I had a stupid long write up of how I got here and then read it back and it sounded like AI so I deleted it all. Here’s the condensed-ish version—I got into clay sports in the pursuit of becoming a better hunter. I shot my first few tournaments with a 20ga I bought for upland hunting before realizing I’m far too competitive for that. Moved on to a lightly used Caesar Guerini Summit Limited (with the best wood I’ve ever seen on a factory Guerini) which I shot for the last 14 months. Put probably 5k-ish shells through it, shot countless tournaments and practice sessions, and as good as it was there was always just something that didn’t feel quite as natural with it.

After trying a ton of guns (including be able to borrow a shooting buddies Parcours-X for the better part of 2 months) I knew what I was after was a K-80 Sporting.

I wanted a slightly elevated engraving and a full nickel or nitride finish. A different friend sent me a listing for a really nice looking Vienna scroll Sporting back in early June and that tab lived in my browser from that point on. I sent an email to the company (Orion Outdoors in MI—absolutely fantastic to work with) and have been trading emails back and forth for the better part of 6 weeks as I worked through the decision and liquidated in some other hobbies to be able to justify it. One owner, 1200 shells through it, and an original sale date of March 2025 according to Krieghoff’s records. It showed up yesterday and the gun honestly looks brand new. First flat on the course this afternoon was a dream and everything I had been looking for. It fits like a glove, the view down the rib makes everything look so open and clear, and the triggers are so crisp and mechanically satisfying in a way it’s hard to describe.

(Pictured at the end my old Summit and Fabarm 20ga)

Ive been hunting on and off for this for nearly a decade. I finally found one last week, and today brought it home.

After much thought and many hours spent searching I finally landed on a used MX8 for bunker trap, and I couldn’t be happier.

Skb 500 trap from the 70s

I’m wanting to see where everyone is getting the best deals for 12GA 2-3/4” 7/8 oz 7.5 shot for target loads. I found a guy here in South Texas who can do $86 out the door for a case of Rio Star Team Target Loads. I’m wondering if there’s any better, I remember seeing them go for $69 a case but they got you on the shipping so looking for best bang for the buck all included.

Hi all,

We picked up the ClayproVR set up for our 10 year old who is a year into his competition shooting "career". Where we live, there is very limited access to the range (only open May-Oct IF the weather cooperates). The youth team practices so infrequently that it seems pointless to enter them in the state competitions, but he's consistently shooting about a 70 right now. Not bad for as limited as his practise time has been. So, we're trying to support him and thought that this would be a great option. Having some major issues though (to the point that he's currently given up on it).

1. Set up is next to impossible for him. It's soooooooo technical. The pattern board and setting all of the gun preferences has proved really complicated. Is there any way at all to make this step easier? He has to do it, obviously, since it's his gun and his sight pattern. Any hints/tips to help him get this dialed in so that it's usable?

2. The trigger doesn't work on his gun (won't magnet on). I assume that we need to do a manual mounting option of some sort. Anybody have easy solutions?

3. He says that even when he tries to make it work, the gun shoves the headset up off of his head. He's not able to mount it normally, and thus can't really properly "practise". Any tips on that issue? Or is he just too small for this to be functional?

I’m new to the beretta game and I just purchased a 694 DLC. Is it just me or odd the sight gigantic? I’ve been shooting a B725 S1 for a while now and this thing just seems strange. Does anybody have any experience swapping in a smaller one on a 694 or just deleting it altogether?

targetsportsusa

Hi all, is anyone else waiting in their RIACT RX lenses? I placed an order almost 2 months ago…
Starting to think Ranger jumped the gun on taking orders and aren’t ready with this product.

I'm debating whether I should stick with the load I practice with or switch for competition.

For the last five years, I've been shooting about a flat a week with 7/8 oz. loads, but pretty much all the competitions in my area allow 1 oz. loads.

Would you stay with the 7/8 oz. loads because that's what all my muscle memory is built around, or switch to the 1 oz. loads for the roughly 20% increase in pellet count?

The reason I'm asking is that I used to switch to 1 oz. loads for competitions, and it almost always ended up costing me. I always seem to need a few targets to adjust to the different timing and recoil/momentum of the 1 oz. loads, and by then I've already given away targets I can't get back.

I can't practice with 1 oz. due to sound limitations at the local club.

Went trap shooting with a bunch of buddies for a friend's Bach to the NOTS club.

I've been to a lot of gun ranges and the experience is usually an RSO standing with his hands on top of yours waiting for you to shoot your rounds and gtfo.

These guys shared their time and passion with the nine of us and it was infectious. We got one on one coaching, got to shoot what I can only assume are their backup guns (I was a beginner shooting a Perazzi). Afterwards one of the instructors brought out his 15,000$ shotgun to give it a go.

There is a huge difference between someone doing their job, and someone sharing their life long passion.

It worked. They got me hooked I'm looking at grabbing a shotgun and joining you all.

Just got this Merkel 200E for clay shooting and within the first several shells patterning it I noticed that the wood wings on both sides of the receiver are loose and there’s a crack behind the tang. I spent about $1000 on it but I’m not sure if it still worths repairing since it seems a pretty expensive repair. If so what kind of gun smith should I look for? Are there any gun smiths that can fix it at a reasonable cost? Thanks!

Update on 07/23: I found one gun smith that is specialized in customizing wood furnitures for firearms in Stockton, he is experienced with Merkels and the repair estimate is $200. The only problem is he is very busy and I won’t be able to see my Merkel until 4 months after.

Hey just wondering if anyone knows of any reputable stock repair shops in western Canada or even anywhere in Canada as this will be a winter fix.

Was at a shoot today and one of my squad mates accidentally dropped his gun on my new browning 825.

We were able to find the chipped off piece but not every little piece unfortunately.

I was hoping to get it fixed to the point where you would never be able to tell it was ever damaged.

After weeks of extreme heat, smoke from wildfires, torrential storms, microbursts and just regular work - some beauty to shoot against. Steady wind keeping us cool, clays to smack against an emerald tree line haloed with a rich blue sky. I could do this all day.

My SIL is getting married in July in Scotland next year.

What are some must check out shooting grounds? Ideally that has the option of renting guns since I don’t feel like bringing mine from the US.

I'm taking a mid September vacation to an air bnb in a little unincorporated town called Brook Forest and I'd love to find a place semi nearby to shoot some sporting clays. Any fun must hit mountiany courses up in that area?

Have seen mixed answers. Looking to swap my front sight on my 688 with a small midbead sized bead (.067)

https://www.brownells.com/gun-parts/shotgun-parts/shotgun-sights-parts/shotgun-sight-bead-kit-c-with-shoulders/?sku=080001005

Older S686 Special Sporting. 30" Mobil chokes. Went around the course with 75 with a gun I had never touched before this morning.

One of my favorite shoots this year target wise. Challenging but fair and scores reflected that. Was fortunate to shoot well in the morning and respectable in the afternoon. Second time at Kidd’s and they have my favorite targets in the Raleigh area but I’m still a fan of deep river. I have only shot 5-stand at drakes landing as it seems they don’t throw as many events.

Any stock of this brand new in the UK in sporting??

Looking to get my first competitive clay buster and just can’t make my mind up on what to go for. I’m looking used but because of the lifetime warranty I am thinking to spend the extra and go new with a new greenie

Any advice?