18 inch barrel for trap?

[Checkers]

I recently got my first shotgun, a 12 gauge NEF Parder with an 18 inch barrel and I'm not sure of the right word, but the choke isn't changeable (Fixed choke? No choke? Sorry >.<) Will I be able to hit anything when I go trap shooting? I asked on another weapons board (/k/, for those of you who know it) but that's more for entertainment than information, and I've been told I won't be able to hit anything. It has a bead sight if that matter. Thanks for any help High Roaders!

 

[Frozen North]

Not an ideal gun for the purpose, but I have seen stranger things.

 

[toivo]

A shotgun that doesn't take interchangeable choke tubes is either fixed choke or no choke, depending on its purpose. It's just a question of whether or not the barrel narrows down near the end. Older trap shotguns are often fixed full choke: the barrel narrows down quite a bit. An 18" barrel like yours is typically on a home-defense gun, and will most likely have no choke (also called "cylinder bore").

This means that your shot pattern will spread out pretty quickly. On trap, this will hinder you on the longer shots: by the time the shot gets "way out there," it will have spread out so much that it could potentially pass around the bird without any pellets striking the bird. On the plus side, you have a 12-gauge, not a 20, so you've got a bigger shot cloud to begin with.

My advice it to get on the bird fast, and take your shot before it gets too far out. I've seen people do reasonably well with this strategy when shooting a cylinder-bore shotgun at trap.

EDIT TO ADD: H&R's website shows accessory barrels for sale for the Pardner. A fixed full choke barrel for the Pardner is $55 for a 28" and $75 for a 32". If you're planning to shoot a lot of trap, you might want to consider one of these. A 28" should be fine.

http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.asp

They also have a 28" fixed modified, which is a more open choke than full. Full is good, but it can be harder to hit the close birds because without a lot of shot spread, your aim has to be more precise. The modified is a good compromise choke. A fixed modified 28" would give you a good all-around hunting/clayshooting set-up for your Pardner. You can put your 18" back on when you get home from the field/range.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Try skeet or sporting clays. Closer in targets. The "skeet" choke often sold for these games is a cylinder bore, so essentially the same as you probably have.

 

[Jim Watson]

A $55 28" barrel would be a cheap entry for a trap gun.
Add a strap on cheekpad for some elevation on the rising targets and you would be all set.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Be aware that some clubs place limits on the length of barrels they allow, and don't want short barrels on the field with other shooters. Too noisy, they say. For example see http://www.sunnyvalegunclub.com/activities/trap.html , http://www.prgc.net/skeet.htm etc.

lpl

 

[243winxb]

Your 18 1/2" Cylinder barrel is for very close targets as it makes large paterns. A shell holding 1 1/8 oz of number 8 shot size will work best for you on clay target to a maximum of 30 yards. If you shoot clays out of a 16 yard trap house, you will need to shoot very very fast. Skeet shooting will work best with your barrel. For Skeet use number 9 shot.

 

[BigN]

Too short and pattern will be much too loose for 40 yard trap shooting...

 

[Bubba613]

It's going to depend on what kind of trap shooting he's doing. Can you hit clays with a gun like that? Yup, seen it done. Will it be ideal? Nope. But for an occasional thing why not?

My advice is to take the gun somewhere where you can shoot it at 15 yards on paper to see where it is hitting in relation to the sight.

 

[oneounceload]

First - no choke tube just means the choke is fixed. Whether it is fixed at .000 constriction (Cylinder bore), or .020m (Modified), or something else, it should say on the barrel (unless it was a bubba cut-down special)

A short barrel is a handicap in trap as it hampers your ability to implement a nice smooth and consistent swing and follow through. As mentioned, some clubs may not allow barrels that short, as the muzzle blast tends to be harsher, especially to folks on either side of you. If they have no rules against it, you can try it, but you would be better served with a longer barrel for better swinging on the target

 

[Milkmaster]

Oneounce speaks the truth above. My problem with it would not necessarily be the short barrel. I might add that your shoulder might not like using that gun for trap. A light gun will let you know with quite a punch. You will see what I mean when doing it. Shoot a hundred shells and see how you feel

 

[oneounceload]

Adding one more thing - you do NOT need those shoulder thumping 1-1/8 oz loads from wally world. 1oz, even 7/8, moving around 1200 fps, will break any clay game target at any distance. Case in point - I shot some FITASC targets today - this is sporting clays on steroids where they are further and faster. My 7/8 loads running 1200 fps broke every one (not all of them unfortunately), bit I was able to easily hit each one, even a few that are surveyed markered at 55 yards+ with a M and IM choke. The lighter loads will have your shoulder thanking you when you get older

 

[Mark8252]

Trap??

To tell you it will be ok would be pushing it some. You are starting with a considerable handi-cap.
Have fun anyway.

 

[btg3]

On the trap range when it's your turn to shoot, just ignore the snickering behind you... it's not the 18" barrel they find humorous...really it's not... no really, just go ahead see how that works for you.

 

[Checkers]

So I went on sunday and was doing pretty terribly, but it was my first time shooting skeet (The trap range was crowded) and everyone was very friendly and understanding. I think I'll try out the 28" barrel that was posted earlier, since it's not too expensive and I liked skeet so much I'll probably end up doing this once a week or so. Thanks for all the advice guys, I'm really glad I found this site

 

[oneounceload]

For skeet, that 28" barrel will work very nicely - use a Skeet constriction, (.005), or at the tightest, an Improved Cylinder (.010). Skeet doubles can get tricky with a pump, but they are doable

Have some fun with it!

 

[winchester '97]

As others have said, it will certainly do the job but it is not ideal for the task at hand.

 

[toivo]

Checkers, those accessory barrels are either fixed full or fixed modified. If you're going to shoot mostly skeet, I would get the modified. Actually, for skeet you might be better off with the barrel you have now, since it's wide open (cylinder bore). You don't want a full choke for skeet.

 

[cleardiddion]

Lots of good advice, dunno if I can think of much else beyond I've seen people shoot skeet and trap with stranger things.

Also, to the op: 4chan is probably not the place for such questioning imho.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Operators going to operate on the trap range with the KSG.

 

[ET]

If Trap is the name of the person breaking into your house at 2:00 in the morning then the 18" barrel would be a perfect fit.

 

[243winxb]

As for barrel length, i have shot skeet with a T/C contender 410-10" barrel. The doubles are hell. All comes down to the ability of the shooter.

 

[1stmarine]

get a dime and see if it fits in the choke.

 

[oneounceload]

get a dime and see if it fits in the choke.

It isn't a slot machine - that means nothing ion today's world of overbored guns

 

[Hunterdad]

I've tried shooting trap with an 18" barrel and it was awful. Those Pardners come with a fixed IC shoke. You need something a bit tighter with a longer barrel. You should be able to find a cheap 28" barrel for that relatively cheap.