I recently went skeet shooting for the first time and I really enjoyed it. The problem is I don't have my own shotgun, nor do I know what type you are supposed to use. So if someone could tell me a good gun for a not so high price for shooting skeet i would really appreciate it.
skeet shooting
- Thread starter apmilton
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hossdaniels
Member
budget? $250(remington 870)? $1500( beretta browning)
RNB65
Member
Skeet takes two shots, so any shotgun that can hold at least two shells will work fine. Most serious skeet shooters shoot double barrel O/U's, but they tend to be a bit expensive ($1000+). For recreational skeet shooting, a Remington 1100 autoloader is a great choice. For occasional skeet shooting, a Remington 870 pump will work (if you don't mind the inconvenience of a pump action).
Most people go with shorter barrels for skeet (26-28"). But that can vary depending on the type of gun since pumps and autoloaders have a longer sighting plane than O/U's.
What's your price range? We can make better suggestions based on how much you're willing to spend.
Most people go with shorter barrels for skeet (26-28"). But that can vary depending on the type of gun since pumps and autoloaders have a longer sighting plane than O/U's.
What's your price range? We can make better suggestions based on how much you're willing to spend.
dpote
Member
I've just started skeet as well. I use an 835 Mossberg. My friend just bought an 870 Remington. Another friend uses a Huglu O/U he got in Turkey.
What type did you use, and did it work for you?
I'm learning real quick you have to use what fits you.
I don't mind using a pump, because it's only four stations you have to pump.
Dave
What type did you use, and did it work for you?
I'm learning real quick you have to use what fits you.
I don't mind using a pump, because it's only four stations you have to pump.
Dave
Scoupe
Member
You just can't beat an older Remington 1100 20 gauge on a std. size (12ga)frame for some serious skeet fun. I have one with a 26" fixed skeet barrel and it's a clay grinding machine. Should be able to pick one up in the $350-$450 range. A little more for one marked "Skeet B".
A good used Remington 1100 has served many beginner as well as advanced skeet shooters. I recently got hooked on the sub-gauges and now enjoy shooting them more than the 12ga. After shooting a new personal best (95/100) with a 20ga Browning pump I just might stop shooting 12ga skeet altogether and loan my nice O/U to my dad for skeet. I started with an 1100 and fooled myself into thinking I needed a nice O/U to improve, it was really just all the thousands of rounds I've shot rather than the gun, I do love my O/U, but it's going to be a SC gun now.
Beagle-zebub
Member
People with money to burn buy O/Us in the $1300+ price-range--these are the people that shoot perfect rounds, often as not, but only because the kind of practice that it takes to be that good is also the only justification for owning a shotgun that expensive. (IMHO.) They hit the hardest, since they do not have a gas-system and are front-heavy, making them hard to keep in perfect stance. The prevailing wisdom is that these swing more gradually, and are thus better than the other, more back-heavy designs. My sensei's take on these were that unless you spend over a grand, you are likely going to end up with a gun that wears out instead of breaking in; however, he was in his 80s, so there might be reason to argue that he wasn't taking into account all the Eastern Bloc stuff now out there, such as Spartan.
Pumps are more in-line, are waaaaay cheaper (an 870 Wingmaster is $500-ish new, as is a Browning BPS, and these are pretty much top of the line), and can be honestly be cycled plenty fast, at least if we are talking about certain models. Autoloaders are faster, but it's really not an issue, according to my sensei. They are largely idiot-proof, which makes a difference if you've left some crucial part at home or what not.
Gas-action autoloaders are the most gentle of the bunch. Sensei used a Remington 1100, and while he would attest to their occasional finickiness, he used them because they were much gentler, which was my reasoning when I bought my own 1100 while in my early teens. Being new, and thus some 25 years younger than his, my 1100's action and construction were uncomfortably tight (even for a brand-new, un-broken-in gun, thankyouverymuch!); however, this eventually evened out, and I can't say that I regret my decision.
You'll find that the difference in price between the same gun of two different finish/fitness level will be as significant as the difference between two different models. I could have spent as much money on a Wingmaster pump as I did on my synthetic 1100.
Pumps are more in-line, are waaaaay cheaper (an 870 Wingmaster is $500-ish new, as is a Browning BPS, and these are pretty much top of the line), and can be honestly be cycled plenty fast, at least if we are talking about certain models. Autoloaders are faster, but it's really not an issue, according to my sensei. They are largely idiot-proof, which makes a difference if you've left some crucial part at home or what not.
