Skeet gun?

[+.com (A.Lee)]

Having realised that I am absolutely crap at Sporting,I'm sticking
mainly to skeet now, where I hit more than I miss.

I've promised myself a new gun when I get a straight 50 (so, it could be
some time in the future then!)

What do I look for in a skeet specific gun?

I'd like 20 bore, so that puts some limit on the choice.
Any pointers would be appreciated, then I can start touching up a few
guns to see how they feel.
Thanks
Alan.

[Larry Armitstead]

Post by +.com (A.Lee)
Having realised that I am absolutely crap at Sporting,I'm sticking
mainly to skeet now, where I hit more than I miss.
I've promised myself a new gun when I get a straight 50 (so, it could be
some time in the future then!)
What do I look for in a skeet specific gun?
I'd like 20 bore, so that puts some limit on the choice.
Any pointers would be appreciated, then I can start touching up a few
guns to see how they feel.
Thanks
Alan.

I think you may find the 20 bore puts a limit on your scores. No one
shoots 20 bores at competitive level at skeet. there are some weird &
wonderfuls who use .410s though :-)
If you have a recoil problem go down the semi auto route. As used by
many a champion. Then go for short barrel 28" or less, (though the 30"
is coming back again) skeet choke and 28gram of No9!! (or 24gm for the
Olympic masochists!) Use a cartridge with soft shot (low antimony) and
fibre wads for plenty of fliers ie bigger pattern at the short distance
you will be hitting the clays.

Have fun!
Larry A

[+.com (A.Lee)]

Post by Larry Armitstead

Post by +.com (A.Lee)
Having realised that I am absolutely crap at Sporting,I'm sticking
mainly to skeet now, where I hit more than I miss.
I've promised myself a new gun when I get a straight 50 (so, it could be
some time in the future then!)
What do I look for in a skeet specific gun?
I'd like 20 bore, so that puts some limit on the choice.
Any pointers would be appreciated, then I can start touching up a few
guns to see how they feel.

I think you may find the 20 bore puts a limit on your scores. No one
shoots 20 bores at competitive level at skeet. there are some weird &
wonderfuls who use .410s though :-)

I shoot 20b now, and I'm disappointed when I score 21/25, though my best
is still 23/25.
I was talking to a skeet shooter on Sunday (Ron Foster), and he swears
by 20b, he has a heavy 12b gun, with sleeves in it, just so he can shoot
20b with a heavy gun.He also has sleeves for the smaller guages.
He was telling me that the pattern at the 10 - 25yds skeet range is far
better with a 20b than a 12b.
I'd have said the opposite, with the extra 4g load in a 12b.(I fire 24g
in mine, and find it is the sweetest gun to fire), but hey, I know
nothing!

Post by Larry Armitstead
If you have a recoil problem go down the semi auto route.

No problem with recoil at all, I've got big shoulders, so recoil never
came into it when buying my present gun, I just wanted a smallbore gun.

Post by Larry Armitstead
Then go for short barrel 28" or less, (though the 30"
is coming back again) skeet choke and 28gram of No9!! (or 24gm for the
Olympic masochists!) Use a cartridge with soft shot (low antimony) and
fibre wads for plenty of fliers ie bigger pattern at the short distance
you will be hitting the clays.

I was thinking more of stock shape, should the stock be higher on a
skeet gun?
Alan.

[Kemen]

Alan

You dont need a skeet gun to shoot skeet. Most skeet shooters shoot
sporting guns, 30" and even 32", most use 12b and those that use other
gauges do so because they shoot NSSA skeet. Some use 20b for the 12b
even because its enough.

If you think about shooting at Kibworth, you will come across some of
the best skeet shooters in the County and many top shots from the
surrounding counties also pop in. The County champion and runner up
shot 32" Krieghoffs, both primarily sporting shooters.

Dont bother with 28" guns, 9 shot is fine, 24g cartridges give great
patterns so no problem with that. There is no substitute for shooting
the targets, numbers, learning the tricks of the trade, hold points,
where to shoot each target etc. Also if you want to put good scores
in, yu may need to try to shoot in a vest and not the tweed jacket as
that may cause you to mismount.

Most people at Kibworth will offer you advice if they have the time.

Forget skeet specific guns! Get one decent sporting gun, shoot skeet
and your sporting will improve too! Dont give up anydiscipline based
on results, just on lack of enjoyment, all things can be fixed!

Dave C is a decent skeet shot, if you do the NG shoot raise it again
and I'm sure he will have a different viewpoint to help too.







. NASSA sIf you want to shoot skeet do as skeet shooters do! Stick to
an ordinary sporting gun,

[David Christensen]

*Date:* 23 Jan 2006 14:01:37 -0800
Alan
You dont need a skeet gun to shoot skeet. Most skeet shooters shoot
sporting guns, 30" and even 32", most use 12b and those that use other
gauges do so because they shoot NSSA skeet. Some use 20b for the 12b
even because its enough.

....

