I have a 12 gauge Mossberg 500. It is a great utilitarian gun. It came with a 18" home defense barrel and a 28" Vented Rib barrel for shot, and I bought a slug barrel for it. I have absolutely no complaints about it.

That said, I am looking to buy another shotgun so that I can bring a shooter that doesn't own one with me when I go trap shooting.

 

Is there a reason not to go with a 20 gauge? Will it work just as well on breaking clays and bust my shoulder a bit less? I have already fulfilled my "tough guy" requirement by owning a 12gauge.

Is there an advantage to an over-under? They sure look nice, but is there something about them that makes them better suited to breaking clays than the pump/auto-loaders?

I have looked at several manufacturers guns. 28" to 30" seems to be a popular size for trap guns. Is that the size I should stick with?

Some of the shotguns, particularly the over-unders, are god-awful expensive. Are they priced this way mostly because of their superior ability or mostly because of their nice wood, fine engraving, etc?

 

Any recommendations would be welcome. I have been eyeing some particularly nice looking CZs.

 

Thanks in advance.

The sighting on O/U trap guns are different to account for the distance a clay is out there. They also tend to have longer barrels. Shell performance wise is the same with the same length of barrel and choke as a pump or semi.

 

I shot trap with a .410 when I was 12. I did just fine.

 

Oh and if your shoulder hurts, get a limb saver. I can shoot hundreds a day without any pain.

There are plenty of trap shooters who do just fine with a regular shotgun, whether it's a pump, semi, or whatever. Dedicated trap guns are set up to shoot high, so that when you put the sight under the bird, the shot will travel mostly above the center line of the barrel and bust the bird. With a flat shooting gun, you need to (generally) partially cover the rising bird with the barrel, and this may cause you to lose sight of path of the clay.

 

That said, plenty of perfectly adequate trap shooters use field guns on the range, and many of them get to the point where they're shooting just as well as the Fudds with the $10k "dedicated" trap gun with the adjustable stocks and rib. IMHO, it's just as much about the ego as it is about the gun's capabilities. Yeah, the expensive guns are works of art, hand engraved and top grade hand selected and finished wood, but at the end of the day, it's about the score, and any gun that you can be proficient with is just dandy.

 

A 20 will be fine. It'll shoot softer than a 12, and make orange dust exactly the same as a 12. There are even guys shooting trap with a .410, but that takes skill to another level. Whatever you can cheek, aim and swing comfortably and consistently will work. My only suggestion is to get a gun with interchangeable chokes. You'll find that being able to change out chokes will make a difference as your skill level changes.

 

I shoot with a Browning 12 ga. pump, and I'm getting better with it at the same rate as the guy with a dedicated trap gun would with the same amount of range time. I picked up a Stoeger OU from Dick's a couple of weeks ago, got it out on the range just yesterday for the first time, and with the new gun on a new range, am not at all unhappy with the way I was shooting by the end of the day.

My own personal preference is an O/U 12 gauge with a 30+ inch barrel and a Limbsaver pad on it.

 

I shoot out of the top barrel.

I have an 1100 for sale and it makes a great trap gun. Just saying :-P

What makes a good Trap Gun?

 

..... The one you shoot well.....

 

 

I plan on staying with my Mossberg 500 until I am hitting in at least the low 20's all the time.....

 

.... once there, I will look at a Browning break action....

.... once there, I will look at a Browning break action....

 

Beautiful choice. Why wait though, start enjoying one now.

I have an 1100 for sale and it makes a great trap gun. Just saying :-P

 

I was eying that up last week. Somehow, the CZ shotguns are calling to me. I love CZ wood (on my shotguns that is).

 

http://cz-usa.com/products/by-category/over-under/

I have an 1100 for sale and it makes a great trap gun. Just saying :-P

 

CSJ's gun would make a fine trap gun and is priced right.

I have an 1100 for sale and it makes a great trap gun. Just saying :-P

 

 

been to rutts hut lately?

I have an 1100 for sale and it makes a great trap gun. Just saying :-P

 

 

been to rutts hut lately?

 

LOL, last week, during the monsoon.

IMHO whatever you're comfortable shooting and breaks the clays is a good trap gun. That said a lot of people use O/U's.

