caliber for clay shooting

[59f100292]

Im new to clay 5 stand and clays all together. Ive been using a 12 ga Rem 870. It seems all the guys who are really into it and show up with $1500 guns all use 20Ga. Any reason for the smaller gauge? Whats recomended?

[cjwink]

I grew up skeetshooting with a 28 guage.. And today I have 2 of them.. My Dad shot a 410, then switched to 28 when he started shooting Annie Oakly and Trap.. Guage selection is a personal preference.. A #8 pellet traveling 1200 fps is a #8 pellet traveling 1200 fps no matter if if comes out of a 410, 28,20 or 12.. The 410 and 28 are sweet shooting guns.. but can get expensive if you don't reload.. That is why most of the other guys are shooting 20's they are cheaper..

[ipscshooter]

I've shot a lot of Sporting Clays and some 5 stand... I use a 12 gauge Browning O/U. The only reasons I can see to use a 20 gauge is (a) less recoil = more fun to shoot a lot; or (b) smaller shot loads = a little more of a challenge hitting the targets.

[vaughnm]

I've got and shootthe 12,16, 20 & 28at clays. If you really want to do your very best, the 12 can throw more lead. That results in fewer holes in the shot pattern or you can shoot a more open choke and throw a bigger pattern or you can shootalarger size shot to carry more energy farther down range and still have a good densepattern. However, as said before, those extra pellets come with a price - recoil. If you shoot several hundred clays a day, even the recoil of a 12 with light loads can take it's toll. Therefore the 20 isa favorite of many. Less recoil and the shells are generally as cheap as a 12 and cheaper than the 16 or 28 or 410 - unless you reload. I like the 20 and I canalmost as good with it as with a 12. I have agas operated semi-autoin 20 that you can shoot all day long and hardly feel a thing.

[RugerM77.270]

They most likely shoota 20 ga.because of the lack of recoil and the shells are cheaper so they can keep up on the payments for their $1500 O/U.

[Pawildman]

ORIGINAL: ipscshooter

I've shot a lot of Sporting Clays and some 5 stand... I use a 12 gauge Browning O/U. The only reasons I can see to use a 20 gauge is (a) less recoil = more fun to shoot a lot; or (b) smaller shot loads = a little more of a challenge hitting the targets.

Ditto.

[Rammer]

Must be different everywhere else. I don't know a single "serious" trap shooter that will shoot a 20 gauge, and the 20 gauge shells here cost just as much if not a dollar or two more a box.

[oldelkhunter]

Must be different everywhere else. I don't know a single "serious" trap shooter that will shoot a 20 gauge, and the 20 gauge shells here cost just as much if not a dollar or two more a box.

Ditto, I don't know anyone that shoots Skeet,Trap that doesn't use a 12 and I have seen some people(myself) use a 12,20,28 on Sporting clays

[Rammer]

I've been known to use my 20 gauges on sporting clays as well. Using a 20 on trap is a handicap.

[Wilds]

For shootin' clays..??

I'll take anything 6mm or above, beyond 500 yards................