Si-Bore Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Hey guys I used to shoot a Beretta semi trap gun with a 1/2 choke using 30g of number 6.5 shot (Eley Realtree pigeon). The usual scenario when out decoying or rabbit shooting was a clean miss or a very clean kill. Using the same cartridges in my AYA s/s with cylinder and 1/4 chokes I find that my shooting has improved in terms of hits as mounting is very natural with this gun and comfortable. I'm also hitting more clays but I am getting more pricked birds, requiring a 2nd shot etc. That is obviously not ideal and not satisfying. I have made some pattern plates that I am going to test the gun with this week to check for the POI of the pattern centre and shot density etc with both cartridges and barrels. Also I have some other cartridges to try on the off chance that the current ones are patterning very badly. I shot at a magpie in the tree 30m from me and it flew off! I am sure the Beretta would have sent it into the next life! I would normally blame the chokes and say they are too 'open' but I have killed cleanly with the gun at 35 and 50m using the cylinder and 1/4 choked barrel respectively on a left then right etc. So as to now - until I test it further with the pattern plates I am blaming my pattern placement! I know that some people will immediately say that the chokes are too 'open'. Anymore thoughts that I may have missed? Thanks Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 I would blame chokes, i use full in all my shotguns for this reason, i much prefer to hit something and it be stone dead straight away! On stationary targets i believe you are supposed to point the shotgun just below it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 You will probably find the two guns fit very differently, on snap shots such as goign away birds you will tend not to be aware of the 'fit of a gun' and if it dosent fit your more than likely to miss. My experiance of most traditional s/s is they have less drop so dont shoot so flat, beretta semis tend to be very flat shooting, not so sure about trap guns, they can vary from lots of drop to next to none depending who likes what. You could try a stock extension, this may add some drop. (assuming this is the problem) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si-Bore Posted March 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 I used to aim at the bottom of the stationary bird or rabbit with my trap gun as I knew it shot high and never and a problem with runners of fly-offs. I have shot at objects and noticed this gun with the comb raiser on is shooting about 50/50 either side of the bead. The pattern plates will confirm this for definate. If its fine on the pattern plates and the problem continues I may try a tighter choked gun for comparison. Cheers Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si-Bore Posted March 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 (edited) You will probably find the two guns fit very differently, on snap shots such as goign away birds you will tend not to be aware of the 'fit of a gun' and if it dosent fit your more than likely to miss. My experiance of most traditional s/s is they have less drop so dont shoot so flat, beretta semis tend to be very flat shooting, not so sure about trap guns, they can vary from lots of drop to next to none depending who likes what. You could try a stock extension, this may add some drop. (assuming this is the problem) I have played around with stock extentions as my friend is a genius with wood and found that the most comfortable LOP is what is now fitted to the gun with an extention (15" LOP). I was also used to the high comb of the monte carlos stock on my trap semi auto but have since changed my style of shooting into a more natural, comfortable mount with the s/s but to mount consistantly and prevent low shooting I had to add a 6mm leather comb raiser which feels much better. I will feedback after I have patterned the gun - hopefully tomorrow. Thanks Si Edited March 4, 2008 by Si-Bore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 (edited) patern plates are a slipery slope, i had a massive issue with a lanber i once owned, shot on the pattern plate under supervision, convinced myself i was doing wrong. Infact i was just 'rifle shooting' the pattern plates. Got my new gun and scores went up 15% or so. Im sure your aware anyhow. but just be warned. Also im sure someone will point out you dont aim a shotgun, stupid as that sounds. Edited March 4, 2008 by dunganick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Sam Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 (edited) Cly and 1.4? Bit too open for 30 yards. Probably only getting 3 pellets in the kill zone at that range. 1/4 and 1/2 would be usual starter for that range. Edited March 4, 2008 by Big_Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 all i us is full or 3/4 at all times ill put half in but only for steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 1/4 & 1/2 choke may be a better option. Berettas do tend to be a little tight. I cant comment on the AYA as I have never owned one, but if they are more open than the Beretta that you are used to this may well explain your predicament. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 If you have been shooting a Trap gun then you are probably missing underneath with the AyA as S/S guns do tend to shoot low if you don’t cover the target. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 I like the an open choke for all my shooting. I used to have full choke for all my wildfowling guns , but with the introduction of steel I had the chokes reduced to i\c both barrels. I did so much better with the new chokes I also i opened up my AYA no 3 game gun to I\C and instantly my kills to cartridge ratio increased and so did the number of clean kills. I think the trouble is that you tend to clip too many birds on the edge of the patten with full choke increasing the chances of wounding. True the patten is more open , but I find when useing good quality shells such as RIO trap 28gr the patten is so even that i consistantly kill very high birds stone dead , far more than when I used to use full choke. The art is to hit them in the head . If you see puffs of feathers comming off the birds then you are behind them so increase your lead. The open patten is a great when taking close decoyed birds too , birds that would have been smashed with full choke have little damage to the meat. Choice of chokes is like choice of cartridges we all have our favoured position , but I would recomend anyone to reduce their chokes and if you are worried about loss of patten at long range step up your cartridge load to 30 or 32 gr. Incedently i used some 1 1\4 oz rio pigeon cartridges on high pigeon and found them disapointing compared with the 28 gr loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si-Bore Posted March 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 I always find it interesting to hear what chokes people find best for them. It seems that it depends on the cartridge/gun combination as to which chokes you can get away with. I believe it must also be alot to do with confidence too. Thanks for the feedback. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 It may take you a little while to get used to your new gun. Mount, feel capabilities. I have been struggling like hell with my new 20 but it's starting to come together now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.