My 16 yr old daughter has just started shooting trap. She is using my old, old 1100 20ga with 26" (I think) barrel with IC. She likes the gun and is hitting about 40%. I want to move her up to the 12ga. The 1100 has been a workhorse but some guys at the club said to look at the BT99. Don't know much about the Browning. What are your thoughts ?
Best Trap Gun for 16yr old daughter ?
- Thread starter MoWade
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dprice3844444
member
get her an 870 with a trap barrel till she improves,or an 1100 with a trap barrel
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=404616962 get screw in chokes
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=404616962 get screw in chokes
Telekinesis
Member
How much do you want to spend? Keep in mind that if you really want to make this a competition gun, you'll want to have custom stock work and likely trigger and barrel work. A well fitting gun raised my score by about 10 targets (out of 100) - it is very important. Trigger work may or may not be needed depending on the gun, but lengthening the forcing cone will improve your pattern and reduce recoil, buth very good things. The downside is that work is very expensive.
Gun wise if you want to stick with autos, the Beretta 391 is good (but if used heavily enough can break the op rod). I would recommend that you go with an over under though as you can have two chokes which helps in doubles (the extra weight also lowers felt recoil which is good when you're shooting a few hundred rounds a day). Right now I have a Browning XT which I haven't had any problems with after getting the trigger worked on. However if you talk to the armorers who go to the Grand, they'll tell you that the XT is built off a field gun and isn't really set to take the kind of long term abuse that competition shooters put it through round count wise.
The BT99 is a good gun, and I have friends who use those and Perazzis who have no complaints. If I were to get a new trap gun, it would be a Perazzi MX8 or MX2000.
If your daughter has been competing I'm sure you've seen this, but there are comparatively few women who shoot trap, which gives them an advantage for winning or placing in their class (less people to directly compete against). I also want to recommend once she starts routinely shooting 80 or higher in American trap, find a way to get her on an olympic trap field. It is a very fun sport and you can get the chance to squad with Olympic medalists (all incredibly nice people). And of course if she's able to do well in Olympic trap, she may be able to compete internationally.
Gun wise if you want to stick with autos, the Beretta 391 is good (but if used heavily enough can break the op rod). I would recommend that you go with an over under though as you can have two chokes which helps in doubles (the extra weight also lowers felt recoil which is good when you're shooting a few hundred rounds a day). Right now I have a Browning XT which I haven't had any problems with after getting the trigger worked on. However if you talk to the armorers who go to the Grand, they'll tell you that the XT is built off a field gun and isn't really set to take the kind of long term abuse that competition shooters put it through round count wise.
The BT99 is a good gun, and I have friends who use those and Perazzis who have no complaints. If I were to get a new trap gun, it would be a Perazzi MX8 or MX2000.
If your daughter has been competing I'm sure you've seen this, but there are comparatively few women who shoot trap, which gives them an advantage for winning or placing in their class (less people to directly compete against). I also want to recommend once she starts routinely shooting 80 or higher in American trap, find a way to get her on an olympic trap field. It is a very fun sport and you can get the chance to squad with Olympic medalists (all incredibly nice people). And of course if she's able to do well in Olympic trap, she may be able to compete internationally.
Having a gun that fits her will have a bigger affect on her score than anything else (equipment wise). I would stay with an auto of some sort for recoil reduction at first. The BT-99 will compete with any of the much more expensive guns on singles.
oneounceload
member
Best bargain trap gun under $12,000
Hopkins
Member
A used BT99 altered to fit her correctly is good choice. It is a single purpose gun however. The sighting plane your 26" barreled 20ga. 1100 is over 30" so a switch to a 30"+ barreled BT99 is not big adjustment because the sighting plane is similar.
loose noose
Member
MoWade, I do believe you said your 16 year old daughter just started shooting trap. Using a 20ga, model 1100, with IC choke is probably the reason she's only shooting 40%. Get her a new barrel with interchangeable chokes for the same gun and start her off with a modified choke, then go up to a full choke. I'll bet ya any money her scores will go up significantly.
Further as was already mentioned, the fit is of tremendous importance, anyway if she decides she is sincerely interested in shooting trap, then you can spend more money and have a go at it. IMHO.
Further as was already mentioned, the fit is of tremendous importance, anyway if she decides she is sincerely interested in shooting trap, then you can spend more money and have a go at it. IMHO.
Thanks to all
Thanks to all who responded. Because of limited funds - looks like I need to go with the BT99 or 1100. I like the BT99 with the longer barrel but it is pretty much a single purpose gun. The 1100 has short barrel but with changeable choke would be a much more all purpose gun.
Another question - many of you talk about having the gun fitted to her. How and where would I do this ? Can they fit a BT99 or 1100 ?? Or would that be too expensive ?
Thanks to all who responded. Because of limited funds - looks like I need to go with the BT99 or 1100. I like the BT99 with the longer barrel but it is pretty much a single purpose gun. The 1100 has short barrel but with changeable choke would be a much more all purpose gun.
