Re: Recommend a skeet gun
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You do not "need" a 12 gauge. A 20's pattern with 7/8 oz loads is plenty dense enough for a skeet target.
Back in the day I shot the 410 most of the time. That will hone your skills on lead and follow-through. Half an ounce of shot with a full choke makes things interesting. </div></div>
Sorry but I am not buying that. You can buy a light load 12 gauge with 1-1/8 oz. of shot(I load them myself). That is 1/4 oz. more than your 20 gauge. Almost 1/3 more shot. And for a beginner that is a lot of shot. And the trick to keeping a beginner in the game is to bust birds. Not to worry about shooting with sub-gauges.
Just because you can shoot with a .410 does not make it a good beginners gauge choice.
And if she is buying her shells instead of rolling her own then the 12 gauge light loads will also be cheaper to buy. Although I will admit nothing in shotgun shooting is cheap to buy anymore. Even the price of shot has went nuts. But she can still buy and shoot the cheaper Wally World shells. You can't get those in a 20 gauge. And the price of .410's?? No way. Tom. </div></div>
Dude you are out of touch with the times. 7/8 oz 12 gauge loads are common these days.
Where exactly did I recommend a 410 for a starter gun? Exactly NO WHERE. The point is, a 20 is plenty of pattern for one with a Skeet choke. Wal Mart ammo for the 20 is plentiful and suitable for the task at hand. </div></div>
First of all, you are right. I am definitely out of touch with the times.
But I will admit that I like it that way.
Maybe you can buy 7/8 oz. 12 gauge loads?? But why would you?? Definitely for a beginner the 1-1/8 oz. loads are better?? Can you deny that?? And recoil will be negligible if you stay with the lighter charge. They may be a tad bit slower-no doubt about that. But speed is not necessary for a beginning shooter?? So I do not understand your point. But I am out of touch. Are the 20 gauge loads at Wally World as cheap as the cheaper 12 gauge light loads??
You did not directly recommend the .410. That is true. And I apologize if I made a mistake there.
All I know is this. Until I injured my leg we shot alot of competitive skeet shooting. And I have not met a person yet on the skeet range that does not want every advantage he or she can get. The rules allow for 1-1/8 oz of shot. And I have ever met a single shooter who would handicap himself by loading his own shells with 7/8 oz. of shot. Why would you do that??
If you want to shoot sub gauges. Then by all means go ahead and do it. But lowering a 12 gauge to 7/8 oz. makes no sense to me. Unless you just can not afford the extra shot??
I am a fair shooter at Skeet. I usually score from 95-98 in most competitions. I have shot some 100's, but I am not a 100 shooter like a couple friends I have.
All I know is this. We take our wives and kids to the shoot with us. We are a family oriented club. And the best way to keep the ladies and kids shooting is when they can hit and break the targets. It realy is that simple. Since there is limited noticable recoil between an X-tra light 1-1/8 oz. 12 gauge load and most 20 gauge loads then why would you limit the beginner shooters ability to bust birds with less shot?? Sorry, but I just do not follow that logic. Especially when the better shells are cheaper?? Tom.