Casual Trap Shooting O/U Shotgun?

[teratos]

I’ll look forward to a range report.

 

[Defense Initiative]

Yes I know what a round of American trap is.

25 targets per round.
40 x 25= 1,000

The OP was taking about 1,000-1,500 shells through the gun in a year not 1,000 rounds of trap a year.


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Correct. What do you shoot?

 

[Defense Initiative]

Yep. I did.

I just ordered the Browning Cynergy CX with 30" barrels and walnut stocks from a vendor on Gun Broker.

Yes, it cost a fair bit more than $1,000, but the minute I walked out of Bass Pro today I was second guessing my choice of a pre-damaged CZ Redhead Target, and my wife remarked as we were leaving tonight after undoing the purchase of the CZ that I was smiling, so it was definitely the right choice.

I think part of what really sold me was talking to a friend of mine. I touched base with him to ask him his opinion, and he related how he bought an O/U on the off chance that semi-auto shotguns may one day be banned. His choice, for a gun that really never gets used at all, is a Benelli 828U - a $2700 gun.

It seems like it might be overkill, but I think that I'll enjoy it every time I shoot it, and I seriously doubt if I'll regret buying it.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread - my apologies if I offended anyone at any point.

Nice shotgun, does it have the adjustable comb?

 

[El_flasko]

Nice choice. Congratulations

 

[trickg]

Nice shotgun, does it have the adjustable comb?

Not this one. I'm ok with that.

 

[Biggfoot44]

This is a serious question.

OK .

There are gunsmith who specialize in making " card shooting " guns and bbls to shoot really tight patterns . Or doing forcing cone and choke mods to existing bbls . With no unified sanctioning body , each venue has their own rules about what mods and specifications are allowed , or gall into different classes.

One old school approach is to seek out older shotguns. Fixed Full chokes , and made pre 1970 or so . Specifically before the Era of plastic shot cups .

In the Era of fiber , felt, and card wads , the industry standards for Full , Modified , etc involved tighter constructions than in the current Era. The folklore , with large measure of truth , is that shooting modern Era shots helps in old school bbls , will give patterns one step tighter than they did back in the day with legacy technology shotshells .

 

[Biggfoot44]

ideally handle 28 and 30 and see how they swing. All things equal most elite trap shooters are shooting 30 or longer

yep.

I’d go 30” if trap is going to be an objective.

Break action shotguns don't have length taken up by repeating actions . So a O/U , SxS, single could use a 3 - ish inch longer actual bbl , for a similar OAL .

 

[rbird7282]

Correct. What do you shoot?

Don't shoot much trap anymore but except for renting a BT-99 a few times, I've always just used my Remington 870. Going to shoot some trap with it tomorrow as a matter of fact. I'd like to get an over/under but can't justify the cost considering how little I shoot trap anymore.
I shoot competition in 3-4 other disciplines and just don't have time for frequent trap shooting as well.

 

[trickg]

Break action shotguns don't have length taken up by repeating actions . So a O/U , SxS, single could use a 3 - ish inch longer actual bbl , for a similar OAL .

I thought about that - the 30" barrel on my 870 makes it loooooong! It's also why I didn't agonize too hard about getting the 30" barrels when I ordered the Cynergy - someone posted a pic on another forum showing an 870 side by side with an O/U and even though the O/U barrels were 2" longer, the guns themselves were roughly the same length.

Now that it's all said and done, I feel pretty good about the whole thing. It was a lot more money than I initially wanted to spend, and I know it's not the classic Citori, but it is a Browning, and I know that the Cynergy had some issues when it was initially released, but hopefully they've straightened out the kinks. They've had nearly 20 years to do that.

Now I can't wait to get it and to run some rounds through it. It's an interesting looking gun - not ornate in the least, but elegant in its simplicity.

 

[Doco Overboard]

OK .

There are gunsmith who specialize in making " card shooting " guns and bbls to shoot really tight patterns . Or doing forcing cone and choke mods to existing bbls . With no unified sanctioning body , each venue has their own rules about what mods and specifications are allowed , or gall into different classes.

One old school approach is to seek out older shotguns. Fixed Full chokes , and made pre 1970 or so . Specifically before the Era of plastic shot cups .

In the Era of fiber , felt, and card wads , the industry standards for Full , Modified , etc involved tighter constructions than in the current Era. The folklore , with large measure of truth , is that shooting modern Era shots helps in old school bbls , will give patterns one step tighter than they did back in the day with legacy technology shotshells .

I was just trolling and doing a general knowledge check to have a little fun.
I know all about that sort of thing to a large extent btw and even have some practical hands on experience, but really I truly appreciate your reply just the same and respect your opinion.

The answer really, is the same to the one I posed earlier maybe on the first page of this entire thread.
What has been the most significant improvement in shotguns in the last 75 to 8o years or so.
You said it nearly above, to a purposely stupid question I posed earlier.
But just not how I would have said it.

