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  • Hookeye

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Dec 19, 2011
    15,039
    77
    armpit of the midwest
    Since i have magnum 870 and 1100 12 ga, my choice for a dual purpose clays and hunting gun was a 20 ga OU.

    Have had others before and like a little more trim rig. Plus I wont shoot a rabbit w a 12 ga.

    So for casual clays, dove rabbit and maybe grouse out of state, went w a 28" 20 ga.

    Shells seem to be an issue at local stores. May have to order a couple flats. Oh well.
     

    gregkl

    Outlier
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    33   0   0
    Apr 8, 2012
    11,868
    77
    Bloomington
    FWIW i did a round of trap at MCF&G.
    Never been before.
    Nice place, nice people.

    Only shot one round due to an injury a day before ( no probs but taking it easy ).

    Hope to get down and redeem myself, shot the worst ever in 20 years ( but still had fun ).
    I used to shoot Trap there every week many years ago. Usually shot 3-5 rounds. Most of the guys would shoot a round or two and then hang out in the clubhouse so I could easily rotate back into a round.

    They are good folks there. They taught me a lot. I started out at low teens scores and occasionally single digits. An old timer there took a aside, looked at my sighting and helped me correct it. The next round I shot a 21 and after that I was in the high teens, low 20's.

    Fun times, but then I moved and it is too far to drive now.
     

    thunderchicken

    Grandmaster
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    5   0   0
    Feb 26, 2010
    6,435
    113
    Indianapolis
    Plus I wont shoot a rabbit w a 12 ga.
    Why not? What you doing jump shooting them bunnies?

    Use a light, soft load an you will never have a problem using a 12 on rabbit. Been shooting rabbit with a 12g for 35 or 36 years now. Gotta let the rabbit run give them hounds a chase, put some distance between them and you
     

    Dean C.

    Master
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    2   0   0
    Aug 25, 2013
    4,428
    113
    Westfield
    Memorial day weekend I am going to the Farm and Elk Creek for sporting , heard nothing but good things about both places it should be fun.
     

    Hookeye

    Grandmaster
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    4   0   0
    Dec 19, 2011
    15,039
    77
    armpit of the midwest
    Why not? What you doing jump shooting them bunnies?

    Use a light, soft load an you will never have a problem using a 12 on rabbit. Been shooting rabbit with a 12g for 35 or 36 years now. Gotta let the rabbit run give them hounds a chase, put some distance between them and you
    Im pretty good at getting em up, and poppin em quick.
    My favorite rig was an 870 Special Field 20 ga.

    Didn't like the 12 ga version.

    Like a more trim rig and 20s just feel right to me when going after smaller critters.
     

    Hookeye

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Dec 19, 2011
    15,039
    77
    armpit of the midwest
    I used to shoot Trap there every week many years ago. Usually shot 3-5 rounds. Most of the guys would shoot a round or two and then hang out in the clubhouse so I could easily rotate back into a round.

    They are good folks there. They taught me a lot. I started out at low teens scores and occasionally single digits. An old timer there took a aside, looked at my sighting and helped me correct it. The next round I shot a 21 and after that I was in the high teens, low 20's.

    Fun times, but then I moved and it is too far to drive now.
    I can shoot trap local, but like visiting diff clubs.

    Tried my 26" magnum 1100 SP w synth stock and it was just too light ( compared to prev 30" wood stocked 1100s ).

    Shot the Citori Hunter 20 ga w 28" bbls. Its too light but if I relax it does OK.

    Its my hunting gun for upland so aint gonna be ideal for Trap.
    Of course this means I proly should buy a 30" 12 ga LOL

    Itd be a hunting model too, as thats my primary, but a little longer and heavier would be better for clays IMHO.
     
    Last edited:

    thunderchicken

    Grandmaster
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    5   0   0
    Feb 26, 2010
    6,435
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    Indianapolis
    I can shoot trap local, but like visiting diff clubs.

    Tried my 26" magnum 1100 SP w synth stock and it was just too light ( compared to prev 30" wood stocked 1100s ).

    Shot the Citori Hunter 20 ga w 28" bbls. Its too light but if I relax it does OK.

