Sporting Clay addictions got ahold of me!

I went to Colorado Clays today about 1:00 this afternoon with my buddy TTKHUNTER ( Tim) and I shot his Browning Pump 20 Ga. I improved my score from the fun shoot a few weeks ago. I'm still not where I want to be but at least I more than doubled my best score. That tells me I must of listened to some of the advice I got from you guys last time out. Thanks Tim and Brian for a few pointers. I'll be shopping for a new Shotgun soon but I'm not to certain what to look for yet. Maybe a nice over and under or an Automatic. I can't seem to break clays with my little 20 ga. SxS I think I want some weight to swing and barrel lenght to reach out there. :cool:

very cool
hooked like crack. :mrgreen:

little SxS's are whippy, and your mind tends to make them stop. They are very good at point adn shoot, but not so good at swinging.

Have you patterned it?
do you know where it's hitting?

this is good stuff.

me, I'd go 12ga just to get some more pellets in the air.
O/U's are just easier to swing, the weight is better balanced.
That said, beretta semi-autos are fine guns.

But, picking up shells from a semi or a pump blows, way easier from a O/U or a SxS.

Check out GunSport Colorado in boulder
he has a bunch of O/U's and SxS (I drool a lot), many used and his prices are pretty fair.

You can attach weight out on the end of your barrels (beyond the forearm) on your SxS to help your swing.

Good Info Brian! I'll try to check out Gun Sport Colorado next week. I have a job running up there on So. Boulder Rd. & Table Mesa. Do you have their address? You know I've never patterened the SxS yet, I need to do that. Your right about it being a whippy point and shoot type gun. That's why I can clean up on Quail most of the time. The shots are quick and close. It's pretty lucky for me to hit a high flying cross over dove. And you can forget killing a Pheasant passed 45 - 50 yards with that thing unless it's a perfect dead on shot. So anyway the next time I go shoot sporting clay, I just might have the right gun for a change. Thanks Brian and we'll have to get another shoot going before too long, That was fun. I'll need another fix before I know it . See ya, Larry :cool:

Gunsport is right at 14th and Arapahoe. (just north of arapahoe)
go north on Broadway past the school, turn right (east) on Arapahoe, make a pretty quick left on 14th and it's right there.
Bring change for parking.
I think they are closed on Mondays.
Tell Ross I sent you.
It's a good store, plus he can bring in anything you want.
Last time I was there, he had a Rizzini O/U with an english grip. (straight stock), very neat.

Brian Thanks for the directions. I just noticed our number of post counts match. Great minds think at the same post rate. lol ! But then again at this rate you'll probably stay 1 step ahead of me!!!! Got to RUN! http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...ad/jokerun.gif

oh man
just got back from Colo Clays
I shot awesome today
a 67 on teh first round.
I wanted to quit and go home on that high, but the wife wouldn't let me, we had to shoot another one. So of course, I did worse. :roll:
still, got a 63, i'm pretty happy with that.

I understand the addiction. I shot for the first time a couple of days ago and it was a blast. There's something so much more satisfying hitting a moving clay bird then just making a hole on a stationary target. What would you guys suggest for a good clay shooting shotgun? Where would be a good place to buy a new or a used one cheap?

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Originally Posted by Han not-so-solo

I understand the addiction. I shot for the first time a couple of days ago and it was a blast. There's something so much more satisfying hitting a moving clay bird then just making a hole on a stationary target. What would you guys suggest for a good clay shooting shotgun? Where would be a good place to buy a new or a used one cheap?

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What's your price range?
righty or a lefty?
semi, pump, SxS or O/U?
Where are you living (don't want you running all over dodge to a good shop)

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Originally Posted by JohnTRourke

[
What's your price range?
righty or a lefty?
semi, pump, SxS or O/U?
Where are you living (don't want you running all over dodge to a good shop)

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No more then 300.
Left.
Pump. Single.
Littleton.

Looks like the Remington 870 would be a good choice. I went up to the Firing Line to check it out. I if decide on that one they have it for 260. Thats with the 30 dollar rebate. Will I be able to find it significantly cheaper used?

I mean used somewhere else. They had a used one as well but buying the new one would have only been about 400 more.

Remington 870 Wingmaster
26 or 28" barrels
interchangeable chokes if you can find it.

You should be able to find a really nice used one in that price range.
A used wingmaster is a better value than a new express.

Ross at GunSport in Boulder has a lot of used guns, tell him I sent you (i'm there way too often), he can point you in the right direction.

But really there should be tons of used wingmasters out there.

I didn't like the shiny coating on the wingmaster. What would make that gun a better value?

The WM is much better built gun (esp the older ones). Better parts, better put together, higher end steel, better receiver. the express is as cheap as it gets. They work, but for the same money you can get a WM.

What other brands should I look at?

For a pump gun in your price range? None.

Yep, exactly what Tom said
the 870 is the best pump out there and in your price range, that's it.

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Originally Posted by JohnTRourke

Yep, exactly what Tom said
the 870 is the best pump out there and in your price range, that's it.

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Thanks for the info guys.

I am pretty much sold on the 870, however Shootin Shop South had a Mossberg 500 used for 175. Is that a good price?

I have both an 870 and a 500 personaly I like the 500 better $175 is a good price depending on what it comes with. For sporting clays you really need a O/U, SxS or auto.

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Originally Posted by HunterCO

I have both an 870 and a 500 personaly I like the 500 better $175 is a good price depending on what it comes with. For sporting clays you really need a O/U, SxS or auto.

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Well, that costs more and I already spent too much on the gun that led me to these boards. (Bushmaster 16" M4 A3 Carbine) So I have to go cheap on the shootgun.

The Mossberg they have at Shootin Shop South has a choke on the end that you twist to change. Is that an older gun? It looks like a big round plug on the end when you sight down the barrel.

sounds like the select-a-choke (If I'm not mistaken,.... my dad had one.)
they're ok. The nice thing about the 500 is that you can swap out the bbl pretty quick.

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Originally Posted by 7idl

sounds like the select-a-choke (If I'm not mistaken,.... my dad had one.)
they're ok. The nice thing about the 500 is that you can swap out the bbl pretty quick.

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Your dad had one? Just how old is this model? Not sure what I will do yet. The Firing Line has an 88 for 100 bucks.

the model 500 has been around for ages... ask Karl or Marlin :twisted:






the select-a-choke ? ummmm 20-25 years ?

they aren't that bad.. you just cant run steel shot through 'em, IIRC.

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Originally Posted by 7idl

the select-a-choke ? ummmm 20-25 years ?

they aren't that bad.. you just cant run steel shot through 'em, IIRC.

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Thanks. I figured it was older as I didn't see that select-a-choke on any of the pictures online of the 500.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Han not-so-solo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HunterCO

I have both an 870 and a 500 personaly I like the 500 better $175 is a good price depending on what it comes with. For sporting clays you really need a O/U, SxS or auto.

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Well, that costs more and I already spent too much on the gun that led me to these boards. (Bushmaster 16" M4 A3 Carbine) So I have to go cheap on the shootgun.

The Mossberg they have at Shootin Shop South has a choke on the end that you twist to change. Is that an older gun? It looks like a big round plug on the end when you sight down the barrel.

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Buy it and start shooting there are many adjustable chokes out there. You are on a budget so buy it and get into the sport you can always upgrade later.

The first time I shot sporting clays was with my 870 and I did not do to bad. If that is all you can afford at this point do it and have fun that is what this sport is all about.