Shotgunnin' - Man, I'm lovin' this stuff!

[allingeneral]

I shot some trap again today at Northern Virginia Gun Club off of Route 218 near Fredericksburg. It's always a fun time - and now I have a key to the trap house and can set it up anytime. The trap machine can be set to three modes - straight, oscillating and wobbling. We used the voice-activated system today - set up a speaker at each station and it throws when it hears you yell. It's pretty neat.

If anyone wants to shoot some trap, let me know and I can set something up. I'm not sure if I have access to the high/low (skeet) houses or not. Will check that on Saturday.

[OakRidgeStars]

PULL!!

Sounds like a lot of fun, Rick

[Student12]

I would like to do that. Admittedly never have but am an easy learn. How hard is it to join the Northern Virginia Gun Club?
Thanks

[allingeneral]

I would like to do that. Admittedly never have but am an easy learn. How hard is it to join the Northern Virginia Gun Club?
Thanks

It's not hard at all. Here's the application that explains everything.

http://www.northernvirginiagunclub.org/ ... VGCAPP.pdf

I'm happy to show you around the place sometime if you're thinking about joining.

[Jakeiscrazy]

I tried some skeet up in Blacksburg a few weeks ago. It was a lot of fun, plus my dad liked it and it isn't much for shooting. Although to anyone wondering, go ahead and buy the skeet thrower machine. The hand throwers are way harder than they look!

[gunderwood]

We used the voice-activated system today - set up a speaker at each station and it throws when it hears you yell. It's pretty neat.

Hmm...that could be an issue. Pull! Bang...miss...<insert obsencity>...second bird flies! JK.

What are you shooting clays with?

[Unkn0wN]

I tried Trap (we did the wobble) this past Sunday at Lafayette Gun Club. It was a blast! (pun intended).

I was using one of my father-in-law's shotguns. It was so awesome, that I actually am starting to look around for a decent shotgun to dedicate to just that!

[allingeneral]

We used the voice-activated system today - set up a speaker at each station and it throws when it hears you yell. It's pretty neat.

Hmm...that could be an issue. Pull! Bang...miss...<insert obsencity>...second bird flies! JK.

Haha - yep! That's exactly how it works! lol

What are you shooting clays with?

My old Remington 870 SuperMag 28" barrel with a full choke (I think)...I need to buy a modified or skeet choke for it - the full is what it came with from the yard sale

[Jakeiscrazy]

This is kinda of off topic. My father is looking for a gun that can serve both skeet and HD roles for less than $300. I think he is looking for a ghost. Then again I no little about shotguns and even less about skeet. So what are yall's thoughts?

[allingeneral]

Depends how serious he wants to be at the skeet field. A lot of people use 870's for both purposes. If he gets one with a threaded barrel and a choke for skeet, he might want to get a different barrel (shorter and without a choke) for HD purposes using 00 Buck.

Then, there's the flip side of the coin...how serious does he want to be about the HD aspect of the gun? I guess it really all breaks down like this:

HD - Shorter barrel, no choke, 00 Buck (wide open pattern for 00 Buck close-in defense)

Skeet - Longer barrel, possibly choked, 7.5 shot (tighter pattern for skeet)

So, it's a trade-off between the two needs, specifically related to the barrel length and shot pattern.

[gunderwood]

Most HD shotguns are 18-20" barrels with no choke. Not conducive to skeet at all. Swapping out barrels isn't hard on most designs. You may have compatibility issues with the mag tube though.

Without switching the barrel, it is a ghost IMHO. A barrel switch could be your answer, but spare barrels/chokes aren't free and you might be better served just buying two guns. That being said, I have shot skeet with a Mossberg 590 just to try it. Didn't work too well as you would imagine. The patterns became so big it was possible to miss the target with a well aimed shot (distance between pellets became larger than the clay).

[Jakeiscrazy]

I did think about the idea of switching between barrels and maybe that would be possible. He was looking at a Pardner Pump with a "28in Modified Choke at little less than $200. I can put in a 18.5in 870 barrel, mount a flashlight, and have one of those removable shotshell holders that slips onto the stock.

[chfaunce]

This is kinda of off topic. My father is looking for a gun that can serve both skeet and HD roles for less than $300. I think he is looking for a ghost. Then again I no little about shotguns and even less about skeet. So what are yall's thoughts?

Got my Remington 870 Express Magnum for $250 - included 2 barrels - 20" open choke w/ iron sights and what I think is a 28" (not sure - haven't really measured it - might be 26") barrel (bead sight) with a modified choke that I use at Bull Run for sporting clay. Bought it on consignment at Gilbert's - it's been a great gun. So, finding something for under $300 probably isn't that much of a ghost. New for under $300, perhaps. Otherwise, no. I think it's just a matter of patience and keeping an eye out.

[Jakeiscrazy]

Hmmm, that might be something to look out for, I just found out the Pardner is Made in China, that's a big downside IMO.

[jrswanson1]

Hmmm, that might be something to look out for, I just found out the Pardner is Made in China, that's a big downside IMO.

That was the only problem I had with that shotgun. It does work as advertised, it's built like an 870 but uses Winchokes. If where it's built is not something you care about, this is a great shotgun.

Jim