So thinking of getting into trap and skeet and pondering shotguns. Need advice.

[Tisto]

If you're just starting to shoot any of the clays games, you can shoot any of them with a field gun. When you figure out that you actually want to compete in any of them is when you start looking at specialized guns for them. Skeet guns are typically 26" O/U or autoloaders because of the short distances and quick 2nd target. Trap guns are typically 30- 34" full or improved modified choked and can be single barrel, O/U (for doubles trap), or autoloaders. Trap guns have a high rib and will pattern below where the point of aim is because the target is falling. Buying a specialized gun will help you improve your scores in either game. Sporting Clays is most like hunting, and one will do reasonably well at it with a field gun, but here again a specialized gun can help you improve your scores.

Every trap and skeet club I have ever been to has had a bulletin board where members advertise things they want to sell. Look on the board at your club and see what's available. I once bought a matched set of Winchester 101's - one trap model and one skeet model from such a posting.

Should you choose to shoot trap with an autoloader, buy yourself a shell catch to contain the spent shell. Ejecting a spent shell on the guy to your right is very rude.

Just like the gun itself can help your scores, your choice of shot makes a difference too. Skeet is usually shot with 9's or 8's. Trap shooters choose 7-1/2's or 8's.

 

[Acer-m14]

Should you choose to shoot trap with an autoloader, buy yourself a shell catch to contain the spent shell. Ejecting a spent shell on the guy to your right is very rude.

and any shell landing on the ground belongs to the club and members now ..

 

[1075tech]

I'd like to shoot trap. First time ever was a round with the West Point Cadet team on Range 10. I used one of the cadet's Berettas. A lot of them were using Krieghoffs also but they're about $10k. Shot 12/25 which the coach said wasn't too bad for the first time.

I tried a couple of times at a local club that had open trap on Sundays but I was trying to use a short barrel 20 gauge O/U that really wasn't designed for that.

If I do get a chance to get back into it, I'll just use my 870.

 

[Bustedknees]

and any shell landing on the ground belongs to the club and members now ..

Is there anything left that is reloadable these days?

 

[Jchrisls]

After a day now of window shopping and watching videos, I really want to try this. Thanks to everyone for thier advice it's been very helpful. I think if I stick with it an OU is the way to go. Thanks!

 

[diggs223]

its your money, but id recommend get your feet wet with something like an 870, if all goes well its good for hunting and easily modded for
home def.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

I ended up pulling the trigger on this one yesterday morning. I'll provide whatever inexperienced feedback I can offer.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/132096/american+tactical+imports+gkof12sve30+cavalry+ou+eject+12+28

 

[Jchrisls]

I ended up pulling the trigger on this one yesterday morning. I'll provide whatever inexperienced feedback I can offer.

View attachment 154130

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/132096/american+tactical+imports+gkof12sve30+cavalry+ou+eject+12+28

That is a spectacular price!

 

[GTN]

1st thing to do is find a shop that has lots of shotguns to touch. Looking at the internet pictures won’t help much.
When I was looking for my first O/U I went to get a Beretta Silver Pigeon. The salesman told me to close my eyes and mount the gun. He had me do it 6-10 times. Every time I had to readjust the gun to get a good sight picture. The gun didn’t fit me!
He had me try some other $5k Berettas. While they fit me the price was out of my league. He handed me a Browning Citori 725. Every time I mounted that gun it lined up perfect. $2800 was handed over.

1 other thing to remember is a cheap ($500) O/U will work for you but after 500 shots it will loosen open so much it will soon be no good. For 4-5 years I was shooting 10-15 flats 2500-3750 shots per yer and my Ruger is still in perfect condition.
I did the Cry once Buy once

 

[Jchrisls]

1st thing to do is find a shop that has lots of shotguns to touch. Looking at the internet pictures won’t help much.
When I was looking for my first O/U I went to get a Beretta Silver Pigeon. The salesman told me to close my eyes and mount the gun. He had me do it 6-10 times. Every time I had to readjust the gun to get a good sight picture. The gun didn’t fit me!
He had me try some other $5k Berettas. While they fit me the price was out of my league. He handed me a Ruger Citori 725. Every time I mounted that gun it lined up perfect. $2800 was handed over.

