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Looking for recommendation for entry level trap shotgun.
Over under? Semi auto?
This would be a trap only shotgun.
12 ga.
One that fits you.
If you don't know what fits you, go to your Club and tell the Trapezoids that you want to play. You'll likely be given several to try. The one that feels best will likely be the best one for you.
I prefer a semi-auto. Lots of people go O/U. Pumps work.
it's all about fit. NO fit, NO hit.
You're in Eastern Mass. Come out to Southborough Rod and Gun this Thursday (6-9 PM), and you can try a few.
www.southboroughrodandgun.com
Others' opinions are not relevant. Just what works for you. If it's entry level, then what's "right" may change between now, and when it's Trap For Real.
There is a reason the first time I set foot on a trap field the first question someone asked was "do you own a shotgun?" And when I said no the response was "Good, DO NOT BUY ONE YET! Figure out what fits you first."This right here. It's entirely about what fits you. If a Remington 870 is what fits you, then don't listen to anyone who might try to gun shame you. Just go shoot a 25 with it and they will shut up fast.
Go see your local trap guys and most of them will happily lend you their gun to try. Or come see us out at SRG if it's not too far and MisterHappy can take care of you. I'm usually there for trap as well and you're welcome to try whatever I've got with me.
Looking for recommendation for entry level trap shotgun.
Over under? Semi auto?
This would be a trap only shotgun.
A buddy of mine told me he has tagged along a couple times at Holbrook and they lend him an old Mossy 500 and he had a great time.
A crappy shotgun can be used at 16 yards with varying results, but it's the 27-yard handicap that separates the men from the boys. A real trap shotgun is needed for the handicap.
I think this thread just saved me a lot of money time and frustration
I have been wanting to try trap for a while and the reason why I haven't is because I only have an HD shotgun and I have been researching what trap/skeet gun to get.How so?
I have been wanting to try trap for a while and the reason why I haven't is because I only have an HD shotgun and I have been researching what trap/skeet gun to get.
Solution is more simple. Go try shotguns, then buy.
Please define "crappy shotgun". Do you mean any shotgun other than a dedicated trap gun? Im just trying to figure out what angle your coming from. I've seen more guys on the 16 yard line with kreighoff's and ceasar guarini guns hitting for 20-23 regularly than I see guys with those high end guns hitting 25 straight I'll tell you that!
I shoot trap with my hunting irons (auto 5 browning and Mossberg 500 and neither of which I would consider crappy.........I've harvested alot of game with those guns.......they mean alot to me). I regularly hit 24 and 25 with them from 16. Sure the 27 yard line will give me some trouble......but.....my point is there are alot of bmw and audi driving trapazoids out there with $6000 guns that can't hit a bull in the ass with a snow shovel.
A family friend of mine was a huge into trap competitions back in the 80s when it was all about the Remington 1100s......he hit 350 straight at one point. So......now that the fad has changed to spending thousands on over under guns from Europe have people's scores increased? I doubt it.
Learn to ****ing shoot before you drop thousands cuz......
The gun hits where you point it!
"Learn to shoot before you drop thousands cuz..." Wow, now I know why your user name is whacko! I hit a raw nerve there somewhere.
There's nothing like shooting first and asking questions later.
Where I'm coming from is that anyone that is seriously into Trap competitions doesn't use a "cheaper" pump shotgun like a Mossberg. The Mossberg will do just fine for casual trap shooting, but if it doesn't have a minimum of a 28" barrel, forget using it at longer distances, especially 27 yards, unless you're just shooting at continuous straight away birds. I too know guys with Kreighoffs and Caesar Guerinis that can't shoot for shiite at any distance.
I don't drive a BMW or an Audi, and an Audi wouldn't even be on my list for an expensive car.
My trap and sporting clay guns are a Remington 1100 Classic Trap and a Remington 1100 Competition; so I'm not in the Kreighoff or Guerini class. Many good shooters have won competitions using a Remington 1100.
Kittery Trading Post sells used barrels, try there if you need one....If your hd gun is a mossy 500 or Remy 870 or something similar you can look around for a longer barrel and use the same gun.
Kittery Trading Post sells used barrels, try there if you need one....
all the guys I shoot with have O/U Citori's on up and 30+ inch barrels and my little 28' CZ Redhead Premier seems to consistently out shoot them. They used to tell me I was shooting handicapped with the shorter barrel but I've more than proved that theory wrong. I've also found alot more consistency using the Federal 7.5 shot target ammo over other 7.5 out there as far as store bought off the shelf ammo goes.
I would trend towards that entry level gun for trap is likely not where someone stops if they really pick it up and start shooting ATA, etc."Learn to shoot before you drop thousands cuz..." Wow, now I know why your user name is whacko! I hit a raw nerve there somewhere.
There's nothing like shooting first and asking questions later.
Where I'm coming from is that anyone that is seriously into Trap competitions doesn't use a "cheaper" pump shotgun like a Mossberg. The Mossberg will do just fine for casual trap shooting, but if it doesn't have a minimum of a 28" barrel, forget using it at longer distances, especially 27 yards, unless you're just shooting at continuous straight away birds. I too know guys with Kreighoffs and Caesar Guerinis that can't shoot for shiite at any distance.
I don't drive a BMW or an Audi, and an Audi wouldn't even be on my list for an expensive car.
My trap and sporting clay guns are a Remington 1100 Classic Trap and a Remington 1100 Competition; so I'm not in the Kreighoff or Guerini class. Many good shooters have won competitions using a Remington 1100.
My thoughts as someone completely new to the game (first round of trap last month, bought my gun last week, shot it for the first time this past Sunday) as well:
1. No matter what you get, as Mr. Happy says - make sure it fits you first. Also remember that, if you're like me, no matter what you get everything else you see out there will look like it's better in some way and you'll want to own them all eventually if you didn't need that money for things like food and bills. Be OK with that and use what you've got.
2. After looking at a number of guns, I settled on a Remington 870 with a 28" barrel as my first gun. Reason being that it's a decent all around gun that you can later modify with shorter barrel and extended tube for home defense or keep in the longer barrel for hunting and casual sport. As a pump, it works just fine for trap where you're shooting one at a time but I struggled when I tried 5 Stand at my club this past weekend as pumping it on the double targets can slow you down and change your aim/timing. I wasn't too bothered with that as I'm not playing for score as much as I am learning the gun and the game. I tried another member's semi-auto for a second round and that worked much better so I'd look into that for a second gun eventually, but this will do just fine for now where the limiting factor is my ability to aim and not the hardware. I've got pretty much everything I need to participate, learn, and eventually compete OK at trap for under $400 after tax including an new gun, a cleaning kit, a case, and a first box of shells which is not bad in my book.
Good luck and have fun.