Shotgun Options ?

[markdeerhunter]

Hi Guys,I would like to know what the difference is between sporting clays,skeet,and trap guns is.Could I get one gun that would reasonably do the job for all three?Thanks MDH

[VanL6]

Good question MDH. I have 2 Winchester model 12's that I use for breaking clays. One has a shorter barrel than the other. The shorter barrel one I use for shooting skeet cause you are closer to the clays. The longer barrel one I use for shooting trap. I have never been interested in sporting clays. I have always wanted to stay focused and improve my skeet and trap shooting.

[VanL6]

Have you ever tried this kind of shooting MDH?

[markdeerhunter]

No,I have never shot clays before,but Iwould like to start.What barrel lengths and action would be best?

[Savage]

There are speciality guns for both skeet and trap. They are stocked differently in comb height, and cast on/off. The trap gun is normally longer barreled with a higher rib, The skeet gun is usually more open choked, shorter barrel. Both have one thing in common, they are considerably more expensive than the hunting shotguns. I think it's better pratice to use your hunting shotgun for both. If you have a pump or autoloader with a 26"-28" barrel and choke tubes, you are good to go on both skeet and trap. A good over/under is a good choice as well. You don't have to spend a lot of money on a speciality shotgun to have fun at either game. Try it with the shotgun you have and see!
Stay Safe,
Savage

[VanL6]

All of the points that Savage brings up are true, except for one thing- If you are standing on a trap feild with 5 others, and you are the only one with a feild gun, and are breaking far fewer clays then the others, He might not be having fun. It will be even less fun shooting skeet. In between shooting, during the social part of skeet, the others in the group will be suggesting to him that if he wants to break more clays he ought not be trying to do it with a feild gun. They are both games, and don't we all have more fun when we are doing well at a game instead of poorly?

[savageT]

VanL6,
Point taken.....but what the heck?  It doesn't hurt to go out to the range and give it a go a couple times....You might be a natural and whip a couple butts in the process!!! :grin:

[BH]

This post brings back some memories of times long past and a big smile to my face ... especially Savage T's response to VanL6.  Back in the early 70's I hunted mostly ducks and ringnecks and could only afford one gun for the job (it was a Mossberg 500 12 ga., full choke).  However, a hunting friend with considerably more resources than I talked me into trying some Southern Iowa Quail hunting.  Knowing the full choke wouldn't cut the mustard I bought a used Mossberg barrel, chopped it off to 19" with a hacksaw and hammered (yes, hammered) a little choke into it until it closed the pattern just enough to get the hole out of the center of the pattern with the 1 1/8oz. 8 1/2 shot load I had worked up.  I tapped the muzzle and screwed in a 4-40 pan head screw for a bead.

After seeing this contraption, my friend suggested we go to the local trap/skeet range where he was a member and give it a try.  It was a Saturday afternoon and we had to wait about an hour to get on the skeet range.  This was my first time on a any kind of skeet/trap range and I couldn't help but notice the fancy guns and apparel people were wearing (I showed up in my hunting garb).   After getting the low down on how this game was played I took my station and the game started.  I could here a lot of mumbling going on in the background and was sure I knew what it was all about but after the third round there wasn't much mumbling going on at all. :lol:

Do what ya gotta do and don't look back.

Bob

[savageT]

Bob,
That was a great story.......Nothin' like kickin a little butt and gainin' some respect!  God Bless!

Jim

[BH]

Thanks, Jim.

But, in deference to VanL6, he does make a good point.  That environment can be intimidating to someone with thin skin (something I have never suffered from).  And, in the years since that incident I have enjoyed many outings at the range with much more appropriate guns and attire although I’m not sure I’ve ever had the fire in my belly to prove myself as I did on that occasion.

By the way, that old sawed-off  500 accounted for an awful lot of Quail in the bag for several years.

Bob

[VanL6]

Wonderful story BH.

[jgalar]

The main difference is how high the guns shoot. The targets in trap are rising so you are better off with a gun that shoots high. You have to cover the bird with a field gun where using a trap gun you aim under it.

Get a morgan pad! The morgan pad has an aluminum base that you mount to your stock. It has horizontal grooves in it. The actual pad bolts to the base using slotted screws. It is also grooved. You can adjust the pad up or down to raise or lower your face contact with the stock. For shooting trap, I taped 2 quarters to the back of the rib and adjusted the morgan pad so I could see the bead laying on top of the quarters. This made the gun shoot the same as a trap gun. You only have to loosen a couple of screws to be able to adjust the pad. very quick and easy to adjust between trap, clays, skeet, or hunting. There are 2 different pads. One is straight for hunting and clays the other is curved for skeet and trap.

You can get them from Cabelas.