1 other thing to remember is a cheap ($500) O/U will work for you but after 500 shots it will loosen open so much it will soon be no good. For 4-5 years I was shooting 10-15 flats 2500-3750 shots per yer and my Ruger is still in perfect condition.
I did the Cry once Buy once

I've been windows shopping for 24 hours now lol. I will ask a friend who shoots if he would be interested in going and I will supply Clay's and ammunition. His collection is enormous so I should get some time behind a wide variety of brands and styles. As of right now, obviously without shooting it, my heart is behind a benelli Ethos sport in 12. She is just dam beautiful, the bell of the ball. The action seemed smooth and albeit a semi automatic, It just felt incredible. Since I began shooting not long ago I've felt benelli looks like a supermodel, and the ethos sport looks a 10/10. I will continue to research, leveraging access to a variety of guns before I decide, but I now know where my heart is.

 

[GTN]

I just noticed you’re from Rochester. Sportsman Warehouse as a nice variety. Ask for a salesman that shots a lot of clays. I know a couple of them there that have barely shot any.
JTH Agency in Pittsford is thee place to go. Lots an lots of shotguns there. Be careful with your charge card there. Lots of guns in the 10-25k range.
If you want to try mine let me know. I’m right down the road from Brooks

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Ruger Citori 725?

 

[GTN]

Ruger Citori 725?

Oops
Browning Citori 725 lol
As I typed that I knew something didn’t sound right.
I changed it. Thanks

 

[FRANKIE]

I've been windows shopping for 24 hours now lol. I will ask a friend who shoots if he would be interested in going and I will supply Clay's and ammunition. His collection is enormous so I should get some time behind a wide variety of brands and styles. As of right now, obviously without shooting it, my heart is behind a benelli Ethos sport in 12. She is just dam beautiful, the bell of the ball. The action seemed smooth and albeit a semi automatic, It just felt incredible. Since I began shooting not long ago I've felt benelli looks like a supermodel, and the ethos sport looks a 10/10. I will continue to research, leveraging access to a variety of guns before I decide, but I now know where my heart is.

Don’t want to get you in trouble or nothing but,
Follow your heart. The Ethos? My best friend now own 3 of them. So there must be something to it.
Those Italian shotguns are Fantástico

 

[diggs223]

gtn makes a good point, mount with your eyes closed. I had a citori couldn't hit crap with it.

 

[Acer-m14]

when shooting skeet on station 2,3,4 you need to look at your front sight and at the same time be looking in the window where the
clay will shoot out ..

so you look something like below when sighting a shotgun in skeet ..





made ya LOL ..

 

[Jchrisls]

So, the owner of the shop I work for is a big duck hunter and also does skeet, trap and sporting Clay's. Knowing he would have some extensive knowledge in ths area I approached him today to inquire about the sport, asking where he would begin if he had to do it all over again. His information was invaluable, and he has offered to take me shooting with him to get some exposure to it all. His collection is unbelievable ( has 7 benellis, 2 silver pigeons and most likely 30-40 shotguns alone) and has said he with bring along 10 or so to try. This should be a great starting point, I just need to keep my credit cards @ home to avoid the impulse to buy immediately after LOL. Will report back on the experience soon.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Had a chance to stop by H&H Daycare on Ridge Rd. yesterday to pick her up. Initial impressions.

Lighter than the Red Label I've been shooting. Aluminum receiver and the wood, while nice, just seems lighter.

Needed some serious lube of the marine surfaces just to operate freely. I'm sure (hoping) it will loosen over time.

Was clean with no damage and minimal shipping "oils". The details are laser engraved, which is nice, but obviously a cost saver.

The wood to metal fitment is not great, which I guess I'd have expected. Checkering seems nice.

Bores look clean and shiny. The exterior finish is almost a semi matte shotpeened look and feel. Not a smooth blued finish.

3 chokes received and I think I was expecting 5. None are visibly identified / marked so being a newb I'll have to refer to the experts which are which.

Initial impressions overall: Looks like a nice gun. Doesn't have the solid well made feel of the Ruger. Im not upset as I know this is a sub $500 budget shotgun.

