Novice questions regarding barrel length apropos application

[snovvman]

I'm purchasing a pump shotgun w/ a 18-20" barrel, primarily for home defense. The gun will have a folding stock and pistol grip. The barrel can accept different chokes.

With this configuration, is it practical to use the gun for recreational trap shooting (were I to use a longer choke)? I know trap guns have much longer barrels. I'm simply uncertain whether a ~20" gun will work.

I'm also not certain of the pistol grip and how that might affect the way the gun is held.

I look forward to the collective wisdom of this forum.

[Baron]

You can use a pistol grip and stock for trap... It's just a little harder to sight in to bust the clays. I used mine like that for a while and it was ok... But not nearly as easy as a conventional stocked Shotgun.

As for the 20" barrel... It will work and I've read about people using them. You just have to bust them clays early. which means you'll have to be fast. I wouldn't use anything under 26".... My wifes Mossberg has a 28" barrel and my Stoeger sxs is 26"(I think)

But to each their own... Just try it out and practice alot.

[tonelar]

I've shot some trap with a 20" barrel in the past but it was much harder than a 24" barreled shotgun.

PS aren't folding stocks and pistol grips forbidden here in Cali? Or is that just on semis?

[aplinker]

just on semis

^^^^

[snovvman]

Where in the Los Angeles/Orange County area can I go fire a shotgun, aside from Whittier Narrows?

Do any of the indoor or outdoor ranges allow shotgun?

[SR-60]

Insight indoor shooting range in Artesia allows shotgun. But I do not know what ammo requirements they have i.e. buck or birdshot. Also, I think you have to purchase/use their shotgun ammo, but am not too sure about this.

[aplinker]

Where in the Los Angeles/Orange County area can I go fire a shotgun, aside from Whittier Narrows?

Do any of the indoor or outdoor ranges allow shotgun?

Angeles, LAXRange, Burro... All the outdoors do. Go to Angeles, they have a patterning, clays and target area... they also have the reactive metal at the pistol line for bird & buck.

[snovvman]

Angeles, LAXRange, Burro... All the outdoors do. Go to Angeles, they have a patterning, clays and target area... they also have the reactive metal at the pistol line for bird & buck.

"Angeles", I presume, is the one off of Osborne and 210?

Thanks!

[aplinker]

"Angeles", I presume, is the one off of Osborne and 210?

Thanks!

Angeles = Angeles shooting ranges, yes off osborne from the 210.

Take everything you own - it's a fun place, if you've never been...

[tonelar]

Most indoor ranges that do allow shotguns require that you use their ammo only and that you use minimum #4 buckshot (nothing lighter)...

But I've not been to an indoor range in SoCal in some time.

[grywlfbg]

I've shot some trap with a 20" barrel in the past but it was much harder than a 24" barreled shotgun.

PS aren't folding stocks and pistol grips forbidden here in Cali? Or is that just on semis?

Just a point of clarification, you can have a PG OR a folding stock on a semi but not both. The following is considered an Assault Weapon in Cali:

(6) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:
. (A) A folding or telescoping stock.
. (B) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.
(7) A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine.
(8) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.