So our men's church group is going trap shooting. I have a classic Browning A-5 with four barrels. Two have the Invector choke system and are 26" and 30" long. The third barrel is 28" long and has a fixed IM choke the fourth is 30" long and has a fixed full choke. I consider myself a fairy good shot as a pheasant hunter, but trap is new to me and the internet has a million answers.

With what I have, what barrel(s). would you all recommend and what choke?

Any other suggestions are welcome too.

Thank you.

i think the 28 is your huckleberry

Unlike Skeet, the shots are all away and IIRC, no more than 15 degrees angle. You get ample time to get the birds s

o your 30" full is a nice rib length to point with. I found that my Skeet barreled gun was surely not good for trap and required I pick up the bird much faster or miss.

I changed from shooting Trap to Skeet in 2021 and when I was shooting Trap my gun was a Browning BPS with a 30 inch barrel with an Invector Full Choke in the barrel. Pluses were that long sighting plane due to the length of the receiver and the bottom ejection keeping the shells right at your feet.

In your case I would suggest your 30 inch Full Choke Barrel. That should provide a slightly better balance compared to your 30 inch removable choke barrel because chokes do add some additional weight right at the end of the barrel. This extra weight increases the swing inertia to the gun and that can make them less responsive. Note for Trap an experienced shooter may actually prefer the extra weight of screw in chokes because that will increase Stability.

As for Barrel lengths, dedicated Trap guns today are typically built with 32 inch barrels and 34 inch barrels are a common option. I'll also note that top ribs that look like the Brooklyn Bridge are common for very serious Trap shooters because they do improve target visibility with rising targets. With Rising Targets it's common to have to cover the target with the barrel for some shots (straight aways). So you will want to shoot with both eyes open when shooting Trap because that allows you to maintain visibility with your "week" eye. I will also note that with any moving target it is critical that you focus your vision on the target and let that front bead on your barrel remain fuzzy and out of focus. To put it plainly do NOT look at the bead on your barrel, LOOK AT YOUR TARGET.

Skeet guns used to feature 26 inch (1970's & earlier), and then 28 inch barrels (1980's up to the mid to late 1990's). The thinking in regards to the shorter barrels was that they allowed the guns to be more responsive. Today the most common length for Skeet is 30 inches because it provides an excellent balance between Response and Stability. Sporting Clays shooters generally trend towards 32 inch barrels but 30 inch barrels are a common second choice.

Either the 28" or 30" would be fine. There may not be a great difference between your IM or full choke, in terms of pattern density. You'd only know for sure if you shoot some patterns with them. I would guess you'll be starting at the 16 yard line, so a choke from modified to full would be fine. Also, keep in mind that your field gun probably shoots "flat" and all trap targets are rising, which will require you to cover the bird to solidly break it.

If you are just going for a fun outing, the longest barrel with a rib will serve you best for now. Just point shoot have fun.

For an average shooter, either will work. More proficient trap shooter will prefer the full choke. There is a belief that a tighter shot pattern will reduce the odd of a ‘bird’ passing through unscathed.

You won’t really noticed it unless you shoot a lot. I’d recommend the 28” as well.

Don’t forget to turn right at station 5 to rotate or people start yelling.

quote:

Originally posted by savoy6:
Either the 28" or 30" would be fine. There may not be a great difference between your IM or full choke, in terms of pattern density. You'd only know for sure if you shoot some patterns with them. I would guess you'll be starting at the 16 yard line, so a choke from modified to full would be fine. Also, keep in mind that your field gun probably shoots "flat" and all trap targets are rising, which will require you to cover the bird to solidly break it.

This.
It’s addictive. Have fun!

I’m also going to say the 28” with IM choke would be my choice. IM is plenty of choke for typical trap distances. Trap guns get real specific and trap competitors are among the snootiest of the clay competitors (no offense to the trap shooters here). Just have fun, the equipment does not help more than skill. If you hunt pheasant you should be ok.

Use the 30" Invector barrel with a Light Modified or Modified choke. You will be shooting from the 16 yard line so a more open choke gives you a wider pattern at the bird.

Use 7 1/2 shot, 1 or 1 1/8 oz loads.

IIRC the A-5 ejects right, look into using a rubber band as a shell catcher, knock down. Shooters to your right will appreciate the consideration.

The most important thing? HAVE FUN

For 16 yard targets a 28 or 30 inch M or IM would be perfect. If you move back from 16 yds. to longer ranges a 30 inch full choke would be the way to go. I shot registered trap for many years and used a 30 inch full choke but I used the same barrel for both 16 and handicap targets. As mentioned above if your sights line up you will cover the target and if your sights form a figure eight you will put the target on top of the front bead. All depends on your type of stock and how the gun fits you. I still shoot trap some(not registered) and just use a 28 inch vent rib field gun with two beads and shoot with my beads in a figure eight.

quote:

Originally posted by SPWAMike0317:
Use the 30" Invector barrel with a Light Modified or Modified choke. You will be shooting from the 16 yard line so a more open choke gives you a wider pattern at the bird.

Use 7 1/2 shot, 1 or 1 1/8 oz loads.

IIRC the A-5 ejects right, look into using a rubber band as a shell catcher, knock down. Shooters to your right will appreciate the consideration.

The most important thing? HAVE FUN

I switched to 1 oz. loads a couple of years ago and appreciate the lighter recoil now that I am older and yes HAVE FUN!!

Thanks everyone.
I'll take the 28" IM and the 30" Invector and see what I like.

I used to shoot trap with a friend of mine who had a really nice Valmet, I was using Beretta.

His brother would walk to the line with a Remington 1100 that looked like it had been pulled out of an attic tied to a rope and dragged to the range. He'd go 25 for 25 every time.

I few years ago I bought a Ljutic Mono Shotgun made for trap. It came with a modified screw in choke and a 32"barrel with an Olympic raised rib.
I honestly bought it because it was GORGEOUS and a fantastic deal. With two bad rotator cuffs I can barely raise it to shoot. My Son fairs much better with it and smokes the clay's when using it.

^^^ After two shoulder surgeries, I stopped shooting trap, but when I did, I used my basic Winchester Super X-1. Shot way better than I did, but if led the birds properly, I was decent.

It depends on what yardage you’ll be shooting from. I would use either of the 30” barrels. If you’re close in you can get away with a modified tube in that barrel. I shot trap for years and always used a full choke. But I spent most of my time from 25 to 27 yards. My trap gun was a Beretta 682 Gold X trap with a two barrel set (under mono with high rib & over/under) at 34” each.

Good luck and have fun!

always used a 30 inch barrel and full choke Winchester super x model 1 one and beretta 301