trap, skeet or clay sports for beginner?

Thanks, Zippy, I guess

My friend TheKlawMan is another example: He came to TFL wanting advice on getting a shotgun. He purchased a R-870-Ex and used it to get acclimated to shotgunning. The acclimating soon became an addiction and he started reloading his own ammo. These days, he's a range regular with his new O/U.
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If only this range regular could hit the barn door, but I am having fun trying and have high hopes for the simplest little suggesion.

You asked about what game to start with. I have yet to try sporting clays and I mainly do trap, but that is where I started and skeet is king of fun. Actually I got the 870 not to get acclimated to shotgunning but due to a specific threat and then I started shooting clays in order to gain some proficiency with it. Now I love the sport.
 
I shot Trap beginning at age 11 and shot regularly until I went into the service. I then shot pistols for 40 years until last May when I took up trap again. I have some serious back issues so the twisting you do in skeet tends to keep me away from it. Trap is fun and you can be very competitive well into your 80's. You've been given some good advice on guns for these sports. Don't go out a spend a lot on an expensive trap or skeet gun until you've shot clay targets for a while and decided you want to stick with it. I've invested about $4,000 in my Beretta Trap gun. 34" top single, and 30" O/U for doubles. That is not a lot of money when it comes to Trap guns. I shoot with a group of guys that shoot Krieghoff's, Perrazzi's, Kohler and Silver Seitz shotguns. Most of these guys have all spent at least $10K or more for their guns. But, it's not the gun, it's the shooter that makes the most difference. The specialty guns are nice and they are definitely easier on the cheek and shoulder, but they are not necessary just to shoot well. They will keep you in the game longer, though. I shoot every weekend and usually shoot 200 -400 rounds of 12 gauge shells. If your gun doesn't fit you properly, you will take a beating from your gun. That's why most serious trap shooters spend the money for a shotgun that fits them well. I hope you have a good experience and find a clay game that suits your interests.
 
BigSkiff, happy to hear that you're back to the shotgun sports, enjoy. They can be enjoyed for a lifetime as long as you're reasonably able. Like you, I have a Beretta combo for trap. It takes a lot of trigger time with an entry target gun, like the Beretta, before it starts to hinder your progress and you're ready for a higher grade comp gun. There are those who get a fancy gun well before they have enough experience to evaluate the subtle differences offered by the high grade gun makers (for American trap, Perazzi catalogs 6 single barrel guns and 9 combos).
 
Had a friend figure what he had spent on Trap guns before he bought his Perazzi. He could have bought two Perazzis for the money he was out trading up.
 
You may on to something, olddrum, my friend. I don't know if it can be substantiated, but there seems to be a lot more gun swapping among trap shooters than the other scattergun sports. You shoot a 98 and the guy next to you shoots a 99; and, pretty soon, you're asking about his gun. I suspect a lot of it is guys looking for a gun that fits instead of having the gun they already have fit to them. There are shooters who don't balk at having a new suit altered to fit their frame, but they expect a shotgun to fit them right outta the box.
 
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In defense of Trap

I see a lot more young girls in tight shorts on the Trap line than the Skeet field. Unfortunately, they are always with their husbands or boyfriends but there is no harm looking.
 
Thanks Zippy. Yup, I feel like a kid in a candy store again. I'm having a lot of fun with this and I find that the shotgun crowd at trap and skeet events to be a very congenial bunch of folks. They like to take the time to socialize and get to know each other a bit more than the guys at the pistol ranges do. I like the pace of the whole thing. It's been a really good experience.
 
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