[CRESCENDOPOWER]

http://ableammo.com/catalog/default....=21_31_207_209

For shooting trap/drinking beer on the weekend with my buddies (you can tell I don’t plan on being competitive with this) which would you choose, a 12-gauge Magnum 3.5-inch, or a standard 12-gauge 3-inch?
I am considering Browning (but I will consider other brand recommendations also), which offers a 30-inch barrel with the standard 3-inch, or a 28-inch barrel with the 3.5-inch Magnum. Any suggestions?

 

[jpr703]

You absoultely do not need 3.5" shells to shoot trap. In fact, you don't even need 3". Standard 2 3/4" are plenty and you'll just spend a fortune on ammo and beat up your shoulder if you use anything else. Larger shells are meant for hunting and are overkill for clay discs. Unless you plan to use your trap gun to hunt geese, turkey or large ducks, the 3" chamber should be plenty.

Barrel length is a personal matter. I tend to like shorter barrels, 28" and even 26". Some people think that longer barrels help with their follow-through because the extra weight keeps the barrel swinging as you fire. Works for some, but to me it just makes the gun cumbersome. Barrel length does not affect accuracy or the pattern of your shot at any real distance. You may run across those arguments, but they're bunk so don't get tripped up. All that matters is what feels comforatble to you. Whatever you end up getting, make sure that the barrel will accomodate screw-in choke tubes. This will give you a lot of flexibility down the road.

Browning makes a good trap gun. So does Beretta. You really can't go wrong with either. There are other that get insanely expensive, but Perazzi and Kreighoff make very nice guns if your budget allows.

One more quick tip. Keep your eye open for Winchester AA shells next time you go to Walmart. Sometimes they have them, sometimes they don't. When they do, the price tends to be very, very good. So good, that it makes reloading pointless. They're excellent shells too, so stock up when you get a chance.

 

[Old Pa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRESCENDOPOWER For shooting trap/drinking beer on the weekend with my buddies (you can tell I don’t plan on being competitive with this) which would you choose, a 12-gauge Magnum 3.5-inch, or a standard 12-gauge 3-inch? I am considering Browning (but I will consider other brand recommendations also), which offers a 30-inch barrel with the standard 3-inch, or a 28-inch barrel with the 3.5-inch Magnum. Any suggestions?

The only reason for 3.5" 12ga is with large steel shot for large waterfowl (ie. geese) and then only in light of a resurgent 10ga and waterfowlers with more money than sense. You are not going to need even the capacities of a 3" 12 ga for trap or any of the clays games.

Shotgunning is a matter of pointing and patterns. You want a shotgun that fits you and is light and lively in your hands. This makes it quick and accurate to point. In terms of patterning, you want a shot column that is relatively large diameter and short length. This leads to less shot deformation in the gun on discharge and round pellets fly truest and hold their speed best. This combination decreases the length of the shot column at the target and evens the pellets distribution (pattern). More pellets arriving at the same time and in even patterns leads to more powdered clay pigeons. All that said, it's hard to beat a 2 3/4" 12ga for patterning 1oz to 1 1/8oz of #6 through #9 shot through the practical range for clay shooting games. Also, stay away from high velocity shells; they are unnecessary and tend to batter the gun (and shooter) and blow patterns. In see cases of Winchester AAs in your future.

The gun I use for these pursuits is a Benelli M1 (synthetic stock) 3" 12 ga. 28" barrel. This is a wonderful gun with light weight, great reliability, and standardly adjustable drop. If I was to suggest another shotgun, I would suggest two Benellis. My only modification for sporting clays games is using an aftermarket IC choke tube that extends beyond the end of the barrel and is ventilated allowing the discharge gases to counteract recoil. Generally speaking, you shoot more shells in an hour of clays than in a season of upland grouse hunting.

 

[KYTGuy]

Another vote for the 3" chamber in which you'll be shooting 2 3/4" shells...

A good shooting vest, a recoil pad on the gunstock, a vented choke/compensator, and you are set for a fun shooting time...

See ya at the range!

 

[Jam_Master_J]

I've got a light, single shot break action, full choke, 2 3/4" 12 gauge I use for trap. It does the job. If you want to shoot double trap look into an autoloading gun(such as a Remington 1100 or 11-87), the gas operation reduces felt recoil considerably, shooting double trap with a single shot gun can be a little tricky

When shooting clays you'll want to use lighter 2 3/4" loads with #7 or smaller (larger # indicates smaller shot-#9 is smaller than #7) shot.

 

[guzzler]

Don't get an automatic for trap, it really pisses the referee up at the end when you don't clear up your cases and annoys the people next to you who are about to shoot. A Beretta 682 would put you in great shape for all kinds of shooting, be it game or clay, although buying one as a dedicated trap gun restricts them slightly. I shoot 28" barrels on a Beretta 686 for everything, but would prefer 30" for trap. Browning also make very nice guns for trap. As Old Pa says, it's a case of preference in the matter and most good shops on ranges will let you try out a gun before you buy it fully. A gun chambered for 3" cartridges is unnecessary, in my opinion, as you can buy up to 36g (1.25oz)in 2"3/4 which are going to be fine for almost everything except for wildfowling. In fact, the rules here in the UK are for a maximum of 28g (1oz) for domestic disciplines (inc FITASC sporting, by far the best and most testing discipline. Seriously rangy at times too!), and 24g (0.85oz) for international disciplines (OS, OT, Double trap(?)), and a maximum shot size of an English 6. Lyalvale make lovely cartridges for trap disciplines, try the Specialist DTL range for 28g, and the Excel Olympians for 24g loads. I reckon for a nice gun here, look to be spending around $2500 or so (assuming prices are the same in the US, a 682 can be had here for around £1200)...

