I am looking to get into some clays shooting; just for fun not competition for now. I will probably get an O/U in 28" or 30". I am in my mid 50's and really have only shot a shotgun a few times in my life; always been a handgun shooter. Would I be just as happy with a 20guage as a 12? Also will be buying new; I have been told that the "old" Brownings are very good' the "new" ones not so good..any truth to that??
20 OR 12 O/U maybe Browning
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What kind of "clays" ol buddy?
The usual formats are Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays.
Trapanskeetanclays is not all one word and it is not all one game.
Shooter and coach Fred Missildine said the 20 gauge was just about ideal for Skeet.
Trap and Sporting Clays are 12 gauge games. I am sure somebody will come along and tell us how great he does with a smallbore, but I have tried it and seen it tried and while it is ok for casual shooting, you will not see a high end shooter with a smaller gun than is allowed.
If you HAD a 20, I would say to shoot it, but since you are BUYING a gun for the purpose, I recommend a 12 if for most uses.
I haven't heard anything bad about recent Brownings. It will be hard to beat a Citori without paying a lot more money. Berettas in that price range are pretty nice, too.
The usual formats are Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays.
Trapanskeetanclays is not all one word and it is not all one game.
Shooter and coach Fred Missildine said the 20 gauge was just about ideal for Skeet.
Trap and Sporting Clays are 12 gauge games. I am sure somebody will come along and tell us how great he does with a smallbore, but I have tried it and seen it tried and while it is ok for casual shooting, you will not see a high end shooter with a smaller gun than is allowed.
If you HAD a 20, I would say to shoot it, but since you are BUYING a gun for the purpose, I recommend a 12 if for most uses.
I haven't heard anything bad about recent Brownings. It will be hard to beat a Citori without paying a lot more money. Berettas in that price range are pretty nice, too.
If you're already a Browning fan, pick a 12 ga. Citori or Superposed. If not, there's a WORLD of opinions on the better O/U for Clay Games. Good advice from Jim^. I would try & shoot a Beretta Silver Pigeon II before I bought the Browning. It's a popular O/U choice in the same $$$($) range.
"The usual formats are Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays.
Trapanskeetanclays is not all one word and it is not all one game."
Jim,
Not to sound "stupid" but like I said, just starting and don't know the real difference yet.
One of my main concerns is recoil. I have had cancer for 23 years now and it's treatment has done a terrible job on my hips. I know you don't "shoot" with your hips but much movement back and forth is a real "pain" on the hips.
Trapanskeetanclays is not all one word and it is not all one game."
Jim,
Not to sound "stupid" but like I said, just starting and don't know the real difference yet.
One of my main concerns is recoil. I have had cancer for 23 years now and it's treatment has done a terrible job on my hips. I know you don't "shoot" with your hips but much movement back and forth is a real "pain" on the hips.
"If you're already a Browning fan, pick a 12 ga. Citori or Superposed. If not, there's a WORLD of opinions on the better O/U for Clay Games. Good advice from Jim^. I would try & shoot a Beretta Silver Pigeon II before I bought the Browning. It's a popular O/U choice in the same $$$($) range."
Ghost,
Not really a fan of any brand, but the problem around me is nobody rents them to try first.
Ghost,
Not really a fan of any brand, but the problem around me is nobody rents them to try first.
There's bound to be a Gun Club in North Carolina that would welcome a new shooter interested in Clay Sports. Explain your goal & you'll have guys running-up to hand you their shotgun to try (Everybody likes their opinion agreed with!). You might even get to try a Kolar or Perrazzi. Heck, come to Kentucky. We strongly dislike ALL Tarheels & Blue Devils (I'm a Univ. of Ky. Alum
Go 'Cats), but we'll still let a fellow try-out our shotgun(s). Our Mama taught us to be...polite.OK.
Then you don't need to be making buying decsions yet.
Take yourself to the club and watch. You can see the different field layouts and target presentations. Show interest and somebody will push a gun into your hands and tell you where to hold.
