Can you shoot a "non" sporting clays gun???

2735 Views 8 Replies 8 Participants Last post by DoooDahMan, Aug 14, 2003

Jacobi

Discussion Starter · Aug 13, 2003

I realize you probably can and do, but what are the drawbacks? What I'm getting at is why buy a (for instance) Benelli Sport II when a Montefeltro or SBE (heard many good things about these) would seem to be fine?

Also, are synthetic stock guns frowned upon in the sporting clays realm? I know most of you will say "screw them, it's your gun, shoot it!" but I don't want to be the new kid in town on a banana seat bike, you know? (although I wish the banana seat bike wasn't before my time 'cause I think they're bad @$$)

As always your help is appreciated,
-Barry-

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chad

· #2 · Aug 14, 2003

well i am new to the sport to and i never realy had any real thougth that went so deep as your but like you said it is your gun and a sin stock is more derable but lite so if recoild is a problem i think i would go with wood. you will find most guys out there are not to bad of guys and will do there best to help you learn the ropes my first time was a blast and the second came with them helping and suggesting. then they invited me on a pheasant hunt this sept 7 so they are so realy good guys out there and i do not own a sport type gun but food for thought sporting clays is kinda like hunting so why would a hunting gun not work ust as well the main thing i find is fit and the can be fixed on any gun.

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texasbilly

· #3 · Aug 14, 2003

There are two distinct types of clay shooters: those who participate for the fun of the sport; and those who are serious competitors. If you participate for the fun of the sport, then use whatever shotgun is fun to shoot. Try a variety of guages, actions, and types. If you are a serious competitor, purchase a shotgun that is fitted to your body type, that will last through thousands of rounds, and that is set up for competition.
In the end, its not the cost of the shotgun that determines whether or not you are achieving your goals.

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APEXDUCK

· #4 · Aug 14, 2003

Fo out and shoot what you have! With any shooting disipline you will find die hard folks who think the only way to break a target is with the "proper" gun. Yes a "clays" gun will have a few more bells and whistles that may make it easier to consistantly break targets. But I have seen some great shooters over the years that shoot the same gun they hunt with. Yes, state shoot winners shooting a beat up old 1100 with a home made camo job. The gun had seen more hours in a duck blind then most folks have ever dreamed of and the fella could flat out break targets. No $5000.00 gun to do it either.

Don't let some snob keep you from having fun. I use to shoot registered clays everywhere and shoot every shoot I could. Made a trip to the nationals one year and had a blast. Even have shot with a buddy in a team event and beat a couple of national level trap and skeet shooters at a fun shoot once. The key is we are all not going to shoot at the masters level and win. Do your best with what you have and have fun.

I'm an old school clays shooter now. I do not own a shooting/golf cart and I shoot low gun at skeet and clays. I do not shoot registered targets any more. I have fun! You should to. Shoot what you have and if you feel the need at some point to buy a "clays" gun to improve your scores do it. But above all have fun! Too many guys take it too serious and make it a job rather than a hobby for enjoyment.

Shoot what you got and have a good time doing it !

APEXDUCK

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Sander

· #5 · Aug 14, 2003

I second everything APEXDUCK just said

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Roger Gascoigne

· #6 · Aug 14, 2003

You can shoot SC with any gun you like, (well not a .308 rifle :lol: )

I shot a field grade Beretta for the first 6 years of my shotgun life, learned to shoot trap, skeet and SC with it.

There is snobbery in shooting unfortunately, but one sure way to get rid of that is to break more clays than the guy next to you with the $10,000 gun :wink:

A comment though, the cost of new Montefeltro will buy you a used Beretta or Browning over and under that will have two chokes and maybe less in recoil than a synthetic stock gun because it is heavier.

Go break clays with what you have or what you like.

Roger

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Sander

· #7 · Aug 14, 2003

I also just decided to start out with a field grade Beretta semi-auto, though I'm picking up a sporting O/U pretty soon.

There's actually something nice about using a lower-end, no-frills gun when you first start out because for one thing, you don't exactly know what bells and whistles you want yet. Secondly, when a person shows up to the range with a $5000 custom made shotgun, you expect them to shoot at a $5000 level. It's like when you see a guy in a Ferrari take a hairpin turn, you really expect him to do it with some skill. There's nothing sadder than a guy driving a $150k car who doesn't know throttle oversteer from a hole in the ground. :wink:

I witnessed it just yesterday... One of the regular members shot a perfect round with his old and very beat up Remington pump, while the guy with the custom shotgun missed as many as he broke.

Of course, there's also something nice about having a gun you can grow into. But in the end, I'd just focus on fit and comfort and let that be your one and only priority

Have fun!

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SamL

· #8 · Aug 14, 2003

People have said it better already, but just get out there and shoot with what you have and/or what you'll be comfortable with. Including "comfortable within your budget."

I've seen people shoot with everything from a $70 single shot H&R, to 20" barrelled, synthetic-stocked home-defense style guns, to Stoeger Coach Guns. Even the guys with nice trap guns bring their other "toys" out to play once in a while. It all works.

Good luck, and good shooting!

-- Sam

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DoooDahMan

· #9 · Aug 14, 2003

1st gun I bought was a Rem 1100 with a 20" slug barrel on it. I went straight to the clays course with my buddy. Everyone else had 391's and OU's. One guy had a K80. They teased us about our "deer gun". It WAS almost too short to rest on the racks!

But after I took 10 of 10 at the first station and my buddy pulled of two doubles on a tricky station #2, one of them said, "Darn, I left my slug barrel at home."

They also teased each other. One guy's 391 had much better wood then another guy's. So, after a good round, it was "Must be that good wood!" The guy with the K80 heard about it all day long. But that is what made it fun. If they had really been snobby about it, I probably would have found a better place to shoot.

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