16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1507 Location: Western WA

Slightly OT (12 ga) but important topic: We have happily learned that our grandson is interested in continuing his High School Trap Shooting team efforts. He has been using a team BT99 to very good effect, and now wants his own gun to continue competing beyond HS. We wish to encourage his interest, and provide a gun to him, and the question is what type. The BT99 is sturdy and performs very well, and is an excellent value, but leaves out Continental. The local team here uses Tri Star TT-15s but with mixed reports on reliability. CZ has been another local team sponsor but also with uneven reports on maintenance. We would welcome any guidance and suggestions on this matter.

Also need info on cases for secure home storage - other children are in the house.

TIA
B.

Joined: 04 Nov 2019 Posts: 102 Location: Wyoming

It all comes down to budget. As you've eluded to, I would steer away from a tristar or CZ for high volume clays shooting. They are fine field guns, but when I was still clay shooting competitively I saw lots of problems with CZ and tristar.

Excuse the pun, but I would look in the used market to maximize the bang for your buck

Deals on Browning and Berettas can be had pretty regularly, and lesser known names can be had even better. I've seen some screaming deals on Miroku trap guns or even older Perazzi

There is a miroku trap on gunsinternational right now with a short stock for a hell of a price

Whatever you get, I wouldn't store in a case as that usually creates an environment for rust. A good trigger lock and a silicone impregnated slip in the corner of a closet would be my preference if a safe or cabinet were not present.

Good luck on the search. Happy to help if you can provide specific needs as well (Dimensions, interchangeable chokes, features, budget etc)

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 904

Cabelas has a salesman sample Citori Hunter 12ga in their used gun dept (you can find it by search in the used gun area at the bottom of the page, not the main search bar)

It is at a pretty good discount for a used gun, but has a couple chippies in the buttstock and some scratches that could be pretty easily fixed.

However, here is the link

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/101754678?searchTerm=101754678

Words of wisdom:

Go to a good size trapshoot .

Browse the used guns , ask to shoot a gun , go shoot 4 boxes of practice with the said shotgun , if it works , pay the price.

If he cannot shoot the gun , put it back pick up and shoot one that he simply cannot miss with.

Not all guns are created equal.

Look for a gun that he simply doesn't miss with , pay the price and everyone will be happy.

Spending money to make a gun work for you is not very smart unless you simply have deep pockets and are in love with the gun for some reason.

Regards Nick

Joined: 17 Oct 2019 Posts: 490 Location: New Jersey

Citori CX, 32”. The best bang for your buck and a hell of a lot of work to wear it out.

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1507 Location: Western WA

OK, thanks all for the well seasoned and valuable advice, much appreciated.

B.

I shoot a citori 16 ga at trap, had an adjustable comb installed, figure I will never wear it out

Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 924

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 513 Location: WI

While you can use any gun for trap, and many do, to be competitive it helps to have the right tool for the job. The BT99 is an excellent single barrel trap gun. I would suggest looking specifically for a gun built for trap. You are shooting at a rising target 100% of the time, so you'll want a gun that you can hold under the bird so you can see the target the entire time. Most trap guns are built to shoot over the point of aim, and the really good ones are adjustable.

I shoot trap with a Beretta 686 Sporting Silver Pigeon I, and it is more suited for games like Sporting Clays or perhaps Skeet than trap.

A lot of the guys who shoot very well and consistently are also using guns made specifically for trap - Browning, Krieghoff, Beretta, Perazzi, and yes there are some TriStar shooters too. Occasionally at our bigger shoots we'll have a some guys show up with Kolars and other custom built/fitted guns. They are hard to beat.

If you're willing to make the investment, I'd suggest looking for a used trap gun, and then having it fitted to your shooter. Fit will make all the difference.

My serious trap gun is a
Krieghoff 32 two barrel set

Skeettx,

My serious Trap shooting gun is a L.C. Smith Pigeon Gun with 30" Barrels, I do like your K gun however.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 21 May 2024 Posts: 93 Location: Eastern Tennessee

At one point, I considered grabbing a Remington 1100 in 16 ga and then see about working my way into an adjustable stock and an added rib. The price for results just made it difficult to justify. The weight in hand would be all out of wack I would imagine.

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1177

On your post you mention storing the gun in a case. I would recommend against doing that, especially if you are in a humid climate. A gun safe is much more secure and can be fitted with a dehumidifier such as the "Goldenrod" to prevent gathering rust. Even a cheap Harbor Freight safe would be better than a gun case.

Member Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 59 Location: N. Idaho

Hi Brewster,

I'm a little late to this conversation but will offer my input as a new trap team coach.

1. When it comes to trap guns, it is hard to beat the value of the three Bs: Browning, Beretta, Benelli. You should be able to find good quality used O/Us from $900-$2000 all day long. Though other brands can be had for less and work well, I'm not sure I myself would buy a Turkish made shotgun: YMMV.

2. The advice of going to a big local shoot and "try before you buy" is a good idea, and few if any people will balk at the request to shoot it first if you are serious.

3. You don't have to go all-out in the beginning. I have seen plenty of kids do just fine with a Rem 870, Mossberg 500, Beretta 391, Browning A5s, etc. If after using one of these they decide to get serious, an O/U is advised--and worth the investment.

4. As much as I love 16 ga, it is cost prohibitive to shoot it for trap: 12 ga is the way to go.

5. More important than the gun is the shooter. Make sure he reads up on all the literature, watches some good instructional videos, and attends a shooting clinic. Nora Ross happens to be doing a clinic at the Old Skaggit Gun Club in Burlington, WA June 28-29 and she is excellent.

6. As for case storage, Pelican's are great, but I would not keep one in there long term. You can get a reasonable small cabinet "safe" that can be mounted in a closet for ~$200. https://store.hornady.com/10-gun-welded-cabinet

And now for a shameless plug: if he is interested in any of the programs at Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho, I will be happy to welcome him to our team and supply his ammo.

Best wishes

Ken

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 904

Out on GunsInternational, there are always Brownings and Mirokus for sale at various price points. Citoris, Mirokus and even 1970's Charles Dalys are basically the same gun, all made by Miroku in Japan.

You have to be aware the earlier years had fixed chokes and of course, if they don't show them, you have to ask for pictures of the top lever to make sure that the gun is not going to need action work.

In the classifications that have lots of guns, GI has a FEATURED (cost more to advertise, is YELLOW on my PC) grouping and the rest, so keep paging

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/miroku-shotguns.c801_p1_o6.cfm

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/browning-shotguns-citori.c603_p1_o3.cfm

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/charles-daly-shotguns-miroku.c1741_p1_o6.cfm