Which would you buy for skeet shooting?
- Thread starter chasep255
- Start date
OneOunce said ...about the Stoeger ....
" .... It isn't even a close alternative to the Spanish doubles...........however, it CAN double as a cheater bar for a jack handle..." ...
or of course, it could be an extra boat paddle ...as well ...
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If your choice was among those 2 guns - go with the Mossberg.
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You haven't said how serious you want to shoot ---- 100 targets a yr / 100 targets a week ....competition ...or not ..../ are you really shooting "skeet" or are you using it as a generic for Trap, or clays in the pasture ...
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For many years I shot Trap and Skeet - with a good pump gun with a 28" barrel. Then moved up into some good long term O/U's ...and my choice is Browning Citori, XS Skeet, with 30" barrels. But I like Brownings because they're rugged / will handle a 500,000 shell lifetime or more ...and most importantly they "Fit" so they hit where I look.
A good semi-auto is probably a good choice / in the $ 750 - $ 1,250 for many guns. Beretta, Browning, etc...
O/U's - Browning and Beretta have long dominated the market - with solid guns for the money. Browning has about 28 models in their Citori line of guns - the XS Skeet model is what they market as a "Skeet gun" these days ...but you can shoot a general use shotgun for skeet as well...at least until you get serious...
" .... It isn't even a close alternative to the Spanish doubles...........however, it CAN double as a cheater bar for a jack handle..." ...
or of course, it could be an extra boat paddle ...as well ...
------------------------
If your choice was among those 2 guns - go with the Mossberg.
-----------------------
You haven't said how serious you want to shoot ---- 100 targets a yr / 100 targets a week ....competition ...or not ..../ are you really shooting "skeet" or are you using it as a generic for Trap, or clays in the pasture ...
-------------------
For many years I shot Trap and Skeet - with a good pump gun with a 28" barrel. Then moved up into some good long term O/U's ...and my choice is Browning Citori, XS Skeet, with 30" barrels. But I like Brownings because they're rugged / will handle a 500,000 shell lifetime or more ...and most importantly they "Fit" so they hit where I look.
A good semi-auto is probably a good choice / in the $ 750 - $ 1,250 for many guns. Beretta, Browning, etc...
O/U's - Browning and Beretta have long dominated the market - with solid guns for the money. Browning has about 28 models in their Citori line of guns - the XS Skeet model is what they market as a "Skeet gun" these days ...but you can shoot a general use shotgun for skeet as well...at least until you get serious...
First Skeet Gun
My first skeet gun was a German Rotweil O/U but when I got more serious I started shooting a Remington 11-87. That was about 1987 but when I started getting really serious and competing I went to a Browning 425. Most of the guys in our club who shoot competitively shoot Browning, Beretta, a couple high dollar guns like Krieghoffs, Perazzi, or a Ceasar Guerrini. My gun has 30" barrels, I checked the NSSA rules and I couldn't find anything about barrel length being restricted to 26 or longer. But as stated before, the longer barrels swing much smoother. My advice is to get a gun you can start shooting with that won't break the bank and then start saving up for a good O/U, and then save up for Kolar or Briley tubes for the sub gauges. It's a fun game. Good luck.
My first skeet gun was a German Rotweil O/U but when I got more serious I started shooting a Remington 11-87. That was about 1987 but when I started getting really serious and competing I went to a Browning 425. Most of the guys in our club who shoot competitively shoot Browning, Beretta, a couple high dollar guns like Krieghoffs, Perazzi, or a Ceasar Guerrini. My gun has 30" barrels, I checked the NSSA rules and I couldn't find anything about barrel length being restricted to 26 or longer. But as stated before, the longer barrels swing much smoother. My advice is to get a gun you can start shooting with that won't break the bank and then start saving up for a good O/U, and then save up for Kolar or Briley tubes for the sub gauges. It's a fun game. Good luck.
oldsodbuster
Inactive
skeet gun
A low priced over and under in 12ga. 26" barrels with interchangable chokes. Get a set skeet chokes. Have a blast.
