U/O trap gun

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Greg manton

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hey all hope for some imput here on a new gun. I just joined a trap club and have decided i want to trade my doubles for a good trap gun that i can also bird hunt with (ruffed grouse, woodcock). decided it is better to shoot 1 gun well than have 4 lesser specialized guns. what should i try on? i like to see my clay when i shoot so i would like it to have a poa slightly low and am looking in the 2000-2500 range hopefully a lifetime gun. thank you in advance for your help
 
Wow! This should be good!!! You're right in a gun-rich $ area....

Hmmm.... Dedicated trap gun or O/U? BT-99 or Beretta.... How about a semi? Great for hunting and could do the job on the trap field.

Make sure the gun fits you well! For trap (or skeet) you'll want a "sporting" or target stock (perhaps with an adjustable comb - and/or butt plate). Stay away from "field" models. It's much easier to see the clay with a higher cheek piece. These stocks work well for bird hunting too.

If you go for a 'trap' gun, it'll likely be heavy if you're hunting all day - and a hunting gun might be a little light weight for a day's worth of recoil.

If you can, try out a few before you take the plunge...

Good luck with your decision!
 
I am really concerned with barrel lenth i hunt dense bush with my pointer
and my guns all have 26-28 inch barrels i relize to short for trap but is 32 inch too long for birds? lol im 6'1" 200 pound and definatly a glutton for punishment I would rather it be light im not recoil sensative
 
well mabey more of a touring car lol. but a touring car I will get used to driving rather than 4 low end sports cars that i have to change my shooting with for each gun cause they all hit just a little different. repitition breeds accuracy right? tell me the guy who shoots thousands of rounds from a trap gun doesn't feel way more comfortable with it
 
A trapgun is a sort of specialized gun. It has a high comb, shoots high, long barrel(s) and is usually choked mod or full. Just about the opposite of what you would want for upland hunting. Trap guns are built to shoot high so you can see the claybird, so you're going agianst the standard looking for one that shoots low.
Just to verify...we are talking about trapshooting where there's 5 stations 16 -27 yards behind and facing a trap house where a claybird is released when the shooter calls for it and the "puller" hits the button?
 
point of aim low = shoots high right? i was hoping different choke tubes would help my cause for birds, and seeing jumped birds above the sights would be nice as well. im keeping my waterfowl pump for banging around in a boat. oh yeah and trap where there's 5 stations 16 -27 yards behind and facing a trap house where a claybird is released when the shooter calls for it and the "puller" hits the button?
 
Any trap gun even remotely worthy of the name will make the worst possible ruffed grouse and woodcock gun. The very attributes which make a trap gun successful work against you on fast flushing grouse and flitting woodcock.

Of course you can compromise and get the worst of both worlds - a whippy trap gun and a sluggish grouse gun, all in one package.

The solution to your problem is to buy a dedicated trap gun. If this takes all the resources and you are left without a hunting gun, save $75 and go buy a single shot Cooey with a stock that fits you. You'll get enough ruffies and woodcock with that, and you'll have a proper trap gun that'll last you for years.


Sharptail
 
really im suprized but glad i asked all the same i guess ill keep my steves 512 20 gage and maby have to buy a used trap gun :). so now what do u guys suggest i was looking a a berretta silver pigeon ii at a gun shop and it fit well but i truelly am a hunter so I may be looking at the gun with the wrong sort of intentions. BTW i hate semi auto's it has to be a break barrel
 
Greg, as nice as the Silver Pigeon II is, it is not a trap gun. Trap guns have high combs, weigh more than field guns, have long barrels, shoot high and handle differently. In the price range you have specified there is a whole world of choices. In the Beretta line, there is the 686E Trap model (hard to find), and the 682(E) trap or x-trap. It should be possible to find a used 682E Trap model for $2,500 or less. Browning has similar specialized trap models at similar prices. Some decent older guns such as the Winchester 101 Trap can be had in the ~$1,500 range. There are many, many other options. Buyer beware, though. Trap guns wear out from the inside. Have someone really competent inspect any potential purchase.

Features such as an adjustable comb are desirable but choke tubes are not an absolute requirement - trap guns are all choked fairly tight. A little more length of pull than you use for a hunting gun can be helpful. Have fun with the search!


