Trap Shooting Research - Which Shotgun to buy?

[JakFrost]

I'm doing research on which Shotgun to choose specifically for shooting Trap and I have put together a spreadsheet with choices of shotguns that have either been recommended or that I found on the various manufacturer's web sites.

This post is actually a continuation of a thread that I started at another forum that has pretty petered out and ended.

TheFiringLine - Trap Shooting - Which Shotgun to buy? (Research)


The previous thread had good suggestions but also a lot of information regarding all types of different shotguns being used for trap shooting including many field guns. I want to focus the discussion a little more so here are some specific questions that I'm trying to get answers for.

What shotguns to avoid or which ones did you specifically have problems with?

After years of upgrading and changing shotguns what is the gun that you finally ended up with?

What guns do the competition shooters use?

After getting some suggestions personally and after reading the previous replies I am currently favoring the over-under Browning Citori XT with Adj Comb as the shotgun to get since it is the most recommended and it has the features that I would like. The Browning BT-99 with Adj Comb is a second choice but since it is limited to only one barrel I am a little concerned about purchasing it since if I ever do get into double-trap then I would have to purchase another shotgun. The prices of shotguns for trap aren't exactly cheap so I would like to limit my purchases.

The Winchester Model 101 are very close to the Browning shotguns since both companies are own by the Herstal Group. The Browning shotguns and made by Miroku Corporation in Japan and the Winchester shotguns are made by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium. The Winchester shotguns are less expensive than the Brownings and a little lighter in weight. (Edited: Thanks to single stack for the [post=5048523]correction about Brownings made by Miroku[/post] and to ArmedBear for the correction about [post=5049354]Winchesters being made in Belgium[/post].)

Type

Make

Model

Item Number

Ga

Barrel Length

Nominal Overall Length

Nominal Length of Pull

Nominal Drop at Comb

Nominal Drop at Heel

Nominal Weight

Chokes Included

Chamber Size

Rib Width

Wood Finish

Stock / Grip

Additional Description

U.S. Suggested Retail

Semi-Auto

Beretta

AL391 Teknys 12GA Gold Trap, 32", OBS

J391T92

12

32"

-

-

-

2 6/16"

8 lbs. 0 oz.

-

3"

-

Gloss Finish

Walnut

-

$2,150.00

Over-Under

Beretta

682, Gold E Trap, Adjustable Stock, 32", OBTR

J682E12

12

32"

-

-

1 1/2"

2 1/4"

8 lbs. 12 oz.

-

3"

3/8"

Gloss Finish

Walnut

-

$4,425.00

Over-Under

Beretta

682, Gold E Trap Unsingle Combo, 34" OBTR

J682E25

12

34"

-

-

1 1/2"

2 1/4"

8 lbs. 12 oz.

-

3"

3/8"

Gloss Finish

Walnut

-

$4,825.00

Over-Under

Beretta

DT10 Trident 12GA Trap Adj. Stock, 32", OBTR

JDT1110

12

32"

-

-

1 1/2"

2 1/4"

8 lbs. 12 oz.

-

3"

3/8"

Gloss Finish

Walnut

-

$7,400.00

Semi-Auto

Browning

BPS Trap

12242403

12

30"

51"

14 3/8"

1 3/8"

2"

8 lbs. 2 oz.

Improved Modified,* Full,* Modified

2 3/4"

5/16"

Satin Finish

Walnut

Monte Carlo Stock

$683.00

Single

Browning

BT-99 Conventional

17054402

12

32"

49"

14 3/8"

1 7/16"

1 5/8"

8 lbs. 3 oz.

Full

2 3/4"

11/32"

Satin Finish

Walnut

-

$1,438.00

Single

Browning

BT-99 with Adjustable Comb

17055402

12

32"

49"

14 3/8"

1 9/16"

1 3/4"

8 lbs. 3 oz.

Full

2 3/4"

11/32"

Satin Finish

Walnut

Adjustable Comb.

$1,732.00

Over-Under

Browning

Citori XT Trap

13058426

12

32"

49"

14 3/8"

1 9/16"

2"

8 lbs. 8 oz.

Improved Modified, Full

2 3/4"

1/4" - 3/8" Tapered

Gloss Finish

Walnut

-

$2,486.00

Over-Under

Browning

Citori XT Trap with Adjustable Comb

13057426

12

32"

49"

14 3/8"

1 11/16"

1 15/16"

8 lbs. 13 oz.

Improved Modified, Full

2 3/4"

1/4 - 3/8" Tapered

Gloss Finish

Walnut

Adjustable Comb

$2,785.00

Over-Under

Browning

Cynergy Classic Trap

13235426

12

32"

50 1/4"

14 3/8"

1 11/16"

2"

8 lbs. 12 oz.

