First Shotgun for Trap

[.300 Weatherby Mag]

Something to keep in mind... If you want to shoot Doubles, Wobble or Skeet a pump is useless. So I suggest a double barrel, O/U or S/S. They are less problematic than the semiautomatics. Semi autos have less recoil but they are ejecting shells all over the place. Some semi autos don't cycle well with light loads.

Pumps may make life difficult but "useless" is going to far at least in terms of American Skeet... I can easily shoot in the low to mid 90s when shooting shooting 20 gauge pump let alone a 12... I've never gone straight shooting doubles with a pump, but I've shot a 24...

Admittedly, I do shoot in the high 90s with a purpose built beretta competition O/U...

Go to Walmart and buy what's on sale.

For a newbie, shooting American Trap at the 16 yard line.. This is excellent advice.

[Bazerkly]

Why is 20ga ok for clays in general but 12ga for trap? Is it because clays are going away from you in trap?

I love my 20ga Beretta. It works especially well on skeet. There is really not that much difference from a 12ga, I shoot 1oz loads on 12ga because they seem to work better than the 1 1/8oz. A 20ga load is 7/8oz. Not much difference!

[henmar77]

mossy 500

[Iskra]

1100's and 1187's are very soft-shooting, but wouldn't be my first choice for clay sports. They require more cleaning, maintenance, and repair than newer-design semiautos, and clay shooters shoot 100+ rounds just about every time they go out. They're great for learning, and for birdhunting, but probably not your best long-term option. OU's are very low-maintenance, as are newer semiauto designs like the Benelli's, Browning Golds (Winchester Super X's too), etc.

If you use a pump for clays, you'll want one with a wood stock for the weight. Plastic-stocked guns have a poor balance point and don't absorb much recoil. Again, that's fine for a tube full of buckshot or a slug at a pig or a limit of ducks, but you don't want to shoot 100 rounds through it in an hour or two.

And of course every shooter is different. I shoot 22's & 23's with a 1969 Winchester 1200 12ga pump but only hit 18's and 19's with a Beretta Silver Pigeon (which I should get around to having properly fitted, apparently). My 13-year old just hit his first 17 with a 20ga Franchi SA. I wouldn't say 20 ga is much of a hindrance - in competition 20's shoot against 12's in the same class, with no handicapping at all.

[midlife]

Thanks for all the great advice!

I bought a 12 gauge 1187. Seemed like a fair priced shotgun to learn with. It I end up loving trap, I'll get myself a better gun and sell it or donate it to the club.

They don't sell ammo at our club. It's just an outdoor range. So I got a few different boxes at midway. All 12 gauge target load, 2 and 3/4 inch, #7.5. 1 and 1/8 ounce.

[ysr_racer]

midlife, here's the deal. If you're just starting out (and you said you were) buy what ever you like/can afford. It doesn't make a bit of difference. Just get out and shot it, a lot.

If you end up liking a particular sport, you'll end up with another shotgun (and another, and another, and another...)

Where do you live? They have beginner clinics in both the north and south. I've never taken one, but I hear they're a good value.

[Bazerkly]

Pumps may make life difficult but "useless" is going to far at least in terms of American Skeet... I can easily shoot in the low to mid 90s when shooting shooting 20 gauge pump let alone a 12... I've never gone straight shooting doubles with a pump, but I've shot a 24...

I agree that a pump works just fine for simple trap. But trying to shoot any kind of doubles, Skeet, Wobble or Doubles Trap would be extremely difficult with a pump. My point being, if you purchase a shotgun that can serve multiple purposes then you won't have to go out and buy another shotgun if you decide to shoot Skeet or Competition Trap where there are doubles.

[Bazerkly]

While you are looking at the Remingtons Check out the 1100 Sport. It comes with extended chokes and comes in different gauges, even .410! .410 Skeet is Kool!

[CK_32]

For starters any gun with a 24"+ will do. I've been doing clays for a while and am no pro but have some success and still shoot my 870 with no handy cap aside from skill.

Just find a good gun you swing and fit well and have at it. When you learn the game and decide to get better into it invest in a nice O/U. And go 12g.

[ysr_racer]

For starters any gun with a 24"+ will do. I've been doing clays for a while and am no pro but have some success and still shoot my 870 with no handy cap aside from skill.

Just find a good gun you swing and fit well and have at it. When you learn the game and decide to get better into it invest in a nice O/U. And go 12g.

Yep, that's exactly right.

[Lead Waster]

Something to keep in mind... If you want to shoot Doubles, Wobble or Skeet a pump is useless. So I suggest a double barrel, O/U or S/S. They are less problematic than the semiautomatics. Semi autos have less recoil but they are ejecting shells all over the place. Some semi autos don't cycle well with light loads.

I wouldn't say that! I went to the Nor Cal skeet clinic a year or two (maybe 2) ago and brought my Big 5 combo Mossberg 500 with the 28 inch barrel. A the end of the day we shot some doubles, and most of us newbies (most with pumps) were able to hit the doubles at least once in our attempts. Sure it's harder with the pump, but if a newb can do it (not 100% of the time) then it shouldn't be USELESS.

[AAShooter]

I agree that a pump works just fine for simple trap. But trying to shoot any kind of doubles, Skeet, Wobble or Doubles Trap would be extremely difficult with a pump. My point being, if you purchase a shotgun that can serve multiple purposes then you won't have to go out and buy another shotgun if you decide to shoot Skeet or Competition Trap where there are doubles.

If you learn to run a pump, you can shoot doubles without an issue. I shot trap the first few years with an 870 Wingmaster.

[midlife]

Go to Walmart and buy what's on sale.

Ok. But what do I need for trap?

[Tom-ADC]

71/2, 8's or 9's any will work to start 8 may be best.

[TempleKnight]

The Remington 1100, especially the 1100 trap with a 30-32 inch barrel, is fine for trap. I started with the 1100 trap. When I got serious and joined a league, I moved to a Remington 3200 special trap.

When I got tired of shooting while standing still, I went back to 1100 (tac4) for 3Gun. When I got serious about 3Gun, I moved to the Benelli M2.