Trap and skeet 12ga. What is the best/your preference and why?

[Mumbles Marble Mouth]

Guys, we need to get past this stigma and thought process that one HAS to have an O/U to shoot skeet. I would never be caught dead telling a new person that they have to an O/U, they need a gun that fits, they need a gun that is durable, they need to learn the fundamentals of the game, they do not need to have a Kreighoff, Perazzi or Kolar to shoot skeet because another member has one. Fit & fundamentals are important, the name on the gun is irrelevant to the target. I've seen people get stuck in this need to have an O/U, sell a decent gun that works for them, and then spend a year trying to figure out why their scores dropped. I recently sold my O/U, found my myself caught in this stigma, I shoot every bit as well my Benelli Nova or Winchester Model 12 as did with my O/U, but I have a heck of a lot more fun doing it. It works for me, if your Beretta 686 Gold or K-80 works for you, great, stick with it. One of my junior members picked-up the sport last fall, saved up his money to pay for his first gun, a Mossberg 500 Bantam 20ga, loads his on shells and regularly beats the pants off his father, who shoots an O/U. He comes out, he great time and more importantly he keeps coming back for more. He is currently averaging low 20's, his best round is a 24, I ain't messing with that. We want to bring more people into the fold, not price them out of the sport.

You can show up with what ever gun you want but the guys with the more expensive gun than yours will leave you wanting to buy one especially if they let you try it and you see what it is you're paying for. Except for Krieghoff. I takes a German to love a Krieghoff.

 

[the spank]

mossberg maverick 88 change out the barrel for choke of preference, fire away. Gun doesn't have to cost $1300 to destroy clays. If you can afford to spend a stupid amount of money on a clay buster, giv'r sh#t.

$1300 is a stupid amount to spend on a gun? What the heck can you buy with any quality for under $1300 nowadays? Nothing, thats what, at least not on a new target gun. You may buy a decent hunting gun for under $1300 but I would like to see what shape it will be in after shooting 5000+ rounds every season year in and year out!!

 

[stubblejumper]

You can show up with what ever gun you want but the guys with the more expensive gun than yours will leave you wanting to buy one especially if they let you try it and you see what it is you're paying for. Except for Krieghoff. I takes a German to love a Krieghoff.

I have shot skeet using various Citori shotguns, but I have also used other people's Krieghoffs, Parazzis, and Berettas and even though I could afford any of them,I shoot the Citori models just as well, and they stand up well to volume shooting, so that is what I continue to use for trap.skeet and sporting clays.

mossberg maverick 88 change out the barrel for choke of preference, fire away. Gun doesn't have to cost $1300 to destroy clays. If you can afford to spend a stupid amount of money on a clay buster, giv'r sh#t.

Use whatever gun that you choose to, but I certainly won't be buying a cheap piece of junk to shoot 5,000 to 10,000 rounds every year at clays.

 

[Claybuster]

One of my junior members picked-up the sport last fall, saved up his money to pay for his first gun, a Mossberg 500 Bantam 20ga, loads his on shells and regularly beats the pants off his father, who shoots an O/U. He comes out, he great time and more importantly he keeps coming back for more. He is currently averaging low 20's, his best round is a 24, I ain't messing with that. We want to bring more people into the fold, not price them out of the sport.

It's only a matter of time in threads like this that someone tells about the shooter with his lowly pump who "regularly beats the pants off" the guy with the fancy o/u.

If dad is regularly getting his ass kicked by a kid shooting in the low 20's then he's not much of a shot.

 

[the spank]

It's only a matter of time in threads like this that someone tells about the shooter with his lowly pump who "regularly beats the pants off" the guy with the fancy o/u.

If dad is regularly getting his ass kicked by a kid shooting in the low 20's then he's not much of a shot.

OMG howling here!! Too funny and too true. Now be prepared for the backlash you elitist!!

 

[stubblejumper]

It's only a matter of time in threads like this that someone tells about the shooter with his lowly pump who "regularly beats the pants off" the guy with the fancy o/u.

If dad is regularly getting his ass kicked by a kid shooting in the low 20's then he's not much of a shot.

