BP trap shot today.

Dick Dastardly · January 13, 2011, 07:33:36 PM

Howdy,

I shot league trap today. Used my 16ga Winchester 97. Did ok from the 16yd. line. Not so good from the 23. Shooters comments were "what kind of cannon you shootn'" to "sure smelt like hell". To which I commented "just my Cowboy Action" loads and gun. It's only a lil 16ga. . .

I'll shoot again next week. It's fun to stand next to someone shooting a custom fit Krieghoff and shoot a well browned 97.

I may not win the Cadillac in the parking lot, but I'll sure have fun. And, come next SASS season I'll be able to do better on those poppers.

DD-DLoS

Fox Creek Kid · January 13, 2011, 08:30:30 PM

On a dare & a whim one day I shot a round of trap from the 16 yd. line using a Norinco SxS with cylinder bores. The BP loads had no modern wads and were roll crimped. I broke 21 of 25 and never did one break in more than 3 pieces!!

Driftwood Johnson · January 14, 2011, 02:40:51 PM

QuoteI broke 21 of 25 and never did one break in more than 3 pieces!!

Howdy

I am suitably impressed. But did you mean to say less than 3 pieces? A really good center of pattern hit should explode a clay pigeon into dust.

I shoot Trap every week regularly all year. Last year I used a wonderful Model 12 Winchester full choke field model made in 1923. I loved shooting it so much that I practiced much more than usual and my average actually went up a bit.

But I try real hard not to show up and seem smug about shooting an old gun next to somebody who has spent a lot of money on his gun. If somebody else mentions how I smoked somebody with my old gun, I will have a huge grin on my face, but I don't like to say anything otherwise.

Shooting an old gun is reward enough all by itself.

Mossyrock · January 14, 2011, 03:37:43 PM

I have a couple of ten gauge doubles that I would like to try on trap. The Field Rival is light enough that it swings OK. The '89 Remington Heavy Waterfoul? Not so much....

Noz · January 14, 2011, 04:29:16 PM

Hey DD, were your ears burning today?
I was talking to ya!

I have set in to pour a years worth of 454s RBs from two Lee 2 bangers. I kept telling my self that a six cavity mold would make the chore a lot easier.

Fox Creek Kid · January 14, 2011, 05:44:38 PM

Quote from: Driftwood Johnson on January 14, 2011, 02:40:51 PM...But did you mean to say less than 3 pieces? A really good center of pattern hit should explode a clay pigeon into dust...

Driftwood: cylinder bores and NO modern wad. Just a card wad between the powder & shot and a roll crimp. The patterns open up faster than a fat chick can eat a doughnut.

Driftwood Johnson · January 14, 2011, 08:59:55 PM

OK, now I get it. You were just hitting them with a couple of golden BBs, that's why just three pieces each. Got it.

You know how it is in Trap, knock one little piece off and it is still a hit. Sometimes I knock off a piece so tiny I don't even see it. Good thing the score keeper sees better than me.

fourfingersofdeath · January 15, 2011, 05:15:09 AM

I have bought a 16Ga SxS which is an old gun, but virtually new. It is a Spanich of Basque gun from memory. I have bought it sight unseen off a mate who lives in the next state, I will get it off him when we hook up.

No trouble getting shotshells here for it, but all plastic (only plastic 12Ga available as well). Sooooooooooooooo, I don't think I will be using this one for cowboy, only having loaded smokless loads available, shooting them off at skeet or hunting and then getting one reload out of them with the black.

It should make a nice walkabout game gun though.

Cohagen · January 27, 2011, 06:42:19 PM

Howdy Dick, been shootin 97's acouple years now at trap league.......What a hoot. 97's respond a lot quicker and are alot lighter than a trap specific shotgun. Once you get the timing and leeds figured 25's arn't so tough...

Cohagen

Dick Dastardly · February 23, 2011, 09:40:23 PM

Howdy Cohagen,

I'm tryin' to work up my skills so that I can bust some of those flyers at Boyceville this season. Sure getting rid of some of my old ammo that way. 50 per match sure chews up the back stock of ammo. .

DD-DLoS

Hey Noz,

I may yet see those 6 cav round ball molds yet this spring. I lit a lil fire under my machinist/engineer's can. . .

Montana Slim · February 23, 2011, 10:44:47 PM

Excellent practice.....my 30" long barreled doubles & pump (particularly the antique ones) eat up clay birds with BP fibre-wad loads. The short barrels open sooner with those loads, but are great for flying cas targets (clay poppers & BEER).

Slim

fourfingersofdeath · February 24, 2011, 06:31:55 AM

What cases are you using DD? I fancy using the 16Ga in black, but with only very expensive plastic shotshells available here (and 120miles away at that) getting one BP reload out of them is a bit expensive. Magtec Brass maybe??? Maybe just settle for the 12Ga in high volume cowboy loads and use the 16Ga for upland hunting.

Dick Dastardly · February 24, 2011, 09:39:03 AM

Howdy 4 digits of death,

I'm lucky to be able to do some dumpster diving at matches and come up with some 16ga hulls. Also, I bought a couple of thousand from Graffs. Those are primed new hulls.

You're right tho. One or two reloads is all plastic is good for. I get pin holes in some the first time I fire them.

Brass is good. Expensive up front but long lasting. Just make your man with the timer work barefooted so he won't step on your brass hulls. Hot brass makes for a quick barefoot dance. . . .

DD-DLoS

Bishop Creek · February 24, 2011, 09:01:07 PM

Went quail hunting with a guy a few years ago. He had nice Remington 870 or whatever they are. I had my old 16 gauge Riverside outside hammer double. I didn't tell him that I had Kent Gamebore black powder shells in it. When I fired both barrels at a covey that popped up with a loud "BOOM, BOOM" he said "My God, what the h@#l was that!," as clouds of smoke obscured our view of the birds . Scared his dogs too.