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Trap guns
jschenck:
I don't know much about trap shooting and I'm not good at it. Last year I decided I wanted to try clays so I spent a *lot* of time shopping for a 12GA. After a couple of months of looking my list narrowed down to four cost categories:
$300-$400 - TRi Sporter 28" (Dicks sporting goods) - Basic semi-auto but does "feel right" in my hands
$500-$600 - Stoeger M3k - Low end but setup for trap shooting
$1000-$1200 - Remington 1100 Comp Synthetic. Really felt nice in my hands
$2500 range - Beretta A400 Xcel Multi - Makes my head spin thinking of that beauty
I ended up with the Sporter from DSG. I figured it's like the cheap set of clubs I bought for golfing. If I ever get good enough to where the equipment is holding me back I'll buy a better gun.
That Remington almost got my money even though I was lusting over the Xcel.
So far I don't regret that TRi Silver Eagle Sporter Semi-Automatic. If you watch Dicks ad's you can find it for under $350.
my 2 cents, FWIW
AAllen:
Ok I'm going to make a couple of generalized statements to start off, I've seen 2 stoeger trap guns fail and would not trust one. Go with a 12 gauge, the amount of shot is not the big thing but to get better you need to shoot a lot, and the shells are generally able to be found for less and the light loads actually kick less out of a 12 than shooting similar from a 20 (= more ability to shoot and less wear and tear on the body also making it easier to shoot more).
Now as to the question of using a field gun or getting a "trap" model shotgun. This is a fair question because as many have said you can break clays with any of them, but when it comes to encouraging youth in school competitive trap I would recommend actually getting a trap gun. Why is the kids compete and basically practice from January to beginning of May,weather changes dramatically and the comb that is parallel with the rib makes for a consistent sight picture, helping them to become more consistent which means they break more clays. Yea it may only be 2 more out of 25 but that can be the difference between a kid enjoying themselves and growing as part of the team or getting fed up and quiting. You can find used BT99's as low as $700 if you have a little patients and shop around. Soon High School season will be ending and many kids will be upgrading (the better and more constant may be getting over unders they can use in college or if graduating using the shotgun money to help pay for college or life in general). Getting a used BT99 or similar through a private sale (not paying a dealers markup) you can purchase a gun that can be resold when he outgrows (moves up to a better or gives up trap and wants a plain field gun). That said I have been hunting for the last 20 + years with a trap gun (over under) and it works great for me for both. Watch the online auction sites and you will be able to find a BT99 under $1000 fairly quickly, a year ago a friend got one for $600 that just needed a new front bead installed (cheap and easy fix).
If you want to get a new gun SKB has a youth trap semi auto available that should have a reasonable price, Browning makes a pump trap model the was around $600 a few years ago don't know where they run now. Remington has tried for years to get into the trap gun business, but have had many failures, but many of their better field guns have been customized into trap models.
Big thing is don't be in a hurry right now, there will be people selling used trap guns at State and often at the Confrence shoot. The big deal is out there, don't make a purchase now in a hurry and need to pass on it later because you spent all the money on a compromise gun now
This is coming from a father that had a daughter compete, her Senoir year when she was getting offered real college athletic scholarships for trap we stepped up and spent way to much money on a new gun, but that is a future concern.
SemperFiGuy:
BILL:
If.........................
after all the discussion, whatever, you do decide to go ahead and buy a trap gun, you might wish to look into the TriStar TT-15 model, which is made in Turkey. There's a wealth of information available on the TT-15, simply by Googling. It's an Over/Under, has an adjustable comb and (I believe) and adjustable ventilated sight rib. Very nice Turkish walnut stock.
It appears to be a lot of value for the money. Some are listed on Gunbroker.com with adjustable everything: comb, butt plate, sight rib. With B-I-N just over $1000. Same setup in Browning Citori, used, would run around $2500.
There's a wealth of information available on the TT-15, simply by Googling. Armslist has TriStar Upland Hunter O/U's (no adjustable comb) used for around $500. However, it's tough to find an Armslist poster who will ship out of state.
Some experienced, knowledgeable shooters who own TriStars have commented very favorably on their quality, utility, and general ability to break clays. You might pm LeeM of this forum for his opinion. He has had a Tri-Star O/U for most of last season and could provide his assessment of it.
Many folks start out w/BT99s single-barrel for young HS shooters. However, if he sticks with the sport, eventually he'll want to shoot doubles. Can't do doubles with one barrel. Might be worthwhile to consider an O/U from the getgo.
AAllen comment on Stoeger's is right on the mark. I bought one out of curiousity. Neither barrel would shoot where pointed. Both barrels would not register.
FWIW,
sfg
Bill:
Thank you for your input.
Sounds like I should look for one at the State shoot in May.
AAllen said that Remington has failed to make inroads into the trap market, is this market inertia or are they in some way flawed?
AAllen:
--- Quote from: Bill on April 10, 2017, 02:05:51 PM ---Thank you for your input.
Sounds like I should look for one at the State shoot in May.
AAllen said that Remington has failed to make inroads into the trap market, is this market inertia or are they in some way flawed?
--- End quote ---
A bit of both, first they were out of the break action shotgun (the most popular for trap) business for a long time, then when they got back in they got back in they got a lot of guns from other manufacturers that were notnup to the traditional Remington quality, then came freedom group ownership. When you couple that with lots of trap and skeet shooters look for traditional names they just had a lot of failures.
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