Is 870 suitable for Trap or Skeet? - Page 2

Murray56 · June 23, 2009, 05:54 PM

I recently purchased an 870 HD with a 8 shot tube and 20" barrel. Turned around and bought a 30" rem choke barrel and various choke tubes for trap shooting.

For ~$600 I now own a two option shotgun that I have been very happy with. I am a first time trap shooter, shooting low 20's consistantly with this set up. At my age of maturity I am happy with these begining scores!!

BTW it was never my goal to own a HD weapon, however once I saw this one, I had to have it....

Regards, MC Murray

Nick-Mc · June 23, 2009, 06:00 PM

I went out and shot three rounds of trap with my 870 20 ga with 28" barrel (had a mod choke in there so it helped a bit but it made up for the fact that I only had a 20). It was the first time in years I had shot trap and I easily made low 20's (out of 25 of course). Nothing wrong with the 870 for trap.

Uncle Billy · June 26, 2009, 07:22 AM

My Dad and I were trap shooters in a winter skeet and trap league they ran at our local club which also had skeet fields. Both Dad and I had Winchester Model 12 trap guns, and did pretty well- I won my division a couple of years. For some reason the membership was divided between the skeet guys and the trap guys so there was always a lot of (usually) good-natured needling between them. Once, on a dare, I shot a round of skeet, but not with my Winchester which was expected- I used my Rossi coach gun- SxS 20" barrels, IC chokes, 2 hammers, 2 triggers- my then-wife bought new for $125 for me as a joke. It looked ridiculous in the rack next to the Citoris and Krieghoffs and other $3000-and-up guns that were common among the skeet snobs... I mean, skeet guys. Well, I shot a 24/25 with it, hammers and triggers notwithstanding. Boy, did that give me a lot of currency in the ongoing debate with the skeet shooters- my usual retort was "How difficult is skeet when you know exactly where the bird is going to go every time? And a $125 riot gun shoots as well as one worth 6 months' mortgage payments?". It was a good laugh all around.

rc · June 26, 2009, 01:51 PM

I bought the 7 shot HD model with 18" barrel. Then I located a take off 26 inch express barrel for $125 with vent rib and modified choke. I also bought the standard magazine cap and mag parts. Now I have an interchangeable shotgun capable of home defense and bird/clay shooting. The 18 inch barrel is actually fine for skeet. You shouldn't miss much with that cylinder bore! But for trap and most bird hunting you need tighter patterns. Vent rib is also helpful but not required. Even if you just pick up a fixed choke 870 barrel for cheap you'll be set. 26 or 28 inch are fine. 30 and 32 inches become a bit akward. The advantage to autos is slightly faster follow up shots and lower recoil. rc

only1najeep · July 2, 2009, 11:36 PM

I've used my 870 "18 for clays, It was what I had so I used it.

Cabnetman · July 3, 2009, 01:16 AM

I shoot an 870 with a skeet barrel. Shoot both skeet and trap and it works great.

zippy13 · July 3, 2009, 09:55 AM

In this thread, as well as many of its predecessors, folks have discussed the merits of shooting targets with 870s. However distinguishing between the Express and Wingmaster models (and the occasional other variant) becomes hazy.

It should be remembered, just because old Uncle Joe is an ace with his letter-grade Wingmaster Trap Special don't expect the same results from an 870 Express HD gun. Even with a longer barrel, the Express will handle differently than a Wingmaster target model.

Russ5924 · July 3, 2009, 02:50 PM

I shot Trap for years using a 870 TB and was quite good at it. Used to shoot skeet with my field grade 870 with skeet barrel. I did OK but on some of those crossing doubles I was handicapped with a pump. But still shot 20 to 22 average never did 25 where in trap shot many 25

halfmile · July 3, 2009, 09:30 PM

Our leagues have lots of once a week shooters using pumps.

Registered tournaments do not have them in the numbers of former years, but let me tell you , you can get your butt kicked around here by some very accomplished Model 12 shooters.

Buy a barrel and go from there. But shoot. at every opportunity.

