Trying trap shooting?

T

Tinybear

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Forgive my ignorance or silly questions.

So I planning to try trap shooting for first time at the gun club in a couple weeks.

The only shotgun I presently own is a Beretta A301M. It’s a fixed choke (I’m unsure what it is). I inherited it from my grandfather. He purchased it new long (suspect for duck hunting) before I was born and never got round to actually shooting it. So it’s a New old shotgun. I have taken it apart cleaned off all the gummy factory lube and re lubricated it. It’s a very nice gun and immaculate, I am a bit hesitant to take it out shooting.

So I am contemplating getting a more modern cheap pump (like a Winchester SXP Field) with changeable chokes to use instead. This would allow me to get comfy shooting a shot gun (never done that yet) and also be much easier to clean. But this is not generally a common use for trap shooting as I understand.

My thinking is a pump is just a lot cheaper than the more traditional O/U options and in event that I’m not crazy about trap or skeet for that matter it still be fun to have for blowing up the odd watermelon with slugs (can’t shoot slugs from the beretta from my understanding).

My question I guess is should I just bring out the old beretta and shoot it like it’s ment to or learn on a cheap pump and then bring out the beretta when I feel more confident?
 
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I'd shoot the Beretta, they're a good quality gun and meant to be shot lots. The choke is of little consequence at this stage of the game for you but if it's Mod or Full that would be good. Actually shooting an unfired old gun isn't going to affect the value of it since it's not a collector firearm so I wouldn't let that stop you.
 
Do they have a patterning board at the Club? I'd fire a bunch of shots at that, first, so you know what it is doing.
 
Buy a few boxes of Win AA Trap loads (7-1/2 shot) and go have fun with Grandpas gun like he meant to do with it.
You can buy alot of ammo with the money you spend on a new to you gun while learning.
Never mind the patterning board if your just going to go out and have fun.
You'll learn fast enough, just my opnion , besides thats how I learned out on the river with a box of cllays a thrower and a bunch of boxes of shells and a full choked Winchester 1300 .
PULL!!!!
Rob
 
The Beretta is most likely a full choke. Trap requires a tight choke, skeet requires an open choke. The Beretta you have is a very nice gun, and will command some respect on the trap field. Dont bother with a pump. BTW - What makes you think you cant shoot slugs out of the Beretta?
 
The A301-M is chambered for 3 inch Magnum shells. The choke will be marked on the barrel.
A new semi-auto shotgun usually needs to be broken in with heavy loads, before trying to shoot lighter target loads. This gun will probably not cycle with target loads lighter than 1 1/8 ounce at 1200 fps.
It sounds like you need a mentor with experience shooting a semi-auto shotgun at Trap.
It's normally pretty easy to find some assistance at practice days on a Trap range.
 
saskbooknut said:
The A301-M is chambered for 3 inch Magnum shells. The choke will be marked on the barrel.
A new semi-auto shotgun usually needs to be broken in with heavy loads, before trying to shoot lighter target loads. This gun will probably not cycle with target loads lighter than 1 1/8 ounce at 1200 fps.
It sounds like you need a mentor with experience shooting a semi-auto shotgun at Trap.
It's normally pretty easy to find some assistance at practice days on a Trap range.
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Must be 30 years since I heard that one. Those days are long gone my friend but that old 301 may be applicable
If mine I would first try some 3 dram target loads and if no go then open the gas port and be done with it or have a smith do it if not comfortable. Not like it is ever going to fire any 3" ever again and wear it out with 3/4 target loads
Cheers
 
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cosmic said:
The Beretta is most likely a full choke. Trap requires a tight choke, skeet requires an open choke. The Beretta you have is a very nice gun, and will command some respect on the trap field. Dont bother with a pump. BTW - What makes you think you cant shoot slugs out of the Beretta?
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Was my understanding you shouldn’t shoot a slug out of a choked barrel.
 
Shoot the Beretta. Anything from Modified to Full is perfectly reasonable for trap. The internet sayd your gun will cycle target loads but it doesn't matter because you're shooting singles trap. You only need one round at a time. As you progress you may shoot doubles and then you can worry about it. You will know a lot more by then anyway. To start with, take your Beretta and shoot it. After a while you will know what kind of gun you want. Invest in a rubber band for a cheap shell catcher, you can buy a fancy one later. (Rubber band wraps around the ejection port to keep the empties from hitting your neighbour). Some old farts get worked up about it. The most important thing is to go and do it. It will fall into place.
 
