Sporting shotgun advice

[uscscjohn]

I have decided to take up Trap shooting. I hope to get a nice clay gun that can carry me as far as I can go. I do NOT see myself "going" to olympic or even serious match heights. I would like to be competitive at the typical 5 stand.

I expect 80% of my clay shooting would be trap. The remainder would be sporting clays which I very much enjoy but have less access to.

Generally, should I be looking at a sporting clays gun or a trap gun? If you gain more from a trap gun on the trap range than you lose with a trap gun on a sporting range I guess I should go with a trap gun.

Also would a 32 or 30 inch barrel "generally" be best?

[SoCalPI]

IB A300.

[Thefeeder]

I have decided to take up Trap shooting. I hope to get a nice clay gun that can carry me as far as I can go. I do NOT see myself "going" to olympic or even serious match heights. I would like to be competitive at the typical 5 stand.

I expect 80% of my clay shooting would be trap. The remainder would be sporting clays which I very much enjoy but have less access to.

Generally, should I be looking at a sporting clays gun or a trap gun? If you gain more from a trap gun on the trap range than you lose with a trap gun on a sporting range I guess I should go with a trap gun.

Also would a 32 or 30 inch barrel "generally" be best?

I'd go with a Sporting as it very easy to Mod (without a gunsmith) one to shoot like a Trap gun. Trap to sport or field is more difficult.

Ultimately, it gets back to what fits you and what you like as far as feel...personally I like the feel of Field guns for shooting all the clay games...but that's my preference
I've seen shooters shoot 25's and 50 straight in both Trap and Skeet with a Remington 870 and others will have a new mod each week tiring to better the gun so they will shoot better.
Bottom line .....shoot what you have conference with.

30 or 32"....what feels good to you.....some find 32" front heavy, others add weight to balance the gun to their liking.

None of us are shooting for prize money or trophies.....but you will be tiring to hit that first 25, 50 and 100 straight and other personal goals

[RandyD]

I believe the most important factor in deciding is, how much are you willing to pay?

I shoot trap and skeet and my shotgun is old, Winchester Super X Model 1, made in the mid 70's, which is just before screw in chokes became popular, so I have a trap and a skeet barrel. I like being able to change barrels, because the length of the barrel is a factor in each sport.

I have also enjoyed myself using a Remington 870 with a 28" barrel with changeable chokes, for both trap and skeet, so again it comes down to how much do you want to spend, and how important is it to you to have a specified barrel length?

[hermosabeach]

I might suggest taking a class to start and finding a range that has a variety of rentals...

My dad loves side by sides.... I shoot over unders way better than a side by side...


If your face is thin or fat, different stocks and different offsets will do better or worse for you...

I would look at rental options and instruction options.... it is cheap in the long run

[uscscjohn]

Thank you all. I knew there would be no easy answer but opinions are interesting and insightful.

[Thefeeder]

><

John if your in the San francisco Bay Area your welcome to join me and try some of my toys

[beetle]

a sporting gun is really a "jack of all trades" gun -- works well for skeet, sporting clays, and trap. i hit my first 25 and 50 in trap using a sporting gun.

a trap gun typically has a much larger stock and higher ribs, and if desired shoots high. they would not be ideal for sporting where some of the presentations are dropping, etc.

depending on your budget some manufacturers make a mid-height adjustable rib, which can be used for all of the games. Beretta calls this their "ACS" model - or All Clay Sports. pricey though ($8K or more).

I think a sporting gun would be the best way to get started, and then you and decide if you want to get a dedicated trap gun if you really get hooked on it. good luck!

[ysr_racer]

Agreed, a dedicated trap shotgun is too specialized for someone just starting out.

[winetoad]

Some trap ranges will loan you guns to at least try before you decide which you like best.

[Chubs T]

Just get one of many "All-in-one" shotguns where you can change the point of impact.
O/U with 32" barrels abd adjustable POI:
Fabarm Axis RS QRR
Caesar Guerini Impact series
Any of the Blaser, Kriegoff, Perazzi, Zoli,or Kolar variants

If your budget is below $2k, then look for a used 725 sporting or or a Citori CX

Beretta's Onyx Pro x trap looks like it can do triple duty.

[XVIga_Rob]

It all comes down to $$ & fit.

I was in the same spot as you 2 years ago. I bought a Beretta Silver Pigeon I Sporting with 32" barrels.

[Barmaleykin]

Check here:

http://www.herosarms.com/index.htm

A lot of different options with different price range..

[b.thomas]

A friend took up Trap shooting many years back..................lack of money stop him from buying a trap gun. So he took his old Wingmaster and added a trap barrel like this: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/438...-vent-rib-blue
Shot it for ten years or more as I recall and won a lot of matches using that Wingmaster/trap barrel setup!

[SunsetIE]

A friend took up Trap shooting many years back..................lack of money stop him from buying a trap gun. So he took his old Wingmaster and added a trap barrel.
Shot it for ten years or more as I recall and won a lot of matches using that Wingmaster/trap barrel setup!

I shoot with a Korea vet who uses an OLD pump action ithica and hits 20+ on the regular, while I struggle to break 22 with a heavily modded Beretta 690s. Almost sad some days lol