Why a Competition Model Shotgun

[Qbn Hunter]

I am shooting sporting clays once a week. I have two shotguns I use a Beretta 391 field model and a Beretta s686 o/u. I was telling my friend the other day that I wanted to get a competition shotgun for sporting clays. My friend asked me why not just use my field model shotguns for shooting sporting clays. I told him that competition models are made to withstand more abuse, it’s a heavier gun and the barrels are longer. And that all this helps in shooting better. But I was thinking maybe all this competition v. field guns is all a marketing ploy from the gun manufactures. Or maybe it’s an excuse to get a new shotgun. What do you guys think? Is a competition shotgun any better than a field model for shooting sporting clays, trap or skeet? ###

[songdog]

I know that a fair number of field guns are now being made with alloy receivers that theoretically can't take as much abuse as good old steel when it comes to the number of shots. ###That's on paper though. ###In all honesty, I've never seen one worn out... although the guys shooting the Perrazzi's keep telling me that eventually the alloy ones will and their Perrazzi's won't. ###Then again, you could afford about 5 or 6 of those alloy guns for the one Perrazzi...

GunDocc might have some additional insight.

[5standjake]

Hi cuban, I shoot a 35 year old beretta o/u with fixed chokes mod/full sporting clays 5stand,skeet,trap,and i see no difference between my field model and the competion guns just the price.I also shoot a webley & scott side by side which is 50 plus years old ###and never had a problem with it wearing out.Bye the way what type of numbers do you post shooting sporting clays,5stand, and the rest.Its not the gun its the person shooting the gun.later 5standjake also known as jake the lucky greek.

[Qbn Hunter]

Jake,

I shot 29/50 last sunday at the sporting Clays field. I know I suck but I am getting better :)

[songdog]

For what it's worth... I've shot somewhere around 4000 rounds through that 28ga RL and it's as tight as when I got it new. ###While I've heard of guys wearing guns out I've never actually seen one. ###Makes you wonder...

[5standjake]

Hi songdog, I agree with you 100% its just a waste of money on those fancy perazzis and competition guns.Like I said its the shooter not the gun.

[songdog]

It's not that Perrazzis aren't nice shotguns or even that they're not worth the money. ###There's some serious workmanship that goes into those things. ###It's more than people will tell you that a "hunting grade" shotgun won't last long enough, etc. ###

[DKScott]

Qbn,

I've lurked on this board for a while, but never posted. ###My opinion, for what it's worth:

I have both (actually I have a lot more than "both") ###I have a Rottweil 2-bbl set for trap and a Krieghoff skeet set, hydrocoil stock, the whole nine yards, and they're fun, but frankly, I shoot my Citori better than the Krieghoff and I shoot my old Model 12 as well as I shoot the Rottweil (except at doubles and continental trap). ###I have a couple other target guns as well but, I still do some of my best shooting with my old field guns.

There's a lot of truth to the old saying that target shooters wear out their guns from the inside out and hunters wear out their guns from the outside in. For the amount you're shooting, those guns should hold up for a long long time, and then just send 'em in for a tune-up.

You have two really great guns for sporting clays (I use my Citori) If you have some money burning a hole in your pocket, you might consider spending it on some lessons or good shooting clinic/school. ###That will have a far greater impact on your scores. ###Of course, getting your stocks properly fit doesn't hurt either. If you really really want another shotgun, look into the Beretta 682. Great gun and it won't hurt your wallet nearly as much as a Perazzi.

The other thing I discovered about doing a lot of formal target shooting is that eventually it takes a toll on your wingshooting. ###Ever try to hit a dove using sustained lead? You know it doesn't work, but you can't quit doing it. GRRRR.

Scott

[Qbn Hunter]

Scott, maybe you shoot better with your field gun cause you have had it longer than your other guns. I am thinking about getting a Bereta 687 Silver Pigeon II Sporting and then moving up to a P-gun.

[DKScott]

Qbn,

I'm sure that's a lot of it. ###I also spent a few $ and took my Citori 325 to a gunsmith/stock fitter (It started out as a target gun and became a field gun). ###It really didn't need much - I shortened the length about 5/8", added a Kick-EZ pad and lengthened the forcing cones. ###The improved fit and reduced recoil changed everything.

The 687 SPs are nice. ###I like the 2-bbl 20/28 ga. set. ###Other than appearance, they are probably equivalent to your 686. ###A lot of the pros are using the 390/391's

Back to your original point, target guns often have longer, heavier barrels that provide a longer sighting plane and more momentum for follow though. I think proper technique probably discounts that advantage somewhat. I've been told that back east and in England, many shots are much longer than you find around here and the longer barrels come into their own. Sporting clays is meant to replicate wingshooting and, for me, I wouldn't want to stray too far from what would otherwise be a good configuration for a field gun - whatever the brand. ###But then, I'm not on the money circuit.

Also, most target guns can take a lot of use in their structural parts, but they do break. ###There's a reason that they come with removable trigger groups. Except for Krieghoffs. ###They don't have removable triggers and are said to be good for 500,000 rounds before a rebuild. They are as close to indestructible as guns get. They are so precisely machined that barrels are interchangeable without fitting or lapping in. I'm sure that after Armageddon, all the surviving cockroaches and lawyers will be shooting Kreighoffs. ###As for the Perazzi's I really like the feel of them. ###They seem somehow more nimble than the K-guns. ###

All this aside, I'm the last one to tell somebody not to buy the gun(s) they want. ###I've felt the itch too many times myself. ###If you haven't been to Pacific Sporting Arms in Azusa yet, pay them a visit. ###I believe they are now the distributors for Perazzi as well as Kreighoff and they usually have a slew of very nice consignments.

Scott

[Qbn Hunter]

Scott
Thanks for the info. I have been to Pac. Sport. That is were I got my latest shotgun. Its a great place. I am like a kid in a candy store there. The guys there a are helpful.
As to guns its all what you feel comfortable with. My 686 20 ga. is too light. I would like to get something heavier.