Hello, everyone! I am new to trap, and already an addict. I love it! I have been lucky enough to be able to try a variety of shotguns and have kind of narrowed it down. Well, at least I know what is uncomfortable and what is more comfortable.
I am a 5'-4" woman of average build. I don't mind weight, and in fact liked the heavier (but not the heaviest) shotguns. They felt more solid than the lighter ones. Heck, my banjo weighs in at over 13 pounds so anything lighter that is a piece of cake! (not that I shoot with my banjo, although my playing could possibly kill someone...)
I noodled around and found that if I measure from the crook of my arm to approx. the middle knuckle of my trigger finger, that is my LOP. It is about 13-1/4".
I really like the Browning 12-gauge shotguns. I do not care for the semi-autos. My husband has a Citori Special Trap Edition (30", adj. comb), but it is just a bit too long, too heavy, and the LOP is not comfortable. Yes, I can shoot it but it is very tiring after a while. I see myself eventually trying my hand at the other clay sports - skeet and sporting clays, so ideally I would like an O/U. However, given my choices I am beginning to thing a dedicated, single shot trap gun is the way to go for now, and then if I ever get into the others deal with that then. I live near a Beretta shooting facility where I can rent a gun for the day, so I can always do that if the skeet/clays bug bites.
I really liked the way the shorter stocks felt when I tried out a couple of guns yesterday. So given that, I've been investigating the Micro models at Browning -- Citori Micro Midas Satin Hunter (13" LOP, 26" barrel, O/U), the BT-99 Micro (13-3/4" LOP, 30" Barrel, single), or the BT-99 Micro Midas (13" LOP, 28" or 30" barrel, single). I can't get my hands on any of them to actually FEEL them but I know I like the Citori line. I just don't know if the 13" LOP is a touch too short (13-3/4" of the BT-99 Micro may be just right). I am also concerned about a 26" barrel -- everyone seems to be going with a really long barrel. The other thought is to eventually get the standard LOP Citori (14-3/8") and replace the recoil pad for something much thinner. That would buy me at least 3/4" and would likely do the job.
Way too much information out there, and I am just not sure where to go. I would really like to get my own equipment and try to get comfortable with it. Right now, I am relying upon the "kindness of strangers" for my firearm.
Oh, and FWIW, I saw a Franchi Instinct SL that I really liked the feel of - but again, the LOP is a bit too long.
Any advice? Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
Kathy
I am a 5'-4" woman of average build. I don't mind weight, and in fact liked the heavier (but not the heaviest) shotguns. They felt more solid than the lighter ones. Heck, my banjo weighs in at over 13 pounds so anything lighter that is a piece of cake! (not that I shoot with my banjo, although my playing could possibly kill someone...)
I noodled around and found that if I measure from the crook of my arm to approx. the middle knuckle of my trigger finger, that is my LOP. It is about 13-1/4".
I really like the Browning 12-gauge shotguns. I do not care for the semi-autos. My husband has a Citori Special Trap Edition (30", adj. comb), but it is just a bit too long, too heavy, and the LOP is not comfortable. Yes, I can shoot it but it is very tiring after a while. I see myself eventually trying my hand at the other clay sports - skeet and sporting clays, so ideally I would like an O/U. However, given my choices I am beginning to thing a dedicated, single shot trap gun is the way to go for now, and then if I ever get into the others deal with that then. I live near a Beretta shooting facility where I can rent a gun for the day, so I can always do that if the skeet/clays bug bites.
I really liked the way the shorter stocks felt when I tried out a couple of guns yesterday. So given that, I've been investigating the Micro models at Browning -- Citori Micro Midas Satin Hunter (13" LOP, 26" barrel, O/U), the BT-99 Micro (13-3/4" LOP, 30" Barrel, single), or the BT-99 Micro Midas (13" LOP, 28" or 30" barrel, single). I can't get my hands on any of them to actually FEEL them but I know I like the Citori line. I just don't know if the 13" LOP is a touch too short (13-3/4" of the BT-99 Micro may be just right). I am also concerned about a 26" barrel -- everyone seems to be going with a really long barrel. The other thought is to eventually get the standard LOP Citori (14-3/8") and replace the recoil pad for something much thinner. That would buy me at least 3/4" and would likely do the job.
Way too much information out there, and I am just not sure where to go. I would really like to get my own equipment and try to get comfortable with it. Right now, I am relying upon the "kindness of strangers" for my firearm.
Oh, and FWIW, I saw a Franchi Instinct SL that I really liked the feel of - but again, the LOP is a bit too long.
Any advice? Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
Kathy
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