Of course a 12ga is a great HD weapon, but how many people use them for plinking? Anyone bust out the 12ga along with the .22 and go shooting all day? What is the effective range of a 12ga shooting random targets (beer cans, cinder blocks, etc...) Just curious if use your 12ga for plinking?
Anyone use a 12ga for plinking?
- Thread starter Dynasty
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Deer Hunter
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I've went plinking with my project a few times, but most strickly for "testing" purposes. (at least that's what I tell myself when I rapid-fire 5 pairs of buckshot)
Jorg Nysgerrig
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When I go out in the desert to plink with someone else, regardless of whether we are shooting pistols, rifles, or blackpowder, I almost always bring along a shotgun or two, a federal bulk pack, box of clays, and a hand thrower. Just in case.
As far as ranges, I pretty much only shoot at moving things with a shotgun when plinking. Shooting things stationary things with birdshot is pretty easy and unless it is really close, it doesn't "do much". And by "do much" I mean the way you can bounce a can around with a .22 or .223 rifle. Slugs and buckshot take some more skill, but are too expensive to mess around with much.
Here's the thrower I use. http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/ezthrow.html
I have the single and the double thrower, but I'd recommend getting the single thrower to start. (You can throw doubles with the single one with practice. Just load it normally and nest a second one on the top and do a smooth throw.) You can pick one up at most sporting good stores (even Wal-Mart) for about $8.
As far as ranges, I pretty much only shoot at moving things with a shotgun when plinking. Shooting things stationary things with birdshot is pretty easy and unless it is really close, it doesn't "do much". And by "do much" I mean the way you can bounce a can around with a .22 or .223 rifle. Slugs and buckshot take some more skill, but are too expensive to mess around with much.
Here's the thrower I use. http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/ezthrow.html
I have the single and the double thrower, but I'd recommend getting the single thrower to start. (You can throw doubles with the single one with practice. Just load it normally and nest a second one on the top and do a smooth throw.) You can pick one up at most sporting good stores (even Wal-Mart) for about $8.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Yes, but hand thrown clays are more fun.
I took mine to the range the last time I went (first range shoot) and plinked around with it. I wouldn't go back without it. I tried out different kinds of ammo, saw how they would spread, or how slugs hit. I would like to see what a 12ga would do to a cinder block with magnum duck shot, or buckshot.
BridgeWalker
Member
Yep.
Although I take trap pretty seriously and work on improving my skills, at least a couple times a month I take a day off of working on skills and just "plink", blasting at targets a bit less discrminately just for fun, and once or twice a year I shoot clays just for fun in a field with my cousins. To me, that is the shotgun version of plinking.
Shotgun "plinking" at a stationary target? Nah. Boring. That is why the Good Lord invented Mosins. And .22s.
ACP230
Member
Every now and then I like to plink with my Mossberg 590.
I also shoot hand-thrown clays with it occasionally.
I also shoot hand-thrown clays with it occasionally.
chris in va
Member
I love hitting clays with the hand thrower. Best thing ever invented for $6. Good clean fun.
Drawback is you need a friend to do it...
Drawback is you need a friend to do it...
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
Been a few years---like 7 or 8-----but light promo loads shooting cans thrown on the ice of a frozen creek bed----and yes---we picked up the mess.
Kimber1911_06238
Member
skeet yes...shooting at stationary targets...nope
mljdeckard
Member
I bought a couple of cases of S&B target load a few years ago, and I found all kinds of things that needed shooting with my 12 I had never considered before.
I tried the flexible hand target thrower, but my little brother says I throw like a girl, so I got the one from Cabela's that is like a wrist rocket, much less humiliating.
I tried the flexible hand target thrower, but my little brother says I throw like a girl, so I got the one from Cabela's that is like a wrist rocket, much less humiliating.
Flexible hand thrower? I don't think I've seen that. Mine is rigid plastic.
The wrist rocket (Hyper) thrower looks fun. I have one that shoots tennis balls for my dog. Works great, as long as you carry spare rubber for it. Should be a lot easier to point the clays accurately.
You can also get a foot-pedal spring thrower that sits on the ground, if you're shooting by yourself. I've also seen guys with pickup trucks and electric trap machines. Depends on your financial situation and level of commitment, I guess.
The wrist rocket (Hyper) thrower looks fun. I have one that shoots tennis balls for my dog. Works great, as long as you carry spare rubber for it. Should be a lot easier to point the clays accurately.
You can also get a foot-pedal spring thrower that sits on the ground, if you're shooting by yourself. I've also seen guys with pickup trucks and electric trap machines. Depends on your financial situation and level of commitment, I guess.
Landlocked Pirate
Member
That is exactly what I do. My Mossberg 20" and Remington 18" pumps are affordable and fun to shoot a lot using birdshot (along with some slugs and buckshot) and I get a kick out of it.
QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW
Member
when i lived in arizona i would take my 9mm HP pistol, 9mm carbine HP, marline .22LR, H&R 20gauge, and mossberg 12gauge pump. and would shoot clays from my launcher i got or just shoot the empty sheels out of the gun as i ejected them.
Deadheadted37
Member
My brother and I like take a dozen poker chips and put them on a pattern board and you get three shots from 35 feet with 00 buck. To see who every can hit the most poker chips, loser buy's dinner.
CZ52GUY
Member
If speed drills on steel counts...
...yup, 7.5 or 8 Birdshot on heavy Steel Challenge plates is a hoot...quick way to burn up some ammo' and keep sharp.
Safe Shooting,
CZ52'
...yup, 7.5 or 8 Birdshot on heavy Steel Challenge plates is a hoot...quick way to burn up some ammo' and keep sharp
.Safe Shooting,
CZ52'
ARGarrison
Member
Water filled gallon milk jugs.
The-Fly
Member
once a month or so, i take the 18" 870 to the range, blast some junk, just to stay current with it. I enjoy shooting it, but it does beat you up a fair amount. Now, my beretta extrema, thats FUN to shoot. I do occasionally take a bunch of cans, bottles, etc, and just massacre it all with the beretta Not difficult to do, but sometimes it just feels right to shred stuff in half
Not difficult to do, but sometimes it just feels right to shred stuff in half mugs79
Member
A buddy and I have killed many a day with a box or two of clays and a box or two of cheap federal 7 1/2 shot, and a hand thrower from Wally World. We usually bring along a 12ga, a .22, and his .40 Glock.
I'm not sure why you'd want to shoot stationary targets with a shotgun. Not really what it's for, a .22 will take care of the stationary stuff for much, much cheaper.
I'm not sure why you'd want to shoot stationary targets with a shotgun. Not really what it's for, a .22 will take care of the stationary stuff for much, much cheaper.
sm
member
Southern Dictionary
Plinking - when you miss
Serious fun - hand thrown clays, helium balloons , Tin cans, slinging slugs at paint can down yonder...
Serious Sad -running out of shells and beef jerky.
Plinking - when you miss
Serious fun - hand thrown clays, helium balloons , Tin cans, slinging slugs at paint can down yonder...
Serious Sad -running out of shells and beef jerky.
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