Beginning trap shooter?

[drumminor2nd]

Hey, all. I was thinking of getting involved in casual trap shooting -- like the local rod & gun clubs' Sunday morning open trap, not into a league or anything. Problem is my only shotgun is a 16-gauge bolt-action I use as a beater field gun, which let's just say is less than ideal. I want to go, but I have this "the other kids will pick on me" feeling showing up with the shotgun equivalent of Dollar General sneakers amid the Air Jordans that are $3,000 trap guns, so I guess I'm in the market for a 12 gauge that doesn't suck.

I've been on the prowl locally, but I'm not seeing any used trap guns on the racks, but I've been seeing a lot of reasonably priced classic 12 gauge field grade pumps (Winchester 1897/12, Ithaca 37), and I figured I'd rather have one of those than a $200 Walmart plastic Chinese gun. Could I just show up with any quality field grade pump with a full choke and be OK for a few sessions, and get something fancy if I find out I want to get serious?

 

[arjay]

I started with a Remington express 870 pump gun. I’d reccomend a mod choke for the 16 yard line to start with (buy a gun with choke tubes)

 

[ruger 22]

Your best bet would be a used Remington 870 or 1100. You can get a lot of spare parts for these and if you decide you like trap you can put on a trap stock and you are good to go.
The 1100 has a lot less felt recoil and would be my choice. The Winchesters you mention are very nice machinery but a lot harder to make into a trap gun and the Ithaca 37 while a great hunter will be too light for long strings of shooting and give you lots of kick and also is more cumbersome to load one shot at a time which is what you do on the trap line.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Good advise posted but you only need one (1) shot in Trap.......

so if you are good with that old bolt action and just want some fun, go for it.

If you want to try the other games, you will need two shells, however.

A great sport for some fun, for sure.

 

[tops]

The M37 is really a bunch of trouble to shoot as a single. The gun has to be open between shots on a trap field. The bolt has to be closed to load a shell then rack it to load the barrel and this will annoy other shooters on the line. With a M870 the barrel can be loaded with the bolt open. There is a rhythm on a Trap field. Drop in a shell, close the gun, shoot and eject shell. Larry

 

[Hair Trigger]

Your best bet would be a used Remington 870 or 1100.

The Rem 1100 would be my choice between the two. Clays shooting is about birds, and whether you are shooting trap, skeet, 5-stand or a sporting clays course, getting off a second shot quickly is the key. A double or a semiauto are the best choices for a quick second shot; you can do it with a pump, but it takes practice when both birds are coming in different directions (a skeet double, etc). Racking the magazine moves your POA a little, and it takes practice to keep the follow-through swing going as you reload.

There are some nicely made Turkish shotguns out there now, for not a lot of money. CZ-USA markets the Huglu; I have a side-by-side of theirs and it is a quality shotgun. Of course, there are tons of used guns and a pawn shop will usually have a good selection of shotguns at reasonable prices.

Most clays shooters have gravitated to over-under guns if they want a double, but I was raised on side-by-sides and that's what I still use. I'm a "for the fun of it" clays shooter, my only competitive streak is to be better than I was the last time out.

Here's my two clays guns; one is a 55 year-old Savage Fox Model B 12 gauge, the other is a two-year-old Huglu Hammer Classic, and it's no more difficult to shoot an exposed hammer shotgun than one that cocks when you break it open. The Fox has fixed chokes, mod(R) and full(L), the Huglu has screw-ins and is Cylinder(R) and Mod Cylinder(L)

 

[Smithboomer]

An 870 is an acceptable starter gun at local trap shoots. A wood stocked Wingmaster won't get a second look. Even a plastic stocked Express is OK.
A modified choke is best for beginners. You won't dust as many birds but you'll break a few more.

 

[Imissedagain]

A 34" BT99 works for this family.
An 870 can break 25 as well.
Have a top gun teach you the foot positions for each station and other things that will help.

When our 870 went to Colorado I bought an 870 Super Mag.
Nice to break one and then break a big piece.
Full and XFull Briley extended chokes are used once I got the basics down.
Let them fly.

I usually shoot alone and the staff is accommodating for the regular shooters.
Then there is Wobbles fun.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

Lots of good advice above regarding the 870 Remington with interchangeable chokes. I personally use a Winchester Model 12 in 12 gauge.

Your bolt 16 gauge will work fine, but... Unless you reload, you'll find that 16-gauge shells are frightfully expensive and largely unavailable right now. That being the case, a 12 gauge will be your best choice for trap shooting using 7 1/2 shot field load for the best economy and thus allowing for more bang for the buck on the range.

Once you get hooked, you'll find that reloading will become a useful addition to your trap hobby.

 

[bigolddave]

Every trap club I have ever been affiliated with has at least a couple of seasoned shooters who would be willing to let you try out one of their older guns to see what you might like. If you find one that suits you, see if it might be for sale, or find a similar one. Unless you are really strapped, go with a decent quality gun, used if possible. If you develop a real nterest, you will soon graduate to something you like better. I have a host of friends who started on weekend breakfast shoots, then leagues, and finally registered shoots.

