I've been bitten by the clay bug, and I'm starting to look around for a proper gun. I like the Mossberg 500's just because I already have one and I'm used to the way it works.

 

I found this one online. Any opinions? I'd want to see it in person before I commit, but does anyone have any pros or cons on the thumbhole stock? It looks like it has a nice high comb (I was having issues on Sunday with Jordan's ATI aftermarket stock... couldn't cheek it right, to low) and the fiber optic front sight probably couldn't hurt.

 

All opinions welcome. Oh, and it's around $325 online.

 

Mossberg 500 Turkey Pump 12Ga 3" 20" Matte Blue Thumbhole 3" X-Factor Ported 5Rd Fiber Optic

Trap guns usually have barrels at least 28". 20" is going to be tough, but Mossberg has actual clay models...

I thought the barrel may be short, but I seem to have issues swinging a long barrel quickly enough to get on target. I tried one on Sunday with a 26 or 28" barrel, and couldn't get on until the clay was already falling. I have really long arms, and that may have something to do with it (or, I may just be uncoordinated).

I have a similar urge to pick up a nice pumper. 8-)

Ok heres a question

 

Does it matter what kkind of gun you sue for trap/skeet? Like official rules? I would love to use my remington 870 tactical to smash some clay

 

I mean if its just for fun does it matter?

Mossbergs are very reliable guns so you can't go wrong with one. I was looking for one that I could beat around shooting clays and not worry about it getting scratched...the used 835 I bought was perfect for that.

 

It's had probably 200 rounds through it since I got it and it's not been cleaned yet :twisted:

 

I've just added the recoil pad.

 

As said above, you might look at a little longer barrel. The short barrel works ok for my chimpy thrower but gets a bit harder on clays like the green monster was throwing yesterday.

Ok heres a question

 

Does it matter what kkind of gun you sue for trap/skeet? Like official rules? I would love to use my remington 870 tactical to smash some clay

 

I mean if its just for fun does it matter?

 

Ehhh Rules Shmules....I think it has something to do with patterning, wider spread from a longer bbl maybe? Dunno. I'd like to try the judge with clays, but i hear its much harder with a 410. Even harder with a pistol. Impossible?

 

I don't see why you couldn't use your tac shotgun for clays, maybe some will say its not practical, but yer like me...whats the big deal? We are not hunting with it....just having some fun smashing stuff flying in the air!

Ken,

 

As I recall, you did fine with my 835 the previous time. It's a 24" barrel.

Another question...what is the difference between trap and skeet?

Another question...what is the difference between trap and skeet?

 

Trap is one clay, skeet is two at its most basic.

 

There's more stations in skeet(8, vs 5 in trap) and you can call Pull or Mark to get the left or right target.

 

Sporting clays is supposed to simulate actual in field flushing of game.

 

What we do is fling clays out and shoot them while taking turns. Frankly it's more fun as I've done trap and skeet. The only missing really is a quality thrower with some variability.

Trap vs. Skeet

 

So what's the difference between Trap and Skeet? Its said the Trap is easier to learn but harder to master, while Skeet is harder learn but easier to master. Let's examine the difference of each sport.

 

In Skeet, targets cross left or right in front of the shooter, from a High House and Low House, and always follows an identical "flight path" in terms of height, speed, angle. As s shooter moves through the eight skeet positions, the flight of the target is always the precisely the same. With practice, a shooter "learns" where the target will be. After a while, most skeet shooters desire more of a challenge, usually turning to shooting with smaller gauge guns (20, 28, 410). Because of this, most skeet competitions are decided by shoot-offs and other sub-events, before the field of shooters can be narrowed down to determine a winner.

 

Trap differs in that the targets are always move away from the shooter, at greatly varying angles from extremes of left or right to dead-center straight-aways. The longer a shooter waits to shoot, the distance to the target increases. The trap machine continually cycles and changes angles at random. This, combined with the shooter?s position on the trap field, makes for an infinite number of target angles. From Station 1 for example, a target moving to the extreme left will appear to move very fast. On the other hand, a target moving to the extreme right will almost appear to be a straight-away shot (where as on Station 5, these perceptions are reversed).

 

The shooter must also consider a target?s flight path. Trap targets eventually reach an apex (their highest point of an arc) then begin to descend. The rate at which they fall varies, and is difficult to perceive. Add some wind or other environmental variables (rain, etc.) and the complexity increases exponentially. With a tail wind, targets are stay lower (as the wind pushes them down) and may fly faster. Against the wind, targets are driven up into the air, and their speed can also be varied.

As I recall, you did fine with my 835 the previous time. It's a 24" barrel.

You're right, but yesterday it seemed like I was swinging a broomstick. Maybe it was just that I was shooting the 18" and moved to the longer barrel. I guess I need to find something comfortable for me, get used to it and stay with it.

 

Thanks to all for the advice. Any opinions on the thumbhole vs traditional stock?

 

K

but yesterday it seemed like I was swinging a broomstick.

 

Just shoot with a longer barrel more often. It'll feel right after a while.

Any opinions on the thumbhole vs traditional stock?

 

K

 

You might be less prone to smacking your nose with your thumb using a thumbhole stock.

