Trap with a 20 gauge gun

[wch]

i am joining a sportsmans club that has extensive trap and skeet ranges; i know that i can shoot skeet with a 20; can i shoot trap also/?
(i'm not sure whether or not i can shoot in a registered match with my 20 gauge gun.)

[olddrum1]

Sure you can shoot trap with a twenty. Will you be as competative, probably not. Will you enjoy it, yes. Let me know if you run twentyfive.

[the rifleer]

its just skill. You're going to do fine with a 20 gauge. if you have a good feel for the gun and practice a lot, you'd hit everything that you would have with a 12 gauge.

[zippy13]

In some circles, using a 20-ga in ATA trap, while legal, might be considered blatant sandbagging*.
*For those young and innocent shooters, sandbagging is purposefully not shooting your best score in relatively unimportant matches so your book averages will be below your ability. This is done to be classified in a lower class or shorter yardage. When you go to a bigger match, being in a lower class gives you a greater chance of winning class-based prize money.

Those of us in AA-Class frequently feel a little cheated when a 100-straight earns you less money than a B-class shooter who shots a 98. It's because the prize is usually determined by the number of shooters in a class and there are more B shooters. You can understand, if a shooter had been using a 20-ga all season and switched to a 12-ga to win lower class prize money, some folks would cast an eye of suspicion his way.

[oneounceload]

Trap singles from the 16yard line pose no handicap at all with a 20. Shoot your basic 7/8 oz load at 1200 fps and you'll be fine. Even handicap trap from further back shouldn't be an issue. International trap only allows a 12 to have ~7/8 oz load anyway.

Have fun!

[BigJimP]

Sure you can shoot a 20ga..

I have a buddy that shoots Trap - and all he uses in his 12ga loads is 7/8 oz of shot ...

[wch]

[B]Hi, Zippy,
Well, to be honest, I didn't even know that you could win money shooting trap, and I'm not going to "sandbag" anybody; I have always shot the best score I could, regardless of whether it was rifle or pistol, or, now, shotgun.

Thanks for the "heads up", though; if I think anyone is leaning that way(sandbagging), I'll do my best to assure him otherwise.

WCH

/B]

[zippy13]

WCH,

I just wanted to give you a look at the big picture and make you aware of a possible scenario you might have never considered. Otherwise, have a great time with your 20-ga.

In Skeet, I know a lot of folks who prefer to use a 20-ga in the 12-ga events and no one gives it a second thought (competitive trap and Skeet are different worlds). With a 20-ga you can compete NSSA Skeet in 12-ga, 20-ga and Doubles.

[oneounceload]

And to add to Zippy's skeet comments - folks to shoot 20's in 12 gauge sporting competitions all the time as well

It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian

[BigJimP]

And I agree ( and told you it was ok ...)

but if I miss a couple of targets with a 20ga ... ( I usually have a 12ga in my vehicle ...and I can hear it calling me ...) ..... Its all fun and games until I miss a couple ....then I start mumbling to myself ...and we all know the mental part of the game is pretty important.

I know the 20ga is just as effective ....but sometimes, I flat talk myself out of it ...and shoot a 12ga (with 1 oz loads ) ...can't help it ( I have a fragile ego ) ..(I'm male)..

[zippy13]

I don't think anyone has developed a specific equation, but it seems the amount of fun you have shooting is inversely proportional to your number of misses. The thrill of shooting your first 25-straight in practice is nothing compared to your first 100-straight in competition.

[oneounceload]

Now, Zippy - the amount of fun you have is inversely proportional to the size of the bore you use....NOT the number of misses - let's face it - ANYBODY can hit with a 12 like BigJimP.. ;), but you have more fun when you're shooting a 28 or 410

[zippy13]

1-oz, my friend, I'm not too sure about that. Before I shot the .410-bore competitively I had thick wavy brown hair. Now there's more beach than wave and the brown is gray -- I'm sure it has nothing to do with age, it's all about the nasty little .410! :rolleyes:

[Deja vu]

I some times shoot trap with a 410 so you will be ok with a 12.

that said if you plan to do so competitively id go with a 12.