Trap shooting advice for getting started.

http://www.damascusiwla.org/Remington_Trap_Fundamentals_2004.pdf

An oldie but a goodie from Remington

As to guns, a used Browning BT-99 is a great single shot trap gun; you should go with a 12. if you want to shoot doubles, then a decent O/U would work IF it fits. A better quality gas gun would be less expensive but without a shell catcher, the shooter to your right will not by pleased getting pelted by your empties.

A pump with a 28 or 30 inch mod, imp mod or full would work fine for singles; but would be a handicap come doubles time. If your current gun fits you, by all means go use it for 16 yard singles and then decide if it is a game you want to pursue and then step up and get another gun (like anyone needs an excuse, right?)

What choke does your current Mossberg have? For a new beginner, again if it FITS, use that. If you like it enough to continue, it might be cheaper to look for a 28 or 30" barrel used from a pawn shop or GunBroker

DustyGmt said:

Are pump guns just not really the appropriate tool? I drive by the trap range to get to the pistol/rifle range, I don't see many, if any pumps. Looks to be alot of break action types. Just curious.

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The appropriate tool is the one that works. Vic Reinders won the Grand many, many years with a Remington Model 31 pump, as did Rudy Etchen and Daro Handy with Remingtin 870's. I've shot many a 25 with a Model 870 myself.

Pumps were more popular from the 40's to the 80's, first the Win. Model 12, Rem. Model 31, and the Rem. 870. Most people shooting trap with a pump today do so because it's their only shotgun, or for nostalgia. You do have to get very fast with a pump to score good on doubles. I was Ok with my 870, but I'd prefer my 1100 Competition for doubles these days. (My singles and handicap gun is a Ljutic single barrel trap gun.)

DustyGmt said:

I was looking at this. But if you think 12ga, which is honestly kinda what I was thinking too. I might just hold off for a 12. Looks like it comes a case of chokes. View attachment 981689

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Your money would be far better spent on a good pump than that Legacy. Your 500 will work, like George P says, if it fits you. The fixed Modified barrel will be fine for 16 yard singles. 12 ga. is the only gauge to shoot for Trap, unless you are shooting a sub-gauge event.

DustyGmt said:

Would there be any sights I could install on the mossberg to make it better? I'm fairly confident I can make due the 500 for the time being, wondering if there is anything I could do to enhance it. Like I say, I'm a total noob. Might be over thinking it, feel free to tell me so.


I had a wingmaster that I got for next to nothing, sold it for next to nothing too. Bad move.

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If you have a bead, that is enough. You don't aim a shotgun, like you do a rifle. I do recommend on investing in one of these;

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018129779

and experimenting with it at the patterning board to find a good fit that gives you a Point Of Impact higher than the 50/50 POI your 500 probably gives now.

At the point you are now, just get out and shoot; watch the best shooters at your club, and approach them for advice. They will probably advise you to get an O/U or SBT (Single Barrel Trap gun; BT-99, etc.) , but if you explain you're just starting out, they might let you try their guns. If they do, offer them a box of shell and a cold beverage of their choice for their generosity. You may find a gun that you just can't miss with; that's how I fell in love with Ljutic MonoGuns many years ago.

Oh, and watch this:



It's old but it's full of good advice. Just like the info in the pamphlet that George P. linked, I have the high schoolers I coach watch that video. You'll notice them shooting Rem. 8780's and 1100's in it. Those guns dominated the Trap fields in the 60's and 70's.

Go with a 12ga. Trap doesn’t generally have separate divisions for different gauges. You can shoot with a 20ga, but you’ll still be competing against everyone else with a 12ga. No reason to handicap yourself with less shot/velocity.

As a starter gun you can use just about anything. Most shooters eventually gravitate to an over/under for a few reasons. Off the top of my head, 2 barrels means 2 different chokes which is helpful for doubles, 2 barrels also tends to mean more weight which affects recoil. Stocks tend to be a bit easier to modify for fit (though that’s certainly not only something you can do on over/unders). They also tend to be more reliable and durable. Semi autos are good, but when you’re shooting 15,000-20,000 rounds a year, weird things start breaking.

With chokes you’ll want to pattern each choke at different distances. There’s a good chance the stock choke tubes aren’t going to pattern well, so if you plan on competing I’d recommend getting some good aftermarket chokes.

I wouldn’t do anything too crazy on the bead/sights. Eventully you’ll get to the point that you use the sights to confirm that you’re mounted correctly, and then you’ll ignore them and focus on where your pattern will land (most guns set up for American trap have a POI above the bead). I know several people who removed their beads completely.