A low priced over and under in 12ga. 26" barrels with interchangable chokes. Get a set skeet chokes. Have a blast.
rottieman33
New member
Tell me why its not allowed? It holds 2 rounds and barrel lenght is 26"
oneounceload
Moderator
They would most likely object to the extended magazine, as it can present a possible safety issue as it holds more than two rounds
Personally, that style of stock with the vertical handgrips is usually a hindrance when trying to swing on moving targets
Personally, that style of stock with the vertical handgrips is usually a hindrance when trying to swing on moving targets
rottieman33
New member
I should of said that 2 of the mags got 1/2" dowel in there cut to length so you can only get 2 rounds in. I could of bought a 2 round mag but there about the same price for a 10 round, cheaper to put a wood dowel in. I will admit that I have ****** people off with my gun cause in there minds it's not PC for the game. As my skeet range President has told people my gun meets the specs there is nothing he can do. But this is the funny part the people that get ****** cause I can use that gun, come over and talk to me after they see me do a round and get high 20's and want to know more about the gun.
oneounceload
Moderator
If you can hold the grips like that and do well, good for you; I know for ME, personally, I like my arms more out horizontally (like chicken wings as I call them) so i can swing a lot more side to side - but then I also shoot skeet 1-2x/year - I shoot sporting clays and in that game, targets fly in so many different directions and arcs, tat vertical grip holds are a detriment
pabuckslayer08
New member
Slugos header fits these last few statments very well
rottieman33
New member
The gun doesn't make a person good at the game, the person knows the gun and what it can do. Maybe you need a $1000+ skeet gun I don't. And any time you want to play a game with me let me know you can drive up here to New Hampshire. Then after I will take you over to my work and show you I can hit a 8" metal target at 880 yards(thats a half mile) with my Remington 700 in .308. Because I know you Don't buy that for a minute.
Skeet Gun
Slugo, I have to agree with you. If a guy is shooting in the 20s with that gun, he'd be a AAA up there with Binder and Shima and those guys with a true skeet gun. But to each his own.
We have a guy who comes out to our range with a Class III Saiga (sp??) with a 2 in barrel (that's how much that sticks out of the action) with an EO Tech sight. He's a disabled Iraq vet (we're on an Army Post) and he's coming around slowly. On stations 1 and 7 he'll break 2 or three, on a good day, he might break 10 birds in a round, the worst part is for the guys on the squad or the guy pulling for him. I actually got a head ache being within 10 feet of him shooting Remington Express shells. We don't discourage anyone from shooting unless they just aren't safe. He's really into the "black guns" but with some encouragement and coaching he'll probably put that gun up and look for something to really shoot skeet with. Just depends on how serious he is about skeet.
One of the other posts talked about Browning Citori, I'm a bit Browning fan. As I posted before I shoot a 425 Sporting Clays. A good friend of mine had one that I shot when I was looking for another gun and for me it's everything I want in a gun. My friend who was a AA shooter and coach told me that down at the World Shoot in San Antonio TX, you can go along vender row and all the gunsmiths for the other manufacturers are working practically around the clock fixing guns, but the Browning guys are sitting around like the Maytag repairman, nothing to do. Might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there's some truth to it. I'm convinced my grand-kids will be shooting that gun when I'm long gone.
People need to understand that skeet is a shooting game. You can equate it to bird hunting, but it really isn't. Skeet is skeet. I always recommend that if someone wants to get serious about it and they are first starting out, get a good gun that fits. I prefer an O/U but if they can't afford a decent one, a good auto will work too. Pumps are good, but I think they are better for a more experienced shooter. I say that based on the fact that there is more you have to do when shooting a pump. With an auto or O/U you can concentrate more on the bird than having to work the action and disrupt your swing with a pump. I'm so used to my O/U that when I do shoot my pump I have to really concentrate on working the action on my doubles in addition to making the second shot. Shooting a pump successfully, in my opinion, takes an experienced shoot to do well. Other than the Texas State 4H shoot, I don't think I've ever seen anyone shoot competition with a pump unless it's a pump gun shoot. I'll shoot mine every now and then just for a change. But when I serious about it, it's the Browning O/U.
Slugo, I have to agree with you. If a guy is shooting in the 20s with that gun, he'd be a AAA up there with Binder and Shima and those guys with a true skeet gun. But to each his own.
We have a guy who comes out to our range with a Class III Saiga (sp??) with a 2 in barrel (that's how much that sticks out of the action) with an EO Tech sight. He's a disabled Iraq vet (we're on an Army Post) and he's coming around slowly. On stations 1 and 7 he'll break 2 or three, on a good day, he might break 10 birds in a round, the worst part is for the guys on the squad or the guy pulling for him. I actually got a head ache being within 10 feet of him shooting Remington Express shells. We don't discourage anyone from shooting unless they just aren't safe. He's really into the "black guns" but with some encouragement and coaching he'll probably put that gun up and look for something to really shoot skeet with. Just depends on how serious he is about skeet.
