Thread: Are pumps a viable option for skeet shooting?

Just curious about trying it out and i am able to get a cheap 870 12g

Not really you get the odd one turn up at clay shoots most clubs will have a gun you can borrow to try id suggest that before going out and buying something potentially you cant hit anything with i dont shoot skeet but i do alot of sporting and the odd bit of dtl if i can fit it in

In my opinion " No "

If you can get a U/O or Semi .
Again it's just my opinion but I really don't understand why anyone would use a Pump in this day and age of quality , reliable , affordable , versatile Semi autos .
I understand nostalgia and revisiting the days of old . I also understand that in the right hands a pump is a formidable firearm , but it introduces an unnecessary additional movement which in turn then interrupts the sight picture no matter how smooth you think you are at cycling the action when your entire concentration should be on the target . Why make it harder than it needs to be .

If you only intend to shoot competition clay targets get a U/O if its a " do it all " gun get a Semi .

Ken

Originally Posted by Ground Control

In my opinion " No "

If you can get a U/O or Semi .
Again it's just my opinion but I really don't understand why anyone would use a Pump in this day and age of quality , reliable , affordable , versatile Semi autos .
I understand nostalgia and revisiting the days of old . I also understand that in the right hands a pump is a formidable firearm , but it introduces an unnecessary additional movement which in turn then interrupts the sight picture no matter how smooth you think you are at cycling the action when your entire concentration should be on the target . Why make it harder than it needs to be .

If you only intend to shoot competition clay targets get a U/O if its a " do it all " gun get a Semi .

Ken

More concerned about price, I can get this for 150 dollars from a mate O/U seem to cost a lot from what i have seen

Originally Posted by Scottishkiwi

More concerned about price, I can get this for 150 dollars from a mate O/U seem to cost a lot from what i have seen

If its in good condition I would have thought $150.00 is a good buy for a knock around gun . For that price you haven't got much to lose and you could probably sell it for a profit if you ever wanted to .
Any Shotgun is better than no Shotgun
Have you done any clay target shooting before ?

Ken

A pump gun will be a major disadvantage unless you have experience shooting skeet and youre not really serious about your scores.
Doubles especially will be a struggle for a newbie.

I used a pump for a number of years for everything from DTL skeet and ducks there is only a couple of stations on the Skeet where a pump is a bit slow, which is on the crossing doubles. But it depends on what fits you and how good you are on the follow up shots. Shot gunning is not like rifle shooting the gun must fit you and be shouldered the same each time. It is very hard to get one gun to do it all its a bit like golf, most people that get into it have a different gun for each event. But hay if it fits and you can handle the swing and pump at the same time then go for it other wise you can spend thousands on a good set up.

Originally Posted by 25 /08 IMP

I used a pump for a number of years for everything from DTL skeet and ducks there is only a couple of stations on the Skeet where a pump is a bit slow, which is on the crossing doubles. But it depends on what fits you and how good you are on the follow up shots. Shot gunning is not like rifle shooting the gun must fit you and be shouldered the same each time. It is very hard to get one gun to do it all its a bit like golf, most people that get into it have a different gun for each event. But hay if it fits and you can handle the swing and pump at the same time then go for it other wise you can spend thousands on a good set up.

In a Skeet comp a couple of targets is often the difference between 1st place and 31st

Ken

Originally Posted by Ground Control

If its in good condition I would have thought $150.00 is a good buy for a knock around gun . For that price you haven't got much to lose and you could probably sell it for a profit if you ever wanted to .
Any Shotgun is better than no Shotgun
Have you done any clay target shooting before ?

Ken

Nope never, I don't care much for high scores.. just a bit of fun

Then go for it, it will do your shooting a world of good and the pumps are a great safe fun gun it you don't want to buy it I will if your mate is selling it.

If shooting for fun and to get your eye in for bird season go for it. My daughter uses an escort pump with imp cyl and smokes the clays much closer in than I can do these days and is the equal to my self on the ducks with her cheap pump. If it fits, you will shoot ok and soon get used to pumping the action.

Know of a guy that uses a pump in DTL, he's B grade so it obviously works for him.

Yeah for $150 grab it

The broader points of shotgunning come later, everybody's gotta start somewhere

you either use a pump or you don't.unless you are exceptional, it is not easy to adjust styles.sxs,u/o and semi's i can interchange but a pump no.put you money into an u/o.there are some good cheap buys out there for not a great deal more. USA are fans of the pump,and that is mainly built around nostalgia(win.model 12)and cheap price. you won't have many fans at a gun club.

I've used my pump gun at local club and always had great comments on the second barrel.

Can empty 5 shots in 3 seconds but only allowed two at the gun club.