NEWBIE DESPERATELY SEEKING ADVICE

Howdy,
welcome to the forums! I'll try to answer your questions, but I'm no expert so some of the others can correct my mistakes

The remington 1100 is an awesome gun, and that 28 inch barrel is great for trap. Some Trap shooters prefer 30 inch or 32 inch barrels, because of the longer sight plain, but 28 inch will be no problem at all. My gun is synthetic stock as well, and I never get strange looks out there. I have seen a couple other shooters using black synthetic stocks, and its a nice change to see some black from all the wood.

For around $250, I would highly recommend the Remington 870 or a Mossberg 500. Right now, on the big 5 weekly ad, they have the mossberg 500 with a 28 inch barrel, with a vent rib, for only $219. This is an awesome gun, and a great buy, normally goes for around $289. I am not sure if this also comes with the 18 1/2 inch barrel, but when I bought myn a couple months ago, it came with the 28 inch barrel and the 18 1/2 inch barrel, for only $219. See if you have a Big 5 Sporting goods in your area.
The remington 870 is also a great buy, but I am not sure if all of them have vent ribs, I have seen some that I have not, maybe they were older models though. In trap, a vent rib is great because it tends to make the shoot go higher, since when a bird comes out of the house, it is always on a vertical path.

About gun placement, I am not sure if that is normal. Maybe on of the experts can chime in proper mounting of the gun.
One of the best things you can have done to your gun, is have it fitted. Having the gun fit proper is a great way to spend your money IMO, although I haven't afforded to have this done myself lol.
Remember, its 5% equipment, 95% shooter.

Hope this helps and I didn't give you any bad advice!

Hi ya newtrapbabe,
Just my views as a newbie too:

Remington 1100 - no problem! So many people use 1100's of different styles at my club that it's not even funny. The 1100 is a great gun, super reliable, and should work quite well for all clay sports, especially for us newbies... :wink:

As far as shoulder pain, yes, me too at first. My first two weekends out I shot 50 shells on each Saturday, and my arm was a little sore for a number of days afterward each time. Since then I've shot at least another 250 shells (50 each time to the field) and the pain is no-more. Just as XT Babe says, it'll just take those muscles a little gettin' used to your new hobby - in no time this will be a memory of the past... 8)

I might recommend a book I've purchased recently that is truly AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE. Really provides the newbie with a TON of excellent written info, including a full section called "Fitness and conditioning". Details exercises with your firearm and weights to help improve strength. it's called "The complete book of shotgunning games" by Tom Migdaldalski, and I swear everybody should have this book! Bought mine from Amazon - here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 36-0389650

In addition to this, another excellent newbies book that I've also purchased is "The Gun Digest Book of Trap and Skeet Shooting" by Chris Christian, and here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=books

I highly recommend both!

Newtrapbabe,

I would have some (competent) person check a couple of things -

1. have you had your eye dominance checked ? Most women are cross dominant, and that may be the issue with mounting,
(If you are cross dominant, and you are early in your shooting career, I'd suggest that you try shooting off the dominant side -it will feel weird at first but you will do better in the long run.

2. then have them check the fit of the gun to you,

As suggested above there are some easy (and relatvely inexpensive) solutions that will work while you develop as a shooter.

Roger

(one the fat old semi-retired farts at the range)

My company barters Remington 1100 shotguns from a company that tricks them out, and you might find some of this information helpful.

First, about the black stock. These stocks can be painted and decorated, and a competent air brusher, like somebody that works on motorcycles, can make that stock into a piece of art. Even just painting them a solid color looks fabulous. At the US Open about 15 per cent of stocks were painted last year.

Secondly, Jack West makes a synthetic adjustable stock for trap for the 1100. It is pricey, at about $200, but it will give you the necessary adjustments for trap shooting so that the butt is not so high in your shoulder. We have tested the product at it is quite EXCELLENT. There is a plate in the top of the butt stock that goes up and down and sideways. Very slick...well made.

Thirdly, if you want to spend like $300, you can get a custom butt stock for your 1100 from Wenig, and get the New American stock for women. This stock has a parallel comb with a 3 inch drop, and a 13.5 length of pull. Fabulous stock.