One of the other posts talked about Browning Citori, I'm a bit Browning fan. As I posted before I shoot a 425 Sporting Clays. A good friend of mine had one that I shot when I was looking for another gun and for me it's everything I want in a gun. My friend who was a AA shooter and coach told me that down at the World Shoot in San Antonio TX, you can go along vender row and all the gunsmiths for the other manufacturers are working practically around the clock fixing guns, but the Browning guys are sitting around like the Maytag repairman, nothing to do. Might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there's some truth to it. I'm convinced my grand-kids will be shooting that gun when I'm long gone.
People need to understand that skeet is a shooting game. You can equate it to bird hunting, but it really isn't. Skeet is skeet. I always recommend that if someone wants to get serious about it and they are first starting out, get a good gun that fits. I prefer an O/U but if they can't afford a decent one, a good auto will work too. Pumps are good, but I think they are better for a more experienced shooter. I say that based on the fact that there is more you have to do when shooting a pump. With an auto or O/U you can concentrate more on the bird than having to work the action and disrupt your swing with a pump. I'm so used to my O/U that when I do shoot my pump I have to really concentrate on working the action on my doubles in addition to making the second shot. Shooting a pump successfully, in my opinion, takes an experienced shoot to do well. Other than the Texas State 4H shoot, I don't think I've ever seen anyone shoot competition with a pump unless it's a pump gun shoot. I'll shoot mine every now and then just for a change. But when I serious about it, it's the Browning O/U.
oneounceload
Moderator
Skeet started out as a game for grouse hunters to stay sharp in the off season, so it IS a hunting game.
$1000 doesn't get you a decent used SERIOUS skeet gun - sorry, that's the facts
$1000 doesn't get you a decent used SERIOUS skeet gun - sorry, that's the facts
At some point good equipment or better equipment matters ...especially if you're going to shoot consistent scores.
Its not about shooting a 21 occasionally ....its about shooting a 23, or a 24 average ...or a 92 - 96 average out of a 100. Then its about shooting in the upper 90's and never shooting a score below a 23. If you can shoot at a 92-96 level with a tactical weapon ( and I'll take you at your word / that you're observing all the rules / never loading more than 2 shells ) ...I'll shake your hand and say nice shooting just like I would to anyone on a skeet or Trap field.
But my hunch is / you'll have up and down days with most any "tactical shotgun".
No, nonone needs a $ 1,000 skeet gun ...but the working man's skeet gun these days / and its a nice gun ...is a Browning Citori XS Skeet model with an adj comb ...and it sells new, in my area for around $ 3,000. Its a solid gun / not a high end gun / not a fancy gun ...but its a gun that will run 500,000 shells and not cause you a single issue - and for most of us, a gun that will stay in our families for 3 or more generations.
But I would say 95% or more of the top Skeet shooters in the country - are shooting upper end guns ....Blazer, Perazzi, Kolar or Krieghoff ...and many of them are sponsored / but to get into that level of equipment its about
$ 6,500 - $ 25,000. A few of the top guns are shooting specialized semi-autos ...and a few of them are shooting Berettas or Brownings - but not many / because there are better tools out there for those elite shooters to reach their potential of 98.99 avg / or 99.9X averages ...as they shoot 1,000 straight or more ....
Being a big dog / in a small puddle isn't too tough. Big a big dog / in a big pond ...is a whole other thing ( and I'm not ) / especially in the stress of high level competiton. I'm very happy shooting my Brownings ...and hoping to maintain a 92 or maybe a little better average on my better days .../ but I can drift down to an 88 ...in a heartbeat / and 22's aren't terrible ...but they're laughable in big time or even regional competition - even in the Senior of Veteran or Super Veteran classes !
Its not about shooting a 21 occasionally ....its about shooting a 23, or a 24 average ...or a 92 - 96 average out of a 100. Then its about shooting in the upper 90's and never shooting a score below a 23. If you can shoot at a 92-96 level with a tactical weapon ( and I'll take you at your word / that you're observing all the rules / never loading more than 2 shells ) ...I'll shake your hand and say nice shooting just like I would to anyone on a skeet or Trap field.
But my hunch is / you'll have up and down days with most any "tactical shotgun".
No, nonone needs a $ 1,000 skeet gun ...but the working man's skeet gun these days / and its a nice gun ...is a Browning Citori XS Skeet model with an adj comb ...and it sells new, in my area for around $ 3,000. Its a solid gun / not a high end gun / not a fancy gun ...but its a gun that will run 500,000 shells and not cause you a single issue - and for most of us, a gun that will stay in our families for 3 or more generations.