The same thing applies to even rifles in today's world just in a differing manner.
So Ill say it like this,
Balanced loads, pressure and advancements in powder manufacturing chemistry.
Single based to double based powders.
Probably the most important in my opinion.
Doesn't matter what it cost or if JHC fit it himself. If the ammo's not balanced you may just get smoked by some redneck with a M5oo from crazy Louie's pawn shop over to Salisbury.

 

[Biggfoot44]

The 2.5 game changers for shotguns is previous 100 yrs :

1. Progressive burning powders , allowing heavier payloads and higher velocities . Prior to the intro of the Original Super- X , 1.25oz @ 1220 fps was the heavy 12ga load . Super - X bumped it to 1330 fps , and continued improvements up to today .

2. The plastic one piece wads mentioned above .

3.Screw in Choke Tubes
Counts as half credit . Intro in limited applications 1959 , but didn't become predominant until 1980's .

 

[linkstate]

I thought about that - the 30" barrel on my 870 makes it loooooong! It's also why I didn't agonize too hard about getting the 30" barrels when I ordered the Cynergy - someone posted a pic on another forum showing an 870 side by side with an O/U and even though the O/U barrels were 2" longer, the guns themselves were roughly the same length.

Now that it's all said and done, I feel pretty good about the whole thing. It was a lot more money than I initially wanted to spend, and I know it's not the classic Citori, but it is a Browning, and I know that the Cynergy had some issues when it was initially released, but hopefully they've straightened out the kinks. They've had nearly 20 years to do that.

Now I can't wait to get it and to run some rounds through it. It's an interesting looking gun - not ornate in the least, but elegant in its simplicity.

View attachment 446970

Congrats. It always feels good when you make a final decision. Now I bet the wait is killing you. At least you can walk out with it the day you go to your FFL.

I forget what my Browning manual said but familiarize yourself with the lube points. It’s pretty much the same for any O/U. Grease is your friend on the bearing surfaces where the barrels hook into the receiver, the inside of the forearm on the parts that lock to the barrel, the underside of the barrel where the forearm locks in, the ejectors.

Also, when you remove and reinstall the forearm during initial assembly and reassembly it will likely be tight. Go easy but you may need to use some force. When reassembling, I had to kinda bump the latch home with the palm of my hand. Not too hard but it can be tight, which is good. Just make sure everything is lined up right.

ETA: Good choice on the 30” barrels.

 

[PapiBarcelona]

I have a Cynergy with probably 30,000 hulls run through it

 

[trickg]

I have a Cynergy with probably 30,000 hulls run through it

That’s encouraging to hear. I can’t wait to get my hands on it and see what I can do with it.

 

[Augie]

You can shoot old man trap with us at the AGC on Wednesdays at noon and then go to lunch, we only shoot 2 rounds though. If weather is bad this time of yea not many show up.

 

[trickg]

You can shoot old man trap with us at the AGC on Wednesdays at noon and then go to lunch, we only shoot 2 rounds though. If weather is bad this time of yea not many show up.

I would sincerely like that but my day job schedule just doesn’t allow for it.

 

[fishoholic]

Yes just let me know. The first non scored shoot is the first week of every month. The scored shoot the second.
Just beware, your going to want a well fitted and nice shotgun after a few times becuase its so fun.
However, you dont need an expensive set of irons until you had a chance to shoot a few times and discover whats really for you.
Our club is probably about an hour from GB though, in Caroline county.
About 8 miles south of 404 near Federalsburg. Starts at 12 always on a Sunday and may go about to three on occasion.

doco.. are you talking about marshy hope club ??

 

[JasonD67]

That's the right call getting the Browning...have fun with it!

Next thing, think about getting some private instruction after you get the gun. It can really make a difference!

 

[AlBeight]

That's the right call getting the Browning...have fun with it!

Next thing, think about getting some private instruction after you get the gun. It can really make a difference!

Not a real big return of investment for only a handful of trips to the trap range just for giggles per year?

 

[trickg]

Not a real big return of investment for only a handful of trips to the trap range just for giggles per year?

Maybe, but I got what I felt was a pretty good deal on the Browning - $1599 on GunBroker. I've paid $1500 on pistols I shoot casually, so I didn't think it was too much of a stretch. I was already $1100 and change into the CZ I ultimately decided not to get.

When it comes to guns, I like for them to be one of two things - different, or nice/quality. It's probably the main reason I don't own, and don't really have plans to own, a Glock.

I just see the Browning as being a step up in quality, and for not that much more money. While there are some folks online who have negative things to say about the Browning Cynergy, there aren't many - generally speaking, people tend to like it, and some really love it.

I read an account where a guy was shooting his Cynergy next to a guy shooting a Perazzi. He was hitting 23-24/25 and the guy with the Perazzi was hitting 15-17/25. They got to talking, switched guns, and all of a sudden Mr. Perazzi shot 25/25 with the Cynergy, and Mr. Cynergy shot 15/25 with the Perazzi. Although this is a one-off anecdote, it does seem to indicate that it's a least a decently performing gun, and most people seem to love how they handle.