 

Other than that, I would think it'd be entirely a preference. I've only ever shot a thumbhole stock a handful of times and it just felt weird to me but I've been shooting shotguns since I was 9. I'm certain you get used to it.

Why doesn't the weekly trap / skeet crew chip in a few bucks each and buy a nice thrower? They dont seem to be overly expensive few hundred bucks....no?

Why doesn't the weekly trap / skeet crew chip in a few bucks each and buy a nice thrower? They dont seem to be overly expensive few hundred bucks....no?

 

Chad - because we're cheap! I just about blew the budget with my $25 used model and nearly killed myself to get an $0.88 eyebolt (I had the washer and wingnut).

Chad - because we're cheap!

 

8-)

lmao, ok....well that makes sense.

I'm actually contemplating buying one. I think I might of gotten my father interested in doing trap again, so maybe he'll split the cost with me. So who knows, we might have a nice electric launcher coming shortly.

 

I'm contemplating a double barrel if I get more serious about it. That way it gives you the option if you want to do skeet or not. But it would be interesting doing skeet with a pump

 

Honestly the way I feel about it is, as long as your comfortable with the gun, and it fits your price range, bring what you got. Were going to have a blast no matter what.

 

Now if only we could get the central and southern guys like Chad, TB, Maks etc to come out for a nice big NJGF event to do some clay shooting, now that would be some major fun!

I'm game for that....baby on the way, nursery to be built, work 75-80 hrs a week, etc. makes it kind of tough. One of these days.

Chad its kind of a hike, I think you about 2 hours away from us. But we usually meet on the second Sunday of every month at about 2pm. We usually shoot for a couple of hours and its pretty laid back so if you wanted to stay until 4 you could be home by 6 for dinner

 

But you do have a nursery to build, and since were all brothers here, you could always just ask a bunch of us to help you, that way you get it done quicker, and end up with a free weekend to come shoot as wel! Only thing is, I refuse to paint

Why doesn't the weekly trap / skeet crew chip in a few bucks each and buy a nice thrower? They dont seem to be overly expensive few hundred bucks....no?

 

Chad - because we're cheap! I just about blew the budget with my $25 used model and nearly killed myself to get an $0.88 eyebolt (I had the washer and wingnut).

 

Cmon guys....it would cost you each $10.

 

http://cnj.craigslist.org/spo/1288325185.html

 

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/spo/1265343339.html

 

this one is only $30!

 

$25 bucks

Chad its kind of a hike, I think you about 2 hours away from us. But we usually meet on the second Sunday of every month at about 2pm. We usually shoot for a couple of hours and its pretty laid back so if you wanted to stay until 4 you could be home by 6 for dinner

 

But you do have a nursery to build, and since were all brothers here, you could always just ask a bunch of us to help you, that way you get it done quicker, and end up with a free weekend to come shoot as wel! Only thing is, I refuse to paint

 

 

Free weekend? Whats that? I dont understand.

 

I work every fri-sat-sun. :roll:

I have one that is sitting in my closet. I'm not sure if it even works. I'll pick up some clay pigeons today after work and give it a go when I get home. If it works then I'll mount it to a piece of ply and we're GTG.

Chad its kind of a hike, I think you about 2 hours away from us. But we usually meet on the second Sunday of every month at about 2pm. We usually shoot for a couple of hours and its pretty laid back so if you wanted to stay until 4 you could be home by 6 for dinner

 

But you do have a nursery to build, and since were all brothers here, you could always just ask a bunch of us to help you, that way you get it done quicker, and end up with a free weekend to come shoot as wel! Only thing is, I refuse to paint

 

 

Free weekend? Whats that? I dont understand.

 

I work every fri-sat-sun. :roll:

 

Admirable, but don't forget to enjoy yourself a little.

Why doesn't the weekly trap / skeet crew chip in a few bucks each and buy a nice thrower? They dont seem to be overly expensive few hundred bucks....no?

 

Chad - because we're cheap! I just about blew the budget with my $25 used model and nearly killed myself to get an $0.88 eyebolt (I had the washer and wingnut).

 

Cmon guys....it would cost you each $10.

 

http://cnj.craigslist.org/spo/1288325185.html

 

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/spo/1265343339.html

 

this one is only $30!

 

$25 bucks

 

See, that's the thing. I have a $30 one and he bought a $25 one used that throws them a bit straighter....we'd be rockin with an electronic one that has a wobbler. That's what we're too cheap to get.

Admirable, but don't forget to enjoy yourself a little.

 

I just started taking wednesdays off. That dropped me down from 90-95 Hours a week, down to 80ish

 

 

Mal....I thought you guys were using the hand toss method! lol, I didn't realize you had a thrower already. You just want a better one!

I didn't realize you had a thrower already. You just want a better one!

 

*nods*

 

I bought a chimpy $30 one at Gander mountain.

 

It'd be great fun with an electric one that wobbles it around.

I didn't realize you had a thrower already. You just want a better one!

 

*nods*

 

I bought a chimpy $30 one at Gander mountain.

 

It'd be great fun with an electric one that wobbles it around.

 

Spin me in a circle a few times and make me throw them out there. That'll add some wobble to them (or me).

actually, I was impressed with the father and son team down the end with the hand thrower - but for all we know the kid is a minor league pitcher