GigaBuist
Member
Well, I went out and shot some clays for the first time with a buddy. He's not really into it much himself, but gets together with his brother and his friends now and again.
I've got an 870 (who doesn't?) in 12ga but it's got a 20" rifled barrel on it and I don't have any smoothbore ones. I've been meaning to fix that for some time but didn't have any reason too. Never considered bird hunting and shooting clays never sounded like fun.
On the way over I made a price-check at the local Dunham's on their Saiga 20's -- and I bought one. I've also got a Saiga .410 that came along with me.
The host had a break-open Winchester 20 gauge shotgun. Model 34 I think?
I could hit diddly with my 870 nor the break-open Winchester. The rilfed barrel did who knows what to the pattern. I hear it looks like a doughnut. I put less than 10 rounds of shot through it just seeing if I could actually hit anything w/ it. I couldn't.
I don't imagine there was anything wrong with the Winchester -- it just wasn't working for me. Maybe I need more pratice with just a bead sight.
We didn't keep score or anything, but I was hitting about 80% of them with the Saiga 20. Less with the .410 of course. Since we had more ammo than clays on hand I was using the .410 and taking second shots if needed. Just having fun.
So, I think I might make a habbit out of doing this from now on. The outdoor range I visit seems like it's 90% trap and skeet shooters and there are instructors available.
So, should I try and "build up" my 870 a bit to make it into a proper clay gun or should I just stick with the plain-old Saiga 20 which has nothing really going for it? Part of me wants to learn on a 20 gauge and then move to a lesser caliber once I think I've got the hang of it to keep pushing myself.
I've got an 870 (who doesn't?) in 12ga but it's got a 20" rifled barrel on it and I don't have any smoothbore ones. I've been meaning to fix that for some time but didn't have any reason too. Never considered bird hunting and shooting clays never sounded like fun.
On the way over I made a price-check at the local Dunham's on their Saiga 20's -- and I bought one. I've also got a Saiga .410 that came along with me.
The host had a break-open Winchester 20 gauge shotgun. Model 34 I think?
I could hit diddly with my 870 nor the break-open Winchester. The rilfed barrel did who knows what to the pattern. I hear it looks like a doughnut. I put less than 10 rounds of shot through it just seeing if I could actually hit anything w/ it. I couldn't.
I don't imagine there was anything wrong with the Winchester -- it just wasn't working for me. Maybe I need more pratice with just a bead sight.
We didn't keep score or anything, but I was hitting about 80% of them with the Saiga 20. Less with the .410 of course. Since we had more ammo than clays on hand I was using the .410 and taking second shots if needed. Just having fun.
So, I think I might make a habbit out of doing this from now on. The outdoor range I visit seems like it's 90% trap and skeet shooters and there are instructors available.
So, should I try and "build up" my 870 a bit to make it into a proper clay gun or should I just stick with the plain-old Saiga 20 which has nothing really going for it? Part of me wants to learn on a 20 gauge and then move to a lesser caliber once I think I've got the hang of it to keep pushing myself.
