Can I go trap shooting with my Mossy

[mrt]

I want to get in some good practice with my new gun at the local gun range... they will have a trap shoot this Wednesday. Anyways my SG is a 500A 20'' barrel... as for choke ... it's just a new mossburg.

What ammo should I buy for this and will my SG work?? I don't care if it harder, I want the experience and to shoot lots of rds... hopefully hit some clay birds.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Certainly not ideal but use it anway. All practice is good.

You may consider skeet also, the open choke on that Mossy in better suited for that.

 

[45auto]

I would also consider the skeet field, if available, as the better choice for that gun.

I shoot a lot of trap, I mention that so I don't get "smacked" by the trap shooters here, but I think skeet is a better tool to learn the basics of moving targets. Trap is too restrictive of angels and movement, particulary the more you shoot it.

It is, however, the most popular sport, so what do I know!

Good luck

 

[mrt]

Yeah I thought trap shooting is skeet? help me out here And it looks like skeet is also a shotshell.

... I expect to probably pick up some at Walmart/Bi-mart/Sportsman's Warehouse (since it's quick and easy).

45auto says "skeet field." I'll figure out if that's 7 1/2 or 6 or whatever.

 

[bamf]

All clays field I know of will not allow any shot bigger than 7 1/2, for skeet more appropriate load is 9 shot.

Here are the differences:

http://www.remington.com/whatsnew/trap/TRAP.htm

http://www.remington.com/whatsnew/skeet/SKEET.htm

 

[CMichael]

I shot trap with my persusader. I highly suggest getting the optional 28" barrel. It makes it a lot easier when you can line up the beads.

 

[williamcrane]

Trap shooting with Mossy

I have the Mossberg 500 Persuader,181/2" bbl, 6 rds, with full stock. (It comes with a pistol grip, but that is in a drawer). I also bought a 28" full vent, ported barrel for it, with a skeet choke. It only takes about three or four seconds to switch out the barrels, and you've got yourself a trap gun.

The first time I shot trap I used the short barrel (at that time, it was the only barrel I had). I think I 'killed' about 6 birds out of a hundred. That convinced me I needed a longer barrel.

Next time out, with the 28" barrel, I powdered about 65 out of a hundred.

The new barrel cost me about $110. Brownell's wants about $165, so check your local gunshops first.

Have fun and keep your muzzle pointed downrange.

 

[Chuck Dye]

The only fair chase considerations for clay targets are those of safety and cleanup. If you are headed for a trap range, it is reasonable to presume that has already been taken care of. GO FOR IT! Wring out the gun and yourself in every way available to you. Beware the snobs and narrow minded and pay attention to, even seek out, those who prove their knowledge with their scores.

 

[themic]

that's how i started with shotguns. mossy and a short barrel. the second time, mossy and a LONGER barrel

after a while i started using trap guns, but always good to get back to the basics with the ultimate utility gun.

start with a light load of #8 if you're gonna try to put 100 rounds through your first time out. maybe someone manufacture 7/8 oz with 3 dram loads nowadays. if not, then you should be able to find 1 oz loads.

 

[mrt]

Well I finished the Trap shoot Wedesday...

The group were good guys and had much advice. As learned from here, I tried to use proper form (stance, etc) and it proved good.
As for shooting out of my cylinder bore 20'', I think I hit around 12 or so. During the competition we stepped back and were allowed to shoot twice at the clay bird... and I hit it on the second shot... clear out there, twice. This one guy didn't think it could be done... that made my day

Being still new to SG's... What is and was a big frustration is that I don't know exactly where my shot is going. I tried aiming with the bead and point aiming... sometimes I thought it was money, but missed. Other times I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[Dave McCracken]

12/25 would be an OK score for a tyro with a "Real" trap gun, so you did well,mrt.

Suggestion,DO NOT AIM!! Shotguns are pointed, focus on the target and watch them turn into little soot clouds. Check out the 101 threads and the floater on mounting for more info.

 

[williamcrane]

Aiming

Having been more experienced with pistol and rifle, aiming was the first mistake I made on my first try at Trap. Then someone said that I should just swing the barrel, pointing at and leading the target. Boy, what a difference.

 

[mrt]

No Dave...

that was 12 hits out of ~90...
Today I went out again and I've been borrowing a double barrel Ruger (a real trap SG).. and using mine. I shot about 160 rds today and hit about 20. Now I'm starting to feel like :banghead:
...getting a little frustrated here.

 

[bamf]

Don't worry too much about scores at the beginning. Scores will come, what I'd recommend and seeing if you can get a trap guru to go out with you and give you some pointers. Or get a book and read.

Some tips I've learned, one thing newbies fail to realize is that these target are rising, so quite often they shoot under it.

Next is not to prematurely stop your swing, some newbies just point out in space in front of the clay and pull the trigger, rather difficult way of shooting...just remember to always follow through, and you shouldn't have a problem.

Last but not least don't ride target too long, especially with the mossy. With that open choke you have to jump on the clays quick.

My first time shooting trap I got like 3/25, now after a year or so I have little to no problem shooting 24/25. So give it time and enjoy the hits and do not dwell on the misses.

HTH

 

[Dave McCracken]

Ohh....

One question I ask newbies is whether they've checked for mixed eye/hand dominance. About 40% of females and maybe 20% of males have some degree of mixed dominance. Try closing the support side eye next range trip for a round and see if that helps.

Keep the face welded to the stock, keep the swing swinging, and things WILL get better.

 

[45R]

I seem to be one of those strange people with mixed eye dominance. Growing up as a child I shot long guns.....BB guns with my right eye and shot small arms (paintguns and BB pistols) with my left eye.

I stopped shooting for about 8 years and picked it back up again when I was in graduate school. To this day I still use the left eye for pistols and right eye for rifles. It drives my eye doctor nuts when trying to figure out which eye is dominate.

Dont get discouraged with the scores. They will improve with time.

A good training aid that I have found is playing video games. They are fun and they help you with better tracking of moving targets. Strange as it sounds it works wonders. Thats how I started before the 870.

HTH

45R