shell catcher would be a bonus for trap shooting though.


No need to rush into a 20 ga. If you get into skeet 20ga will come later, so will a 28, 410.