bdft said:
Shoot the Beretta. Anything from Modified to Full is perfectly reasonable for trap. The internet sayd your gun will cycle target loads but it doesn't matter because you're shooting singles trap. You only need one round at a time. As you progress you may shoot doubles and then you can worry about it. You will know a lot more by then anyway. To start with, take your Beretta and shoot it. After a while you will know what kind of gun you want. Invest in a rubber band for a cheap shell catcher, you can buy a fancy one later. (Rubber band wraps around the ejection port to keep the empties from hitting your neighbour). Some old farts get worked up about it. The most important thing is to go and do it. It will fall into place.
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This^^^
 
FLHTCUI said:
Buy a few boxes of Win AA Trap loads (7-1/2 shot) and go have fun with Grandpas gun like he meant to do with it.
You can buy alot of ammo with the money you spend on a new to you gun while learning.
Never mind the patterning board if your just going to go out and have fun.
You'll learn fast enough, just my opnion , besides thats how I learned out on the river with a box of cllays a thrower and a bunch of boxes of shells and a full choked Winchester 1300 .
PULL!!!!
Rob
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This is the kind of behavior that gets public areas shut down to shooting. OP you have the right idea. Learn to shoot trap at a club not informal clays shooting polluting a river bottom with broken targets and lead shot...
 
The Beretta is really a family heirloom as your Grandfather owned it , and trap puts a lot of wear and tear on a shotgun. Use the Beretta to try trap to see if you like it , but if you intend to stay in that sport , find a shotgun with less sentimental value for high volume shooting . Just my opinion .
 
Thanks all. I am setup to attend a clinic on trap shooting to show me the ropes and such.

Seems I stick with the beretta for now and if I like it will opt for something else in future.

Keeping the beretta as the heirloom and such. But I do want tk get it out and shoot it at least a few times. Value is irrelevant for me on it as I could/would never sell it, or the Browning SA22 I also got from him.

I grew up living with my grandfather and was very close to him. I remember being little and “helping” clean the guns. Sadly by time I was old enuff to get a license gramps health declined too far to be a shooting mentor.
 
From your story I would bet it is a FULL choke , which is correct 4 Trap Shooting. Use the Beretta as it was
ment to be shot lots. Use Trap loads , like 1 oz. of #7 1/2 shot. I bet someone @ your trap range has a choke guage
to measure what you have. Shooting @ a Pattern board 1 st. would be a good idea. You do not need a "Trap Gun"
to shoot trap, but a 30" barrel & full choke is best. Regardless shoot the Beretta now.
 
It may not cycle 2 3/4 dram loads. May not even cycle 3 dram loads. My older 3" beretta doesnt any trap loads. Field loads and heavy loads it does just fine. It is flawless with 3" shells
Opening the gas ports will beat the piss out of the receiver if used with 3" loads. A 2.75" barrel can be found for these guns as the a301/302/303 barrels all interchange. The barrel dictates the length of shell

When they came out they were well respected on the trap fields and its often said they were better built the the 390 that replaced them
If you decide on a pump go to a store and shoulder as many models as you can. Shotgun shooting is about fit and feel. You point the gun. If it doesnt point where you look you wont hit anything no matter what name is on the gun.
My a303 sees more shooting than my new a400
 
brybenn said:
It may not cycle 2 3/4 dram loads. May not even cycle 3 dram loads. My older 3" beretta doesnt any trap loads. Field loads and heavy loads it does just fine. It is flawless with 3" shells
Opening the gas ports will beat the piss out of the receiver if used with 3" loads. A 2.75" barrel can be found for these guns as the a301/302/303 barrels all interchange. The barrel dictates the length of shell

When they came out they were well respected on the trap fields and its often said they were better built the the 390 that replaced them
If you decide on a pump go to a store and shoulder as many models as you can. Shotgun shooting is about fit and feel. You point the gun. If it doesnt point where you look you wont hit anything no matter what name is on the gun.
My a303 sees more shooting than my new a400
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Just curious what he would use 3" lead for in 2021 other than coyotes but yes agree once the port is open it is a 2 3/4 gun
Cheers
 
3macs1 said:
Just curious what he would use 3" lead for in 2021 other than coyotes but yes agree once the port is open it is a 2 3/4 gun
Cheers
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Coyotes crows coons jacks turkey deer bear. Slugs buckshot heavy field loads. Non toxic loads. Still lots of uses for 3" shells in 2021. Plus it maybe all that one can find soon.
If the choke is reamed out they make great waterfowl guns with steel loads as well.
 
Use the beretta also no need to worry about a patterning board
shoot some 16 yd ata targets . U will know when you are on the birds they will disappear in a puff of black smoke .
25 yrs of trap and skeet shooting AA class singles 25 yd handicap never patterned a shotgun in my life . There are many things to learn before you need a patterning board . Also attended a few clinics with world class shooters not one ever went to a patterning board .
 
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