Trap shooting Shotgun Decision.

[Birdmang]

I am going trap shooting tomorrow. I have only gone a few times when I was younger and used a .410 single shot crack barrel.

I have an 870 12 gauge wingmaster and a Winchester Model 97 12 gauge.

I know that the 870 will be fine, but can I use the '97 for trap with modern powered loads?

Thanks!

 

[Jim Watson]

Assuming it is a field gun with some choke, it will be fine. I would not take a sawn off riot or CAS pump trapshooting.

 

[Birdmang]

Its a long barrel with a choke on it

 

[Finprof]

Most trap ranges will not let you use high brass shells. The Winchester 97 would be OK even with them and for 3 dram 1 1/8 oz loads it will do just fine. Also, in the olden days, shotguns had long barrels and tight chokes when there were lots of ducks around, so the 97 should be well suited for trap. The 870 would be better though.

 

[ArmedBear]

What do you mean "a choke on it"? Some big thingie on the end? Scratch that. Trap is much easier if you can see the target easily, and a rising target is easily obscured by the barrel.

I'd take the Wingmaster. They work well for Trap IME.

 

[Birdmang]

Yes the 97 has a large thing on the end which you can change.

the wingmaster says full on the barrel. I believe the wingmaster is a better choice

 

[jojo200517]

The Choke is the ammount of constriction in the end of the barrel

It can be machined in as part of the barrel like the winchester (indicated by it being written on the barrel), screw in choke, screw on choke, or adjustable choke (big thing on end that looks kinda like a vented flash hider and has adjustment not to be confused with the big things on the end that look like a 50 cal muzzle brake)

The full may be a bit tight for the standard 16 yard trap line making the pattern smaller and the target a little harder to hit.

 

[Armored farmer]

There have been enough clay pigeons broken with either one of those two to fill a dozen trains.

take the 870....you'll skin your thumb with that '97

 

[Armored farmer]

Shootin trap is like shooting free-throws...they aren't hard to hit....but they sure are easy to miss.
1. clear your head and focus
2. keep your head down on the stock
3. keep your head down on the stock
4. keep your head down on the stock
5. swing from your waist up
6. shoot for the leading rim like you are using a 22 rifle
7. follow through
8. quit thinking about whatever it is you are thinking about....and focus
9. keep your head down
10. don't raise your head

follow these 10 easy steps...you'll never miss a target.
good luck

use the 870

 

[snapper298]

oh yeah..................and keep your head down on the stock......

no truer words spoken

 

[oneounceload]

"Head on the stock, eye on the rock"

works most of the time

trap and skeet targets are easy to hit, and easy to miss...........

 

[bushmaster1313]

I once saw a very old Model 1897 with a Damscus Barrel
This would not be good for trap
If the 1897 is in good shape go at it.
870 is probably the better one for trap