Community Q&A
Ask questions, share knowledge, and connect with fellow shotgun enthusiasts.
Just bought my first shotgun - what should I do next?
Hey everyone, I'm brand new to shooting and just picked up a used Beretta A300 Outlander 12-gauge. Got it for a good deal at my local shop. I've never owned a shotgun before and honestly feel a bit...
Struggling with true pairs on station 8 at my local course - any tips?
My club's station 8 has a true pair with a crossing rabbit and a high overhead teal. I'm using a Beretta 686 with IC choke and 1-1/8oz #8 loads at 1200fps. I keep hitting the rabbit clean but missi...
Just started sporting clays and rabbits are destroying me
I'm a total newbie, just shot my first round last weekend. I can hit most of the crossing targets okay, but those rabbit presentations at Station 3 just roll right under my pattern every time. I'm ...
Best choke/load combo for late-season pheasants?
Been hunting pheasants for two seasons now, mostly on public land. My go-to has been my Beretta A300 with a Modified choke and Federal 3" #5s. Early season it's fine, but now that the birds are wil...
Just shot my first NSCA registered shoot - how do I figure out my classification?
Shot my first NSCA registered shoot last weekend at the state championship. I'm shooting a Beretta A400 Xcel with a 30" barrel, using Federal Top Gun 1-1/8oz #8 shot at 1200fps. Finished with a 78/...
Anyone else notice their Perazzi MX8 shooting a bit high with factory chokes?
Been shooting my MX8 for about a year now, mostly sporting clays. Lately I've been missing more high house targets than usual, especially on station 3 where the bird is rising. Using factory flush ...
Struggling with consistency on long crossers at FITASC Compak - is it my gun mount or my lead?
Been shooting a Browning 725 with 30" barrels, using a Modified choke and 1-1/8 oz of #7.5 at 1200 fps. At my local club's FITASC layout, I keep dropping the 45-yard crossing rabbit from Station 3....
Anyone else find their pattern gets too tight with a full choke on 16-yard station 7 crossers?
Been shooting a Browning Citori 725 with a full choke in the bottom barrel for station 7 at my local club. Using Federal Top Gun 1-1/8 oz #8 shot. At 16 yards, I'm breaking targets but noticing the...
My new Lab puppy won't bring back the dummy - just runs around with it
Just got my first bird dog, a 10-week-old black Lab. I've been trying to introduce retrieving with a canvas dummy in the backyard, but he grabs it and then just runs laps instead of coming back to ...
Struggling with sustained lead on long handicap targets
I've moved back to the 27-yard line in American Trap and my break percentage on the long lefts (stations 4 & 5) has dropped from 90% to maybe 60%. I'm using a Browning Citori with a Modified choke,...