Sporting Clays and Over under's

[migraineman]

Does anybody out there shoot sporting clays? What kind of shotgun do you use. I'm thinking of robbing a bank and buying a Berretta. What's better Berretta or Benelli? Does anybody still have a gun rack in their window? When I was a kid I saw them all the time (usually with a level in it).

 

[JBoesl]

browning citori

If you have the $ find some 1970 model citori's. you will be happy.



Even the new one's good, but they are not made in the U. S.



jason

 

[Gunny]

I have been shooting sporting clays for a couple of years. When I first started I used my Trap Gun, however they really shoot to high for sporting clays. I bought a Berreta and shot it for awile, they are good guns but I was never really happy with it. I swapped it for a Winchester 101 over and under, my scores have gone way up with this change to this gun. Now I don't think that the Winshester is necessarily a better gun than the Berretta, its just thatn this gun really fits me, and for that reason my scores went up. Automatics seem to be the thing right now in sporting clays and Berretta makes a good one in 390 golden clays gun. These can be bought for around $900. 00 and that ain't much for a competion gun. Some of the Berretta Trap guns sell for $10,000. 00. You need to go and try severeal of these and find one that you really like. Most of the clubs have rental guns for most of the popular brands. Rent a few and really shoot the thing, that's the best way to make a informed decision. Good Luck and Shoot Straight Gunny

 

[CGoyette]

finally a question I am a pro at!

Need to know what you want to shoot a O/U or a auto?



Strongly suggest you get a auto loader first and have it tricked out by angle port. Think about what else you might do with the gun and come back to me I will fill you in on all the details of each gun. I own Krieghoff's a superscroll and a crown grade and way to many 101's for my wife to shoot you see I buy them for her and when she says she won't shoot it I say fine I'll just keep it!!



22 years as a ordnance officer and over 30 years shooter (last 4 have been in the clay target games what a bug way more than bombing if it grabs you)



Off the cuff a beretta is a better auto than beneli gas for clay targets. Gas operated vice blow back bolt... . more later just tell me your shooting experience you general size ht wt yes it makes a huge differance in what you should shoot... . way to many little guys tring to shoot 10 lb guns with 34 inch barrels these days and they shoot like shi! why cause the top shooters shoot that gun... for get that get a gun that is for your body style. anyway let me know some more info and I can give you all kinds of info... and the best places to buy in the country depends on what brand

Curt

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I've got a Baretta 626 Sporting O/U with 32" barrels. The forcing cones were lengthened, it's been laser ported and uses Briley chokes. I like the gun but Barettas customer service sucks. I haven't shot all that much the past few years. When I do I am going to look into a Ruger Red Label they have come out with some nice shotguns lately.

Happy trails

Bob

 

[WYD]

A mentioned before get a gun that fits you and you are comfortable with. I currently shoot a Browning Special Sporting Clays with 30" barrels and consistenly break 90 % of the targets. In contrast, I can take my Remington 870 Field gun and break the same amount. Because both guns fit me.



I have also picked up lavish Model 12's and didn't even shoot them because it didn't fit me right.



So whatever you do be sure the gun fits and try out someone's gun before you make a wrong decision.



For what its worth

 

[Papa Joe]

These guys know what they're talking about.

It's more about the gun that fits you and your task than about the name on the gun. I shoot with some wealthy people who have VERY expensive firearms. It bothers them when I kick their asses with my A500 and it really makes them sick when I do the same thing with an old 20 gauge Citori skeet.



BTW, go to a club and pal around. Guys will let you shoot their guns (they like to show off) and you can get the feel for what's available. Not every gun is for every person.



Wanna talk reloaders ?? I live in Rathdrum (hint).



I'm rambling. Sorry. Shoot low Sheriff, they're riding shetlands. Joe

 

[LSMITH]

I have shot sporting with quite a few different guns. Currently I am shooting a Browning Gold 20 guage auto. I do as well with it as any other gun I have ever picked up (high 80's to low 90's). It is short, light and moves like a dream, but you really have to be careful to not stop your swing. I also have a Red Label Sporting 12 guage, 30" tubes. It shoots really well for me. The only problem with it is it beats me up pretty bad with anything but light loads. The Red Labels seem light and kick harder than any other O/U I have ever shot. The stock design is not what I want in a target gun. I also shoot sporting with my duck gun, a Winchester Super X2 3. 5" 12 guage. I shoot it well also, and it is fun to beat people with $10K guns with your sling on! You should try every gun you can. Autoloaders shoot a lot softer and can really help prevent fatigue, but the hulls end up all over and makes it harder to pick up for reloading. The other piece of advise I would give you is to scrimp on the gun money a little and put it into shells and shooting. Shoot as much as possible if you want to get better. I started with an 870 Express and put a lot of money into shooting. Like someone else said above, I can still shoot that 870 and beat most of my competitors. Good luck.

 

[yogibear]

I didn't know we had so many SS shooters on the TDR. These guys know what they're talking about!! If you get a gun to fit you properly, I don't care if its a JC Higgins, you will probably shoot it well. Guys say a gun kicks them bad, more than likely it doesn't fit them. You should be able to shut your eyes, and throw the gun to your shoulder and open them and see the perfect sight picture, if you don't, it doesn't fit properly. Most guys shoot a gun that is too long for them, if you are a right hand shooter, when you swing to the right it will throw you off.

When I started shooting sporting clays, autos were not too popular, because back then if you had a miss fire or jam, you lost the target, I think they have changed that rule now, I haven't shot for about 7 yrs. Fajen built a lot of stocks for me, and when you shoulder the gun, where your thumb grips over the stock, your thumb should be no farther than a 1/2 " from your nose, or enough that your thumb does not hit your nose from the recoil.

As for what gun to shoot, thats up to you, and what you can afford. I started shooting competion trap 40 yrs. ago with a La Fevre, single bbl. made in 1921, and sold new then for $25. 00. Went from that to Ithaca's, Brownings, Ljutic, Berretta, bought a Rottweil about 20 yrs. ago, now have 4 of them, had one OU choke tubbed, and use it for Clays. Anyway just make sure the gun fits you. A lot of the gun dlrs. have adjustable stocks now, so they can fit one to you. Good luck

Larry

 

[rmrc]

YogiBear is right on the money. If the gun fits you,,, you'll more than likely shoot very well with it. A few years ago I bought an SKB 685 from a very close friend of mine. The first time I brought the gun up, I knew that she was for me! She fit,,,, perfectly! Needless to say, when I brought her out to the range, I did better than I expected.



It definitely pays to shop around and try to find a shotgun that feels like it's an extention of yourself!