American trap has 5 target presentations - straight, hard right, hard left, and mid right and mid left. If you go to the range on a day that there’s not a shoot, see if they’ll let you lock the trap down on one of the positions and get some practice on it. Hard right from the number 5 (last) position tends to get people starting out. If you set your stance to be right for where the targets will be, as opposed to where the targets start (at the house) it’ll make hitting that hard right a lot easier.

I bought a 28" Tristar O/U for casual trap. They offer O/U and single trap guns as well as a Single/Double set. Very reasonable, come with 5 choke tubes.

DustyGmt said:

a mossberg 500 pump with 26" bbl, in a pinch this will do, right?

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Yes. Use #8 shot & modified choke or better, improved modified choke.

Trap guns all shoot high. About 9" This is because the bird is rising. Put some kind of cheek pad on the butt stock. View attachment 981741

This will get you started.

"Wood to wood" always keep your cheek on the stock. Lift head= lost bird.

DustyGmt said:

It is actually a 28" not a 26". Says modified choke. It has a slight taper to it, but no choke thingy in it. Smooth bore on the inside, but like I said it tapers a lil out toward the end of the bbl.

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This has me wondering if it threaded for choke tubes and just doesn't have any or if it is indeed a fixed Mod choke barrel. IF it is a fixed Mod, that will be fine to start with. Read that pamphlet from Remington; it gives you foot positions, hold positions and tip where to break.

As to sights, NONE are preferable over some glow worm or other. As mentioned, you point, you do not aim. Your focus is on the target not the sight, which is the complete opposite of metallic

I have a Winchester 97 Black Diamond Trap that was made in 1912. It is a straight stock with plenty of drop and has had a Weaver choke device added at some point in history with a 3/4 choke tube. It is more fun to take to the trap range but throw out all of the advice about trap shooting with modern shotguns.
The old timers could shoot them and shoot them well, so just take your gun out and shoot a round and see what feels right for you.

Age doesn't matter as long as it works. In trap, you're only shooting one shot at one target at a time, so no fast and furious shucking is happening.

I agree with those who recommend that you start with the shotgun you have. You may not like the sport. If you do, the people you meet will have advice on what to do to upgrade your equipment. Some ranges have instruction available which will be helpful. (I promise the next time I take up a new sport, I will get professional instruction BEFORE I develop bad habits.)

I started shooting trap with a Rem 870 w/ a 26" bbl. I wasn't very good, but I don't think it was the gun. I moved to a Mossberg Silver Reserve II O/U shotgun w/ 30" bbls and my accuracy improved. I think it was because the Mossberg just fit me better. I was also getting a little better from shooting more often and getting used to that type of shooting. You already have some good advice on how to start, stance and gun so I'd add one other thing. Get yourself a belt shell box holder. Comes in handy when loading your gun. If you shoot trap it's a PITA to keep bending down to get a shell out of the box when it's sitting on the ground. A belt holder will make your experience that much better. There fairly inexpensive and easy to use.

Get a Beretta or Browning o/u 12 gauge with interchangeable chokes.
If it breaks (probably wont) it is easy to get it fixed.

Also, with something like that you can use it for anything, not just trap.

I’d recommend starting with the gun you have as stated earlier. The pattern board will be a must. If you find you like trap, then figure out your next gun. BT-99s are great but just for trap. Pumps work for other clay games with a little extra work (and bending over). A over/under with choke tubes will work for all with no bending over to pick up spent shells (it gets old). If you enjoy trap you might find yourself liking skeet or sporting clays as I did. Don’t forget glasses, ear protection and a shell pouch. Watch YouTube for some tips and keep your cheek on the stock. The main thing is to enjoy yourself.

Start with what you have. People talk big about shooting doubles, but most don’t. I think ATA might even published stats - I thought I read only 20% shoot doubles. O/U are nice, but reliable ones are good for 1 million rounds with little more than replacing firing pins every 50,000 rounds or so. Reliable = Beretta or Browning. Mossberg’s are rated with a life of less than 100,000 rounds - which sounds huge to a new shooter and only a couple years to a serious shooter. 870’s are rated for 250,000 rounds with some going a million. (Source American Trapshooter.com)

shotgunworld.com polled their trap shooters. Most shoot Improved Modified, followed by full then modified - but it wasn’t a big margin. My son shoots improved cylinder hits in the high 80%. My daughter shoots a Heavy Duck, so extra full. She waits for her shot to develop.

ONE advantage would be if the OP also wants to try shooting skeet or maybe even sporting clays.