Here's the thing; I don't shoot Sporting Clays much, but a while back I shot a 100 round of Sporting Clays with a sweet 16g Fox AE and light 2.5" loads.
I had a ton of fun that day but Ohh wow, that little Fox beat me up.
For those of you who shoot Clays often, what weight 12g SxS would you recommend?
Pigeon guns?
Do you have a chronic injury to your shoulder? Maybe you could shoot fewer rounds out of the same gun.
Best,
Ted
I find the 7 1/2 - 8lb waterfowling 12s with 30 or 32 inch barrel to be just right.
32 inch with a splinter are a little long for me. Don’t really care for beaver tail forends.
But I like the semi pistol grip they typically come with, and with a decent recoil pad, you can shoot 200, one ounce cartridges in a day without misery. I prefer extractors on the range.
16 ga foxes usually weigh about 6 pounds or so...too light for 100 round shooting session...
a 7 pound or heavier gun with a 1 inch pad would be easier on your shoulder...
Here's the thing; I don't shoot Sporting Clays much, but a while back I shot a 100 round of Sporting Clays with a sweet 16g Fox AE and light 2.5" loads.
I had a ton of fun that day but Ohh wow, that little Fox beat me up.
For those of you who shoot Clays often, what weight 12g SxS would you recommend?
Pigeon guns?
That's surprising that it bothers you that much. Even if that was a particularly light 16 gauge, light loads for 100 rounds should be no problem. It makes wonder if the gun fits you poorly, perhaps?
I shoot clays of all types with 12bores as light as 6 lbs even and 100 round of even fairly heavy target loads will not bother me at all. The gun fits well and I think that is more than half of the issue. On the other hand, shooting a 20 that was made to fit my wife is somewhat uncomfortable until I add a lace on pad for extra length (a bit more drop would help too).
How does the Fox's dimensions compare with guns that do not bother you so much?
Use a "PAST" pad on your shoulder, under your vest. Don't shoot in a T shirt. I prefer a pigeon gun for serious 12 gauge sporting clays, but who is that serious?
and as to body pads, the beretta gel pad helps...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274808568176
I have Past and Reactar systems.
They might be OK if you shoot pre-mounted, but if you Shoot low gun, there is just too much imprecision in the shoulder pocket for me to wear all that crap up there. If you’re worried about getting the buttstuck into your shoulder pocket, you are worrying about the wrong end of the gun.
A well formed recoil pad goes right into the pocket every time without thinking.
A slip on is a close second.
One would presume, that if you are going to purchase a side-by-side that You hope to maximize your score with, that would include the fitting of a quality recoil pad in that effort.
Unrelated (‘kinda) but, I came to the same conclusion with the strap on pads screwing up my mount as I am trying to be a newly minted 60 year old right handed shooter. Less, is more, in more ways than one.
Still working on it. Everything is good, except my mount. I’ll get there. Without straps, pads and what not.
Best,
Ted
It it's for clay shooting shooting consider 21 gram or 24 gram loads and also try different brands as some, even at those weights, can differ in perceived recoil. You'll not notice much difference in kills. Lagopus.....
If you are shooting 100-200 rounds on a regular basis (every weekend), 8 lbs. minimum. Experience speaking.
JR
agreed, 8 pound gun is easier on shoulder than 7 pound gun...cept after about 50 rounds it feels like 9 pound gun, and so on...
have 28 ga 8 pound nid repro...with arthritic shoulder, it is a joy to shoot on skeet range...
My target gun is closer to 10 lbs just so I can tolerate the usually warmer loads available at the various clubs around here. Was at Cabelas last Friday kicking around and noticed ever their "cheaper" shotgun shells are now $12/box. Bought some a while back for $10 a box, so now even they are gouging a bit. I'll keep shooting as long as the clubs can provide ammo, but at some point it will become just too expensive to justify.
Lloyd, be willing to bet the increase in fuel costs nationwide can easily explain the increase in ammunition prices at Cabela’s.
Like the Superbike guys say “Stupid hurts”. Just stupid energy policy now, but, it still hurts.
Best,
Ted
in november, all voters have opportunity to cause change in gubmint...
Not enough change, nor quick enough for me. Stupid energy policy seems to be hard to unwind.
8 pounds minimum, in a 12 ga. My comp gun weighs 9+.
With a Kick Killer lace on pad in place I have shot up to 1300 rounds of 7/8 oz. loads out of a Beretta 687 20 ga. SPII in one day, with no recoil issues. A bit of tenderness that evening but gone by shooting time the next morning, and again and again for 4 days.
Ed, you're full of crap about an 8 pound gun getting too heavy after 50 rounds. I'm a 70 year old, and not muscular, and I can shoot my 9 lb. plus Perazzi 100 rounds with no tiredness at all. None, Eddie, none. Nothing special about me, either. All my elderly shooting buds can do that, too. Maybe you shouldn't project your wimpiness on everybody else. That, or just keep quiet.
gee stan, you seem awful hostile this fine sunday...are you ok?
Losing my patience with morons. That's all.
well, we awl cant be like you...nor you like us...
I shoot with a gentleman who just turned 84. His gun weighs about 10lbs too. His comment about lifting a heavy gun 100 times for a sporting clays session is that it's a good workout.
good for him...
reminds me of my friend tom, who also was still shootin in his mid eighties...one of us would stand behind him, in case he fell over...an tom did us the favor of only shooting singles...