Clay Sports Starter: 20ga?

[il Pirati]

I've read pretty much every "first shotgun" thread, and can't find a good discussion of my question, so please pardon me if it seems like it's been asked before...

I'm very interested in getting into the clay sports. I've shot trap at a couple clubs with rental guns (12ga auto and O/U) and skeet (12ga auto). I haven't had a chance to try sporting clays yet, but it looks fantastic.
I don't currently own a shotgun. I'd like to buy one that gives me the best overall idea of what clay sports I like most, and what I most value in a shotgun. I'm very interested, for some reason, in a 20ga semi, as I think that would pretty much be the perfect all-around shotgun (clays, field, hd, etc). The only real concern is trap.

Can I get a good feel for the game of Trap with a 20 gauge? I've read that Trap is "exclusively" a 12 gauge game. Will I severely handicap myself with a 20ga to the point that I'll never really know how much I like the sport, or what kind of potential I might have for it?

Along those lines. . . I can obviously pick up a pump for way cheaper than a semi. Would a pump never fully allow me to figure out how much I might like skeet or 5 stand or Sporting Clays?

I know that whatever game I really get into, I'll want a nice O/U set up specifically for that game. Maybe one for every game. My question is, what set up will allow me to fully explore each game so that I can figure out where to put my money in the coming years.

Thanks!

 

[au_prospector]

I have shot trap and 5 stand for many years with a 870 wingmaster 20 gauge and a mossy 500 20 gauge clone. I do it for fun and usually score 20/25 plus.

I would think if your just trying to see if you like it, start with a 870 wingmaster 20 gauge. They are priced easy on the wallet and you could sell it quick if you changed your mind or wanted an upgrade.

 

[oneounceload]

You can shoot trap with whatever you want; I have shot a few rounds with a 28 gauge semi (and scored my best round with it), BUT if you are wanting to get into the competition side of things, you will really want a 12, holds true for comp skeet and sporting clays also. There are folks who shoot sporting for fun with 20, 28 and 410, and they even have comp subgauge events. But the games were originally designed around the 12. I use both a gas semi and an O/U for sporting clays and its steroid brother FITASC. I can go as low as 3/4 oz (28 gauge level for low recoil), or as high as 1-1/8 if so desired.

If competition is not in your future, then it really doesn't matter.

 

[rule303]

Many people are shooting 16yd trap with 7/8oz 12ga loads, which is the same as a standard 20ga target load. It may cost a couple targets at longer range, but if you are just shooting for fun and to get a feel for it, no problem. I would not consider the 20 to be a handicap at all for sporting clays or skeet. I shoot a 28ga most of the time for sporting clays, and run even with the 12ga shooters for the most part.

 

[Esoxchaser]

I use a 20ga Beretta Urika for all target sports and hunting. There is very little handicap in using a 20 for me, because the vast majority of the time it hits what I am looking at. I am seldom even aware of the gun when shooting well.

 

[il Pirati]

So it sounds like a decent 20ga semi auto would be a good purchase. I'd rather not buy something that I'll just end up selling down the road because I want something different, which is what I feel would happen if I picked up a pump action.
Am I right that with a 20ga auto I may not need a more specialized gun for quite a while?
Thanks for the replies.

 

[Esoxchaser]

My school of thought is that trap and sporting clays ought to be shot with your hunting gun, as they are more like hunting scenarios, varying shot directions and speeds.
Skeet is more of a repetitive game, where you know every time exactly what is coming and from where. Heck, I knew a blind guy who could shoot over 50% on the skeet field just listening for the throwers. Yet it's the skeet guys who feel the need for firearms that look like nothing we would ever carry in the field.

 

[John3921]

Trap is predominantly a 12 ga game. Either a semi-auto or pump will be fine since you are only shooting 1 shot (unless you're shooting trap doubles - but thats a different game). The recoil will be better with a semi than with a pump.

20 gauge is pretty much an ideal skeet gauge. The shots are much closer 21 yds on the average and a 20 is fine.

Myself I'd recommend a 12 gauge. You can always load it down if you want, but if you need those 1-1/8 3 DE loads you can do it. I think the 12 is just a little more versatile than the 20.

I'm primarily a skeet shooter and shoot more 20 than anything else - but I don't actually own a 20 gauge gun. I shoot a 12 gauge o/u with sub-gauge tubes.

Also, 20 gauge field guns tend to be pretty light - The recoil from a light 20 ga. field gun can be worse than a 12 just because of the weight of the gun.

 

[oneounceload]

Also, 20 gauge field guns tend to be pretty light - The recoil from a light 20 ga. field gun can be worse than a 12 just because of the weight of the gun.

An excellent point that many overlook. For targets, you want the heaviest gun because you shoot a lot and walk a little. For hunting, the opposite is true. My two 12's mentioned above weigh over 8# each, while my hunting 20's weigh 6.5# or less because with those I do more walking than shooting. Hunting upland birds like quail or chukar, I might shoot 1 or two boxes over a long day afield. Shooting sporting clays, I will shoot anywhere from 100-250 in a morning.

 

[browningguy]

My school of thought is that trap and sporting clays ought to be shot with your hunting gun, as they are more like hunting scenarios, varying shot directions and speeds.

I'll disagree with this. I think all the sporting games, trap, skeet, sporting clays and 5 stand should be shot with a wide rib gun set up for shooting sports and not hunting. You can make a field stock work since many of the high quality semi's come with shims now for changing drop and cast, but that skinny little rib on most field guns won't help you at all.

I used to shoot O/U's in all the games but have switched to semi's now. I find I have less shoulder problems (of course I am an old fart) and the recoil reduction from a gas semi just seems to help me shoot better. I also score higher than I used to with the O/U's, mainly because I'm not futzing around with changing choke tubes all the time. I like 12 ga. with 1 oz. loads for most of the sporting games, I do shoot a lightweight Benelli 20 however for bird hunting.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I love trap and sporting clays. I belong to a trap league. It's loads of fun. If you want a 20 gauge that would be just fine. Finding a shotgun you really like that provides a level of recoil you find comfortable is important. If that is a 20 gauge for you then go for it.