Fourthly, be aware that, as SCG has pointed out, that the 1100 shoot fairly flat. In other words, if you aim at a target, about 50 per cent of the shot will be above the target and 50% below. However, the trap people like a gun that shoots high because the clay is always rising. Just think like a trap shooter likes to shoot at the clay, but his gun is actually shooting high from three to six inches (approximations). What you can do is to install a higher center bead on the rib, and if you do that, then there are butt stock considerations to take into account. I recommend Keith Anderson for rib work of this type. This idea might fit with the Jack West adjustable stock.

I personally do not recommend pumps in 12 ga for women shooters. These guns are just too brutal, as concerns recoil for repetitive shooting. Especially for new shooters where you practice a lot. However, Knoxx makes a recoil reduction unit, and sometimes you can get these as low as $60 on www.cheaperthandirt and they reduce recoil by 60%. You have to watch for a little cheek slap, but you will adjust to that, i.e., you will figure out hot to properly put your face on the stock. Again, we have tested this product, and it is excellent. What is interesting about this product is that it comes in both a 13.5 length of pull and a 14.5 length of pull. You can purchase used Mossberg pumps and used Remington pumps very inexpensively used, or, new, for that matter, and the Knoxx unit will fit them all.

You already have your shotgun, but for your friend I think it is important not to rush into gun ownership and take the time to try guns. SCG was making the point about a 1100 feeling heavy to her compared to her Browning. All of these guns fit differently, and it is important to consider how the gun fits you....although Remington's do fit women well. There is the issue of a trap specific gun, or shell deflectors on the gun so that shells don't eject all the way to the adjacent shooter.

This is my personal opinion about stocks for women. Many women (not all) have longer necks than men. However, the big difference (almost universally) is that women's shoulders slope more than men. What do I mean by slope? Look in a mirror, and move your shoulders towards your ears so that they are more flat...a man's shoulders are more like that.

Women at our gun club have the worst fitting guns in the world and most of them have their neck sqinched over the butt stock...few shoot with a heads up position...even one of the champions in trap on our website squinches over the stock...it has to be terribly uncomfortable.

The answer is to give yourself about a 3 inch drop to heel. However, when you do that, the pitch of the stock, from the receiver, is sharp so the butt stock comes up and back and cheek slaps you, if you have a 13.5 (short) stock, which is what fits many women.

So what's the answer? Wenig has the answer with the New American stock of a drop to heel of 3 inches combined with a parallel comb so that the stock recoils straight back...no cheek slap. If you call Fred at Wenigs he might be able to give you a client in your neck-of-the-woods who has such a stock that you could try.

A Wenig stock, finished, is about $300 I think. However, you could get a lower grade of wood, which is stronger and more dense (absorbs more recoil), put the finishing sanding on it and paint the stock a fancy color, and then just paint your forend to match...$150?...ask Fred at Wenig...I am unsure.

The cheapest way to to get a adj cheek peice (comb) or a adj butt pad like pictured either or, or both if you want.



This happens to be a 1100 left hand trap.

You could also look for a used trap stock to help with the neck problems. Like this one at gunbroker.com :wink:

http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=10058962

If I remember the gun was in the $600's with reserve not met. I think it would be cheaper for her to work with the gun she has.

So going the cheapest and easiest route.

From what I have found is that wood does seem to soak up some of the felt recoil. I had a chance at the range last weekend to shoot my friends 391/w wood stock and another guys 391/w syn. To me the wood seemed to shoot softer. I dunno if it had more flex or give or a fluke with the guns. Both were the same 28" imp mod field guns with the exception of the stock.

When I go looking at gunshows I usually see a fair share of stocks for remington shotguns. Most are for 870's but I have seem Monte Carlo trap stocks for the 11-87 and the 1100. Usually in the $75-$150 range depending on condition(and if they have the matching forend).

So if she was to get a new (used) MC stock, then the adj butt pad she could do it for under $200. Cheaper if she wanted to put some time and elbow grease in to clean up of a scratched and dinged used stock. I would think it would be easier to cut down a wood stock as compared to a syn. also.

Even if she used her syn forend like you said she could send them out to get painted to match and from the looks it would look great.