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rc · August 28, 2009, 08:02 PM

A home defense shotgun is perfectly fine on the skeet range. I have used an 18" 20 guage and it's actually easier than with a longer barreled tighter choked gun. It's the most practical because it will teach you about loading and handling safety and shotgun principles like lead and follow through. Any idiot can point a shotgun and pull the trigger. It doesn't take practice to hit a stationary target with a shotgun. It is not practical practice to shoot at a human target that is 7 yards away. It's a complete waste of ammo. Pick up some 7.5 or 8 shot at Wally world. 1oz blue box ammo is cheapest and will work fine on the skeet range. You don't need heavy 1 1/8 oz field/trap loads and you certainly would not fire buckshot on a skeet range as it is dangerous to a much greater distance beyond which the range is designed to protect the public. You can also do some trap shooting with a 12 guage cylinder bore but don't expect to hit much as ranges are much longer and it gets harder to hit with thin patterns. If you have a friend with some country property get a hand trap or spring loaded trap that attached to the reciever hitch of a truck. Works great and you can see how fast you can load and shoot and reload and shoot your shotgun. Chances are after your first magazine full you won't be able to keep up with the person throwing targets. You should be able to shoot and reload with your eyes closed by touch. Then you'll know your shotgun skills are good enough for a defense situation likely to happen after dark.

August 28, 2009, 08:02 PM	#20
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,767	A home defense shotgun is perfectly fine on the skeet range. I have used an 18" 20 guage and it's actually easier than with a longer barreled tighter choked gun. It's the most practical because it will teach you about loading and handling safety and shotgun principles like lead and follow through. Any idiot can point a shotgun and pull the trigger. It doesn't take practice to hit a stationary target with a shotgun. It is not practical practice to shoot at a human target that is 7 yards away. It's a complete waste of ammo. Pick up some 7.5 or 8 shot at Wally world. 1oz blue box ammo is cheapest and will work fine on the skeet range. You don't need heavy 1 1/8 oz field/trap loads and you certainly would not fire buckshot on a skeet range as it is dangerous to a much greater distance beyond which the range is designed to protect the public. You can also do some trap shooting with a 12 guage cylinder bore but don't expect to hit much as ranges are much longer and it gets harder to hit with thin patterns. If you have a friend with some country property get a hand trap or spring loaded trap that attached to the reciever hitch of a truck. Works great and you can see how fast you can load and shoot and reload and shoot your shotgun. Chances are after your first magazine full you won't be able to keep up with the person throwing targets. You should be able to shoot and reload with your eyes closed by touch. Then you'll know your shotgun skills are good enough for a defense situation likely to happen after dark.