Trap shooting is a 12ga game. Its not like Sporting Clays or Skeet where you can shoot other gauges competitively. With that being said, you can shoot whatever gauge you want at the trap range. Its just going to be harder to smoke those birds with anything smaller then a 12ga. Once you get hooked on the game, you will become frustrated using a 20ga. Why not get a Remington 1100 or 1187 semi auto trap gun 12ga? That works but there is maintainence involved to keep it running smoothly. I would opt for a used 12ga O/U shotgun by Browning or Beretta. The "B" guns are well proven in the trap world and they last forever. Only maintainece is to run a soft Dewey rod down the barrel when you are done. Go online to gunbroker, Auction Arms, or Guns America and see what is out there. You can get something nice for around $800 and if you sell it in a couple years you will get what you paid for it if its taken of and not abused. If going O/U I would not get anything shorter then 32" barrels. Get a dedicated trap gun that has a higher rib built in so locking in the bird going vertically is a smooth and fast motion. Also, if it has an adjustable comb then that a bonus too...You can fit the gun to your face and stance. Stay away from shotguns that have been cut down in their LOP. That gun may not fit you. If you have one that too long then a qualified gunfitter can trim the stock for you for not mcuh money, if its too short then you either have to get a new stock or get an extension put on (usually expensive). Hope this helps.

 

I have a 12 gauge Mossberg 500. It is a great utilitarian gun. It came with a 18" home defense barrel and a 28" Vented Rib barrel for shot, and I bought a slug barrel for it. I have absolutely no complaints about it.

That said, I am looking to buy another shotgun so that I can bring a shooter that doesn't own one with me when I go trap shooting.

 

Is there a reason not to go with a 20 gauge? Will it work just as well on breaking clays and bust my shoulder a bit less? I have already fulfilled my "tough guy" requirement by owning a 12gauge.

Is there an advantage to an over-under? They sure look nice, but is there something about them that makes them better suited to breaking clays than the pump/auto-loaders?

I have looked at several manufacturers guns. 28" to 30" seems to be a popular size for trap guns. Is that the size I should stick with?

Some of the shotguns, particularly the over-unders, are god-awful expensive. Are they priced this way mostly because of their superior ability or mostly because of their nice wood, fine engraving, etc?

 

Any recommendations would be welcome. I have been eyeing some particularly nice looking CZs.

 

Thanks in advance.

I have an 1100 for sale and it makes a great trap gun. Just saying :-P

 

CSJ's gun would make a fine trap gun and is priced right.

Yes it would and is.

I have an 1100 for sale and it makes a great trap gun. Just saying :-P

 

CSJ's gun would make a fine trap gun and is priced right.

Yes it would and is.

 

I'll agree its a great price on a great gun.

I used to shoot a lot of trap before they closed down the county range here a few years back. I used a Charles Daly O/U with 32" barrels. (It's actually too long to fit into my gun cabinet in one piece.) It also weighs FAR more than more 590. It weighs a ton since I'm not carrying it like a field gun and the extra mass obviously helps deaden the recoil.

 

I learned to shoot using a single barrel break open gun that was a piece of junk that someone lent me to see if I wanted to try it out. Compared to the O/U that thing used to beat the hell out of me, even with light loads.

 

Speaking of which you don't need to shoot 1&1/8oz shells with a 12ga for trap, I never used more than 1 oz loads You can use the AA light target loads or even the ultra light target loads that are only 7/8oz. With even a decent gun those loads are pain free. I never used any kind of pad outside of the stock recoil pad on the gun and I'd regularly shoot 4-6 rounds of trap on a weekend.

I used to shoot a lot of trap before they closed down the county range here a few years back. I used a Charles Daly O/U with 32" barrels. (It's actually too long to fit into my gun cabinet in one piece.) It also weighs FAR more than more 590. It weighs a ton since I'm not carrying it like a field gun and the extra mass obviously helps deaden the recoil.

 

I learned to shoot using a single barrel break open gun that was a piece of junk that someone lent me to see if I wanted to try it out. Compared to the O/U that thing used to beat the hell out of me, even with light loads.

