New Skeet gun

S

sweetshot

New member
Hi All, I've spent my totally misbegotten life shooting trap cuz the clubs I belonged to, in the hinterlands of MN, were only trap. The club I joined about a year ago has it all, and I am going to try skeet, (and eventually sporting clays). I'm guessing this has been discussed before on here, but I haven't been on that long. I shoot a BT99 for trap, and a Citori lightning for trap doubles. The BT is, of course, a trap gun, but the lightning is a field gun with 30" barrels. I also have an M-1 Super 90 20 ga Benelli field gun that I could use for skeet, but I WANT a skeet gun. (Just because......) So here's my questions: Any thoughts on 20 ga. vs 12 ga.? O/U vs Semi-auto vs pump? Skeet vs field? (I assume the POA on a skeet gun is similar to a trap model?) I reload both 12 and 20's, so that's not an issue. Opinions are wanted!

Sweetshot (In name only!)
 
You already shoot a 12 so keep the ammo simple - besides, you'll want that 12 when you move to the dark side....(sporting clays)

Try what you have now to see how it works; otherwise, you already know how Brownings are for you - take a look at those

DON'T get a pump - it is only a hindrance; skeet guns shoot flat, trap guns shoot very high, sporting guns are typically flat to 60/40

If you are going to get serious about skeet, you'll want the 12 and then a set of subgauge tubes for all 4 for competition

Shoot the 12 and reload 3/4 or 7/8 oz loads - targets get smashed, recoil is light

BTW, get the heavier target version of whatever gun you decide to go with, not the field version
 
Thanks Oneounce, I'm shooting 1 oz 2.75 dram (approx) with 8 shot for trap singles and I've reloaded a bunch of 7/8 oz 2.5 for practice just to ease the kick a bit. Doubles, I use the 1 oz close and 1-1/8 oz far. Would you suggest 2.75 or 2.5 with the skeet loads, and 8.5 or even 9 shot? The Citori is a nice heavy gun with 30" barrels, and I've been planning on trying skeet with it, 'cept, now you just took away all my justification for buying another gun! :D
Oh well, I've got too many already......... NOT!

Thanks for the input. I just punched out a 23 with the Benelli 20ga at 16 yd singles over lunch, but I'm sure skeet is a whole different ballgame.

The two I missed were cuz I was shivering and my hands were frozen and my eyes teared up and froze shut and my coat was too bulky and........ok, just maybe, I shot behind them......
 
For now, just get some Skeet chokes for your Citori. Different shooters look for different features in a Skeet gun. And, quite frankly, you don't have the Skeet experience required to recognize what will suit you best.

How successfully you acclimate to the new game depends mostly the level of Skeet shot by the members of your club. Many shooters may offer advice, some better than others. Does your club host NSSA tournaments? Try to shoot with the club's best shooters and learn from them.

After you get enough Skeet trigger time, the fundamentals of foot position, gun mount, look/hold points, lead and follow-through will become second nature. Then you can start to look for the gun that suits you best. Typically this is done by trying a lot of different Skeet guns. Don't buy a gun without first shooting the same model.
 
I am a sporting shooter, Zippy is the champion skeeter, but when I do shoot some skeet, I use 3/4 or 7/8 oz for it all - the targets are 21 yards away max and it only takes 3 pellets to break a target so I prefer not to beat my shoulder up any more than is absolutely necessary.

Remember, International skeet uses light, but fast, loads for targets that are further and faster -no need for heavy payloads

Like Zippy said, foot position, mount, movement, follow through are all more important than larger payloads
 
Personally, I like a good all around gun for casual skeet, casual sporting clays and some bird hunting ...and any of the guns in the Citori lineup with 2 barrels will be fine....so I 2nd the idea of getting some Skeet chokes for your Lightning model.

12ga will be more versatile going forward for sporting clays ..but nothing really wrong with a 20ga either.

personally for sporting ...and most games in 12ga...I like a 1oz load of 8's at about 1225 fps .../ and I like a gun around 8 1/2 lbs, that shoots a 50%/50% pattern ....vs a Trap gun that will shoot a little higher ( like 60%/40% ).

Far be it from any of us to talk you out of another gun ...but I do think its better if you stay with the Lightning for now. But in the Citori lineup - the XS Skeet, with the adj comb, is a good solid - general purpose gun in my opinon...and you can buy it in either 28" or 30" barrels in either 12ga or 20ga...( nice guns / I have a few of the XS Skeet models - that I like very much ) but also a BT-100 and some XT's ...and some Lightnings...

Stay with an O/U ...I think long term, it'll be better ..but don't disregard the Benelli. I have a couple of nice Benelli Super Sport models ...in 12ga, and 20ga...that I like as general purpose guns as well.

......and no matter what ....have some fun !!
 
Thanks Guys! I've just picked up a pair of Carlson extended skt tubes for the lightning in anticipation of giving that a try. Looks like you guys are right, and after I get some trigger time on the skeet range, I'll probably retire the lightning to bird hunting and look for an XS Citori. Guess I'm a Browning loyalist for range guns like Big Jim is. Zippy, I'm pretty sure the club does some NSSA shoots, but I'll start to ask around. It's funny, but it looks like the trap guys and the sport guys and the skeet guys don't mix a whole lot at the club, but I'm new there so as I get to know more guys, I might see different. I'm sure there's quite a few that shoot two or all three games.
Zippy, what loads are you using? I'm pretty sure my 1oz loads 2.75 dr are around 1200 fps according to the recipe, but I don't know anyone with a chrono. Half the fun is experimenting with different loads.
 
