citori xs sporting for trap

abs

New member
I've seen a nice piece in a local store (12ga, 30'' barrel). I do only trap with Browning gold semi-auto 12 ga, 28'' (once in a while on Sundays - no big ambitions). At this point I don't have intention to have two guns. Does it make sense to trade in my current gun for THAT Citori? Thanks!
 
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Sounds like a reasonable plan, except some folks might opt for a longer barrel in a trap gun. Do you shoot just singles, singles and handicap or singles, handicap and doubles. I started shooting ATA tournaments with a semi-auto trap model and never looked back after switching to an O/U combo.
If you're not going to compete, then you might be better of with the sporting model. Do you shoot only trap because that is all your club offers? A club, where I shoot, offered only casual trap and club "fun" matches for many years, recently adapted a field to their version of 5-stand. The sporting guns are much better suited to this new game than the classic trap models. It could happen to you, too.
 
Zippy13 - thank you. I'm an amateur and probably stay that way - just started two years ago and do it about every 2nd Sunday in spring-fall. Love it, though. Yes, trap is my only local option. The reason I'm asking is that some folks claim that XT is a must for trap and switching 'non-trap' semi-auto to 'non-trap' O/U is pointless...
 
As my friend, oneounceload, aptly noted, fit is paramount. I frequently get carried away and assume when folks ask, this gun or that gun, that both guns fit them properly.
 
I understand that personal fit makes a difference. Alas I'm not aware of such place in North NJ where I can feel let alone shoot several guns that I may be interested in. So any additional comments will be greatly appreciated.
 
If you don't have any gun stores to "feel them out", how about going to your local trap/gun club and asking folks who have the models you want if you can try a few shots (you supplying the ammo). Just about everyone I know would be glad to let you try a few shots, especially if they know you're looking to get one. They'll also be MORE than glad to give you their opinions! :D
 
Any gun that fits can be shot for Trap - especially if you're a casual weekend shooter. You don't need to have a Browning XT - to shoot Trap...

However, the Browning XT or the BT-100 are my favorite Trap guns ( in 32" or 34" barrels ). The adjustability on the XT or the BT-100 allow most of us to change the point of impact - so its 60%/40% or even 70%/30% pattern on a Trap gun - so you can float the target over the barrel on a Trap gun.

But you can shoot Trap with a gun that patterns 50%/50% ( on point of impact ) .... if just means you need to cover the bird, follow thru, and kill it vs float it ...

I favor a heavy gun, around 10 lbs, like the XT for Trap because the extra weight helps smooth out my swing. But a gun over 8 1/2 lbs gets kind of clumsy for games other than Trap with more left to right barrel movement ( like Skeet or Sporting Clays ).

Browning, Beretta, etc - all market guns they think are set up for Sporting or for Skeet or for Trap .... but having 3 different guns isn't necessary. It really depends on what "Fits" you - so the gun hits where you look ...there isn't such a thing as "a shotgun that fits everybody" - drop at comb, drop at heel, length of pull, weight, balance point, etc all make a big difference.
 
Get it, you won't be disappointed

I got mine 3 months ago (with BigJim's help) non-adjustable...it was very good shotgun, but about 2 months later after I got it I've noticed that I need the stock/comb to be higher, so I put some napkins on the top of it just to try out and it was totally different animal....so I sent my stock to guy to make it adjustable. I also made an adjustable but plate with ezzkick. Got it back two weeks ago and last Thursday I was tied for 1st place in our local club, then we had shoot off and in 3rd round "the guy" won...I've learn a lot from that shoot off. The thing is "the guy" has trap specific gun and mine is XS Skeet, so my understanding is it is more from the shooter not from the gun...I love my XS = it is fast and now it fits me even better (I can control the point of impact)...currently I shoot trap with it and I have it adjusted to shoot about 80/20 and it works as trap gun. I will shot PITA for first time in two weeks with my XS Skeet and I feel confident in it and I hope I will do good, I expect to learn a lot from it....

So, Browning XS Skeet is all arount gun for me...I do understand if you get to proffesional level then you might change your gun, but why? I'm still new and learning but I absolutely love it and enjoing with my improvement.:)
 
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There are a lot of Citori models - XS Sporting, XS Ultra, XS, XS Skeet, XS Special are all a little different - some have parallel combs (some don't ) - some have adj combs, some don't - and drop at comb and heel are all close, but enough different - that only a couple of these different models fit me personally. Then we have the XT's ( which are really Trap guns ) ...

Like Dre - my all around gun is the XS Skeet model, with the adj comb / but my Trap specific gun is the XT with an adj comb ...

I think the marketing dept at Browning went a little nuts ....with all these models ... and its confusing people ...
 
Citori XS for Trap

abs: I have a similar gun (Browning's Citori 625 Sporting with adjustable comb) which I use and like for trap shooting. However, the real reason I chose the O/U is so that I could also shoot Sporting Clays. If you will be shooting only Trap, you may want to check out Browning's BT99 or other brand with a single barrel and break action. I believe that it would be a better trap gun, and clsots less, too. I got my first 25 straight on my Mossberg 500, but none yet on the 625. I retired the Mossberg 500 from trap before it would self-destruct from excessive shooting.
 
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