Another question - many of you talk about having the gun fitted to her. How and where would I do this ? Can they fit a BT99 or 1100 ?? Or would that be too expensive ?
au_prospector
Member
:banghead: You are doing the tunnel vision thing sir. Picking specific shotguns without having your daughter try them first will bring frustration and an empty wallet.
Take her to a club and have her mount a variety of shotguns to her shoulder. They should mount naturally with her eyes looking down the barrel plane without adjustment each time she mounts.
Length of pull is important. Place the butt of the shotgun in the crook of her elbow, her trigger finger should fall naturally on the trigger. If she has to reach, the LOP is too long, I doubt you will find something too short. You havent said how big she is. Most shotguns have a LOP that is too long for an adolescent young lady.
Take her to a club and have her mount a variety of shotguns to her shoulder. They should mount naturally with her eyes looking down the barrel plane without adjustment each time she mounts.
Length of pull is important. Place the butt of the shotgun in the crook of her elbow, her trigger finger should fall naturally on the trigger. If she has to reach, the LOP is too long, I doubt you will find something too short. You havent said how big she is. Most shotguns have a LOP that is too long for an adolescent young lady.
loose noose
Member
MoWade, No the fitting is the least expensive part of having a shotgun point to where the eyes go naturally, if you already have the 1100, I would stick with it as that is the most economical way to go. Like was mentioned, the next time you go to the trap range, have your daughter check out several other similar stocks and see which one fits the best. Then have the stock cut down if necessary and have a decent recoil pad installed, should cost under $100.00. At 16 most young ladies have matured physically to the point that could be her gun, for hunting, trap and whatever else.
Tacoma
Member
As others have mentioned. Shotguns are about fit. Pure and simple.
That said, the easiest shotguns I know of these day to get a good fit are the semi auto offerings that use shims in their stocks. The shim allow (you) the user to set the cant and rise of the stock to the shooter. Additionally, many of these same guns have interchangeable /replaceable recoil pads to get the length of pull right ( and to allow it to grow with her.) Lastly, a semi auto will beat her up less as allot of the recoil goes into the action. Not sure what brands use the shim systems these days but I hear it's most.
FWIW, I have a couple of older like featured Franchi's and Beretta's that I shoot very well with. ( Read: Better than I can with my more expensive over and under.
ALL that said, the best way to start is to get her to the club and let her borrow a few different guns. Any club worth it's salt will bend over backwards to help.
That said, the easiest shotguns I know of these day to get a good fit are the semi auto offerings that use shims in their stocks. The shim allow (you) the user to set the cant and rise of the stock to the shooter. Additionally, many of these same guns have interchangeable /replaceable recoil pads to get the length of pull right ( and to allow it to grow with her.) Lastly, a semi auto will beat her up less as allot of the recoil goes into the action. Not sure what brands use the shim systems these days but I hear it's most.
FWIW, I have a couple of older like featured Franchi's and Beretta's that I shoot very well with. ( Read: Better than I can with my more expensive over and under.
ALL that said, the best way to start is to get her to the club and let her borrow a few different guns. Any club worth it's salt will bend over backwards to help.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Need more choke IMO
Agree with modified or full choke depending on distance, 16 yards or longer.
A 12 guage would help but if funds are tight then it's a tough choice if your current barrel does not use choke tubes. I believe new barrels for 1100 are running over $200 but you might be able to find one cheaper. I would look at a 28" if I was buying one for trap.
A dedicated trap gun would be better but I really think whats hurting her now is the I/C choke being to open.
I have an 11-87 12 guage with 28" and a Browning Superposed 28" 12 guage
(1962 vintage field gun)
and I am sure both would be up to shooting 100% if I (and my vision) was.
When I was younger I could usually shoot 92+ 16 yard singles all day with the Browning.
(and on occasion all of them, but for some reason I always wanted to miss #25, #50, #75 etc hhmm maybe 25 is not my lucky number)
Agree with modified or full choke depending on distance, 16 yards or longer.
A 12 guage would help but if funds are tight then it's a tough choice if your current barrel does not use choke tubes. I believe new barrels for 1100 are running over $200 but you might be able to find one cheaper. I would look at a 28" if I was buying one for trap.
A dedicated trap gun would be better but I really think whats hurting her now is the I/C choke being to open.
I have an 11-87 12 guage with 28" and a Browning Superposed 28" 12 guage
(1962 vintage field gun)
and I am sure both would be up to shooting 100% if I (and my vision) was.
When I was younger I could usually shoot 92+ 16 yard singles all day with the Browning.
(and on occasion all of them, but for some reason I always wanted to miss #25, #50, #75 etc hhmm maybe 25 is not my lucky number)
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oneounceload
member
PLEASE do not do that as fit is a tad more precise that than old wive's tale, especially for females who tend to have longer necks and shorter arms than males
There is a WHOLE lot more to fit than LOP, particularly when it comes to females
Gun Geezer
Member
My 16 year old daughter is shooting a 1000 LT20 and usually breaks 20+ per round with the occasional 23 or 24. Never had a straight.