I hope to shoot it today or Tuesday. I'll try to get a weight comparison soon.

 

[diggs223]

chokes are usually marked with dots or hash marks depends on manufacturer, not in writing

 

[diggs223]

chokes are usually marked with dots or hash marks depends on manufacturer, not in writing

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

chokes are usually marked with dots or hash marks depends on manufacturer, not in writing

Update. The idiot didn't notice they installed 2 chokes in the barrels already so I did get my 5. Found the notches so that's all figured out.

Shot 3 rounds. Getting used to it. Recoil was a little more but nothing at all to complain about.

Action is loosening up so I can assume it'll only get better.

The bead seems a little low as I look over the receiver so maybe I'll look into making a change there.

 

[diggs223]

Update. The idiot didn't notice they installed 2 chokes in the barrels already so I did get my 5. Found the notches so that's all figured out.

Shot 3 rounds. Getting used to it. Recoil was a little more but nothing at all to complain about.

Action is loosening up so I can assume it'll only get better.

The bead seems a little low as I look over the receiver so maybe I'll look into making a change there.

just for trial, beads is low, raise your head, painters tape some foam on for hieght. maybe you can find after market stock to modify

 

[Tinman]

I use a Beretta Silver Pigeon in 20 ga.

 

[Acer-m14]

you can get something like if you have a rib on the barrel top .. i got some that just snap on the rib .. was a little higher then the bead .. but i can see it better with old eyes ..

https://www.amazon.com/TRUGLO-Magnum-Gobble-Dot-Xtreme-Sight/dp/B000O8S0D2/ref=sr_1_31?keywords=shotgun+fiber+optic+front+sight&qid=1650168597&sprefix=shotgun+fi%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-31

 

[1075tech]

I use a Beretta Silver Pigeon in 20 ga.

I recently acquired and sold one. 1963 vintage

 

[Mk44]

3 chokes received and I think I was expecting 5. None are visibly identified / marked so being a newb I'll have to refer to the experts which are which.

View attachment 154927

Depending on the manufacturer, choke tubes may be marked in lettering or notches.

Examples of Notches at the front of choke tubes:

Lettered..

 

[Bustedknees]

Someone should stop screwing around and just buy the Ethos Sport.

 

[Saltwater60]

Had a chance to stop by H&H Daycare on Ridge Rd. yesterday to pick her up. Initial impressions.

Lighter than the Red Label I've been shooting. Aluminum receiver and the wood, while nice, just seems lighter.

Needed some serious lube of the marine surfaces just to operate freely. I'm sure (hoping) it will loosen over time.

Was clean with no damage and minimal shipping "oils". The details are laser engraved, which is nice, but obviously a cost saver.

The wood to metal fitment is not great, which I guess I'd have expected. Checkering seems nice.

Bores look clean and shiny. The exterior finish is almost a semi matte shotpeened look and feel. Not a smooth blued finish.

3 chokes received and I think I was expecting 5. None are visibly identified / marked so being a newb I'll have to refer to the experts which are which.

Initial impressions overall: Looks like a nice gun. Doesn't have the solid well made feel of the Ruger. Im not upset as I know this is a sub $500 budget shotgun.

I hope to shoot it today or Tuesday. I'll try to get a weight comparison soon.

View attachment 154922 View attachment 154923 View attachment 154924 View attachment 154925 View attachment 154926 View attachment 154927 View attachment 154928

Pretty gun.

 

[Saltwater60]

I can tell you my dream gun was a Beneli Montfeltro in a 20 gauge because it’s so longer and fast and shouldered so nice for me. I was waiting to find one under $1,000, but for whatever reason the 20 gauges were more costly than the 12 gauges. When gander outdoors was going out of business the guns were reduced and I had some sort of coupon so I asked if I could combine them. At first they said no, but I said there’s nothing here that says I can’t so I argued the point and the accepted. I got the gun out the door for $675 when they were $1,100 everywhere else. I’m thrilled with the purchase.
I passed up a Beneli ‘M4 for $700 and I’m still kicking myself to this day for passing on it.