Mezcal Charlie Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Looking at getting back into skeet and trap, I’ve shot 1100’s most of my life but am too broke down to pick up shells. Thinking of over and under for both or maybe single barrel for trap. 3 Questions: 1. Brand recommendations for a poor old cowboy under 3k for sure preferably 2k. 2. Barrel length for skeet and trap. Used to shoot 26” for skeet and 30” for trap. Help me out. 3. Gauge. Don’t even think about .410 for this cowboy but difficulty difference of 20 vs 28 gauge for skeet. Trap is 12 gauge for sure. I reload so cost of shells is not terribly important. All input is welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 For the price range you are looking at I would look at the Browning Citori CXT if you intend to shoot trap singles and doubles. If you only plan on singles then the Browning BT99 is a good choice. 32" on the CXT and 34" on the BT99. For skeet in that price range there are Browning and Beretta entry level guns. There are others but be careful of the weight. Most of the cheap O/Us (anything under $2K) are hunting guns and tend to be light in weight. A light gun shot all day long will beat you to death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Maverick Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 i shot a lot of skeet, trap and sporting clays over the past 30+ years and did it all with a Browning Citori O/U with changeable choke tubes in 12 gauge. You should be able to pick up a used one for under 3K but I haven't priced them in a long time. This one shotgun did great in all of these different shooting styles. I was the Nevada State Champion back in the 80's for skeet and the team I was on in Oklahoma when shooting trap took first so it did its job. It also shot a lot of wild birds as well and birds when running my dogs in field trials. I have had it for over 30 years and wouldn't hesitate to take it out tomorrow to hunt or shoot in any type of match. Texas Maverick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Browning Citori CX or CXS. Very similar guns. If you are 6' tall or so, you can probably handle at least 30" barrels. Got over 15,000 rounds down the tubes on mine over the last 4 years and no problems other than a top rib shot loose, which Browning fixed under warranty. Oh, and older Cheddite primers pierce on my gun, which leads to having to put a new lower firing pin in for $20 or so. So, I just run my normal Winchester or Federal primers - they are NO problem. Latest year or more of Cheddite production is RUMORED to have fixed the primer design to prevent the possibility of primer piercing in O/U guns with an angled strike firing pin. Probably the most solid and good fitting gun for most shooters right out of the box, and yet right at about $2000 or less if you cut a good deal. Made by Miroku in Japan, so the build/fit/finish is very nice. I'd shoot 12 gauge for all three sports. In fact, I have done just that. I have a cheaper model Beretta O/U, nice gun, doesn't feel thick enough in the comb area of stock, and it's at least another $1500 bump to the price tag. The Browning goes to the target fields with me. good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Put a shell catcher on your 1100. A lot cheaper than a new shotgun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 The soft recoil of the 1100 & 1187 is great. There are shell catchers that keep you from having to pick up your empties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mezcal Charlie Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 32 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said: Put a shell catcher on your 1100. A lot cheaper than a new shotgun. Ugly but cheaper! I have one on hand. My dad had a wire that fit into two holes above the ejection port. Removed easily and installed the same so no issue. I may look into doing that on my 12. Still I love 20 gauge for skeet parlay for the lighter kick but also for the cool factor. Still will never match ok sarge at the Fort Jackson Clays Club. Broke 25 every time all the time with a410 1100. Now that was style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mezcal Charlie Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 As for Browning, I have a Belgian 1955 Browning Superposed factory skeet skeet and. I couldn’t hit the ground with that thing if I dropped it. Something about the comb or sight picture that didn’t fit me. My son, he’s deadly so it’s his. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creeker, SASS #43022 Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Remington 870TC I shot ATA trap for a number of years and shot a lot of trap guns of all price points. At the end of the day - I always came back to my 870. Beautiful thing about the 870 is the EASY ability to change barrel lengths based on YOUR preference - I used a 32 inch trap full barrel - pro ported. Also plenty of factory and aftermarket stocks to get you what works for you AND aftermarket units to replace the magazine tube with a weighted piece to change recoil mitigation and swing speed. Reliable, relatively inexpensive and aftermarket support. Impossible to go wrong with the 870. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlesnake Slim Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 I'll second the Browning suggestion, CX, CXS or CXT depending on how you want the gun to shoot. Doing some research on where each one shoots will help you decide. I have bought a 30" CXS in 12ga and a 28" in 20ga in the last six months and could not be happier. I shoot trap, skeet, 5 stand, and sporting clays with both and they both shoot right where I look. I paid about $2200 for each of them, but I'm an incurable impulse buyer, so you may find them cheaper if you have more patience than I do. I've been that way ever since I started shooting trap with Pettifogger, but that's a story for another time. