Is 870 suitable for Trap or Skeet?

C

carlf

Inactive
I am interested in trap shooting but the only shotgun I have is an 870 express 18" synthetic. I assume I could swap out the barrel for something longer that is threaded for chokes. Everything I read about the sport, though, suggests an automatic or over under. Can I reasonably get started and shooting clays with a pump shotgun and move up to a nicer gun when I decide I might persue it further or would I be at such a disadvantage with a pump that I may as well not try?

Thanks
 
Of course you can. If you start using the gun you've already got, you're not out anything. If you decide it's something that you REALLY want to pursue, then you can upgrade to an auto or over/under. No need to blow a ton of money on a shotgun and find out you don't like the sport.

I've shot skeet with a pump Mossberg before with great results.
 
Lots of shooter us pump guns for trap shooting. The short barrel could be a problem. Your idea of getting an additional (longer) barrel with choke tubes is a good one. You can always upgrade to a different gun if you decide you enjoy the sport.
 
Usable? Yes. Ideal? No.
Formal trap or skeet ranges may not allow the short barrel. Many have a length limit from what I hear...
Brent
 
Pick up a nice 28" barrel, try both games (the dynamics are totally different), and see how it goes. Then move over to where the REAL fun is - 5-stand, sporting clays and FITASC!..:D
 
870 Express will work.

I use an 870 express with 28" barrel Mod. choke tube. Works great then you can move up from there. The short barrel one you have will work. But you better shot fast or the bird will be out of range of your gun.
 
870 in the same chamber length will fit. Express is just an 870 with minimal fine machining and reduced fit and finish to reduce cost.
Brent
 
Formal trap or skeet ranges may not allow the short barrel. Many have a length limit from what I hear...
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Yep, I shoot at one club that won't allow anything shorter than 22". I shoot at another one that doesn't care. Check with the place where you are going to shoot.


But you better shot fast or the bird will be out of range of your gun.
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Hmmmmm. Really?
 
Yes, a pump gun is fine for shooting any of the clay target games.

But like others told you - you will have a lot better results if you get a 28" barrel for it with screw in chokes.

Over Unders do dominate the clay target games - for a lot of reasons .... a heavier gun means less recoil, you can put 2 different chokes in an O/U, O/U's are more reliable (no jamming ), O/U's have a lot more adjustability usually to set the comb height, etc .... but I shot a lot of Trap in the 70's with a Browning BPS pump gun with a 28" barrel before I got serious about investing in any dedicated Trap, Skeet or Sporting Clays guns ....
 
Yes. You need a longer barrel and chokes willhelp a lot. Full for trap IC for most of the rest but ask where you shoot what they suggest as proper.

To many get into the snooty game that anything. Less than a carbon fibre super gun or fine double gun made by Austro-Italian gnomes working for Trappist monks with engraving so realistic as to give young children nightmare as being the only suitable tools for breaking the pine pitch and clay birds.

Not much in life is more fun than taking a BTH 870 out and outscoring a gun snob at there game.
 
Yes. You need a longer barrel and chokes willhelp a lot. Full for trap IC for most of the rest but ask where you shoot what they suggest as proper.

To many get into the snooty game that anything. Less than a carbon fibre super gun or fine double gun made by Austro-Italian gnomes working for Trappist monks with engraving so realistic as to give young children nightmare as being the only suitable tools for breaking the pine pitch and clay birds.

Not much in life is more fun than taking a BTH 870 out and outscoring a gun snob at there game.
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sounds more like wealth envy on your part.....

some folks have the means (I do not), and like to shoot a nicely-made, well balanced, and yes, highly decorative gun....so what? as long as the gun goes bang and breaks targets, then it will be up to the task. Some just do it with a modicum of style and panache
 
Around 1999, I decided that since I was retired, it was time to really get into shooting clays.

After a brief flirtation with an O/U, I traded into an 870TB and things were delightful.

I had extensive use with the platform.

It was and is nigh impossible to glitch.

After swapping off the Full choke 30" barrel for a Light Contour Remchoked barrel, I used that trap gun for SC, Skeet, Wobble (Man, I LOVE Wobble) and so on. Even busted some doves.

I also used a couple other 870s that just happened to live at Casa McC here and there with good results.

IIRC, my best score at SC with an 870 was with that TB, 43/50.

As for the OP's query, heck yes. Not ideal, but usable, and the more you shoot your 870, the BETTER you shoot your 870.

A long barrel will definitely help. The Light Contour barrel with it's 2-3 oz of weight savings will make the gun more nimble, oft a good thing.

HTH....
 
why do you feel 5-stand is a joke? I find it a lot of fun, and so do the shooters who walk down from the trap and skeet fields - once the get over the fact they won't be shooting perfect scores.....

5-stand, like sporting is a game where you try your best to hit as many as you can....trap and skeet are games where you try your best not to miss any
 
1oz, some 5 stand courses are definitely set up for advanced clays shooters. I find some of the presentations unrealistic. They portray shot opps one NEVER sees in the hunting field.

Perhaps that's what's in 300's craw.

SC has some also. Gnarly 55 yard crossing pairs may delight Class A and up shooters, but not Joe Shotgunner who wants to have fun and get better with his hunting shotgun.
 
(Man, I LOVE Wobble) +1 to that. That's all I shoot, I noticed you live near Baltimore Dave Mcc I missed 2 at Lock Raven. My shooting buddy lives up there.
 
All of the clay target games are fun / and I'd recommend you take each of them on their own merit.

A smart course owner / course setter - will set a 5 Stand operation or a Sporting Clays operation up so a C class shooter will shoot in the upper 60's out of 100. They should put a few targets out there to separate the Master, AA, A and B classes as well - but its about entertainment / and if the average C class shooter isn't having a good time / they won't come back.

55 yard crossers can be fun ( and its a question of whethers its one yellow school bus lead, or two school buses .... ) but 20 out of 100 targets like that, unless its a state tournament is a little ridiculous ... in my opinion.
 
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