18.5" barrel shotgun for clays

[razorduc]

I'm looking at picking up a Benelli M4. Since I'm only planning to have 1 shotgun (for the time being), and I don't hunt, is it still good for something like clay shooting? That will be the most action it sees until I get to a shotgun class.

From what I understand, for clay/skeet/trap shooting and hunting, a long barrel is generally preferred. Would there be any deterrent from using something like the M4 for clays?

[Capybara]

Some places may not let you use it would be one deterrent. While most don't have a written rule on barrel length, some ranges will not let short barreled defensive type shotguns on their fields.

As a shotgun instructor, my advice is your 18.5" barrel will be awful for clays shooting too, way too short and whippy, good follow through will be almost impossible. Your weight distribution will be all off. If you just want to casually shoot some trap, I would either rent the right gun at the range or spend $150.00 on a single shot 12 Ga. with a 28" barrel.

[aristeia]

If you go to an informal range like ASR or bring your own launcher to shoot on open BLM land then you can use whatever you want. If you go to a range with actual trap/skeet/sporting clay stations, they will have a minimum barrel length of at least 24". An 18.5" is great for indoor ranges or shooting paper though.

[Shorthair]

I'm looking at picking up a Benelli M4. Since I'm only planning to have 1 shotgun (for the time being), and I don't hunt, is it still good for something like clay shooting? That will be the most action it sees until I get to a shotgun class.

From what I understand, for clay/skeet/trap shooting and hunting, a long barrel is generally preferred. Would there be any deterrent from using something like the M4 for clays?

Terrible for clay shooting.
Balance, choke, grip, sight picture all BAD or clays.
Also it looks pretty "ghetto" showing up at a clays range with a HD shotgun.
But,.... to each his own.
Buy a 2 barrel Mossberg combo if you want both worlds.

[Dannicus]

Even 26" feels short to me. I think the sights would be distracting, too.

[POLICESTATE]

MOST places will not let you shoot clays with a barrel that short. Minimum barrel length at sporting clay and trap ranges usually run from 24" to 26"

I took my 20" boomstick sporting clays once, they didn't like it, so I got a 26" just for trap/clays. I liked using my coach gun though. Oh well!

[Michael_Js]

Same here. Although no one said anything - other than you are going to have a tough time - I brought my 18.5" barrel to shoot trap. I recently spent $350 on a cheap Remington Express 28" and it's so much better - I need to improve now

Also, there are some companies that sell the double barrels - 18.5" & 26/28"...that's what I should have gotten!

[calif 15-22]

Up here in Nor Cal, Coyote Valley Clays has a 22" min I believe. Metcalf has an 18" min for their trap and skeet.

I was one of "those guys" with my Versamax Tactical 22" trying to shoot clays. As other's have mentioned it can be done, but the gun does "whip" for those quick High and Low sporting clays.

Works great for the rabbit clays though . . .

I'm now working on getting a 28" Sporting gun.

[bigbearbear]

Hey razor, I was in the same exact situation as you are now back in Sep 2013. I came from rifle shooting background, M16s and SAWs, and when I went looking for a shotgun the M4 and others like it seems like a perfect firearm to own.

It was by luck that I ended up with clay shooting shotgun and it turned out to be a great choice.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a Benelli M4, it is an awesome fighting shotgun with a fearsome reputation most other shotguns can only dream of. However, as a first shotgun, it might not be a good choice. This is because how specialized it is. As a combat shotgun with its short barrel and ghost ring sight, you'll be handicapped when shooting many clay shooting sports (eg. trap, skeet and sporting clays). And as others have mentioned, many ranges have min. barrel length requirement which means you won't be able to use your shotgun in many nice ranges.

I think it'll be a pity and great loss if you ended up not being able to enjoy clay shooting as much as you can. The ability to mount a shotgun smoothly, track, swing and break flying clay target(s) in a single fluid motion is something you'll enjoy learning.

For something that you can use in tactical shotgun class and shoot clay with, perhaps consider another semi-auto with a 24" barrel and straight stock? Perhaps a Benelli M2 Field or Beretta 1391 Comp? I'm not familiar with ranges in LA area but here in SF Bay Area, there is only 1 range that I know of that requires min. of 26" barrel (Sunnyvale Rod and Gun, awesome range btw) so you might want to check and see if 24" is a good compromise.

[anti]

Just pick up a single shot from budsgunshop. It'd still be way cheaper than replacing a barrel.

If you're set on a Benelli and you want something similar to the M4, I believe the M2 field is pretty close as far as feel/looks.

[kdruff2]

Echo the above on a Benelli M2 Field 26" for an all purpose shotgun. However, it'll feel a wee short for the clay games and a wee long for HD.

[Vertigofirearms]

VENT-RIB Bead sights
NO pistol grips
NO side saddles
NO weird looking door breacher tacti-cool muzzle

[anti]

VENT-RIB Bead sights
NO pistol grips
NO side saddles
NO weird looking door breacher tacti-cool muzzle

Yep, that's the first thing a lot of ranges check before you shoot your own guns. Plus, tacticool guns are pretty gay. I used to think they were cool when the OLL craze started but now everyone and their moms are into it just for the fad. I appreciate that we can do it thanks to CalGuns and the like, but I'd rather have a gun I could actually use instead of just plinking in the desert while pretending I'm some kind of "operator" making YouTube vids.

[Thefeeder]

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A lot of shotguners are getting into clays...most have guns with short barrels for what ever reason....it doesn't matter to me what you start with, the skills needed to break clay, hunt birds or eradicate flying zombies is the same with long or short barrels

IMO A first shotgun should be one that you will shoot often and as economically as possible....with gas, ammo, range fees and training quality being taken into consideration.

Clays offers lots of local ranges, with Skeet, Trap, Sproting Clay and Five Stand running about .50 a round for shells and range fees, easy to get to and any training you pay for, you can actually practice what you learned......when was the last time you 'had" to make two shots count with your shotgun?

First shotgun....Long barrel, choke tubes, field stock....Buy a second short barrel if you want, put it back on when you get back from the range.

Have fun with the SG without the long drives or paying a buck a round to shoot paper that’s right in front of you

Get out there , be safe, have fun , repeat offen

[jl7422]

Most fun I've had in a long time is shooting clays (thrown with a Trius One Step) with riot guns.