If I were starting from scratch and wanted to get good, I would start out in Skeet and when I was breaking good scores, branch out into Trap. Only when I could handle both of the old games pretty well would I go for the less structured and unpredictable targets of Sporting Clays.
Then drop the O/U. I am a bit tender to recoil and do most of my shotgunning with an auto. Look at gas operated autos from Remington, Beretta, and Browning.
Again, if I were starting over, I would get a Sporting Clays Browning Gold with multiple chokes and adjustable stock. I would set the stock to shoot "flat" and screw in a skeet choke tube and start out shooting skeet.
" We strongly dislike ALL Tarheels & Blue Devils (I'm a Univ. of Ky. Alum Go 'Cats), but we'll still let a fellow try-out our shotgun(s). Our Mama taught us to be...polite. "
Yea; but our Mama taught us to.......shoot wildcats
Yea; but our Mama taught us to.......shoot wildcats
Oh, Oh, then Remington 1187 or Beretta Vinci. And I agree with Jim (above). Skeet should be your first introduction. I've been chasing clays for ~35 years. At my first try at Sporting Clays (15 years ago) I thought someone had left the shot outta' my shells! It's only slightly better NOW!
On second thought, you better stay in Carolina! Tell me again, how many NCAA Titles do y'all have?
I would also suggest you get a 12 Ga. I also agree that if recoil is a concern, look at a semi auto.
Recoil is mitigated by shooting the heaviest gun you can handle coupled with the lightest load that works in your gun - doesn't matter if the gun is a O/U, SxS, semi or pump.
It is also mitigated a LOT by having the gun FIT - and that involves a WHOLE lot more than picking a gun up to your shoulder in the local store. Go to your local club, explain your newness and ask for help - any decent club will have a lot of folks who will take the time to explain things, how they work, what guns seem to work better than others, etc.
Perceived recoil, aka "kick" can further be helped by using good recoil systems and a gas action, but weight and fit will do more than a gas action
It is also mitigated a LOT by having the gun FIT - and that involves a WHOLE lot more than picking a gun up to your shoulder in the local store. Go to your local club, explain your newness and ask for help - any decent club will have a lot of folks who will take the time to explain things, how they work, what guns seem to work better than others, etc.
Perceived recoil, aka "kick" can further be helped by using good recoil systems and a gas action, but weight and fit will do more than a gas action
MtnCreek
Member
Skeet is a great game, but it is a hip twister. Most shots are fired at crossing birds, so that could be difficult. Trap (something I don't know a lot about) would require a lot less pivoting while shooting.
If you think trap is where you may focus your time, a 12ga comes in very handy chasing those birds at distance. Berretta 391 12ga has a mild recoil compared to a Citori IMO.
Good Luck and Have Fun!
If you think trap is where you may focus your time, a 12ga comes in very handy chasing those birds at distance. Berretta 391 12ga has a mild recoil compared to a Citori IMO.
Good Luck and Have Fun!
My father in law has a bad shoulder and just took up shooting skeet after a 3 year layoff. His first session he used his O/U 12 Gauge Winchester 101 and 1 1/8th ounce shot as he always did. By the end of the round his shoulder was killing him. Since I knew he had a couple Winchester 1400 autos at home I advised him to use one of those and drop down to 1oz loads. This made a world of difference and now he can shoot 2 or 3 rounds without it bothering him at all.
One of these days I am going to get him to try his 20 gauge Model 1400 with 7/8 ounce loads and see if that works even better but for now he is happy with the 12.
A 12 gauge gas operated semi auto like the ones mentioned and 1oz light Target loads should do the trick for either skeet or trap.
Regards, Sean.
One of these days I am going to get him to try his 20 gauge Model 1400 with 7/8 ounce loads and see if that works even better but for now he is happy with the 12.
A 12 gauge gas operated semi auto like the ones mentioned and 1oz light Target loads should do the trick for either skeet or trap.
Regards, Sean.
101's, especially the older ones, are known to beat 99% of the population up with recoil due to them not fitting very well
Get a 12 and shoot 7/8, or even 3/4 loads for skeet
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