Author Topic: Sporting Clays (Read 1947 times)

Pyro · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2007, 10:39:58 AM »

You could also buy a replacement.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0005760210864a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=1100+barrel&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=1100+barrel&noImage=0

Makarov9 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2007, 10:52:45 AM »

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Originally posted by Ripsnort
Halo, my 1100 is a 1970's shotgun, and it has a permanent full choke, but I still have good success shooting skeet/trap with it. I've considered putting a poly-choke on it but just haven't gotten around to it.

Rip, I inherited a 70's 1100 from my father-in-law. It's been flawless so far. I had the same barrel as you but I bought a new Rem 26" barrel with Remchoke built in. I grabbed a Light-Mod choke for it and I've been having a great time at the sporting clays ranges. Good old 1100's. My wife is getting a lot of use from it too.

Tiger · « **Reply #17 on:** September 21, 2007, 11:40:46 AM »

I use an Remington 870 pump for hunting dove and turkey, as well as shooting some skeet occasionally. Couldn't justify spending the extra dough on the 1100.

Go with #8 shot, I use Remnington's shells, they work just fine for me.
Also, check your local sporting goods store and see if they have a "Skeet #2" choke

FX1 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 21, 2007, 12:44:21 PM »

One of the best sporting clay ranges in the country is in downtown San Antonio. We always go have a round once a year and eat at some good old Mexican food restaurant...

I have a old Winchester 101 that it a great gun to carry around the course. Got lucky on that purchase, a old rancher asked me at the super S in Llano if i hunted. He informed me that his son didn't care about hunting and that he would like to sell a gun that was originally meant to pass on. It was in his truck in a very nice wooden case. I ask what would he like for the gun and he said $800.. I could only pulse $500 from the bank so he gave me his address along with the gun and told me to try it out and make sure it functioned properly.

Old Winchester craftsmanship just has something special about it.

Never really liked the 1100. I had one as a kid and always took a bag of parts and oil every time i was out in the field. I think i just got a pos from the start.

forHIM · « **Reply #19 on:** September 21, 2007, 01:43:28 PM »

I've done the MN Horse and Hunt Club spring league the last two years. I use a Rem Spartan 310 o/u with 1 1/8 #7 1/2 and #8s. I haven't found the need for the 9s yet, but the 7.5s help a little on the farther birds.

The team I shot on had a mix of autos, o/u, and 1 or two pumps. The pump guys were definitely disadvantaged on the true pairs. The report pairs were ok, but having to cycle (lower the gun slightly and reshoulder) usually cost them prime shot at the second and usually ended up with a longer second shot.

If the range you are shooting only has one course, then it should be fairly easy to determine what you'll need for choke / shells. The horse and hunt club courses (5 or 6 of them) adds a challenge since one week you may have a simulated grouse hunt and the next you may have a simulated goose hunt or a mix of anything in between.

My next shotgun will probably be an auto with screw-in choke system. My current gun is designed more for field work.

Charon · « **Reply #20 on:** September 21, 2007, 02:15:24 PM »

I have some questions about this myself. I would like to add skeet/trap to my 1.5 hour each way outing to a really nice Wisconsin DNR range to go with the pistol and rifle shooting. But, I know virtually nothing about shotguns and choke, etc. It looks fun though.

I recently was given a Remington 11-48 in 16 gauge. Apparently since it's recoil operated instead of gas it doesn't reduce the recoil all that much. It accepts up to 2 3/4" shells.

http://www.remington.com/library/history/firearm_models/shotguns/model_11-48.asp

Goals:

1. Something that is easy to shoot and not a chore. The shotgun once had an external pad that has dry rotted off. I was figuring on replacing this. Also, what shell choices will get the job done and be easy to shoot all day?

2. I understand the concept of choke, but not the practical applications. Any advice on this particular shotgun? I cannot find any reference to the existing choke. I do see this stamping though: MOD. in the same area (but not part of) the stamping for gauge and shell size.

3. Any tips on economical shooting?

I will take care of the actual skeet instruction on site, and I have informally shot skeet (very poorly) with a hand thrower decades ago. I do understand the basic concept of leading the target, etc.

Charon

NHawk · « **Reply #21 on:** September 21, 2007, 02:33:51 PM »

Years ago, I used a 12ga Remington 11-87 for skeet at Fox Valley rifle range in Illinois and sporting clays at Trout & Grouse in Wisconsin. It served me well for that as well as hunting goose, duck and pheasant. It's interchangable choke tubes were a big plus.

NHawk · « **Reply #22 on:** September 21, 2007, 02:40:11 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Charon
2. I understand the concept of choke, but not the practical applications. Any advice on this particular shotgun? I cannot find any reference to the existing choke. I do see this stamping though: MOD. in the same area (but not part of) the stamping for gauge and shell size.

MOD is modified choke.

Perhaps this chart will help you in understanding it's application....

Percentage Of Shot Inside 30" Circle

CHOKE 20 Yds 30 Yds 40 yds
Cylinder 80% 60% 40%
Skeet 92% 72% 50%
Improved Cylinder 100% 77% 55%
Modified 100% 83% 60%
Improved Modified 100% 91% 65%
Full 100% 100% 70%

Note that the percentage of shot does vary depending on the shot load.

