My oldest boy, Kody, is wanting a 12 Guage over/under for trap shooting since he's joining a team this fall. I'm looking for something good, but fairly inexpensive (if that exists). Any recommendations?
12 Guage over / under
- Thread starter cotty16
- Start date
I bought that Remington SP-310 off Rick in your garage and it's a way better trap gun than my $1K Italian gun or the Mossberg Silver Reserve I had. The Remington is a $300 Wal-Mart gun, but it's a damn good shooter. That said, I think it's a "feel" thing a lot like archery. I'd let him shoulder a few and see what feels good because ultimately with trap, the shouldering of the gun is what wins rounds.
Archertl
Senior Member
The cz drakes can be had for under 600. The biakal u/o is probably the cheapest you'd want to own. The Remington spartians jesse mentiomed are baikals imported under the remington name. Sometimes you can find a deal on the marlin branded lc smith made o/u. The browning citori miadis sells for 899 new you can sometimes find used ones around 650.
I know Klay liked that Franchi I have. Depending on condition, they fall in the $600-900 range. Not sure your budget. Just throwing something out there in the next range from what Jesse and Tom said. That does NOT mean it is better than the cheaper ones though. You could put a $10000 trap gun in my hands and I would still be worse than most of you guys at the range. I don't know much about them but I know it isn't always how expensive they are.
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I shoot trap most of the year on tuesday nights. I started this year with an 870TB with a monte carlo stock and was shooting it pretty damn good for me (low 40s). I bought a Winchester 101 diamond trap a couple of months ago and my scores dropped a bunch but with practice ive improved a bit but still not where i want to be. All the other guys on my team all shoot field grade guns (1100,11-87,mod 12, and a sbe 2 or 3) and they all shoot in the mid to upper 40s every week. I would preferably shoot my 870 but i like the challenge of trying to improve with a new gun.
I guess what im saying is to not get him an over under unless he is used to them becuase his scores may not be as good as he wants and he may get discouraged and give up on the sport. I would have him shoot a gun he is used to and confident in for the first few weeks to get an average and then maybe let him shoot an over under and see if he impoves or not. Over unders are not for everyone.
I guess what im saying is to not get him an over under unless he is used to them becuase his scores may not be as good as he wants and he may get discouraged and give up on the sport. I would have him shoot a gun he is used to and confident in for the first few weeks to get an average and then maybe let him shoot an over under and see if he impoves or not. Over unders are not for everyone.
bigten05
*Supporting Member*
my dad has a charles daly 12 gauge he uses to rabbit and pheasant hunt and its hell on the clays absolutely dusts them
I'll second the CZ. I'm partial to Browning's and Berettas, but they're not exactly an "entry level" gun. I think a nice semiauto would be good for him too. Much softer shooting than an O/U. He would appreciate that after a few rounds on the trap range.
He has an 1100 now. He shoots it well. Not sure why he wants to change other than he said he has a hard time with the long range shots. It's a 20 Guage.
Thanks guys. Appreciate all the input! I'll update later what we decide. I'm hoping he sticks with the 1100.
I'm not a trap guy. As an honest to goodness cheapskate, I wonder if maybe an 1100 in 12g would help him out? Then it would double for rabbits and such and treat him good the rest of his life.
When I was about 12-13 my Dads buddy told me a 20 ga. would make you a better hunter. That is why I stay with my 20 now.
We actually have an 1100 in a 12 also, but it's got a scope and slug barrel on it. Thing is deadly on deer. Even I can hit them with it.
Unless he is shooting doubles, why does he want an over/under? Will it be used specifically for trap? If so, and depending on your budget, look into a single barrel break open. My girlfriend just bought a TriStar top single trap gun new at the Sportsman's Den for less than $1,000. For the money, they are a nice gun. I bought a Ljutic, but I was shooting alot when I bought it. A good option would be a used Beretta 391 or whatever their newer model is, then he could also use for doubles and sporting clays. Best tip I can give you, is to make sure the gun fits him and to pattern it. Also, get him a 12 gauge, you can get reduced recoil loads if he needs to, but if the gun fits him, you won't need to.
Archertl
Senior Member
If this is for mostly clays i would recommend sticking with a gas auto. Im a beretta auto fan the 391 urika and a400 xcl. They are super soft shooting and unlike the 1100 you dont have to fool with them to go from low to high brass. My 20 ga a400 will even cycle handicap trap loads that no other auto will.
Took Kody gun shopping today. After shouldering several guns and trying to say in our price range, he decided on the Weatherby combo. Comes with the slug barrel that's ready for a scope mount and a 28" field barrel with three chokes.
It's a pretty gun. He's on his way to shooting practice right now. Hopefully he comes home happy!
I appreciate all your input. Most of the guns that were mentioned on here we didn't see. Hope it doesn't come back to haunt us.