The gun you choose should be reliable--there is no better starter than an 870. You could shoot one (or several over a career, they are durable, and highly repairable, but don't last forever) but if you are cut out to be a trap shooter, you will get the itch to trade long before you could wear it out.

 

[ruger 22]

One caution if you decide to eventually buy a high end used trap gun. Trapshooters are notorious for altering their guns to get that extra bird or two out of 100 and a lot of alterations can de-value the gun. Altering the stocks is one thing since they can be replaced easiest but altering the metal of the gun like chokes, forcing cones, porting etc, are not reversible and not necessarily good. Make sure you have that expensive used trap gun checked out by a reputable gunsmith to be sure it is in original condition, otherwise buy a new one. Trap is very addictive and you may find yourself doing this way sooner than you think.

 

[PRParker71]

Many good shooters started with the Remington 870; with choke tubes they are extremely versatile. An advantage to buying an 1100, 11-87, or another semi auto is if you want to shoot skeet or sporting clays you are set. If you decide to get more serious later on the Browning BT99 is an excellent place to start, I shot my first 100 and 200 straight with a 34" full choked version. But above all, have fun.

 

[2152hq]

The Rem 1100 is a great shotgun, but right now I would stay away from buying one only because parts are beginning to be very difficult to get. Those that are around are being sold at crazy prices in most instances.

Common 1100 parts that were always available are now valuable rare items when you go to buy them it seems.
Retailers have gotten the word, Remington hasn't made any spares for the gun since suspending production of it. No one seems to have a grasp on wether they ever will or not.

If you go the Midwest Gunworks website,,parts for Rem 1100
28 pages of Model 1100 parts..
The first 10 pages are accessory parts. Choke tubes, sling swivels, recoil pads, different sight beads, etc. That stuff they have
Pages 10 thru 28 are the real 1100 parts
All Sold Out. Every one.

 

[Valmet]

If I were getting into the trap game again, I’d opt for an 870 Classic Trap.

 

[dave1918a2]

Lot's of good info here. I always tell a new trap shooter to get the gun that fits You the best.Try several. Pick it up and shpulder it and drop Your head. If You are looking off to the side of the barrel, or the middle of the barrel, move on. Remingtons and Model 12 Winchesters seem to be easy fits for lots. Remember, if You use a field gun it shoots straight on. In other words cover the target. Trap guns usually shoot high and You see the bird clearly. Kind of like using a 6 o'clock hold. Whatever You end up with, You are in for some fun.

 

[clang444]

Even an old 12 ga H&R single shot will work fine for Trap, although it may kick a bit since it is a light weight gun.

Any decent pump gun will be fine too, except the bottom ejection guns since it is harder to load a single shell (Ithaca and Browning BPS).

 

[SS336]

I too think an 870 would be more than fine for trap.
One of the best trap shooters I know shoots one on occasion just to humble the high-dollar guys a little. He has no trouble breaking 25 straight with it.
Semi-auto’s on a trap range need to have a shell catcher so the shooter on the next station is not getting hit with your empty’s. It is considered good etiquette.
As many have said it is a lot of fun and quite addictive. Like a lot of the shooting games it can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be.
Have fun and just enjoy getting better each time.

 

[Mdclinks]

If I were to be getting into trap I’d be looking for a modern semiautomatic 12 gauge. The modern semiautos are much more reliable, lighter weight, softer shooting, have removable chokes and most often come with shims. Those guys with their $3000 over/under shotguns won’t be laughing when you bust just as many clays without a sore shoulder and aren’t tired from lugging around a heavy over/under. The models I’d be looking at are the:

Winchester SX4 3”
Franchi Affinity 3”
Beretta A300 Ultima

For a little less money you can get into the Stoeger M3000 or Tristar Viper.

For a little more money you can get a Browning Maxus 3”, Benelli M2, or Beretta A400 3”.

It took me a while to get used to shooting an auto loader from my many years with a pump but I can say with certainty that my accuracy while bird hunting has become significantly better.

 

[John_M52]

I started in my 20's with a used 870 wingmaster full choke that I could not afford. Got some scoffs and looks from the old guys shooting Benelli's and Perazzi's. I loaded light 1 oz to save money on lead. When I busted 24 or 25 some would come over and ask what I was shooting, then they would walk back to their guns and try and figure out what was wrong with theirs. Others would just offer advice or shake their heads. Kind of fun. One time I took my grandfather's OC choke over-under bird gun. Couldn't hit anything. My father said told you that was a bad idea.

 

[Liftrat]

Lots of good advice here. I used an 870 Wingmaster for trap for years; a good, reliable gun. So I say, yes, show up with a decent 12 GA with interchangeable chokes, and have fun. My club has some shooters with higher end shotguns, but I've never known anyone to look down on what someone else was using, so maybe try your 16 GA the first time and see what happens...