Interested in Trap shooting...

[Scratch705]

So went trap shooting for the first time this weekend with friends, and am interested.

I know there are some threads all over the internet about what first trap shotgun to get, and the general consensuses seems to be to get a shotgun that may not be limited to just trap but a general pump shotgun until I know for sure I am fully involved.

But in my case, I will only use this shotgun for trap. After a few hours of researching, I believe I narrowed my choices down to these three based upon my budget (under $800):

Winchester SXP Trap
Browning BPS Trap (pretty much the max budget range)
Savage Arms Model 555 O/U

Wild Card: Stoeger Condor Competition O/U (some reviews around the net says that it doesn't withstand abuse an average trap shooter puts the gun through at least for the regular condor version.)

Now, I will say that I don't see myself going much more than once or twice a month and won't be shooting hundreds of round per trip, probably 2-4 boxes each trip. Not looking to get serious in trap, just something to enjoy some time with friends.

UPDATE: Post#30, got the winchester sxp and got first damage at 75 rounds in. happened at the trap range. dunno if it is serious...

[ysr_racer]

Get any semi auto you like, and be done with it.

[edgerly779]

I have a winchester 101 o/u made in 1967 never broke and I have put thousands of rounds thru it.

[Tom-ADC]

For the money be hard to beat the Winchester

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_67/products_id/93381/WGUN+512296394+SXP+TRP+12+32+INV%2B3

[ysr_racer]

If you're new to trap shooting, don't buy a dedicated trap gun.

Get any basic semi auto. You'll be MUCH happier.

[Leagle8]

Semi-auto is kinder on recoil, which is a blessing around the time you get to the 2nd or 3rd box of 12 ga. shells. Whatever you get, invest in having the stock fitted to your arm length (which usually means cutting it or adding length) and a good shoulder pad. If possible, choose a gun with a sight rail/ramp along the top of the barrel. Most trap shooters will install a back bead. That is a cheap fix. Why? It helps with cheeking in the same position every time because you get a more consistent sight picture when you stack the beads to a figure 8.

[AAShooter]

Given your "light" commitment to trap, I would suggest getting a general clays gun. You will be able to use it to shoot trap and if you get more serious about trap shooting, you will probably want a specialized trap gun that you can probably not identify now. Only a suggestion.

[Capybara]

Trap alone eventually gets boring. You will hear the siren song of Skeet, 5 Stand and Sporting Clays eventually. You may want to hunt also. A Trap only gun is pretty useless for anything but Trap. Buy a Sporting Clays gun, you can use it to shoot Trap, Sporting Clays or Skeet. Mine has a 30" barrel and is decent for any of the sports.

[Hank15]

Get an A300 Outlander in wood configuration.

Cycles like an A400, points well, and hits your shoulder softer than a puppy slap.

Best part? You can get it for about $800 out the door.

[Scratch705]

Get any semi auto you like, and be done with it.

Get an A300 Outlander in wood configuration.

Cycles like an A400, points well, and hits your shoulder softer than a puppy slap.

Best part? You can get it for about $800 out the door.

I haven't really considered semi-auto shotguns since when i did go, we were only shooting 1 shell at a time so didn't really consider something that was "faster"

I will check the A300 and other similar shotguns.

Given your "light" commitment to trap, I would suggest getting a general clays gun. You will be able to use it to shoot trap and if you get more serious about trap shooting, you will probably want a specialized trap gun that you can probably not identify now. Only a suggestion.

Trap alone eventually gets boring. You will hear the siren song of Skeet, 5 Stand and Sporting Clays eventually. You may want to hunt also. A Trap only gun is pretty useless for anything but Trap. Buy a Sporting Clays gun, you can use it to shoot Trap, Sporting Clays or Skeet. Mine has a 30" barrel and is decent for any of the sports.

What are some examples of a general sporting clays shotgun? since this is actually the first time i have even taken a look at shotguns in detail so i'm pretty much a complete noob at this.

i had only shot a shotgun once before this trap outing and that was with my buddy's 870, and we had only shot buckshot and some slugs.

and i'm wondering what makes a "trap" shotgun less versatile than other types of shotguns? the winchester sxp trap if you put a short barrel on it, can act like a home defense shotgun like a typical 870/500 right? at it's core it is still a pump shotgun right? or am i completely off base here?

[AAShooter]

I haven't really considered semi-auto shotguns since when i did go, we were only shooting 1 shell at a time so didn't really consider something that was "faster"

I will check the A300 and other similar shotguns.




What are some examples of a general sporting clays shotgun? since this is actually the first time i have even taken a look at shotguns in detail so i'm pretty much a complete noob at this.

i had only shot a shotgun once before this trap outing and that was with my buddy's 870, and we had only shot buckshot and some slugs.

and i'm wondering what makes a "trap" shotgun less versatile than other types of shotguns? the winchester sxp trap if you put a short barrel on it, can act like a home defense shotgun like a typical 870/500 right? at it's core it is still a pump shotgun right? or am i completely off base here?

Let me ramble on a bit and I hope things will be clear. Most shotguns for hunting and general clays guns shoot flat--essentially they pattern so the center of the pattern is the same as the "point of aim". This is not generally true with trap guns. Trap guns shoot high since you are always shooting rising birds. In some cases the entire pattern may be above the "point of aim". That is part of the reason you see extreme ribs on many trap guns.



Further, trap has going away targets without a lot of side movement (excluding international/bunker trap). So trap guns tend to be heavy and have long barrels. Many trap guns will be 30+" barrels.

These characteristics may shooting general clays difficult, especially hard crossing and/or falling clays. This is where a sporting clays gun is designed to shine. It will be set up for clays shooting and will shoot flat. Although it is not optimized for a specific clays sport (for example skeet), it can be pressed into shooting a variety clays sports with good results. That same is true for a hunting gun but a sporting clays gun will have some nice added features for shooting clays.

I hope that helps understand the issues a little better. The challenge is to find a good quality sporting clays gun for your budget. I would consider the used marketplace.

Finally, if you can find someone to let you shoot a variety of guns, that would be great. Many clays shooters will let you try their guns if they have confidence that you aren't a knucklehead. Perhaps some of the Calgunners in you area can lend you a hand if they knew more specifics on clays ranges near you. The key is to get a gun that fits you.

An article I ran across: http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gun...ing-clays-guns

[Newshooter]

If you ever decide to shoot "doubles" trap or get into sporting clays, you will appreciate an over/under or a semi as two targets are thrown simultaneously or close to it. Racking a pump can slow you down when trying to get to the second target.

[AAShooter]

Yep, pumps are slow:

[Tom-ADC]

Shot my first 25 with a Mossberg made Trap gun. Had a Simmons high rib, trap stock and shot great.

[Leagle8]

What makes a dedicated trap gun less versatile? As has been pointed out in several earlier threads, a dedicated trap gun barrel is set up so that when your bead is at the 6 oclock (bottom edge), the pattern is just over the target, giving you a natural lead on a rising target (which is what the bird is doing at 25 yards). You do not have to cover the target with your barrel, thus maintaining a visual the entire time while tracking. No auto safety when closing the breach on O/U doubles, etc. Not a big deal.

Lots of shooters use their trap guns to hunt, but if you have a trap gun with expensive scrolling, finish and wood, you don't want to take it hunting because it will pick up nicks, dings and scratches. Most dedicated trap guns are a bit more pricey because the gun maker can charge more for the added dedicated features....front ramps, rear beads, recoil pads, adjustable cheek rests, just to name a few.