I have shot clays only 3-4 times in my life but having bought a bird dog this year I feel it's time to get a little more serious about my shotgun shooting skills. Tried a round last summer with my Citori 12g. Upland special ( 24" bbls ) and busted 31 out of 50 birds. Am I kidding myself about hoping to use my short and lighweight over unders? I also have a 20 g. Citori but it also has 24" barrels and is very light. I have always favored short and snappy doubles for my small game hunting and now with the dog I have had no problems knocking down pheasants and quail in the hunting preserves. If I have to get a longer barrelled 12 O/U or even an auto at some point thats fine but do you think I can start out with my 2 upland guns and have a half decent chance at success? I actually also own a Beretta Urika 12g. x 3" semi turkey gun with a 26"bbl in full camo. It's only ever used Turkey hunting would that be considered "blasphemy" to carry on a SC course?
Want to start shooting Sporting Clays
- Thread starter linderhof
- Start date
I did exactly the same thing - was drug to a shoot after complaining about being rusty over a brand new retriever.
Shot a 20 guage 870 and hit exactly 50 %.
One short year later I had bought a O/U and had practiced. Was shooting in the 80's.
You may be handicapped on a few stations, and would have an advantage on some. Move up to heavier shot size (and possibly larger payloads) should you feel handicapped on the longer targets.
Most competitions I have shot are built around courses that try to appeal to everyone, which means a good array of all types of targets.
I would say take your shotty out and have some fun - who knows the bug may bite you too and you will need to shop for another.
Shoot what ya got and shoot a lot! 31 out of 50 first time out shows you have some basic shotgun skills, because that aint bad. Sporting Clays means different things to different people. Some like to play the newest and best game with equipment and invest a lot of money. That's just fine. Others, like yourself, just want to hone their skills for hunting. Never be ashamed to use your hunting gear on the Sporting course. Some of the best shots I've seen use old beat up pumps and make the over/under crowd green with envy.
Alright, thats the kind of advice I was hoping to hear. Hey I'm as much a gun junkie as the next guy but own some nice hunting guns and figured what I needed to do was get better with them as I likely wouldn't carry a long heavy gun in the grouse & woodcock cover.
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
In light of such topic (or a thread) such as this one, the long vs the short bbl debate always seem inevitable.
Nevertheless, it may help to bear in mind that scenarios/conditions in clay shooting in comparison to wingshooting will almost always be different. Therefore, the "tools" utilized will almost always serve better if the appropriate implement is used.
While the short bbl'd upland gun may work well in the Grouse/WC cover - it will not be practical to expect the same on a clays course. A longer barrel will definitely offer an advantage.....besides, unlike the feathered kind, clays aren't shot up close (or over a Pointer), where a short barrel can compensate in many ways.
Personally, I have always felt the 28in bbl to be a great compromise should one plan to use a single shotgun for both clay and hunting.
Nevertheless, it may help to bear in mind that scenarios/conditions in clay shooting in comparison to wingshooting will almost always be different. Therefore, the "tools" utilized will almost always serve better if the appropriate implement is used.
While the short bbl'd upland gun may work well in the Grouse/WC cover - it will not be practical to expect the same on a clays course. A longer barrel will definitely offer an advantage.....besides, unlike the feathered kind, clays aren't shot up close (or over a Pointer), where a short barrel can compensate in many ways.
Personally, I have always felt the 28in bbl to be a great compromise should one plan to use a single shotgun for both clay and hunting.
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You see all types of guns on sporting clays courses and no one pays it much mind. Your purpose is to improve your shotgunning skills in the off season. In that case you are better off to use the guns that you would use for hunting.
To each their own!
I shoot clays to hone (as much as possible) for hunting season. I'm there shooting my synthetic 870 with guys packing an $8000 Zoli and not doing too much worse (theyve been doing it much longer too, just cause i need an excuse).
Dont worry about your score! Just try better yourself every time!
- and no many times i've shot the rabbit stand, i never seem to hit the dang things- but workin on it!
I shoot clays to hone (as much as possible) for hunting season. I'm there shooting my synthetic 870 with guys packing an $8000 Zoli and not doing too much worse (theyve been doing it much longer too, just cause i need an excuse
).Dont worry about your score! Just try better yourself every time!
- and no many times i've shot the rabbit stand, i never seem to hit the dang things- but workin on it!
