[KJB]

I did not attend the Grand. Any big ATA shoots coming up? I want to hit vendors row for several reasons.

 

[Rick618]

THE Grand is almost the end of the season shoot, so the next big shoots should be in Feb of next year.

http://www.shootata.com/satellitegrands.htm

since you dont have a location in your profile check here for your local ATA info:

http://www.shootata.com/atazones.cfm

or here for sporting clays info:

http://www.sportingclays.net/ranges.cfm

 

[KJB]

Rick - I fixed the location matter. But I don't care if I have to fly to Phoenix, Las Vegas, Miami, or Italy this winter.

My reason for inquiry is that I'm going to join the elite and buy one of those "P" guns or "K" guns. But I won't/don't buy any shotgun without shooting it first - - Not even a $300 hunting shotgun. And, I'd like to shoot a few different models of Perazzi, Kreighoff, Ljutic, etc., over a two day span and see which I like the best. Money is not the object here. Liking what I buy IS the objective. This is not a whim. Wherever I have to go, I will bring home a new trap gun (most likely a single barrel, possibly a combo).

Can you think of an alternative way to achive my goal? Like a trip to Jaquas or to whomever/wherever has "the ultimate" line of trap guns. I considered going to the shot show this winter, but I want to actually "shoot it before I buy it" and I don't think that is possible at the shot show (or is it).

I can get on an airplane tomorrow, so long range planning is not necessary. But I'm willing to wait until the Grand next August if I have to. I grew up in Ohio. Vandalia is no strange place to me.

 

[SamL]

KJB, can I sign up to be your tour guide and caddy? :shock:

-- Sam

 

[Ulysses]

The SHOT show (which I believe stands for Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade) is for people in the BUSINESS of selling outdoor merchandise. It's not for the gun buyer to go look at guns or try them out. Unless you're in the gun or outdoor business (retailer, wholesaler, distributor, etc), your chances of getting in are very slim.

Having said that, I'm sure someone will tell me they know someone who knew someone who knew a gunstore owner who invited him to attend last year, and that may be true. However, in general, it's not for the public.

Your best bet if you want a gun right away is to get in touch with a couple of the big dealers in the country such as Jaquas or others who handle used guns and see if they have a good selection of what you might be interested in. If so, I'm pretty sure they will let you try them out on their property. Fly there with your checkbook and fly home with the gun you want. Why wait til next August?

 

[mmc45414]

Just a little input on Jaquas. I recently bought an SKB from them and I think it is a great place. I live in Dayton (near the Grand, currently anyway...) so it is only about 1.5-2 hours from me.

They have a huge display on hand but they only allow you to shoot used guns. If you are looking for K or P they probably will have something close to what you are considering. The good news for you is that they have a very good listing on their www site that is automatically kept up to date by their inventory system. It periodically uploads automatically so if they take something in on trade it should hit the www soon after the transaction.

One caution for people coming from out of state. If your home state has a waiting period you cannot take delivery until after the waiting period, even though you pass the NICS quiz and Ohio has no wait. I don't think it is an issue for a CO resident but just a tip for others.

 

[Guest]

If you are that serious about buying a gun, wait until the grand next year. It's hands down the best place to buy a serious trap gun. You can find just about any P or K gun you want used at a vendor somewhere and shoot them on the practice traps with no problem. I don't know of any of the satallite grands that I have been to that have had anything even close to what the Grand offers for buying a new gun.

If you absolutely can't wait, I'd go to Jaquas. They should have just about anything you could want. Though you might not find it in a used model to test out but probably something similar. We took a day and ran up there during the grand this year and it was worth the trip. They have some very old amazingly gold engraved 10 and 8 ga side by sides that I shudder to even think what they are worth.

If you want a P gun, one huge advantage is at the Grand American, if you buy a P gun from Jaquas, Perazzi has their people there from Italy, and will fit the gun to you for no charge. They can fit and refinish your setup in less than a day. Otherwise that service comes with a large price tag.

 

[ysr_racer]

I bought a gun from Jaquas, shot it for a year and sold it locally for more than I paid.

 

[KJB]

I truly appreciate everyone' suggestions, logic, and humor (Sorry Sam, I don't golf). I guess I'll follow my grandfather's advice when he took me fishing: "Just be patient." I'll wait for the Grand. I didn't think there were any other "similar" vendors row as there is at the Grand. I am most likely going to buy a Perazzi. I had a TM1 in the mid-80s, lost interest in trapshooting, and sold it to a friend who continued shooting. (I got hooked on benchrest shooting for several years). Of course, he sold it 4 years later, but it would probably no longer fit me since back surgery, arthritis, and other medical maladies. It took me 48 years to mentally "justify" an $8000 shotgun. And now that I have justified the purchase, I can't wait. But I will. I'll just keep shooting my old trapgun (that I really don't like). Meanwhile, Ray Stafford lives only a few miles from me. I'll see what he has to say about finding the right Perazzi for me. Thanks again.

 

[coyote 270]

Hit some of the "Winter Chain" shoots, Phoenix, Vegas, Etc. And Remember that next year is the Last year for the "Grand" as we know it.