Sharptail
 
Greg manton said:
tell me the guy who shoots thousands of rounds from a trap gun doesn't feel way more comfortable with it
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Well I have shot thousands of rounds from trap guns and they certyainly feel way more comfortable......... for shooting trap. Only in my mis spent youth did I ever hunt with a trap gun. I used to breed and hunt over gun dogs as well and for comfort a trap gun is the last thing I would choose. There are guns that are designed to be carried a lot and shot a little and there are guns that are designed to be carried a little and shot a lot. I think that there is no sound advice that can be given to those who expect both other than to have at it.:D

BTW repitition does not breed accuracy. Proper practice does!
 
Greg manton said:
...for a good trap gun that i can also bird hunt with (ruffed grouse, woodcock)...
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If you are really determined to find a one-gun-fits-all solution, look towards the shotguns designed for Sporting Clays. They will be a very passable trap gun and a change of chokes will give you a good chance at hitting something in the upland field.

With that said, it will be a master of neither endeavour. Just the best (IMHO) middle-of-the-road. However, it'll be great at sporting clays.
 
Jeeped said:
look towards the shotguns designed for Sporting Clays. They will be a very passable trap gun and a change of chokes will give you a good chance at hitting something in the upland field.QUOTE]

Most sporting guns that work well for trap are built like trap guns. For the OP's style of upland hunting which is for ruffed grouse and wookcock in dense cover with a pointing dog, simply changing to more open chokes is not enough. I am one who thinks that a compromise with equipment between these two activities is not doing justice to either sport. Maybe a compromise in goal is in order? Unless you want to become a competative maybe registered trap shooter maybe you should re think a bit. There is a lot of fun to be had shooting trap, skeet and sporting clays with field guns and doing so is very good practice for upland hunting including the difficult and challenging type involving dense bush and pointing dogs.
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I find this kind of odd with the amount of grouse ive seen fall in front of 30 inch barreled full choke pump guns. I use a ic followed by modified in my 20 for grouse. are trap guns this slow to swing. I have tried a coach 20 sxs for birds and hated it i didnt like the fast swing of 22 inch barrels guess you guys have gave my more questins than answers lol just going to have to beg to try some at the range :)
 
Greg manton said:
I find this kind of odd with the amount of grouse ive seen fall in front of 30 inch barreled full choke pump guns. I use a ic followed by modified in my 20 for grouse. are trap guns this slow to swing.
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Trap guns and sporting guns and skeet guns are not slow to swing as long as you are ready to swing. You said "I am really concerned with barrel lenth i hunt dense bush with my pointer and my guns all have 26-28 inch barrels." I guess you are just going to have to try a trap gun on ruffies or timber-doodles in dense cover to find out for yourself? BTW, this is Canada and I would expect everything at one time or another to fall to a 30 inch full choked pump:D At one time I owned a 30 inch full choke m-12 trap gun and I shot everything with it;) Actually I thought it was the all round gun. It wasn't too difficult to swing either, but I do recall on many a flushed pheasant we ate only the drums and when I was in the zone those ruffies that I connected with were not worth picking up.:(
 
There is a lot of fun to be had shooting trap, skeet and sporting clays with field guns and doing so is very good practice for upland hunting including the difficult and challenging type involving dense bush and pointing dogs.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head with this statment. I need a feild gun that hits high lol 28-30 in 12 gage. im hitting 20of 25 with 26 inch barrel 20 gage im sure i can make my hunting gun fun at the trap feild :)
 
I'll throw a fresh idea at the OP. Try skeet. Yes, I know modern skeet is shot with heavy, pre-mounted guns and high scores are common. Try the game with a low gun and use your grouse gun. Shoot for fun, not scores. You will be surprised at the improvement in your field shooting next fall.

John
 
ended up purchasing a winchester 101. seemed just as nice as a citori same manufacture,same features, back bored invector chokes, 450.00 less expensive. oh yeah lighter wich is good for me not for most lol and i think its pretty lol thanks for the help guys.
 
Greg manton said:
ended up purchasing a winchester 101. seemed just as nice as a citori same manufacture,same features, back bored invector chokes, 450.00 less expensive. oh yeah lighter wich is good for me not for most lol and i think its pretty lol thanks for the help guys.
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The 101 is a very nice gun, but it is not made by the same manufacture as the citori. The 101 is made by FN in Belgium and the citori is made by Miroku in Japan. You are right that it is lighter and may be more suitable as a game gun. Enjoy:D
 
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