If you are losing to someone that is shooting low 20s, then it isn't the fault of your fancy gun, you just aren't very good . On the other hand, I do get more enjoyment out of shooting a clean round of skeet with a SxS field gun, than I do shooting a clean round with my dedicated target guns.

 

[Maritime Storm]

OMG howling here!! Too funny and too true. Now be prepared for the backlash you elitist!!

Elitist? God No, I only shoot B class, with a pump. The point I trying to make, which seems to be lost, you don't have to have an O/U to shoot these games. I would rather see someone spend $1000 on a good new repeater that fits, then $1000 on new O/U that it too light and won't last because they think they need and O/U to shoot skeet. Last thing this sport needs, pushing people away from it, don't believe me, read the Presidents message in this months Clay Target Nation.

 

[Claybuster]

Elitist? God No, I only shoot B class, with a pump. The point I trying to make, which seems to be lost, you don't have to have an O/U to shoot these games. I would rather see someone spend $1000 on a good new repeater that fits, then $1000 on new O/U that it too light and won't last because they think they need and O/U to shoot skeet. Last thing this sport needs, pushing people away from it, don't believe me, read the Presidents message in this months Clay Target Nation.

I think elitist was directed at me not you and was completely in jest.

I don't think anyone is saying you HAVE to have an o/u to shoot skeet just that a cheap pump isn't the best recommendation for a new shooter. While there are many people who can shoot a pump brilliantly (even me sometimes) for a new person having to rack the action is just one more thing to remember. What I recommend to new shooters is a semi-automatic and own a couple that are mainly used to bring new people into the sport.

 

[Maritime Storm]

Nothing wrong with a good semi. A light economy pump would definitely not be my recommendation either.

Had a group of hunters at the club yesterday, 8 people, 2 had never shot a shotgun before, 2 were die hard duck hunters, the other 4 were upland hunters, all wanted to try shooting clay targets. Set-up the group up on our 5-stand. One came with a Baikal O/U(Full over Mod, double trigger), 1 Maverick 88, fixed Modified, 1 A-400 Xtreme. I loaned them my Benelli Nova and I brought my Ithaca 37 Featherlight(Full Choke) for myself. Gave the group and quick run down on how to shoot the game, one guy asked to use my Ithaca. By the end of the second round they shot, these guys were all hitting about 3/4's of their targets, even the doubles.

 

[SUPER TENERE]

Some guys just want to shoot clays such as myself but may not necessarily want to shoot 1000s of rounds of it. Just want to get out there and hit a few once in a while. Some will never feel the dedication required to get really good at it. And for these guys, any shotgun will do. Then if they do get hooked and can afford a high end shotty, go for it. I'm terrible at it and see guys out there kicking my ass with a tactical pump. So its more the man than the gun. Get the grin factor going.

 

[rem74283]

Ive switched to an over under for a couple reasons. Mainly because I was using an 870 express and it was jamming with the low brass even after some polishing. Secondly because I enjoy shooting an over under.

I was averaging 22 with my pump and had no problem with doubles.

If someone has a quality pump that they shoot well with then great. I used to love outshooting the guys telling me I needed an O/U to take the game seriously. The more experienced shooters never said such things.

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

For pure fun and enjoyment, just go with whatever one is able to best afford at that given point in time. As long as the shotgun fits well and the individual has successfully adopted proper shooting techniques then nothing else matters as much. I've observed an 80 yr old gentleman slowly drag his feet to the Trap station with an O/U and stand beside a teen with slide action - both then proceeded to consistently shoot the lights out! Another older individual at my club consistently shoots high scores at Skeet with his worn looking Rem 58 semi.

 

[stubblejumper]

I've observed an 80 yr old gentleman slowly drag his feet to the Trap station with an O/U and stand beside a teen with slide action - both then proceeded to consistently shoot the lights out!

That just goes to show that you can be a terrible shot with any gun, a good shot would have hit the clay targets instead of the lights.

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

That just goes to show that you can be a terrible shot with any gun, a good shot would have hit the clay targets instead of the lights.

LOL! It was always a pleasure to watch those two individuals shoot on the few occasions I've been to that small club in Orangeville, ON. There was rhythm. That person was feeble and looked like he couldn't support the weight of his shotgun. He hardly missed!