    Its my hunting gun for upland so aint gonna be ideal for Trap.
    Of course this means I proly should buy a 30" 12 ga LOL

    Itd be a hunting model too, as thats my primary, but a little longer and heavier would be better for clays IMHO.
    A trend even for skeet shooters, is longer barrels. I remember when skeeters often shot 26-28" barreled guns. For a clays gun, it seems to be that 30 -32" is very common. One exception to that is a number of trap shooters seem to prefer a 34" even more. Barrel length doesn't make much difference ballistically so it's just more a matter of personal preference and what balance an individual likes.
     

    Dean C.

    Master
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    2   0   0
    Aug 25, 2013
    4,428
    113
    Westfield
    Ruger dumped the red label line in 2011 -Then dumped their remaining parts a few years later. Nice gun but a dead horse.

    Ruger getting out of the O/U game is dissapointing , they were the ONLY affordable American made sporting shotgun on the market to my knowledge. Kolars are amazing but not very attainable to the average Joe IMHO.
     

    thunderchicken

    Grandmaster
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    5   0   0
    Feb 26, 2010
    6,435
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    Indianapolis
    Ruger getting out of the O/U game is dissapointing , they were the ONLY affordable American made sporting shotgun on the market to my knowledge. Kolars are amazing but not very attainable to the average Joe IMHO.
    Yeah I tend to agree. I have a few friends that shoot Kolars, but they cost some serious coin. Which, the guys that I know who have them shoot many many registered targets every year and go to several competitions. So, IMHO they can justify the cost of one. Most casual shooters it's hard to justify.
     

    Limpy88

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    36   0   0
    Nov 12, 2009
    991
    43
    Lafayette
    Ruger getting out of the O/U game is dissapointing , they were the ONLY affordable American made sporting shotgun on the market to my knowledge. Kolars are amazing but not very attainable to the average Joe IMHO.

    The average joe doesn't need a kolar.
    Not many ppl putting up 30k registed targets a year. Kolar, beretta DT, perazzi mx/hightech, krieghoff. Those are guns built to 30k a year for 15 years.

    Most ppl never shoot 5k of shotshell in their life. A cz or other Turkish built gun would literally out last most shooters.

    Someone who only shoot 1k a year would literally be better of spending money on a fitted wood stock than a different gun. If they want to shoot better quicker.
     

    thunderchicken

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Feb 26, 2010
    6,435
    113
    Indianapolis
    The average joe doesn't need a kolar.
    Not many ppl putting up 30k registed targets a year. Kolar, beretta DT, perazzi mx/hightech, krieghoff. Those are guns built to 30k a year for 15 years.

    Most ppl never shoot 5k of shotshell in their life. A cz or other Turkish built gun would literally out last most shooters.

    Someone who only shoot 1k a year would literally be better of spending money on a fitted wood stock than a different gun. If they want to shoot better quicker.
    Absolutely true
    However, for the average person who shoots 5k of **** shells in their life, likely would never pony up the buck for a custom made wood stock. That alone would cost as much or more than the cost of the Turkish or other lower end shotguns.

    Heck the majority who rarely shoot a shotgun, often think the cost of most Browning's or Beretta's is too much to justify. Far too many just don't understand how important gun fit is on a shotgun and making it shoot where you're looking.
     

    Hookeye

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Dec 19, 2011
    15,039
    77
    armpit of the midwest
    Ruger getting out of the O/U game is dissapointing , they were the ONLY affordable American made sporting shotgun on the market to my knowledge. Kolars are amazing but not very attainable to the average Joe IMHO.
    I found the Red Label in 12 to be a bit thumpy. Just never really felt right. Citori 12 was way more comfy, but my magnum 30" did hit higher that I liked ( growing up w Rem 1100 and 870 ).

    Do like my 20 ga Citori Hunter. Bland wood ( its gonne get dinged hunting ).
    So far it seems to shoot like i want, but havent sat down to pattern it. If i do my part clays get hammered.

    I know when im over or behind and miss, before i pull the trigger. Yet my brain says " close enough " .....when it isnt. LOL
     
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