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barleycorn, SASS #76982 Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 I have a 1942 Model 12 “Duck Bill” Trap if you’re interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 2 hours ago, Mezcal Charlie said: I couldn’t hit the ground with that thing if I dropped it. Lots of difference between a 1955 Belgian Superposed and the 2023 Citori. The fit of a target shotgun is 80-90% of the challenge of shooting clay targets, and can be (should be) an important consideration. It's also very fixable. And if you have never done a fitting with a "try gun" you don't have the slightest clue what needs adjustment. Most factory built shotguns fit "average Joe" - 5'8" to 6' about 180-200 pounds. The farther away from that model you are, the more you probably need to have a custom fit. But I can tell you from personal experience, if you shoot an 1100 well, you will shoot a Browning Citori model real easily too. BOTH of those are built to fit average Joe. good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 You can't go wrong with a Browning. I would recommend the Citori over/under with choke tubes. It'll handle trap, skeet, sporting clays, and hunting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mezcal Charlie Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 9 hours ago, John Barleycorn, SASS #76982 said: I have a 1942 Model 12 “Duck Bill” Trap if you’re interested. Thank you but I’m a Remington man. 870 in my pump gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mezcal Charlie Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 11 hours ago, Creeker, SASS #43022 said: Remington 870TC I shot ATA trap for a number of years and shot a lot of trap guns of all price points. At the end of the day - I always came back to my 870. Beautiful thing about the 870 is the EASY ability to change barrel lengths based on YOUR preference - I used a 32 inch trap full barrel - pro ported. Also plenty of factory and aftermarket stocks to get you what works for you AND aftermarket units to replace the magazine tube with a weighted piece to change recoil mitigation and swing speed. Reliable, relatively inexpensive and aftermarket support. Impossible to go wrong with the 870. I appreciate the input and am leaning that way more and more. I’m already set up for trap with a 30” trap barrel. I shoot leftie and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 32” 1100 barrel in left. I have the skeet barrel in 26” and for me, that’s the balance I like. My 20 gauge is also left handed w 26”. It’s a “skeet” gun from the factory, nothing fancy a field grade but true skeet barrel. Both my 1100’s are from the late seventies and still work great. I may try a Citori and if I find one cheap enough I’d like a Beretta 20 or 28 gauge for upland and skeet. Anyway I never really needed much of a reason to buy guns and all recommendations are pretty so we’ll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mezcal Charlie Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 10 hours ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said: Lots of difference between a 1955 Belgian Superposed and the 2023 Citori. The fit of a target shotgun is 80-90% of the challenge of shooting clay targets, and can be (should be) an important consideration. It's also very fixable. And if you have never done a fitting with a "try gun" you don't have the slightest clue what needs adjustment. Most factory built shotguns fit "average Joe" - 5'8" to 6' about 180-200 pounds. The farther away from that model you are, the more you probably need to have a custom fit. But I can tell you from personal experience, if you shoot an 1100 well, you will shoot a Browning Citori model real easily too. BOTH of those are built to fit average Joe. good luck, GJ There is the problem, I’m 6,2” with some extra weight and long arms. Everything in life was made for 6’ and under. Except American pickups and apparently Remington shotguns. Now the world has caught up and there are clothes and shoes and theater seats that are my size. Seems only airline seats are the only thing getting smaller (I don’t fly 1st class, I spent that money on hunting and guns ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Lefties are real well served by an O/U rather than a S/A or even a pump if you shoot doubles in your games. From lots of comments from lefties I've shot with. I used to understand a devotion to a brand like Winchester, Remington or Browning. Back when they had top notch engineers/designers producing well though out guns, and craftsmen in the production building, too. Now, with Remington having changed ownership several times and moving production to a low labor cost area - little "brand loyality" is due, IMHO. Same with Winchester. And they even moved shotgun production off shore. Even more dangerous to the US future. Same with Browning. Not really a new design for the last 25 years. All built off shore. At least it's not Turkey. When investment groups are running a company rather than gun people, well, you kind of will be disappointed with the products. They loose good people and ability to create new models every time ownership changes. Quote Most factory built shotguns fit "average Joe" .... The farther away from that model you are, the more you probably need to have a custom fit. I'll say it again. You will almost certainly do better with a well made custom stock. I've shot tons of Remington 870s and 1100s. Nothing in their standard stocks that really fits your size. But, it's your choice. Live with what you can buy, or have an expert help. GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flinthills Dawg Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 I have an SKB 585 O/U that I really enjoy shooting clays with. Sold my BT 99 to buy the SKB dont regret it at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 Well, there is no reason why you can't shoot trap and skeet with a side by side. Many shooters did it for decades with no problems. But first, a detour... I was never much of a trapshooter, but when I did, I used a field grade Remington 870, and I did respectable. I could consistently hit 17-20 targets every time. Never did shoot 25 straight. If I was gonna get HEAVY into trap, I'd consider hunting high and low for a 97 Trap gun, but that's just me. My Dad was a trapshooter. He had a Winchester 101 O/U and eventually switched to some sort of a Browning single barrel. He was better than me at it. And I am still reloading his AA's. But now, back on the road I started with.... For Trap, if I was gonna go with a pump, I'd use my plain old 97, with a 30" full choke barrel. For skeet, I'd use my 20" 97, with no choke. But if I really wanted to have extra fun, I'd go with the 30" Parker F/F for trap, and the 19" Parker with no chokes for skeet. I've done trap with the aforementioned guns, and skeet with