Improved Modified, Full

2 3/4"

1/4-3/8"

Gloss Finish

Walnut

Two Full Chokes

$3,329.00

Over-Under

Browning

Cynergy Classic Trap with Adjustable Comb

13254426

12

32"

50 1/4"

14 3/8"

1 11/16"

2 5/16"

8 lbs. 15 oz.

Improved Modified, Full

2 3/4"

1/4-3/8"

Gloss Finish

Walnut

Two Full Chokes

$3,619.00

Semi-Auto

Remington

870 Wingmaster Classic Trap

24857

12

30"

50 1/2"

14 1/4"

1 7/16"

2"

8 lbs. 0 oz.

Singles, Mid, Long Handicap

2 3/4"

-

Gloss Finish

Walnut

Monte Carlo Stock

$1,015.00

Semi-Auto

Remington

1100 Classic Trap

25333

12

30"

50 1/2"

14 1/4"

1 7/16"

2"

8 lbs. 4 oz.

Singles, Mid, Long Handicap

2 3/4"

-

Gloss Finish

Walnut

Monte Carlo Stock

$1,129.00

Single

Remington

SPR100

89504

12

29 1/2"

44 1/2"

14 1/2"

1 1/2"

2 1/2"

6 lbs. 8 oz.

-

3"

-

Satin Finish

Walnut

-

$300.00

Over-Under

Remington

SPR310

89560

12

28"

45 1/2"

14 1/2"

1 1/2"

2 1/2"

7 lbs. 8 oz.

Imp Cyl, Mod, Full

3"

-

Satin Finish

Walnut

-

$598.00

Over-Under

Remington

SPR310S Sporting

89570

12

29 1/2"

47"

14 1/2"

1"

1 1/2"

7 lbs. 8 oz.

Imp Cyl, Mod, Full

3"

-

Satin Finish

Walnut

-

$770.00

Over-Under

Winchester

Model 101 Pigeon Grade Trap

513057494

12

32"

49 3/4"

14 3/4"

1 3/8"

2 1/2"

7 lbs. 12 oz.

Full, Mod, IMP Cyl

2 3/4"

-

Grade III/IV

Walnut

-

$2,149.00

Over-Under

Winchester

Model 101 Pigeon Grade Trap Adjustable Comb

513059494

12

32"

49 3/4"

14 3/4"

1 3/8"

2 1/2"

7 lbs. 12 oz.

Full, Mod, IMP Cyl

2 3/4"

-

Grade III/IV

Walnut

Adjustable Comb.

$2,279.00

 

[earlthegoat2]

why no browing gold

 

[Dave McCracken]

I reiterate what I said in that thread, Jak. I'm known as Dave McC over there.

 

[single stack]

JakFrost,

I'm not up on trap guns as a speciality.

However I'm pretty sure that Citori's and new 101's are made in Japan
by Miroku. They are very nice guns.

Dave's advice is sound. Unless you're trying to compete with a NEF Pardner,
you may not need a new gun at this time.

Handle as many as is practical and try as many as you are allowed.

Greater amounts of experience may provide your answer.
Your best research will be at the trap field.
Enjoy the road.

BTW, nobody I know has owned only one trap gun.

Sorry,

SS

 

[ArmedBear]

The new 101's are not Mirokus; they're made in Belgium, according to Winchester's website: http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/category.asp?cat=020C

All of this IMHO:

I'd avoid anything but a break-action. I've ended up leaving the 1100 in the safe. Trap loads don't kick hard, especially with a heavier gun; I'll take simple and easy to clean, without having to worry about flying hulls or hokey hull catchers that never quite work right for long. Clean a semi once a week and you'll be ready for a break-action real soon.

If you want a cheap gun that works as well as any other, try an 870 in one of the various trap versions made over the years. That's the one exception I'd make to the "nothing but a break-action" rule of thumb. 870s don't exactly require constant cleaning, either, and you can catch hulls easily from a pump.

I had an old BT-99 34". For some reason, I could never hit much with it past 21 or 22. I'm one of three guys I know who had that experience and sold our BT's. Other people love the things. Personally, I'd take an old Superposed trap gun or one of the newer Citori trap models (even though I can't stand Browning's massive porting). That said, I don't own any Brownings any more and I have no particular plans to get one -- mainly because I don't like them for much besides Trap, and I moved to a town that seems to have a lot more Sporting Clay activity than Trap, which is fine with me.

I shot better with an 870 Express than with that BT, but again, that's me, not necessarily you.

The nicest Trap-specific guns I've handled or shot have been Perazzis and Ljutics. When I say Trap-specific, I mean regulation Trap. I wouldn't even want to shoot Wobble Trap with one, but for regular, one-height, American Trap, the things swing like a dream.

Competitive American Trap is an odd sport, really, shot primarily with guns that can't be used for anything else, using an artificially simplified target scenario. I shoot with a field gun, now, because I want field practice. Shooting with a Trap gun all the time makes me shoot under real birds in the field, or other clay targets, since trap-specific guns tend to shoot high.

Still, it comes down to what you want to do, and what works for you.