Thread: How useful is a pump 12 gauge for clay birds?

Originally Posted by Sideshow

20inch you will want a tight choke and good ear protection.
With that short a barrel you will need to really push the barrel to get it to swing.
Of my two shotguns one is 28 (my Winchester pigeon grade) this has skeet barrels both open choked.
My SO4 Beretta has 30 inch barrels with multi chokes. Not that I change them I run improved and modified. Get very good range out of this won the high tower challenge the other day with a 60 yard shot.
So you will need to keep yourself close to the target 40 would be max with clay loads.
But as said above crack on. Practice is always good.

I’ve tried a few Pumps actions back when I was a kid. But never got on with them. Might have been to do with fit as my perfect setup is a lot of cast looks like the stock has been dent right over

I have grade 5 plugs and muffs. Which I wear all the time at the range.


I will keep the 40 metres in mind.

I have never shot it. I shot a dirty old baikal. But I missed the parries.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

If you're looking for a little speed and efficiency, try pulling rearward gently on the pump handle as you fire.

The action will unlock after the shot and the recoil plus your rearward pull will help bring the gun out of battery, and eject the empty case swiftly.

Done right, it will mean a slightly faster 2nd shot.

I will keep that in mind

Originally Posted by Steve123

Give it a go, Clays are a lot of fun. Are you going to be shooting tripples (going away from you) or sporting(all sorts of freaky shit)? A short barreled shotty is really only good for slugs or 3 gun type shooting though. Try to get a 28" barrel next time as you get tighter patterns and they swing better through the target ....clays, birds and bunnies.

I have absolutely no clue.

I have no pond or bunnies so it is just a safe queen. The goats may have some trouble though