Trap with a 20 gauge gun

wch · March 19, 2010, 01:19 AM

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 · March 19, 2010, 01:43 AM

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 · March 19, 2010, 09:08 AM

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 · March 19, 2010, 11:16 AM

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 · March 19, 2010, 11:17 AM

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 · March 19, 2010, 12:23 PM

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 · March 19, 2010, 03:39 PM

[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 · March 19, 2010, 04:38 PM

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 · March 19, 2010, 05:03 PM

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 · March 19, 2010, 05:21 PM

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 · March 19, 2010, 06:27 PM

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 · March 19, 2010, 07:10 PM

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 · March 19, 2010, 11:56 PM

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!

Deja vu · March 20, 2010, 09:05 PM

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.

March 19, 2010, 01:19 AM	#1
wch Member Join Date: November 25, 2009 Posts: 69	Trap with a 20 gauge gun 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.)

March 19, 2010, 11:16 AM	#4
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	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.

March 19, 2010, 03:39 PM	#7
wch Member Join Date: November 25, 2009 Posts: 69	Zippy 13 [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]

March 19, 2010, 01:43 AM	#2
olddrum1 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Mid Missouri Posts: 807	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.

March 19, 2010, 09:08 AM	#3
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	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.

March 19, 2010, 11:17 AM	#5
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	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!

March 19, 2010, 12:23 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	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 ...

March 19, 2010, 04:38 PM	#8
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	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.

March 19, 2010, 05:03 PM	#9
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	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

March 19, 2010, 05:21 PM	#10
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	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)..

March 19, 2010, 06:27 PM	#11
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	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.

March 19, 2010, 07:10 PM	#12
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	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

March 19, 2010, 11:56 PM	#13
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	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!

March 20, 2010, 09:05 PM	#14
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 2,584	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.