But I would say 95% or more of the top Skeet shooters in the country - are shooting upper end guns ....Blazer, Perazzi, Kolar or Krieghoff ...and many of them are sponsored / but to get into that level of equipment its about
$ 6,500 - $ 25,000. A few of the top guns are shooting specialized semi-autos ...and a few of them are shooting Berettas or Brownings - but not many / because there are better tools out there for those elite shooters to reach their potential of 98.99 avg / or 99.9X averages ...as they shoot 1,000 straight or more ....
Being a big dog / in a small puddle isn't too tough. Big a big dog / in a big pond ...is a whole other thing ( and I'm not ) / especially in the stress of high level competiton. I'm very happy shooting my Brownings ...and hoping to maintain a 92 or maybe a little better average on my better days .../ but I can drift down to an 88 ...in a heartbeat / and 22's aren't terrible ...but they're laughable in big time or even regional competition - even in the Senior of Veteran or Super Veteran classes !
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Not to get into an argument, I know that skeet did start out for grouse or for what I've read pheasant hunters, doesn't really matter. The point I was trying to make was that TODAY, IMO, skeet has developed into a shooting sport of it's own. I know, every September we have guys come to our range to get ready for dove season in their cammo gamebags and cammo taped guns. That's fine and dandy. But for someone who is starting out to shoot skeet as a shooting sport, it is not a hunting sport, IMO. I've seen great dove shooters who can't break 15 birds and I've seen good skeet shooters who can't hit a dove in the field. And some people shoot both great.
Check out some of the gun auction websites and you'll see some pretty good guns that you can shoot skeet with for around $1000. They aren't going to be Krieghoffs and the like, but you'll see an occasional Browning or Beretta, and a lot of autos. I guess opinions of what's a serious skeet gun vary, one of our prior state champs shot a Browning Citori, don't know which model but it is an older gun. Another of our really good shooters shoots a Browning auto. Again, just depends on what you consider a serious skeet gun.
I'm new to this forum and don't mean to get anyone riled.
Big Jim, sounds like you and I should shoot on the same squad someday. Personally I couldn't disagree with anything you said.
Check out some of the gun auction websites and you'll see some pretty good guns that you can shoot skeet with for around $1000. They aren't going to be Krieghoffs and the like, but you'll see an occasional Browning or Beretta, and a lot of autos. I guess opinions of what's a serious skeet gun vary, one of our prior state champs shot a Browning Citori, don't know which model but it is an older gun. Another of our really good shooters shoots a Browning auto. Again, just depends on what you consider a serious skeet gun.
I'm new to this forum and don't mean to get anyone riled.
Big Jim, sounds like you and I should shoot on the same squad someday. Personally I couldn't disagree with anything you said.
oneounceload
Moderator
Absolutely true....skeet has evolved into its own little world, as has trap......
Typically, a good skeet shooter SHOULD do well in the dove fields, but you are correct, it isn't always trye
pabuckslayer08
New member
Great bird hunters and skeet shooters dont relate to me, I can go out and fill all my tags every time if I see the birds but you must figure, I have 3 shots and most everytime I shoot I do get the bird but sometimes not till number 3. So you must figure that in, I shoot 15s-18s on skeet just because of that reason itself, my follow up shots Im much more comfortable at shooting, its just how I am.
.300 Weatherby Mag
New member
Skeet and trap are good practice for bird hunting... Add sporting clays and you have even more varied shots to look at... If I have been shooting skeet and trap with any frequency.. I kill the heck out of live birds.. One thing about it, especially with doves, your expenses go down greatly if you don't burn up four boxes of shells to get a limit... I'm actually very unhappy if I don't get my 10 bird limit with less than 25 shells... To knock down three birds with three quick shots with my 20 gauge Wingmaster was sure a blast...
Check out the Ruger Red Label. The fit and finish are excellent and the gun is reasonably priced. It is more than enough gun for any skeet shooter, barring high level competitor.
Supposedly, it is the only production O/U still made in the USA. I read the previous fact a while back, so I cannot testify to the veracity of the statement. I do believe Savage may be bringing one to market.
Here is a review from Chuck Hawks:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/ruger_red_label_shotgun.htm
Supposedly, it is the only production O/U still made in the USA. I read the previous fact a while back, so I cannot testify to the veracity of the statement. I do believe Savage may be bringing one to market.
Here is a review from Chuck Hawks:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/ruger_red_label_shotgun.htm
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