HM

June 26, 2009, 07:22 AM	#28
Uncle Billy Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2009 Location: Small city in New York Posts: 482	My Dad and I were trap shooters in a winter skeet and trap league they ran at our local club which also had skeet fields. Both Dad and I had Winchester Model 12 trap guns, and did pretty well- I won my division a couple of years. For some reason the membership was divided between the skeet guys and the trap guys so there was always a lot of (usually) good-natured needling between them. Once, on a dare, I shot a round of skeet, but not with my Winchester which was expected- I used my Rossi coach gun- SxS 20" barrels, IC chokes, 2 hammers, 2 triggers- my then-wife bought new for $125 for me as a joke. It looked ridiculous in the rack next to the Citoris and Krieghoffs and other $3000-and-up guns that were common among the skeet snobs... I mean, skeet guys. Well, I shot a 24/25 with it, hammers and triggers notwithstanding. Boy, did that give me a lot of currency in the ongoing debate with the skeet shooters- my usual retort was "How difficult is skeet when you know exactly where the bird is going to go every time? And a $125 riot gun shoots as well as one worth 6 months' mortgage payments?". It was a good laugh all around. __________________ Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?

June 26, 2009, 01:51 PM	#29
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,765	Yes as others have said I bought the 7 shot HD model with 18" barrel. Then I located a take off 26 inch express barrel for $125 with vent rib and modified choke. I also bought the standard magazine cap and mag parts. Now I have an interchangeable shotgun capable of home defense and bird/clay shooting. The 18 inch barrel is actually fine for skeet. You shouldn't miss much with that cylinder bore! But for trap and most bird hunting you need tighter patterns. Vent rib is also helpful but not required. Even if you just pick up a fixed choke 870 barrel for cheap you'll be set. 26 or 28 inch are fine. 30 and 32 inches become a bit akward. The advantage to autos is slightly faster follow up shots and lower recoil. rc

July 2, 2009, 11:36 PM	#30
only1najeep Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2008 Location: MS Posts: 157	I've used my 870 "18 for clays, It was what I had so I used it. __________________ Better to be tried by 12, than carried by 6. NRA basic rifle instructor NRA basic shotgun instructor NRA range safety officer

July 3, 2009, 09:55 AM	#32
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	In this thread, as well as many of its predecessors, folks have discussed the merits of shooting targets with 870s. However distinguishing between the Express and Wingmaster models (and the occasional other variant) becomes hazy. It should be remembered, just because old Uncle Joe is an ace with his letter-grade Wingmaster Trap Special don't expect the same results from an 870 Express HD gun. Even with a longer barrel, the Express will handle differently than a Wingmaster target model. Last edited by zippy13; July 3, 2009 at 06:01 PM. Reason: tpyo

July 3, 2009, 02:50 PM	#33
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	I shot Trap for years using a 870 TB and was quite good at it. Used to shoot skeet with my field grade 870 with skeet barrel. I did OK but on some of those crossing doubles I was handicapped with a pump. But still shot 20 to 22 average never did 25 where in trap shot many 25 __________________ Russ5924

June 23, 2009, 05:54 PM	#26
Murray56 Junior Member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Riverside CA Posts: 9	I recently purchased an 870 HD with a 8 shot tube and 20" barrel. Turned around and bought a 30" rem choke barrel and various choke tubes for trap shooting. For ~$600 I now own a two option shotgun that I have been very happy with. I am a first time trap shooter, shooting low 20's consistantly with this set up. At my age of maturity I am happy with these begining scores!! BTW it was never my goal to own a HD weapon, however once I saw this one, I had to have it.... Regards, MC Murray

June 23, 2009, 06:00 PM	#27
Nick-Mc Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2009 Posts: 199	I went out and shot three rounds of trap with my 870 20 ga with 28" barrel (had a mod choke in there so it helped a bit but it made up for the fact that I only had a 20). It was the first time in years I had shot trap and I easily made low 20's (out of 25 of course). Nothing wrong with the 870 for trap.

July 3, 2009, 01:16 AM	#31
Cabnetman Junior Member Join Date: April 30, 2009 Posts: 10	I shoot an 870 with a skeet barrel. Shoot both skeet and trap and it works great.

July 3, 2009, 09:30 PM	#34
halfmile Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Location: Green Bay, Wis Posts: 19	Our leagues have lots of once a week shooters using pumps. Registered tournaments do not have them in the numbers of former years, but let me tell you , you can get your butt kicked around here by some very accomplished Model 12 shooters. Buy a barrel and go from there. But shoot. at every opportunity. HM