Gas-action autoloaders are the most gentle of the bunch. Sensei used a Remington 1100, and while he would attest to their occasional finickiness, he used them because they were much gentler, which was my reasoning when I bought my own 1100 while in my early teens. Being new, and thus some 25 years younger than his, my 1100's action and construction were uncomfortably tight (even for a brand-new, un-broken-in gun, thankyouverymuch!); however, this eventually evened out, and I can't say that I regret my decision.
You'll find that the difference in price between the same gun of two different finish/fitness level will be as significant as the difference between two different models. I could have spent as much money on a Wingmaster pump as I did on my synthetic 1100.
Remington makes both Skeet and Trap shotguns in the model 870 and 1100 that are quite reasonable. Make sure you select the correct shotgun for the game. See my comments below.
For skeet an 870 or similar shotgun w/ 26" barrel using the improved choke should work well. I had the opportunity to shoot some hand thrown targets with my cousins little Charles Daily and its one heck of a good gun for under $300. Much better than any Mossberg I've shot. Remington also is offering their Spartan OU's for good prices.
Some of the communist block OU's may also be good. The best thing is to check the club bulletin board and look for a less expensive used gun that is being sold by a shooter who is upgrading their gun or one who is retiring from the sport.
Initiates to the shotgun sports often confuse skeet and trap. They are 2 different games and the equipment is very different. Skeet is shot with a low and a high house. The shooters positions are in a semi circle between these houses. Some positions have 2 birds being thrown, one from each house. A Skeet course is usually shot with a shorter barrel shotgun typically 26-24"with a Skeet choke. The Skeet choke is a very open choke, almost a cyl bore as the ranges are short. Because of the doubles shooters often prefer OU's or semi auto's though a pump works fine but requires a bit more skill in manipulation. The stock of a skeet gun is similar in drop to the typical hunting shotgun. In skeet difficulty is increased using smaller gauge shotguns.
Trap is shot with one house in front of the shooters positions that are spread in a fan tail behind the house. Distances are marked and difficulty is increased by using greater distance. The targets are always thrown away from the shooter typically at different unknown angles determined by the position of the thrower at the instant the shooter calls "pull" for a target. Trap is generally shot with longer barreled shotguns usually 28" to 32" in length with tight chokes, either full or modified. The stock of a trap gun is generally straighter than a skeet our hunting shotgun, often with a Monte Carlo type stock. This puts the center of the pattern above the sight that's advantageous when shooting rising targets. Because of the amount of shooting done in a typical trap shoot the trap shotgun is generally heavier, the stock thicker and wider than either a skeet or hunting shotgun, this lowers the hammering a shooter gets from the recoil. Most trap shooting is one round with one target being thrown, though during a full meet or registered shoot there is a doubles event. A typical trap gun can be of any type action, single shot, pump, OU, and semi auto. I've never seen a serious shooter use a bolt action but bolt guns are such a small segment of shot gunning its almost not worth mentioning.
Milkmaster
Member
Why not Side by side shotguns?
So being a novice to trap and skeet beginning this spring, this topic brings up my question as to "Why not Side by Side shotguns in this sport?" Is it because the barrels tend to angle toward the center making shots difficult? My SxS is very quick to swing because it is shorter even with a 28" barrel. Educate me please!
So being a novice to trap and skeet beginning this spring, this topic brings up my question as to "Why not Side by Side shotguns in this sport?" Is it because the barrels tend to angle toward the center making shots difficult? My SxS is very quick to swing because it is shorter even with a 28" barrel. Educate me please!
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Many of the best game shots use SxS shotguns, but they don't seem to do so well in most clays sports.
An exception, lots of SxS shooters still win in Live Pigeon Shooting, one of the fastest sports and definitely the most rewarding financially.
Another exception, Hal M Hare, NSSA Hall Of Famer, uses a CSM Model 21.
But by and large, the clays world is ruled by O/Us and autos.
HTH....
An exception, lots of SxS shooters still win in Live Pigeon Shooting, one of the fastest sports and definitely the most rewarding financially.
Another exception, Hal M Hare, NSSA Hall Of Famer, uses a CSM Model 21.
But by and large, the clays world is ruled by O/Us and autos.
