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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:05:30 PM EDT
If my only shotgun is a home defense version (12 gauge, 20” barrel, and a fixed cylinder choke), how much of a disadvantage would iI have if I used it for skeet or trap or sporting clays?
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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:29:29 PM EDT
[#1]
You'll still have fun but you'll look like a dope.
Trust me. |
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USA
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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:34:20 PM EDT
[#2]
What the other guy said. You could shoot skeet with it. You might get partial hits, but you will be at a disadvantage. If you already own it, it won't hurt to try and shoot a round, but I wouldn't buy a self defense shotgun and use it for skeet.
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NC, USA
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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:44:00 PM EDT
[#3]
Most clubs I have been to would not allow it based on the length, 26" I think is often the min allowed. For the backyard with some buddies, they will prob hit more.
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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:48:46 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Bigger_Hammer]
[#4]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Ebone:
Most clubs I have been to would not allow it based on the length, 26" I think is often the min allowed. For the backyard with some buddies, they will prob hit more. I did sneak in a round with Peter the Beater... A Old Rem 870 Police Magnum parkerized & bead sighted. I shot pretty well, but on the longer going away shots, the pattern was thin and hole-y at distance. What kind of shotgun do you have? You can find bird barrels for Mossberg 500s & Rem 870s easy and affordable, which will be good for hunting & "target sports" |
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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:49:52 PM EDT
[Last Edit: JPK]
[#5]
Cylinder is fine for skeet. From the post which the birds fly over to shooting positions is 21yds for all but two stations, and they are closer.
95% of shooters use too much choke. Cylinder is good for many more situations than most think. Smoking clays is fun, but a smoked clay scores the same as one with a chip broken off. Try skeet and sporting clays with your gun, if you like it get a 28” barrel with choke tubes. Cylinder would be a huge handicap in trap. 1/4 choke or light modified would be much better at the beginner stations. But trap is an anti social game and not much fun, IMO. |
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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:52:04 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By JPK:
Cylinder is fine for skeet. From the post which the birds fly over to shooting positions is 21yds for all but two stations, and they are closer. 95% of shooters use too much choke. Cylinder is good for many more situations than most think. Smoking clays is fun, but a smoked clay scores the same as one with a chip broken off. Try skeet and sporting clays with your gun, if you like it get a 28" barrel with choke tubes. Cylinder would be a huge handicap in trap. 1/4 choke or light modified would be much better at the beginner stations. But trap is an anti social game and not much fun, IMO. 
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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:53:17 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By JPK:
Cylinder is fine for skeet. From the post which the birds fly over to shooting positions is 21yds for all but two stations, and they are closer. 95% of shooters use too much choke. Cylinder is good for many more situations than most think. Smoking clays is fun, but a smoked clay scores the same as one with a chip broken off. Try skeet and sporting clays with your gun, if you like it get a 28” barrel with choke tubes. Cylinder would be a huge handicap in trap. 1/4 choke or light modified would be much better at the beginner stations. But trap is an anti social game and not much fun, IMO. |
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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:54:59 PM EDT
[#8]
OP you can, it's not the best for it for some of the mentioned reasons, but also because the shorter barrel doesn't give much in the way of weight for the different styles of hitting clays (swing through, constant/maintained lead) where the extra length of the barrel adds momentum and smooths things out, as well as a much longer sight radius.
But it's good practice still. |
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Posted: 6/23/2019 8:59:40 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Madcap72:
OP you can, it's not the best for it for some of the mentioned reasons, but also because the shorter barrel doesn't give much in the way of weight for the different styles of hitting clays (swing through, constant/maintained lead) where the extra length of the barrel adds momentum and smooths things out, as well as a much longer sight radius. But it's good practice still. Don't stop the barrel swing or you'll end up behind the target 90% of the time. |
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NC, USA
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Posted: 6/23/2019 9:03:51 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By JPK: But trap is an anti social game and not much fun, IMO. 
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Posted: 6/23/2019 9:23:36 PM EDT
[#11]
As an aside, I've often wondered what the shotgun games have to teach combat riflemen.
So much emphasis is placed on shotgun fit and balance, that seems to be disregarded in the rifle world. 
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Posted: 6/23/2019 11:50:23 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Madcap72]
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By feudist:
As an aside, I've often wondered what the shotgun games have to teach combat riflemen. So much emphasis is placed on shotgun fit and balance, that seems to be disregarded in the rifle world. The fit and balance of shotguns for trap and skeet are about as opposite as you would ever want for a rifle that needs to be shouldered and fired quickly, and switch targets fast. The velocity of rifle rounds is SO much faster than shotguns that training to lead with a shotgun would instill bad habits for leading with a rifle (too much). Even the safety and handling is different. |
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Posted: 6/24/2019 4:09:52 AM EDT
[#13]
Thanks for the advice fellas. Bigger_Hammer, I have a Browning BPS. It’s the limited edition with an extended mag tube which holds 7, which means other BPS barrels are not compatible with it.
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Posted: 7/29/2019 11:01:22 PM EDT
[#14]
OP There is no reason why you cannot shoot trap with a pump shotgun like you described. I used a Mossberg 500 for a couple of years. Average with the gun was 19. This last week end I saw 2 first time shooters using the same type of gun you are talking about. As far as short barrels go I took my 20ga. coach gun out 3 weeks ago and shot a 22 with it. It is so short that it will not fit in any of the racks at the trap club. Yes I get a lot of looks when I do that.
You donot need an expensive trap or skeet gun to have fun. |
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