Best gun for Skeet

[45R]

I shot skeet for the first time ever and it was accomplished with a Benelli M1Tactical with Rifled sights. Pretty crazy. I shot the second round with a Browning O/U and I actually did better with the Benelli, however the Browning GTI did not fit me as well as my trusty M1 Tactical. When leading the clay is there a difference in how far you lead with the top or bottom barrel?

I'm considering looking into the following for this new addiction a new M1 Field Barrel which is pretty hard to find, a Benelli Cordoba (this is an excuse to buy another Benelli) or a FABARMS Gamma II O/U.

 

[PJR]

Top and bottom barrels should shoot to the same point of impact so no difference in lead is required.

 

[Smith357]

I started the clay game with a Beretta A-303 Upland, after a while I upgraded to a Citori Upland (i like straight stocks on my shotguns) so I would not have to shag brass. My scores went down, and I regret selling the 303. If you are play the clay game use the shotgun that will give you the best score. If you shoot the Benelli well, then stick with it and make the effort to find the right barrel. (a lot cheaper than a new Benelli)

 

[bwhited]

Skeet?
Take a look at http://www.shotgunworld.com/

 

[farscott]

When leading the clay is there a difference in how far you lead with the top or bottom barrel?

Not unless the shotgun is canted. As I found out the hard way, one cannot twist an O/U to bring the dominant eye over the rib as the two barrels will shoot to a different place.

 

[Scoupe]

Same lead, the barrels are aligned vertically. Leads are different r-l and l-r on all stations except 4.

Best gun? For serious skeet (read competition) the most popular choice by far is an O/U 12ga with a subgauge tubeset for 20, 28 and .410. Krieghoff, Perazzi, Browning, and Beretta are the major players, with Kolar and Blaser offering great guns as well. For the average non-competitive skeet shooter, you can't beat an old Remington 1100 20ga built on the 12ga frame. Skeet just doesn't require 12ga to break 25 (or 100). My favorite gauge for skeet is 28. Grinds targets up and you can shoot it all day without discomfort.

You can pick up the 1100s for $400 and less. Tubed O/Us run from around $2500 to over $10,000 used.

 

[Shawnee]

Hi 45R...

The "Best" gun for Skeet is whichever 2-shotter most often shoots where you are looking.

 

[Steve C]

To shoot skeet you want an open choke, either a "skeet" choke, improved cyl or cyl. because the targets are close and moving fast across, towards and away from the shooter a shorter barrel like 26" or 24" is best. Skeet is handicapped by gauge, smaller the gauge the greater the difficulty.

Trap is best shot with full or modified choke in 28" or 30" barreled shotguns as the targets are out farther and are all going away from you. Trap is handicapped by distance.

 

[Skywarp]

Beretta AL391 in 26"


My favorite skeet gun.

 

[Dave McCracken]

The best skeet gun is whatever YOU shoot best, even if it's an overpriced, complex contraption made largely of recycled Tomato sauce cans.

Unless you have your heart set on beating the world's best skeet shooters by Michaelmas, shoot what you enjoy shooting the most that does a decent job.

Chances are switching to an 870 would improve your scores greatly.

Tongue removed from cheek....

 

[45R]

The best skeet gun is whatever YOU shoot best, even if it's an overpriced, complex contraption made largely of recycled Tomato sauce cans.

Its performance worth the price. I would not think twice about plunking down the hard earned green for another recycled Tomato sauce can.

Chances are switching to an 870 would improve your scores greatly.

Dave, as much crap as I give the 870 owners on this board about their Remington's I am not opposed to shooting an 870 while playing skeet. They are an option, however, I just prefer the Benelli.

The premise of this thread was really to determine of I had the right gear for a game that I have never played until yesterday. It looks like I would be well served with a new barrel for the M1 or at some point an O/U.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Agreed. Either a reconfigged M1 or the right O/U will do. Your call.

I have to admit, this BB has lots of 870 fanatics. Dunno how that happened.

 

[IrvJr]

45R,

I recently started shooting skeet. At first I was using a semi auto, but I eventually switched to an O/U. I prefer the O/U because I don't have to pick up my spent shells after each station. Also, the O/U is a little easier to clean (although my Remington 1100 is pretty easy to clean too). Plus the O/U can shoot very light loads (I have mechanical triggers on my gun) reliably. I've shot lighttarget loads in my 1100 and they all function reliably, but I've heard that very light loads might have difficulty cycling the semi auto action reliably.

Any of the options that you listed sound good. Make sure you get to handle each gun to see which one fits and feels the best. I really like my O/U (Browning Cynergy). I had to get a spacer to extend the length of pull and also a cheek pad to raise the comb, but it now fits me really nicely and I love the way it handles.

Best of luck!