 

Speaking of which you don't need to shoot 1&1/8oz shells with a 12ga for trap, I never used more than 1 oz loads You can use the AA light target loads or even the ultra light target loads that are only 7/8oz. With even a decent gun those loads are pain free. I never used any kind of pad outside of the stock recoil pad on the gun and I'd regularly shoot 4-6 rounds of trap on a weekend.

 

 

Jeff,

How did you like the Charles Daly? I like the looks of them but they went out of business. That has me worried about parts if it breaks.

 

Chris

Trap shooting, Sporting Clays or Skeet, I still don't know the differences. I shoot better with the 410.

Trap shooting, Sporting Clays or Skeet, I still don't know the differences. I shoot better with the 410.

A quick and easy clay sports primer.

 

http://www.claytargetsonline.com/aboutthegames.php

I used to shoot a lot of trap before they closed down the county range here a few years back. I used a Charles Daly O/U with 32" barrels. (It's actually too long to fit into my gun cabinet in one piece.) It also weighs FAR more than more 590. It weighs a ton since I'm not carrying it like a field gun and the extra mass obviously helps deaden the recoil.

 

I learned to shoot using a single barrel break open gun that was a piece of junk that someone lent me to see if I wanted to try it out. Compared to the O/U that thing used to beat the hell out of me, even with light loads.

 

Speaking of which you don't need to shoot 1&1/8oz shells with a 12ga for trap, I never used more than 1 oz loads You can use the AA light target loads or even the ultra light target loads that are only 7/8oz. With even a decent gun those loads are pain free. I never used any kind of pad outside of the stock recoil pad on the gun and I'd regularly shoot 4-6 rounds of trap on a weekend.

 

 

Jeff,

How did you like the Charles Daly? I like the looks of them but they went out of business. That has me worried about parts if it breaks.

 

Chris

 

Chris -

 

I really like it, its the one with the Miroku barrels (sp?). Handles and shoots very well. I'm guessing I put at least 3000+ shells through that gun with no problems and it still looks really good, the bores are still like mirrors. I bought it from Griffin and Howe up in Bernardsville about 10 years ago and it was in perfect condition when I bought it. I have no idea how many rounds the previous owner put through it but worst case the gunsmith up at Griffin and Howe seemed to be fantastic (or at least he was back then) and I wouldn't hesitate to take it back up there since the guy works primarily on crazy high end shotguns and rifles (When I was there he was working on a shotgun that looked like it was literaly 100 years old). I wouldn't normally shop there but my uncle had bought a few guns from there and he took me up there after we went to about 3 or 4 other shops. Fit me perfectly with no need to adjust and I did the sale right there.

 

Bottom line, very happy. Hope that helps.

 

- Jeff

Chris -

 

I really like it, its the one with the Miroku barrels (sp?). Handles and shoots very well. I'm guessing I put at least 3000+ shells through that gun with no problems and it still looks really good, the bores are still like mirrors. I bought it from Griffin and Howe up in Bernardsville about 10 years ago and it was in perfect condition when I bought it. I have no idea how many rounds the previous owner put through it but worst case the gunsmith up at Griffin and Howe seemed to be fantastic (or at least he was back then) and I wouldn't hesitate to take it back up there since the guy works primarily on crazy high end shotguns and rifles (When I was there he was working on a shotgun that looked like it was literaly 100 years old). I wouldn't normally shop there but my uncle had bought a few guns from there and he took me up there after we went to about 3 or 4 other shops. Fit me perfectly with no need to adjust and I did the sale right there.

 

Bottom line, very happy. Hope that helps.

 

- Jeff

 

Jeff,

Thanks. I ended up ordering a Lanber Sporting Lux (Aussie) based on many internet reviews. CDNN has some great deals on shotguns.

I checked out the Griffin & Howe used and new section. Ouch that's expensive. I never realized that shotguns were such a status symbol. There are $50K guns for sale there.

Trap shooting, Sporting Clays or Skeet, I still don't know the differences. I shoot better with the 410.

A quick and easy clay sports primer.

 

http://www.claytargetsonline.com/aboutthegames.php

 

Thanks, a picture is worth more than a thousand words.