Dave C is a decent skeet shot, if you do the NG shoot raise it again
and I'm sure he will have a different viewpoint to help too.

Oh, you flatter me [assuming you mean me)! I'm only B class (although
climbing), I just got lucky and shot my first ever 25 straight on the
first NG shoot :)

However, to put my tuppence worth in, there are three things that matter
with skeet shooting, in increasing order of importance:

3) Decent chokes and ammo; I use Rhinos and Hull Pro 1 9s. Not as
important as:

2) The big leap in my scores (from 19-21 up to 23-25) came when a referee
at Lakenheath pointed that I had things half right: for the first bird, I
would address the kill point, wind back towards the trap, and call the
bird. For the second bird, I would just call pull. As soon as I took his
advice and decided where my kill point was for *both* birds and addressed
it properly, my scores leapt. For pairs, you have less time on the second
bird, so be set up to kill that one; you can more afford to be out of
position on the first one. Having said that, remember to be aggressive on
the pairs [particularly on stand 4] and get the first bird early.

1) Most important: believe yourself. If you're shooting 21-23, then
unless there is a particular bird you always miss, you can hit every
target there is on skeet. Try a round where you don't consciously think
about pulling the trigger. DO NOT THINK ABOUT LEAD. Your mind knows
better than you do; believe it. Relax, call pull, and see when your
finger twitches. Under no circumstances "make sure" of a kill.
Particularly on doubles on 6; you *will* hit the high bird unless you
think about it!

Also, think about (and practice) the 25th shot. The last thing you want
when you've got the first 24 is any doubt about whether to call high or
low. Personally I go for low house because you just have to shoot it; the
thinking time on the high house can make you miss it...

DC

ps. I use a Browning 525 32" 12b for skeet; I thought I would keep my old
30" for skeet until I started outperforming the 30" with the 32"...

[Kemen]

Forgot to say what gun if you really want a 20b.

Krieghoff K-20, lovely gun to shoot.

[+.com (A.Lee)]

Post by Kemen
Forgot to say what gun if you really want a 20b.
Krieghoff K-20, lovely gun to shoot.

Hmm, £9000.
I think that will have to wait until the lottery win!
I was thinking of £1500.
Silver Pigeon is in that range, as are a few others.
Alan.

[Kemen]

If youre at Kibworth on Saturday and youre not otherwise occupied have
a round with me or us (depending on whos up there!) and one of us might
see something that could help?

[Kemen]

DC - Todd Bender is back in March - just in case you were interested

[David Christensen]

*Date:* 24 Jan 2006 13:24:01 -0800
DC - Todd Bender is back in March - just in case you were interested

Thanks. I've had 6 weeks off shooting for family reasons; by March I
*might* be able to hit things again I hope :) Where's he going to be?

DC

[Kemen]

I understand that he will be at Northampton and I believe he also goes
to Lakenheath, do you have to do funny things to email addresses on
here? Hmmm in that case try contacting R O N 'dot' F O S T E R 'at'
that well known telephone company INTERNET 'dot' COM for further
details and dates

[+.com (A.Lee)]

Post by Kemen
You dont need a skeet gun to shoot skeet. Most skeet shooters shoot
sporting guns, 30" and even 32", most use 12b and those that use other
gauges do so because they shoot NSSA skeet. Some use 20b for the 12b
even because its enough.

The bloke at Melbourne Guns says the same, though he didnt mention
barrel length - any gun is a skeet gun so long as you can fit open
chokes in it. The bloke at Richards in Coalville was trying to sell me a
Miroku 12b.It had vey short barrels, 25" I think.He said it was a skeet
gun, as the shorter barrels cause a quicker shot spread.Hmm, not sure
about that.

Post by Kemen
If you think about shooting at Kibworth, you will come across some of
the best skeet shooters in the County and many top shots from the
surrounding counties also pop in. The County champion and runner up
shot 32" Krieghoffs, both primarily sporting shooters.
Dont bother with 28" guns, 9 shot is fine, 24g cartridges give great
patterns so no problem with that. There is no substitute for shooting
the targets, numbers, learning the tricks of the trade, hold points,
where to shoot each target etc.

What is the advantage in a longer barrel then?

Post by Kemen
Also if you want to put good scores
in, yu may need to try to shoot in a vest and not the tweed jacket as
that may cause you to mismount.

Yes, but it has been bloody cold recently!

Post by Kemen
Forget skeet specific guns! Get one decent sporting gun, shoot skeet
and your sporting will improve too! Dont give up anydiscipline based
on results, just on lack of enjoyment, all things can be fixed!

Well, I'm not giving up on sporting, but after my abysmal score 2 weeks
ago, it depressed me so much that I said afterwards I'd never do it
again! I think I have a problem with being consistent - the hardest
stand, a fast going away overhead, and a mini going up and down in a big
curve, I hit both with the first shots, then only got 1 other from the
other 6 shots - there is no reason I can see how I did that, but I
havent been shooting very long, and have a rather crap technique.
Thanks
Alan.