Trap with a Vertical Grip? You might be surprised!!

AbHobbyist

AbHobbyist

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Gentlemen:

I just thought I would share my latest experience with you, so that some of you could share your thoughts with me.

Now before we get started, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. First, I am a left handed shooter. Second, I have become a die hard 870 man for trap, for singles at least.

Please understand I have purchased and used much more expensive guns, for an entire year shooting trap. However my scores actually declined and stayed there. I have come full circle, started using the 870 again and my scores have reflected the change. So instead of fighting it, I will now just go with the flow.

My current “Singels” 870 Wing-master wears a trap butt stock with a mercury recoil reducer in it, a custom “Fat” tapered fore end, a 30" regular contour Vent Rib barrel with rem chokes and mid bead. At 16 yards, I am currently using an improve-Modified chokes, and using my 1 1/8 3 dram loads. So this is no ordinary 870 and while not a top shooter, I shoot a consistent and solid 22.

Now, it has been some time since i have been on the “Pad” so to speak, and went out on Sunday to knock some rust off.

I have been working on some tactical and Brobee styled 870s over the winter, and for giggles, I thought I would try some thing new in addition to the regular Trap 870. On another 870 Wing-master action, I put an OEM police synthetic stock, an old vent rib 30" barrel (full fixed choke and missing the mid bead) and added a railed for end and vertical grip. I thought I would be lucky to shoot 17-19 with this rig. It just does not have all the “NEEDED” elements required for a good trap gun.

So I pair this rig with some new 1 onz loads and off the pad I went. Wouldn't you know it, I shot 23, and 24 out of 25 with it!! It actually shot better than my regular gun.

What I found is that the vertical grip allowed me to “Point” my index finger down the fore end, and it really became an extension of my hand. It pointed very naturally. I thought with the hand position, underneath the fore end, my swing would be impeded but this was not the case. Hard left birds on station 1 and hard right birds on station 5 were being hit, and hit hard. The grip postiion actually releived some fore arm tension for me. I like the vertical grips so much that I am contemplating putting it on my “Trap” 870.

I was wondering if any of you have had a similar experience, of if you might have any thoughts to share on the subject.

Regards and all the best

R
 
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I have seen a local guy here use a vertical grip. He has shot trap for a long time. consistantly breaks 24-25. from the 16. you should try lighter loads from the 16 , no advantage using 3 dram loads from that distance.
 
Bogman:

Thanks for the input.

WRT loads, I belive my cheek would agree with you!! As I did get a bit of bite once, when I was to hasty in mounting my gun.

However, as this was just practice, I was trying something new. While I am not sure I agree with it 100%, there was a philosophy that was espoused by the late shooting great Frank Little. I belive that his advice was that all 16 yard shooting should be considered little more than practice for the 27 yard line. His thoughts were that the same choke, gun and loads should be used at 16 as at 27. Thus any clay that does not become a small puff of black smoke, was not pointed well enough to have been hit further back.

But you are correct, it can be punishing, and to that end it was my hope, and the reality has proved, that the mercy recoil reducer will absorb that punishment for me.

Regards and all the best

R
 
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If you go to one of the larger U.S. ATA shoots like the Grand a few times then nothing would surprise you. I've seen just about every imaginable combination of gun, stock, rib, stance etc. that you can imagine.

If it works for you then do it.
 
Gentlmen:

I thank you for your input. I should have been more spesific.

Its a standard but stock, but with a railed pump forend, with a folding vertical for grip attached to that.

My bad:redface:

I will post some pictues when I have an opportunity, jsut try not to laugh to hard.

I got some really weird looks on the field, however most of the people I shoot with are kind enought to know, I like to experiment and only continue to shoot with what works. It felt weird looking at the rack, but hey, at Least I know which one is mine LOL!!

regards and all the best

R
 
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In my experience, alot of Trap shooters get set in their ways with their guns and its not always a good thing, as they get further and further into their bad habits/mistakes, their scores don't improve.....yet they can pick up a diff. gun that they have never shot before and score higher than with their own gun! Something changes in ones mind and they wipe out what they have been doing and have a good round, maybe they unknowingly go back to the basics,etc.
 
I've seen one trapshooter with the vertical grip, and he seemed to do ok with it. It's what breaks targets for you that counts!

I shoot almost 1oz loads exclusively these days. Less fatigue in the long haul, and chaeper to reload, as an added bonus.:)
 
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