I need some trap shooting advice

[Smithiac]

I am shooting as a fill in on a for fun league I jsut wanted to know what you guys thought would be best to shoot. I have several gun that are not made for trap but it is all I have so heres the list.

Win. 97 30" full 12ga.

Browning A-5 30" full 12ga.

Win model 12 30" full 12 ga.

Let me know what you guys think.

Smithiac

 

[RonE]

Winchester Mod 12, of the guns you have would be my choice. I shot Mod 12 trap guns for many years. Even if yours isn't a trap gun, they are great guns. I would use #8's from the 16 yard line and 7 1/2's from your handicap yardage. While you are there, try out some "trap" guns and see how the game can become very addictave.

 

[MAKster]

Since they're all 30" with full choke there won't be much difference with any of them. I would use the Winchester Model 12 because you can pop the empty shells into your hand instead of picking them up off the ground which is the case with the semiauto A5. Since the A5 is recoil operated there won't be much recoil difference with the pumps

 

[Milkmaster]

All of them you listed have full chokes and 30" barrels, so not much difference there. They are all fine shotguns. I would use the one you enjoy and feel most comfortable using. If it is just for fun and enjoyment, then shoot them all at one time or another until you find the one you like best and beats your shoulder the least! Then repeated practice with that same gun will get your scores up there. Some of us take the trap range a lot less serious than others. I ain't busted one clay target by trying to impress anyone with my shotguns. Some say you need an expensive O/U for trap. Some are perfectly happy shooting their field gun of any sort. The main thing is to have fun and shoot whatever gun you take with you that day! If the day comes when you want to shoot an expensive trap set up, then so be it and be happy about it. Have fun!

 

[machinisttx]

Which one do you hit the best with?

 

[Capstick1]

The A5 is an excellent trap gun. I've used mine quite a bit. I did have to replace the stock wood forend with a Bell and Carlson Carbellite forend because the wooden one cracked on me. Other than that it's never given me any problems. Make sure you have the friction rings on your magazine tube set correctly for the 1 1/8oz target loads that you'll be using.

 

[oneounceload]

use the one that fits you and patterns best with the load you are going to use

 

[Hollywood Marine]

Dave can tell you I've broken a lot of clay with my model 12. Having said that though, all the guns you listed are more than adequate for trap. Shoot the one that fits you best, and good luck'
Doug H.

 

[Shawnee]

My choice would be the model 12 but the real answer, as others have already said -

Shoot the one that fits you best, and good luck !

 

[Dave McCracken]

Doug H's Model 12 is well into 6 figures on shell consumption and is a death ray in his hands.

All 3 can work, but I'd favor the one that fits best.

Trust me, there's worse crises than which of these fine shotguns to use. We should all be so lucky...

 

[Milkmaster]

Trust me, there's worse crises than which of these fine shotguns to use. We should all be so lucky...

Exactly what I was thinking when I saw the original posting. It sure is a good start on a nice collection of shotguns. I tip my hat to you!

 

[mswestfall]

Trap is a rising bird sport. Shooting a gun that actually points up in the air is an advantage.

Do any of them have a raised rib? Do you see more barrel (or rib) on one of the guns? This plus cast and length of pull are about 75% of good gun fit.

That being said....
I see a whole lot more (15-20x more) Trap shooters with a Model 12 than the the '97 and A-5 combined.

 

[ArmedBear]

The Model 12 if you have relatively long arms or if it has a foreend that extends back.

Otherwise the A5. Just set it up for the loads you're using, and it will feel good to shoot. Can feel funky otherwise.

That's assuming the guns fit you, of course.

A 30" repeater with a Full choke is fairly typical for American Trap.

 

[VegasOPM]

I shoot Model 12 Trap guns, but they are all fine. The only caveat is that you may need to find or fashion a shell catcher for the A-5. It is considered bad form to let the empties fly when you are on the line and some clubs (and most tournaments) forbid it. You don't want to distract the other folks on the line, and bouncing a shell off somebody's $25,000 Trap gun is a hanging offense.

 

[Smithiac]

Thanks for all of the posts and advice guys,

I went to the range with the model 12 it is an old 6 digit SN and it preformed very well. I shot one 20 out of 25 with it at the 18 yard line during the regular round. I also managed to come in third in the annie oakley round that we had at the 27 yard line.

This was my first time shoot "real" trap (That means not with a hand thrower in the back yard) it was vey addicting we ended up shooting 2 1/2 rounds to catch up the lost time and rain outs. This is a friends team I am going to fill in as often as I can.

Thanks Smithiac