The left to right barrel movement in Skeet .....once you get into the 23's or low 90's out of 100 consistently on a Skeet field ...will pay off in your consistency on your field shooting and in sporting clays - at least in my opinion.

I would suggest you stick with one gun for your field hunting, skeet and sporting clays ....groove that mount / and feel of the gun and executing the shot - until you're really ready to get into specialized equipment / but even then, there is no reason not to shoot a gun like a Citori XS Skeet in the field for upland birds especially. The only downside to a gun like the Citori XS Skeet model is its only available chambered in 2 3/4" shells ...so you can't shoot any 3" shells in that gun / but for upland birds I've never felt that was an issue.
 
Thanks Big Jim. Good thought on sticking with a gun to get comfortable in many situations. I do need to spectate a bit and watch the mechanics of some good shooters. Over many years of trap, I've developed my own style for mount, stance, hold point, etc. and it seems to work well for me. It's a conglomerate of things I've seen from others and personal experiments. I'm guessing that I'll have to overhaul it a bit for skeet.
 
Zippy, what loads are you using?​
For Skeet, I seldom use 12-ga except in tournaments, I practice with the smaller guns. In 12-ga events, I get my best scores with a standard 2-3/4 dram eq. load and 1-1/8* oz #9s. If the wind is howling, I'll switch to #8s.

You'll hear a lot of talk about reduced loads and recoil. If the rules allow you to shoot 1-1/8* oz, then you're crazy to give the others an edge by using a lighter load. If recoil bothers you, don't sacrifice your loads, do something about your gun. My primary trap (B-682X) and Skeet (P-Mirage) guns have been fitted with air cushion stock conversions. I can shoot the heaviest loads all day with no problems.

There's no reason you can't get your feet wet in Skeet with your existing trap reloads. Many of the casual shooters I know use the same reloads (#7-1/2s, #8s or reclaimed) for trap and Skeet practice and club shoots. Be advised, some clubs allow only #9s on their Skeet fields for safety reasons -- they don't carry as far as trap loads.
*1-1/8 oz:
[SIZE=-2]Actually NSSA and ATA rules allow 507 grains of shot which is a pinch (3%) more than 1-1/8 oz. (492 gr). As oneounce said, it takes just a few pellets to break a target. If a 507 gr load will break one more bird in a 1,000 than a 492, then it might make the difference between 1st and 2nd place in competition. I set my loader to drop 500 gr of shot.[/SIZE]​
 
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Thanks again guys, Slugo, I'm thinking the only thing better than a 20ga XS skeet would be a matched pair of XS's in both 12 and 20! Now I gotta go save some money for 'em.
 
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=62169&d=1281543688

Here is my set of Citori XS Skeet models, all 30" barrels...

Top one is a 12ga ...2nd is 20ga ....then 28ga and the .410 ...

28ga and .410 versions -- were special order guns / where larger dealers typically ordered 25 - 50 of each in 28ga and .410 made on the 20ga receiver by Browning...and my 28ga and .410 were made on the 20ga XS Skeet receiver.

A full blown Carrier Barrel setup ...for a single 12ga receiver ---is a better system - if your a serious competiton shooter like Zippy used to be / but if you like stand alone guns ( and I do ) then its hard to argue with a full set of Citori XS Skeet models...

I'm going to pass a couple of shotguns ( an XS Skeet 12ga and an XT Trap in 12ga down to one of my adult kids this spring ...) but I'm hanging onto this set of 4 guns for a long time. My 20ga, 28ga and .410 were all made in 2004....and my 12ga was made in 2002 / all bought new. As they sit here ....the 12ga has at least 200,000 shells thru it / the 20ga maybe 50,000 shells - 28ga about 50,000 and the .410 maybe 5,000 ( the .410 tortures me / it laughs at me -- says "you suck" ...when I miss...it hurts my feelings..) so I don't shoot it as much / my ego is too fragile some days when I look at my score sheet with the .410 /...and I don't practice as much as I used to - to get consistent with it ....:D

Shooters like Zippy - can master the .410 ....but I can't say I've ever felt that way ...even shooting a rare 96 or so at Skeet with a .410 --- once in a very great while...is the best I've ever done with it .../ and some 2nd place finishes in state sporting clays tournaments..with it.../ but it is a fun gun to have as part of my collection.
 
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1 oz, my friend, that B-gun has 32-inch barrels and extended choke tubes. IMHO, a far cry from an optimal Skeet gun.
 
You haven't heard what it says behind your back.​
It's probably something like: That'll teach him. Next time he'll think twice before interrupting my restfull hibernation here in the gun vault.
 
I, like BigJim, like the idea of complete stand alones, but what about subgauge tubes? Never shot one and not sure if I've even seen one up nort here.....
 
Skeet is competed in four gauges and skeeters like tube sets for two reasons: 1) They are cheaper than separate guns, and 2) They shoot higher scores with tube sets. I don't know any serious Skeet shooters who use individual guns.

Like Big Jim, my .410 O/U was my nemesis. Many years ago, when I got my first tube gun, my .410 scores soared.
 
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