Trap gun confusion solution - oh my!

Thanks all for all the feedback and help.

I ultimately decided to "pull the trigger" on a Remington 1100 Trap. It does have a fixed full choke but right now I am really only able to shoot trap. I guess it could always be modified for chokes in the future but we're note there yet. I may pickup a quality used O/U or a used Beretta/Browning in the future but at least I have something that can be used to start. Now the fun of finding a shell catcher. I am not a fan of drilling/modifying the receiver. LPGWorks has a decent shell catcher but they don't seem to sell direct to Canada. Oh well...what's another research project lol?

Thanks everyone! Ultimately if/when we get more hardcore we'll be able to upgrade in the future. The best gun is probably one that gets you to the range anyhow...
 
We have a Model 12 only trapshoot at our club each year we were going to have an 1100 only shoot as well but did know if we had enough parts to keep them all running, chuckle, know they are a great starter and broke my first 100 straight with one back when. Also you can usually find a skeet barrel drifting around to try as well.
 
Fit is very important to the enjoyment of the game. A good instructor for an hour or so will clean out some of the fog and really pay off. Shoot with a group that has fun, a crusty old bastard running the show ruins it for all.
 
pirranna said:
Hi there,

So I tried some trap shooting and I think I could be hooked. The problem is that, outside of a Benelli Supernova tactical pump with a 18.5" barrel and a family 1936 single shot 12 gauge I don't have the right equipment! I am ok making some investment but not like $2,500+ investment. Looked at other pumps, semi-auto and used O/U's and suffering from info overload.

So I have done a lot of research and admittedly I am probably more confused than before.

Briefly:
  1. Mainly I will be doing some single trap shooting and perhaps some skeet shooting. Hunting is not my thing.
  2. Shiny and pretty is not important to me - rather functional and reliable which is why it seems that used Beretta or Brownings are recommended.
  3. I toyed with buying a $600 Benelli nova and swapping the barrel with my supernova tactical since Benelli barrels are almost impossible to find and that's cheaper than I probably would be able to find a decent pump.
  4. I found a decent Browning Citori O/U but it has a Fixed modified and full choke (no comb adjustment). My buddy says that for trap you need to ensure full choke for both barrels. I found a used Breda O/U which a similiar setup which I was told would be a better "birding" gun.
Questions/advice?
  1. Is fixed choke problematic? Is full choke desirable?
  2. If I bought a O/U that had a fixed modified and full choke - does that work for trap/skeep or is it really a "bird" gun?
  3. If my partner is only interested in trap shooting, would a single shot shotgun be acceptable or frowned upon? She is only 5'1 and I obviously don't need it to be like a mule kicking her.
  4. Should I simply pay more money to have a gun that I can change the choke (vs. fixed choke) for trap/skeet?
  5. My buddy has a Turkish Churchill O/U and claims it works great and has held up. Are all Turkish guns (especially O/U) problematic? The forums are not kind with Turkish guns and I don't want a $1k paperweight if I can spend a bit more to get something that will hold up.
  6. What about Stoger and Franchi? I am seeing some weird names for O/U that appear to be Italian so would you avoid them too?
Thanks!
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For less than a grand you can buy a used Remington 100 trap or skeet gun and get a used barrel so you have a trap and skeet gun. Rather than a FULL choke for trap, as a new shooter you will hack down more targets with a 30" MODIFIED choke barrel. All Remington SKEET barrels are 26". After a year or so if you want to upgrade you can almost certainly recoup your investment.
 
667 said:
yeah.. have you seen the price of shotshells lately... lol
The gun, regardless of what you spend isn't going to be big cost factor in this endeavor
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I was thinking more along the lines of longevity and reliability of the gun.
A Stevens 555 is not going to last long if shooting a large number of sessions.
 
pirranna said:
This is helpful - thank you Painkillers :)
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No its not. His advice offers very little in the way of understanding trap or skeet shooting and their principles. His statement is so typical of the occasional shooter who shows up to a club and seems to perceive some some sort of imagined snobbery cast his way because of his gun, clothes or whatever self esteem issue is eating at him.
I have shot at countless clubs since I was 15 years old in 6 different provinces going on 45 years now. I have been the new guy walking in more times than I can count and never experienced the kind of stuff these guys perceive in their minds as happening regardless if I showed up with an inexpensive field gun or high end target gun or how I was dressed or gear I had available due to my monetary means.
You want good advice there has been lots offered here by some very knowledgeable avid shooters.
First one as offered is gun fit. That is most important first and foremost. Second is quality. Something that is a proven platform. Now if you want one gun for all games you'll need something with either extra changeable barrels or something with screw chokes to match the distances the games you are going to participate are shot at. And thats it to get you started.
 
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pirranna said:
Thanks all for all the feedback and help.

I ultimately decided to "pull the trigger" on a Remington 1100 Trap. It does have a fixed full choke but right now I am really only able to shoot trap. I guess it could always be modified for chokes in the future but we're note there yet. I may pickup a quality used O/U or a used Beretta/Browning in the future but at least I have something that can be used to start. Now the fun of finding a shell catcher. I am not a fan of drilling/modifying the receiver. LPGWorks has a decent shell catcher but they don't seem to sell direct to Canada. Oh well...what's another research project lol?

Thanks everyone! Ultimately if/when we get more hardcore we'll be able to upgrade in the future. The best gun is probably one that gets you to the range anyhow...
Click to expand...
Watch the EE for a skeet or ic choked spare barrel to shoot skeet with. One gun with the two barrels will cover all your needs.
 
Thread is super long but also getting into clay shooting and picked up a Beretta A300. Added Briley mag weights and thinking about Briley extended chokes. If fall out of love this is a great bird gun as well.
 
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