the short barrel Parker. I had a blast. And since this was generic trap/skeet and not at a Cowboy shoot, I got a LOT of curious looks at my guns. ESPECIALLY when I was the last shooter on stage 5, and snuck in a black powder shell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 Get a tool like this to pick up empties, https://www.harborfreight.com/15-lb-capacity-telescoping-magnetic-pickup-tool-64656.html Pump guns seem to kick to much for me. I've been shooting a 28ga browning O/U. If I'm on a bird I can break it a long way off, 7.5 shot at 1300fps is the same from a 12 as a 28. The 26'' guns have fallen out of favor with the skeet guys, and remember a 26" 1100 is about the same length as a 30" O/U because you have to add the length of the receiver. I use that gun for clays , skeet 5 stand and trap, it's not the gauge holding me back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mezcal Charlie Posted July 23 Author Share Posted July 23 1 hour ago, Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 said: Get a tool like this to pick up empties, https://www.harborfreight.com/15-lb-capacity-telescoping-magnetic-pickup-tool-64656.html Pump guns seem to kick to much for me. I've been shooting a 28ga browning O/U. If I'm on a bird I can break it a long way off, 7.5 shot at 1300fps is the same from a 12 as a 28. The 26'' guns have fallen out of favor with the skeet guys, and remember a 26" 1100 is about the same length as a 30" O/U because you have to add the length of the receiver. I use that gun for clays , skeet 5 stand and trap, it's not the gauge holding me back. Thanks. Will it (and this may be a dumb question but) pick up Winchester AA’s? It the magnet for the primer/primer cup of does it need high steel content in the brass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 2 minutes ago, Mezcal Charlie said: Thanks. Will it (and this may be a dumb question but) pick up Winchester AA’s? Winchester AA's are brass so it doesn't pick that up, but the primers have steel and if you get near the primer it will pick them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 As others have said, a shell catcher is a great option. I’ve used one for eons on my 1100. Great for trap, useless for skeet for obvious reasons. If you go the O/U route, check to see if it has has ejectors. The guns I’ve seen at the range have them which defeats your requirement of not picking up hulls. I’m not that familiar with O/Us, so I don’t know if ejectors are a common feature or not. Also take a look at those pickers like we use use picking brass at the cowboy range. Lots of them out there marketed to old fogies like us. Get ‘em on Amazon or at Walmart. Cheap. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=picker+upper+grabber+for+elderly&crid=25QEJZCL0I3S2&sprefix=picker%2Caps%2C131&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 8 hours ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said: The guns I’ve seen at the range have them which defeats your requirement of not picking up hulls. Just got to learn a new skill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 Takes only one round and you can catch every hull when you open your O/U. good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 For 3k, I would think that you could get a two-barrel set in a Browning or Beretta, a 26" set for skeet and a 30-32" set for trap. You would probably have to compromise on a sporting clays rear stock unless you found an adjustable rear stock. Bailey tubes for smaller gauges in skeet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vail Vigilante Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 I have a Citori CX that I use for all the non-SASS non-action shotgun games. What I would reccomend and you can still find most variations for well within your listed budget. I replaced the ejectors springs in mine with 1911 firing pin springs. They are the right length and power to lift the shells but not eject them. You can do it yourself and the springs are like 3 bucks each from Midway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mezcal Charlie Posted July 25 Author Share Posted July 25 After all the input, which I greatly appreciate, I’ll try with my beloved 1100’s I’ve been shooting since 15 (45 years with an occasional Beretta O/U for pheasant and sharptail). I’ll put a shell catcher on the Trap gun 12 ga. 30” and I’ll get one of those sticks for skeet. Again thanks to all. And if some uncle I don’t know leaves me some money, I’ll look into a 12/20 ga. barrel set for a Beretta or Browning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazy Eeyour Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 This should give you some ideas. Stocks tend to be different for skeet and trap. Scroll down for lower price items. https://www.gunsunlimitedomaha.com I've shot skeet with both auto and pump, the pump ( Browning BPS 20) is much faster. Now I use a Citori 20 OU and a Browning BT-99. Neither requires me to pick up shells. Both at the time of purchase were under 2K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 3 hours ago, Mezcal Charlie said: After all the input, which I greatly appreciate, I’ll try with my beloved 1100’s Another trick is to put a rubber band around the receiver over the ejection port, I've had better luck with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C. W. Knight # 47289L Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 Mezcal Charlie, if you decide that a Browning is the way you wish to go I have a Browning Citori Trap, that I have only used once in the last 16+ years. It has 30" ported bbls, screw in chokes that are flush with the bbls. The only modification that I made was I sent the butt stock off and had a professional installed adjustible, cheek piece. Phone photos available. And original box and paperwork. C. W. Knight , 47289L. Under $2.K shipped & delivered my ffl to yours. C-U, C.W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
"Big Boston" Posted July 27 Share Posted July 27 I had a Beretta 301, and at the time you could buy a clip that held the ejected shell in the port and you just grabbed it and put it in the bag. I'm wondering if something like that is available for the 1100. https://www.b-tactical.com/product/29763/TSSHELLCATCHERREMINGTON1100118712GAPLASTIC BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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