I want to break clay targets

I shoot trap with a 1940's vintage Remington Model 11 and routinely embarrass the guys out there with their new $1000 dollar bird guns. ;) It's a lot more shooter and a lot less gun than what the elitists at the range will tell you.

I think my gun has far more character than theirs anyway. :D
 
Why would you shoot a bird gun for trap? Besides, $1,000 isn't much for a good bird gun. Some of those decent SxS tend to START about $3500.........
Click to expand...

Well, bird guns because the range I shoot at is on a pheasant farm, and the shooters there are usually getting ready to go bird hunting.... and I meant to put a "$1000+" instead of just $1000, but still, a grand is a lot more than my Model 11 is worth. ;)
 
I expect that I'll wind up using the same gun for shooting trap and other clay sports as well as the field. I can see myself getting an O/U or more probably an auto if I decide to frequent the club at least once or twice a month or more.

I do intend to try my hand at shooting some birds as early as this fall, after I've learned to hit a flying target most of the time.

I can't see myself spending beaucoup on a special purpose trap gun.

That being said, I'm sure I'll be tempted. I was at Discount Gun Sales in Tukwila, WA late last week. I saw what looked like an extremely well kept Remington 1100 with a barrel stamped "skeet". It's a consignment gun. They have it up there for just under 500 bucks. This seems very reasonable to me. Especially since you could probably get it for a bit less. So my resolve has passed the first test.
 
You are talking about shooting trap but are looking at a used 1100 with a barrel stamped skeet? Is that a fixed choke barrel? If so, it isn't going to be much good for trap. Can it be machined for interchangeable chokes? I don't know.
 
It probably could be machined to accept chokes, but is it worth it? Plus, being a skeet gun I suspect it's a short barrel jobbie.
 
Skeet constriction is .005. Many find that a Modified constriction, .020, to work better for 16 yard trap targets, with an Improved Modified or Full for Handicap targets.

Can you break 16 yard targets with a Skeet choke? Sure you can. Can you do it consistently over and over? Most likely not.

A second barrel can be had, or your skeet barrel can be threaded for chokes. Thread job will run any where from $50 - $150 or so, and then there are the chokes themselves, which can run any where from $35 to $135, depending on the brand.
 
I was unclear in my most recent post. The club I will go to offers trap, skeet and 5 stand. I know that trap and skeet are not the same thing. I'm not 100% sure yet how they differ, but I know they do. I plan to try them all, with my basic Mossberg.

I was mentioning the 1100 as a gun I saw that I may have use for one day, should I like skeet, although I hear many skeet shooters don't use a skeet choke. It's all over my head for now.

I plan to try all 3 disciplines offered at my local club and go from there. I've been advised to screw an IC choke into my mossberg to start with and then listen to what the instructor tells me about changing.

The 1100 I saw was a fixed barrel no threads. I doubt it is modifiable by any normal means. Very nice highly polished wood stock and super clean. Used, but not a nick or ding on it. Basically looks just short of new. It was just a really nice looking gun that I thought looked inexpensive given the prices I'd been seeing for that model. It caught my eye.
 
I hear many skeet shooters don't use a skeet choke. It's all over my head for now.​
Skeet may be shot without a Skeet choke, but I'm unaware of any Skeet shooters who don't use Skeet chokes. My 1100 has two barrels one for Skeet the other for trap.
_____________________
[SIZE=-1]Life Member National Skeet Shooting Assn.[/SIZE]
 
Dammit!

I just had to reschedule the clay busting class for June 4th. My son has a makeup baseball game on Saturday. I'd just miss the game, but I'm the coach.

Dammit!
 
lawnboy,

Sorry about your scheduling conflict. While waiting to tease the targets with your Mossberg, here are links to two .pdf downloadable brochures by Remington on Trap and Skeet shooting fundamental. They may answer many of your questions.
 
Lawnboy, The downloadable pamphlets are really helpful. I am a beginner and had only glanced at them before, when Zipp13 pointed them out. This time I printed out the one on Trap and it clarifies a lot of things that people have been trying to get across to me.
 
1100s can last a very long time if some parts are replaced regularly, like the O ring and action spring. A good choice for an all around clays gun.

However, skeet chokes do best at skeet and other close range opps. Modified is a better choice for all around use, using cheap shells with small shot for close stuff and premium handicap trap loads with larger shot for WOD.

On an 1100, I'd want something like a 30" vent rib barrel that was choke tube capable as a dedicated clays gun. Chokes on hand would be something like Cylinder for skeet, LM for Sporting Clays, and Mod or IM for trap.
 
Lawnboy:

That 1100 (if it is a 12 gauge) that you mentioned in the other post will work very well for a trap gun... That is what I started with more than 30 years ago and would still be shooting if I didn't get the I'wantas for a new special purpose trap gun... The single biggest advantage to an auto loader for trap is that the action absorbes some of the recoil... Not a big deal when shooting a couple shots a day at passing birds... A very big deal when breaking 100 clays in an hour and half...

A couple things you might want to do is install a Graco adjustable pad so you can fit the gun to you... They make one that allows for length of pull, cant, and drop... You might also look into getting a mid-bead for your barrel... Will help with mounting the gun...

Other than that -- go have fun!!!
 
Buck. His Mossberg's 28" barrel has a mid bead, but I see that you are talking about if he were to set an 1100 up for skeet.
 
Mossberg

For the last year, I have been shooting Trap singles once a week at the local Club. I have been using a Mossberg pump gun. As I have improved, I just last week picked up a BT-99.
There is nothing wrong with the Mossberg. I just wanted a dedicated Trap gun.
It had a VR 30" FC barrel. I suggest that that longer barrel may be a worthwhile addition to your Mossberg. You can buy one at Numrich Arms for $80.
Here's the link, if you are interested.
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=802600A&catid=8022

Pete
 
yep

Thank you, Zippy my friend. Getting used to it now. It shoots differently than the Mossberg. I'll break 10 or 15 in a row and then miss three or four. Go figure.
Pete
 
For what its worth guys ....I find a GraCoil ( or whatever system you like ) an asset on a Trap gun ...but not on games like Skeet or Sporting Clays ..where you tend to get some faster targets with more movement left or right ...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=67933&d=1299018573

This GraCoil is on one of my Browning XT's ....

When I had a (Soft Touch system - similar to the GraCoil system on my Skeet gun) ...I felt like I was hesitating on the 2nd shot / or at least aware of its cycling time ...so I restocked the gun and got rid of the Soft Touch system.

I know Zippy likes his air cushion stock on his primary Skeet gun ..but I'm not sure its for everyone on a Skeet or Sporting Clays gun ... Before you invest in one on a Skeet or any general purpose or sporting clays gun ...I'd recommend you see if you can shoot one first...( that decision to get rid of it cost me almost $ 3,000 ) ...for the system and then restocking the gun ...
 
Darkgael...,

The BT-99's and the older BT-100's are beautiful guns. I've had a BT-100 for 12 or 15 yrs I guess ....picked it up at an Estate Sale from a collector in Indiana - but I've never been able to get used to it ...with the swing charactgeristics being so different - so I went back to my Citori XT's with 32" barrels for Trap...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=65974&d=1294431515

http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=65975&d=1294431515

I hope you have better luck with yours ..../ mine is a 30" ...and I've tried everything including putting barrel weights on it ...but like you / I run a few targets ..then I miss 2 or 3 ...and that little voice starts whispering in my ear ...( the XT is in the safe...) ....
 

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