The tighter the pattern, the harder to hit a moving target. The wider the pattern the more likely a hit on a goose, duck, etc. BUT, the downside is if you have too wide of a pattern you could badly injure but not kill.

The funniest and sadest story I can think of involving chokes was when I was pheasant hunting with an old two trigger over-under shotgun of my brother's with full and modified chokes. A bird popped up and I accidentally pulled both triggers at once. The bird was non-existent after that. It was like in the cartoons....feathers everywhere but not a piece of the bird to be found.

Charon · « **Reply #23 on:** September 21, 2007, 02:57:33 PM »

Thanks NHawk. So a modified choke is not optimal for skeet. Is it too tight to have fun or is it OK? I guess I would have a built in excuse for poor shooting. That dammed modified choke!...

Charon

NHawk · « **Reply #24 on:** September 21, 2007, 03:15:10 PM »

I used everything from modified to full for skeet.

Remember, skeet is reletively easy. Most of the time your target is decelerating when you shoot.

Whereas a properly setup sporting clays course gives you fairly small windows of opportunity to hit your target which is usually travelling at a consistent speed in that window. Whether it be flying through the air, rolling or bouncing on the ground.

Pyro · « **Reply #25 on:** September 21, 2007, 04:22:43 PM »

Charon- economical shooting and 16 gauge aren't terms that tend to go together. You're going to pay a premium for 16 ga ammo just because it's not used much.

Your gun is based off of the Auto-5, which was another great John Browning design. Be aware that the gun needs to be configured according to the type of loads that you're shooting. If you're configured for heavy and you shoot light it may not feed. If you're configured for light and you shoot heavy it will beat up your gun. Check the inside of your forearm for a diagram but there's a good chance it's been worn away. Here's a link to the Browning instructions, you'll have to research to see if there's any differences between the original and your model.

http://www.browning.com/faq/detail.asp?ID=105

Ripsnort · « **Reply #26 on:** September 21, 2007, 04:26:49 PM »

Toad, Pyro, thanks for the 1100 choke/barrel info!

Charon · « **Reply #27 on:** September 21, 2007, 04:56:37 PM »

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Charon- economical shooting and 16 gauge aren't terms that tend to go together. You're going to pay a premium for 16 ga ammo just because it's not used much.

I was worried about that. I didn't even know there was a 16 gauge before I got this one, and Wally World didn't have a big cheap box of 16 gauge shells (or any, for that matter) when I was in there picking up some cheap white box .45 and .38 last week. I guess I can count the savings on the gun itself for something... Living in the People's Republic of Cook County I can't even find cheap mail order ammo and have it shipped in, of course.

I had read about the friction ring deal for light or heavy loads. Again, being a newb I assume load is the shot load, and obviously anything like a magnum powder loading. From the Web, apparently some 11-48s have the switchable friction ring and some apparently have a one size fits all version. I will break it down this weekend to see what I have. The recommendation for a softer recoil that I have seen online involves using the heavy load setting with light load shells, but with just a tiny amount of lube on the magazine tube (the friction surface) -- just enough for it to cycle.

I wonder if a barrel swap is possible? Either 12 or 20 gauge? I would assume the receiver and many of the parts would be the same. I just wonder how many would have to be swapped to change it over. Mag tube and some recoil elements, springs and the friction ring, etc.

Charon

NHawk · « **Reply #28 on:** September 21, 2007, 05:29:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Charon
...... Living in the People's Republic of Cook County I can't find cheap mail order ammo and have it shipped in, of course....

Wow, things must have really changed since I moved out of Illinois.

Try going out to Gat Guns (847-428-4867) on Rt. 25 in Dundee they always treated me well. They may be able to work out a trade or a trade-in for something more usefull. At the very least they will be able to answer any and all questions.

You can also try Bells south of O'Hare airport on Mannheim Rd 847-678-1900. The gunsmith there was impeccable. That is if they are still there.

Charon · « **Reply #29 on:** September 21, 2007, 05:51:29 PM »

Quote

Wow, things must have really changed since I moved out of Illinois.

Technically, they passed a law last year that clarified ammo sales by mail if you faxed over a copy of your FOID card. In ILL you have to show this card to even touch a firearm or purchase ammo. That was the sticking point on mail order sales.

Now, many vendors will comply with that in the ILL outside of Cook County, but the vast majority still refuse to sell in Cook County because of the potential legal harassment. Also why I didn't get my Curio & Relic license (an 03 FFL license that allows collectors to mail order guns). Most of the big name C&R suppliers like AIM, and the small value added sellers like Empire Arms still refuse to sell and ship a perfectly legal bolt action rifle to a C&R holder in Cook County.

Ive been to GAT before NHawk, it's just right down the road. It might be a good idea to cull this shotgun and some of the extras I have and get a nice used 1100 in 20 ga or 12 ga.

Bells got nuked recently by the airport expansion I believe, or some other rezoning deal. No surprise, they are having a hard time finding a new location in their dealings with the city over the deal.

Charon