Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Q's about Trap/Clay/skeet shooting. What's the difference?

SuperMidget · 11-05-2003, 03:10 PM

Never shot trap or skeet. Too unrealistic for practice before hunting season and too expensive for blowing a saturday. Whne I shoot clays, it's usually a couple friends and I throwing with a hand thrower. Automatic throwers are nice, but you don't get the wierd throws and cool things you can make pigeons do.

As for shotguns, the Remington 870 is a beautiful gun. It's what I started shooting on and still use for pheasants. However, A few years ago when I was ready to go to a 12 ga. I bought a Browning BPS. The BPS is truly the penultimate of pump guns. Fair warning though, the BPS is so unlike any other pump gun out there. (Yes, I have shot almost every brand of pump at least three or four times and I think I am qualified to say) For instance, the BPS shoulders akward for someone used to Remington, Winchester, Mossberg, Benelli, et al. Instead of pivoting on the forearm hand, the BPS pivots on the butt-stock hand. Another thing is the bottom ejection. The shells eject out of the bottom, which necessitates a short stroke ejection to empty the chamber and load an external shell. (Can't really explain it better, but you pump only 7/8 of the way and eject the shell, but it doesn't drop one from the magazine, allowing you to place one in manually.) It drove me nuts the first few times but now, it is so much ahndier for switching shells. Especially for ducks and geese at varying ranges, it allows me to switch from BBB to dueces to 4 in less time.

But the downside of the BPS is you can get 2 870's or Winchester 1300's for the price of one BPS. (Not even going to touch Mossberg, as I absolutely hate them. I have cleaned and removed rust from quite a few of my family's and friend's shot guns. The part that pisses me off the most, is my 870 and BPS both saw worse weather without even a trace of rust. Contrary to Mossberg's vaunted marketing strategy claiming that the 500 passed the DOD exposure test. The 590 did, not the straight 500 you see in walmart, and the 590 cost more than the 870 or 1300, which both have still passed the DOD exposure test)

To sum up a long rant, The 870 is a great choice, as is the 1300. My favorite is the BPS. Benelli and Beretta are really nothing special for the extra money. There is really nothing that makes them stand out. Functionally they are identical to the 870. Mosseberg != good , but hey if you're strapped for cash they will work in a pinch. Just don't expect them to be as durable and work as well in inclement weather.

When it comes to the gauge, use your best judgement. 20 ga is always a good choice. But if you feel up to it, 12 ga is more versatile. I really don't think you should go with anything different as ammo is harder to come by and much more expensive. The only exception is 10 ga, DON'T EVEN TRY IT. (I apologize for using all caps, but this is important.) I have shot one once. It hurt like hell. Now before you accuse me of being weak, I have and still do, shoot long action magnum rounds. (Rifle shells like .300 WM, .338 WM, 7mm RM.) But that 10 ga just absolutely knocks me on my ass. Kinda of like a "Thank you sir, may I have another" type thing.

As for amunition, make sure you get Light Target loads. Heavy loads and high velocity loads hurt a hell of a lot more for someone not used to them. Stay away from steel for a while as they fall into those categories. Because steel does not have the energy absorbtion of lead, they add a little extra powder. And it kicks worse than a horse. (So says the guy that got kicked for shooting a 12 ga next to a horse)

[/end rant]

11-05-2003, 03:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
SuperMidget Banned Location: Farm country, South Dakota	Never shot trap or skeet. Too unrealistic for practice before hunting season and too expensive for blowing a saturday. Whne I shoot clays, it's usually a couple friends and I throwing with a hand thrower. Automatic throwers are nice, but you don't get the wierd throws and cool things you can make pigeons do. As for shotguns, the Remington 870 is a beautiful gun. It's what I started shooting on and still use for pheasants. However, A few years ago when I was ready to go to a 12 ga. I bought a Browning BPS. The BPS is truly the penultimate of pump guns. Fair warning though, the BPS is so unlike any other pump gun out there. (Yes, I have shot almost every brand of pump at least three or four times and I think I am qualified to say) For instance, the BPS shoulders akward for someone used to Remington, Winchester, Mossberg, Benelli, et al. Instead of pivoting on the forearm hand, the BPS pivots on the butt-stock hand. Another thing is the bottom ejection. The shells eject out of the bottom, which necessitates a short stroke ejection to empty the chamber and load an external shell. (Can't really explain it better, but you pump only 7/8 of the way and eject the shell, but it doesn't drop one from the magazine, allowing you to place one in manually.) It drove me nuts the first few times but now, it is so much ahndier for switching shells. Especially for ducks and geese at varying ranges, it allows me to switch from BBB to dueces to 4 in less time. But the downside of the BPS is you can get 2 870's or Winchester 1300's for the price of one BPS. (Not even going to touch Mossberg, as I absolutely hate them. I have cleaned and removed rust from quite a few of my family's and friend's shot guns. The part that pisses me off the most, is my 870 and BPS both saw worse weather without even a trace of rust. Contrary to Mossberg's vaunted marketing strategy claiming that the 500 passed the DOD exposure test. The 590 did, not the straight 500 you see in walmart, and the 590 cost more than the 870 or 1300, which both have still passed the DOD exposure test) To sum up a long rant, The 870 is a great choice, as is the 1300. My favorite is the BPS. Benelli and Beretta are really nothing special for the extra money. There is really nothing that makes them stand out. Functionally they are identical to the 870. Mosseberg != good , but hey if you're strapped for cash they will work in a pinch. Just don't expect them to be as durable and work as well in inclement weather. When it comes to the gauge, use your best judgement. 20 ga is always a good choice. But if you feel up to it, 12 ga is more versatile. I really don't think you should go with anything different as ammo is harder to come by and much more expensive. The only exception is 10 ga, DON'T EVEN TRY IT. (I apologize for using all caps, but this is important.) I have shot one once. It hurt like hell. Now before you accuse me of being weak, I have and still do, shoot long action magnum rounds. (Rifle shells like .300 WM, .338 WM, 7mm RM.) But that 10 ga just absolutely knocks me on my ass. Kinda of like a "Thank you sir, may I have another" type thing. As for amunition, make sure you get Light Target loads. Heavy loads and high velocity loads hurt a hell of a lot more for someone not used to them. Stay away from steel for a while as they fall into those categories. Because steel does not have the energy absorbtion of lead, they add a little extra powder. And it kicks worse than a horse. (So says the guy that got kicked for shooting a 12 ga next to a horse) [/end rant]