Have fun

g

 

[Old Pa]

Quote:

(such as a Remington 1100 or 11-87)

All of the gunsmiths I know (and especially those up north in game country) are of the belief that modern Remington repeating shotguns, both pump and autoloaders, were designed solely to keep gunsmiths in business; they break, they break often, and the same two or three parts keep tanking.

Quote:

Don't get an automatic for trap

Not an issue in the United States; well over half the guys shoot repeating shotguns for clay games. If you plan to reload, however, you better check with wherte you shoot about collecting your empty hulls; some places feel they own any hull that hits the ground. I like my 12 and 20 gauge Winchester 101 ultralights and my Classic Doubles 201 20 ga. side-by-side just fine, but it's hard to beat the way a Benelli works (and keeps working) for the clay games.

 

[Jam_Master_J]

Quote:

All of the gunsmiths I know (and especially those up north in game country) are of the belief that modern Remington repeating shotguns, both pump and autoloaders, were designed solely to keep gunsmiths in business; they break, they break often, and the same two or three parts keep tanking.

That's weird, alot of the local guys have 1100s and 1187s and never seem to have any problems with them at all.

I also find it clay shooting there is quite gap between the guys with expensive double barrel Italian guns and guys with cheaper guns. I know there is at least one guy at our range that laughs at people with cheap guns. The thing is, he's pretty much the worst shot there. Not to say all people with nicer dbl's are like that but it's just something I've observed.

 

[Old Pa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jam_Master_J That's weird, alot of the local guys have 1100s and 1187s and never seem to have any problems with them at all.

Besides the O-ring on the magazine tube, which wears out regularly, the stamped steel shell holder catch, and one other stamped steel fedd part I can't remember Remington's name for fracture and break with regularity. The shell holder catch is especially vexing in the field, since it jams up the gun so it can't even be single-fed and cannot be fixed without tools.

 

[jpr703]

I'll second Benelli as a great choice. More of a field gun than a trap gun, but it does both just fine. I've shot trap in places where you see over/unders almost exclusively and I've shot in a number of places where autoloaders are the norm. As long as you're shooting somewhere where people won't look down their noses at you for bringing an autoloader, it's nice to have a gun that works well for more than one thing.

I've owned an original Super Black Eagle for many years and have hunted in some pretty rough conditions with it--it's never failed me. My brother owns a Benelli Montefeltro and his experience has been the same.

Take a look at the different models. If you've never bought a shotgun before, try going to a few different stores and see if you can find someone knowledgeable to help you find a gun that fits you well.

 

[Jam_Master_J]

As well, try going to a local trap range for advice. Most of the guys would probably let you try a round with their guns to see which one is for you.

 

[jpr703]

I forgot to mention that I've also owned a Remington 1100. That gun gave me nothing but problems and after ruining a few hunts it got retired to the vault and hasn't seen the light of day since.

 

[Old Pa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpr703 As long as you're shooting somewhere where people won't look down their noses at you for bringing an autoloader, it's nice to have a gun that works well for more than one thing.

Maybe it's just me, and I don't want to generalize that all club shooters of doubles in the USA are snobs (not all are), but there is a degree of satisfaction and gratification from outshooting the club snob with his snooty double with your field autoloader that goes well beyond words.

 

[erix]

I started shooting trap back in 1979 with my father's sixties-era 1100. That gun never - and has never - broken a single part. Ever. I wouldn't buy a new one, though. Look for ones earlier than 1980 with a forged reciever (instead of current stamped ones). Also, if you're shooting singles or handicap (one shell required) you can use a stamped-steel clip that attaches to the side of the 1100 reciever to keep your empties from sticking in the scorer's eye. Choose a 30" barrel with screwchokes and you'll have a good all-purpose gun.

The first gun I bought for myself was a Browning BT-99, a single-barrel break-action. I shot that gun for the next 22 years and only broke one firing pin! It had a 34" full choke but I shot my best singles scores ever with that gun.

Off and on I've had a Perazzi and a Krieghoff. Both really expensive guns. The Perrazzi eats mainsprings ('least my MX-8 combo did) and the Krieghoff (ks-5) barrel moved around too much when it got hot. Big dollar guns are not always better!

I now shoot a 1982 Remington 3200, an over-under with the fastest locktime (time between when you shoot the first shell and when you can shoot the next) of any gun ever. It has 32" barrels, screwchokes, adjustable stock. I love this gun!

Don't overlooked used guns, especially trap-grade. A trap gun gets more use in one year than most hunting guns get in their lifetime so they have to be built strong.

Ask around your local trap club and visit the forum on www.trapshooters.com.

break 'em all,
erix

 

[Old Pa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by erix the fastest locktime (time between when you shoot the first shell and when you can shoot the next) of any gun ever.

This is a definition of lock time I had not heard. The usual definition of lock time is the time between when the sear breaks and the firing pin hits the primer. In my experience, times between shots are usually referred to as "splits". Erix, however, is (as I well know) a muy serious trapshooter. He would know which end is up in this game.