In market for shotgun for Trap Shooting

[BinhThuyUSN]

Hey, ya'll, I am looking to get a CZ shotgun for trap shooting and maybe skeet. I have only shot trap at an introduction meeting and found it an interesting shooting sport. My initial choice would be a CZ Sporter Standard Grade G2 but the description states that is a good shotgun for sporting clays. Am open to suggestions.

 

[Virginian]

Trap is a specialized game. All the targets are rising and dedicated trap shotguns shoot high on purpose. I cannot shoot anything BUT trap well, with a trap gun. I can however shoot anything with a field, Sporting, or Skeet shotgun, which are all designed to shoot pretty much flat, provided the choke(s) are right for what I am shooting. Now someone (or more) is going to tell you they shoot everything well with a trap gun, but that is not the way to start out.
Before jumping too deep, I would shoot some skeet and sporting clays as well.

 

[GarySTL]

I have a Browning BT99 and a Citori 625. I actually shoot trap better with the Citori. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but darned if I know what it is.

 

[oneounceload]

Let's get some clarification first -

Are you talking about regulation trap and skeet or backyard stuff?

Second, what's your budget?

Third, open to buying used?

Fourth, how many shots per year?

I own a Turkish gun (CZs are made in Turkey), but it is a field gun. I have no illusion about it being able to shoot the volume that target shooters go through. If you will be shooting a lot, ammo and target fees will easily cost more than your gun in a few months. Since the gun is the least final cost over the long haul, buy the absolute best gun that FITS that you can. As mentioned above, the BT-99 is about the best trap gun for the money available; however, it is built for one purpose only - shooting trap singles. If your budget is tight, a better quality semi is far and away better than a low end O/U. I have right about 300,000 through a Browning O/U that I shot for 20+ years. Bought that gun when it was discontinued and can sell it now for more than what I paid for it. It needed some springs and I also had them replace the firing pins at 90,000. Averaging about $0.40/bird and ammo, that's $120,000 spent shooting a gun that cost me $1K. Buying a cheap gun that might spend more time in the shop is not the best way to go about this.

 

[oneounceload]

I have a Browning BT99 and a Citori 625. I actually shoot trap better with the Citori. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but darned if I know what it is.

I'll bet the stock dimensions are different and the 625 shoots more like 55/45 than 70/30

 

[rule303]

If you are wanting to try both trap and skeet, I would start with a good quality autoloader. You can buy a much better auto than o/u with the same budget. Gas driven automatics also are softer shooting than a fixed breech gun. A field or sporting gun with choke tubes will work fine for skeet, sporting clays, and hunting, and will be fine for casual trap shooting getting started.
If you decide trap is the game for you, a Browning BT-99 or BPS trap are both good entry level choices that won't break the bank, but are designed specifically for trap shooting, and will last virtually forever with a little maintenance.

 

[BinhThuyUSN]

In reply to the questions posted by oneounceload, 1) regulation trap and maybe some skeet. 2) As to budget, up to $2500. 3) Used might be a possibility. 4) Have no idea how many shots, just dipping my toes into the sport.

 

[oneounceload]

2500m gives you room to buy decent stuff. Trap and skeet are two completely opposite games however, so I would try to borrow some guns and shoot both games. Basic 16 yard trap involves rising singles, so something like a BT-99 that shoots about 70/30, works great. Skeet, involving doubles for about half of the targets, requires a gun that shoots two shots, typically flat shooting about 50/50. Can you use a flat shooting gun for trap? Yep, but it isn't ideal.

http://www.claytargetsonline.com/ohio/

According to that, there seems to be several clubs in your area (plus I'm betting a few close in KY)
You might see if any have gun rentals to try as many as you can.
There are several Brownings and Berettas in your price range that should work very nicely, but FIT is key and those two seem to be of the type that if one fits well, odds are the other won't, which is why I said to try and shoot them. Remember the gun is the least cost in this scenario and half the fun is finding the "right" one for you.

Have fun!

 

[rcmodel]

You can't use the same gun for regulation Trap, and a Regulation Skeet and even be halfway competitive .


Two different games, two different guns..

An auto would at least give you the two different barrel options at a reasonable price.

Many come with stock shims so you can change the drop and get the Trap barrel shooting high for raising targets.

Or point on with less choke for skeet.

rc