HTH....
ysr_racer
Member
You can never go wrong with a good used Rem 1100.
Skeet: typically use a shotgun with 26-28" barrels and Skeet choke (1st choice) or Improved Cylinder choke (2nd choice). There is even a Skeet 1 and Skeet 2 if you get into double barrel guns or screw-in chokes. With an O/U or S/S, use your chokes wisely. At stations 1, 2, 6, and 7, shoot the tighter choke on the first shot at going away bird and the more open choke on the second bird which will be at very close range.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
The trend in Skeet and Sporting Clays Over and Unders these past few years is longer heavier barrels.
For a first gun grab an 1100 and see if you like the game.
If you do, start saving for a Citori and a reloader.
For a first gun grab an 1100 and see if you like the game.
If you do, start saving for a Citori and a reloader.
I think whoever came up with "skeet II" was quite the joker. Skeet II is between Improved Cylinder and Modified for constriction. I have no idea how a light modified choke would benefit a skeet shooter, if I'm shooting a stack barrel gun I like to have skeet I on top and cylinder on bottom. If I'm on top of things that day I go skeet I both barrels.
kb2iaw
Member
o/u vs sxs
Google in ( vintage shooters ) youd be suprised ....
Google in ( vintage shooters ) youd be suprised ....
Quote: "I think whoever came up with "skeet II" was quite the joker. Skeet II is between Improved Cylinder and Modified for constriction."
Does seem strange. I mostly just used two Skeet chokes in my O/U's. If for some reason I wanted slightly more choke in the second barrel, I used an IC choke. I also found that two Skeet chokes or two IC chokes or one of each made a deadly combination for shooting incoming doves at water holes or tanks.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
Does seem strange. I mostly just used two Skeet chokes in my O/U's. If for some reason I wanted slightly more choke in the second barrel, I used an IC choke. I also found that two Skeet chokes or two IC chokes or one of each made a deadly combination for shooting incoming doves at water holes or tanks.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
RNB65
Member
It depends on the type of gun. Remington skeet II (Improved Skeet) is between skeek and IC.
oregonhunter
Member
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- Feb 13, 2007
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What barrel is better for skeet you also say 26-28 but wich one is best also what length shell.
I like heavy guns. I shoot a 32 inch Citori.
2.75 inch shells are the norm. In fact, a lot of ranges around here dont allow anything more powerful than 7.5 shot 3.25 dram.
2.75 inch shells are the norm. In fact, a lot of ranges around here dont allow anything more powerful than 7.5 shot 3.25 dram.
RNB65
Member
For skeet, 2 3/4in shells, #9 shot.
Barrel length is purely a personal preference. Since skeet is a short range game, most skeet shooters prefer shorter barrels in the 26-28 range. But it's whatever you prefer. I use the same shotguns for everything (28" autoloader, 30" O/U), skeet, trap, or sc. Ultimately, it's the shooter and not the gun that really matters.
oregonhunter
Member
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- Feb 13, 2007
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- 270
Thanks for the info guys.
Good point, on my SKB, my Skeet II choke is between IC and Mod, but I see on Briley's website that Improved Skeet is between skeet and IC. That constriction sounds about perfect for those days I'm on with the 12ga, I'll bet it puts a bit more smoke on the targets than reg. skeet I.
MWenzel
Member
Remington 1100
I own a Remington 1100 12 gauge autoloader Skeet version and it is perfect for skeet shooting. It is a fast shooting gun and I love it.
I own a Remington 1100 12 gauge autoloader Skeet version and it is perfect for skeet shooting. It is a fast shooting gun and I love it.
sm
member
With qualified instructor...
Shoot a variety of guns in your budget and check for gun fit and then shoot at a pattern board.
Whatever gun fit, shoots best for you in your budget, buy it.
Shoot a variety of guns in your budget and check for gun fit and then shoot at a pattern board.
Whatever gun fit, shoots best for you in your budget, buy it.
+1 on gun fit. If possible, buy a gun to fit you. If you have a gun that doesn't fit, correct it. I had to take 1/4 inch off the comb height of my Grade V Citori to lower the impact point to my visual pointing spot. Had some grave concerns about using a wood rasp on that gorgeous wood but after lowering comb and refinishing stock, the gun now shoots as well as it looks. Now when I miss a target or bird, I know that it was my fault and not a misfitting gun.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
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