Shoots the same gun for skeet.
Seems to work.
Shoots the same gun for skeet.
Seems to work.
ericbc7
Member
Glad to hear your daughter is interested in trap shooting!!, ditch the 20ga. you are not doing her any favors by handicapping her with the smaller gauge. get a used 12 ga and load it down or use light loads. A used BT99 or similar with the stock adjusted to her frame and light loads will make a great competition gun . If she has aspirations of competition the 12 ga. is mandatory. Its important to have a dedicated trap gun, no glorified hunting shotguns. If she is into doubles then a decent over/under is the ticket (i won ND class c doubles with a Ruger Red Label with a kickeez butpad and BT white bead, but Brownings are nice and still available used). Get her into reloading so she understands the mechanics and can help reduce the cost. Get her a decent vest (she is 16 right? got to look good) and introduce her to other women competitors!! They will form her opinion of the sport more than anything else.
If you go to some registered shoots you will find helpful women competitors. At state shoots you can often find guns and/or smiths that can fit a gun for your daughter!
If you go to some registered shoots you will find helpful women competitors. At state shoots you can often find guns and/or smiths that can fit a gun for your daughter!
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au_prospector
Member
I have received very good advice from 1 oz in the past so I stand corrected. . .
I still say fit is everything and if you have pre picked your shotgun, then your likely going to be disappointed.
She needs to be able to mount the shotgun to her shoulder and have the plane of the barrel come to the eye without adjustment. If she can do this closing her eyes and then open them properly sighted on the plane then it fits! LIKELY she will benefit from a LOP shorter than the standard 14 to 15 inches commonly found in standard firearms UNLESS she happens to be on the taller side.
oneounceload
member
If there is someone who knows/teaches/fits where she shoots, have that person assist in fitting. Start with checking eye dominance first; many females have an issue with cross dominance and IF that is the case, (say RH with left eye dom) she would be better off shooting from her LH side - and that would necessitate changing the cast. pitch, etc.
Wishing her success!
Wishing her success!
The crook of the elbow doesn't really work for length of pull. Mount the gun and check the space from the knuckle of her thumb to her nose. There should be about an 1" to an 1 1/2".
Adjustable combs and adjustable butt pads do wonders to dial in fit for those that just can't drop a few $1,000 on a custom stock. My skeet gun has both, I'm getting ready to put an adjustable butt plate (100 straight) on my trap gun, it already has an adjustable comb.
When she mounts the gun, have her close her eyes, mount the gun and then check the alignment of the bbl to her eye. The beads should be lined up to her eye, and the beads should stack like a figure 8. Some people like to see a little rib between the beads, some don't. The more rib you see the higher the gun will pattern. With an adjustable stock - be it shims or combs and butt plates you can dial this in to fit her. At 16 she is still growing and developing, what fits now won't in a couple years. If you have a stock cut down, then cut it so a relatively thin recoil pad will fit her, if she grows a bit you can replace the thinner pad with a thicker pad and not need spacers or new stocks.
Depending on how the young lady is constructed, a 12 gauge may be a bit much for her unless you look into a gas operated semi-auto.
The BT99 does come in a BT99 Micro - which is cut down for a youth shooter. Without mounting one and knowing if it fits though it's a bit of a crap shoot.
Adjustable combs and adjustable butt pads do wonders to dial in fit for those that just can't drop a few $1,000 on a custom stock. My skeet gun has both, I'm getting ready to put an adjustable butt plate (100 straight) on my trap gun, it already has an adjustable comb.
When she mounts the gun, have her close her eyes, mount the gun and then check the alignment of the bbl to her eye. The beads should be lined up to her eye, and the beads should stack like a figure 8. Some people like to see a little rib between the beads, some don't. The more rib you see the higher the gun will pattern. With an adjustable stock - be it shims or combs and butt plates you can dial this in to fit her. At 16 she is still growing and developing, what fits now won't in a couple years. If you have a stock cut down, then cut it so a relatively thin recoil pad will fit her, if she grows a bit you can replace the thinner pad with a thicker pad and not need spacers or new stocks.
Depending on how the young lady is constructed, a 12 gauge may be a bit much for her unless you look into a gas operated semi-auto.
The BT99 does come in a BT99 Micro - which is cut down for a youth shooter. Without mounting one and knowing if it fits though it's a bit of a crap shoot.
This has been mentioned, but perhaps not explicitly enough; if you're serious about shooting trap you're going to need a dedicated trap gun. Because all the shots in trap are going away and rising, a dedicated trap gun with have a stock / rib configuration that creates a built in lead. This allows the shooter to see the clay as they track it rather than having to guess the lead required on a bird you can no longer see. It makes a significant difference.
Short term: get a tighter choke on the existing gun. Long term: get a trap gun.
Short term: get a tighter choke on the existing gun. Long term: get a trap gun.
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