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[Galileo]

***

[hardlyworking]

Seems odd, and maybe petitionable.

I'm NOT an expert, and any actual experts please correct me if I'm wrong, but, using a "short" bbl shotgun is going to prematurely open up your shot string, thus when your shot intersects with the clay fewer pellets will have a chance of striking, and thus breaking, said clay.

So Galileo would be handicapping himself, knowingly, by not using an e.g. 26-30 inch barrel. The only one getting hurt is the OP as he kicks the dirt and says "awe shucks, missed another one".

Why would a "gun club" have a written rule on barrel length for clays? Or is it a "keeping out the riff-raff" kind of thing? Not that the Versamax Tact is cheap (I just bought one myself) but its nothing like a $40,000 custom Browning.

You might be able to write a well reasoned letter to OakTree's management and ask that they reconsider the BBL length requirements, Gun Clubs in California need all the help they can get given our political environment!

[bigbossman]

I don't think a short barrel would be a handicap in skeet. Skeet choke is pretty wide open, as most shots are in the 20-25 yard range. Cylinder Bore is constricted more by comparison. Standard skeet gun barrel length is 24".

[P5Ret]

I think it probably has more to do with the mall ninja's than anything else. Years and years ago most of my hunting buddies and I would go shoot a round of skeet and trap as sort of a warm up for bird season to get some trigger time and back into the swing and track mentality. I never liked a barrel length longer than 22 inches myself and it was never a problem then, I guess those days are gone now.

[P5Ret]

You're not the first person I've heard who preferred the shorter barrels. This is partly what encouraged me to go ahead with this plan. So discouraging to hear I'm going to be treated like a mall ninja now.

Update, just spoke to a friend who has used a short barrel (18.5) at Ojai GC without being hassled, so maybe I'll be good to go.

I didn't mean to imply anything by that. My pheasant, quail and dove gun is a 20" incher. Ducks I go with a 26 when I get a chance to go these days. It is probably more of a rule for competition than those of us who just want to smoke a few clay's I hope at least.

[CWDraco]

Typical of folks finding ways to discriminate against other folks. Normally older folks who just don't like change.

The USMC issued a warning that the new rifle it was being forced to issue to the troops would kill more US troops then enemy. It was the M1A. The USMC considered the 1903 the best weapon ever made. They even listed dozens of problems with the new firearm.

Same thing happened with the AR15 / M16 platform.

They have a minimum barrel length due to FUD and only FUD. If you ask them why, you are going to hear a list of myth and nonsense.

[mcmikeblues7]

They just don't want the kind of people who shoot with an 18 or 20 inch barrel. It has nothing to do with the gun itself.

[bigbearbear]

There was also this thread about a fellow forum poster being yelled at for using his Saiga 12 to shoot clays.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=730103&highlight=yelled+Saiga

Pretty funny actually.

[kdruff2]

^^^I just got done with reading all 4 pages of the above thread. Hilarious.

OP, sucks you didn't know about the minimum barrel length for clays at most ranges.

FWIW, I shoot at Oaktree and folks tend to be more forgiving when you are shooting in a group.....shhhh, try to blend in.

[flyer898]

I have an 18" bbl Model 97 that I have used to shoot skeet. Last time out I got 23 out of 25. The main hint I noticed that might be an issue for the other shooters was the noise. It is much louder with the same ammunition compared to my 30" bbl. Remington 11-87. Nobody complained.

[big al]

Find an extended choke that goes or protrudes almost two inches long.

[hardlyworking]

Find an extended choke that goes or protrudes almost two inches long.

Solid advice, just don't get a rifled choke, you'll spin your shot column and REALLY open up the pattern!

[mcmikeblues7]

Well in my case, "the kind of people" who shoot with 22" barrels are law abiding, former Boy Scout, American citizens with a college degree, a child in college, with fathers, uncles, and grandfathers that were Marines, Soldiers, and Airmen who have fought in every war since WWII, and who have respect for others and for safety. Not sure why they wouldn't want those kind of people.

I get it. I don't necessarily agree with them.

[Thefeeder]

><

Wow, just Wow.



Op your good to go with the 22" barrel at any range with 24" restrictions....just be safe. No one is going to give you the boot for shooting a field configured shotgun with a 2" shorter barrel


Barrel up, action open, no shells in the mag.

Load only when its your turn to shoot and your in the station. Load one shell at a time when shooting singles and two when shooting doubles.

Go have fun

[Dattebayo]

Only disadvantage to using a shorter barrel in a shotgun is the shorter sight plane. You lose little to no velocity because shotguns operate at much lower pressure levels compared to other firearms.

Pattern in a shotgun is more controlled by choke. A 20" barrel with a full choke will pattern similar to a 30" barrel with a full choke.

I shot at Prado just the other day and I normally use my CZ712 gas semi shotgun for trap and skeet, but for whatever reason, my father that went with me consistently played better with my Maverick 88 HD gun.