Welcome to MyShot - My Sporting Shotgun Reference Site for Newbies

My latest hobby involves taking my trusty new shotguns and pulverizing clay pigeons into little clouds of dust.  Its o.k., no live birds being blown to bits here, just clay targets.

Shooting Sporting Clays is my current favorite shotgun sport because it simulates real hunting and find it very challenging.  When I first started shooting, I went to a range and realized I really liked this hobby.  Soon thereafter, I realized that shooting the same target, flying in nearly the same spot everytime, was getting boring.  I got to the point where I could hit 95% of the targets - and I'm still a beginner.

Fortunately, across the parking lot from the range is a great Sporting Clays club called Moore N Moores (see link below).  With sporting clays, targets are thrown from practically every angle.  Some going left to right, right to left, straight up, arcing to the left or right, rolling down a hill, straight out in front, etc.  The variety is endless and makes it very challenging.  Even today my hit rates are less than 70%, depending on the difficulty of the presentation.  I'm still have problems determining the appropriate lead.  What can I say, I'm still a novice.

My Current Guns of Choice

Complete Specs here Beretta AL391 Teknys (field)

What I thought would be my first and last shotgun purchased, was a field grade 12 ga. semi-automatic Beretta 391 Teknys with 28" barrel.  The Beretta 391 series is recognized as being one of the smoothest and reliable shooting semi-automatic shotguns in existance.  In part, this is due to its gas-assisted operation when cycling the shells.  This gun features some of the latest technology in shotguns by having Optima over-bored barrels as well as using the newer Optima+ choke system.  A soft recoil pad lessens the felt recoil and a tru-glo barrel site aids in picking up the target.

This Teknys model has a few cosmetic enhancements including a sharp-looking silver receiver and a highly grained wood laminate for the stock and foreend.  Beretta calls this wood treatment X-tra Wood ®.  Some people hate the finish, considering it being too fake putting a wood laminate on a gun.  I, along with Beretta, think its a good idea because the laminate has a more durable finish and can be repaired or replaced more easily should severe damage occur.  To each his own . . . because Beretta makes many, many variations of the 391 series - enough to make nearly everyone happy.

Update: I recently sold this gun in favor of a 20ga Remington 1100 Sporting.

Retail/Best Price: $1,315/$970

Complete Specs here Beretta 682 Gold Evolution Skeet

4 months after purchasing the Teknys, I added a beautiful, competition grade 12 ga. over-under Beretta 682 Gold Evolution Skeet with 30" barrels and adjustable comb.  This gun is simply outstanding.  For those in the know, making sure your shotgun fits you is very important.  This 682 Gold E seemed well suited to my preferences. 

This gun is mechanically identical to the Sport Clays version with the only differences being the shape of the foreend and the skeet model having the factory adjustable comb.  This could be a nice feature for those of you who are having a fit problem.  The comb adjusts side to side as well as up and down so a perfect fit can be dialed in.  Supposedly, this adjustment also allows the gun to be more usable on the trap range as well (although I'm sure any serious Trap enthusiast will tell you to get a real Trap-dedicated shotgun.) 

Retail/Best Price: $4,305/$3,100

Complete Specs here Remington Model 1100 Sporting 20

I purchased a Remington 1100 Sporting 20 gauge to replace my Beretta Teknys. This gun has laser-cut porting on the barrel to reduce recoil and a nice thick pad to further deaden the felt recoil. It handles 2 3/4" rounds only and has amazing wood for the money. This sporting model includes a mid-point bead and holds 3 rounds total. My thinking for purchasing this gun was primarily to experience shooting a smaller guage and to have a solid, reliable backup for my guests to shoot. With the reduced recoil, I plan on reintroducing the sport to my wife.

Retail/Best Price: $901/$770

What are some of my favorite shotgun sports?

• Sporting Clays - my current favorite because its so difficult.  Simulates a real hunting experience with clay targets coming from all sorts of different angels and arcs.  The sporting clays courses I've been to have 10 stations with 2 windows for each station to shoot from.  Some courses even have targets shooting nearly straight up called teals and targets bouncing on the ground that simulate a rabbit hopping.  Trap configurations are changed with regularity to keep the target presentation fresh and challenging.  Typical rounds are 50 or 100 targets.  America’s fastest growing shotgun sport some say.
• Trap - probably the most popular and classic shotgun sport.  Here's a link to Remingon's site which offers the best primer on Trap Shooting I've seen.  It will tell you what Trap is all about.
• Skeet - also popular, and a little more challenging than Trap shooting.  Here's a link to Remingon's site which offers a great primer on Skeet Shooting.
• 5-Stand - as the name implies, 5 shooting windows are lined up side by side, next to each other, approximately 10 feet apart.  Targets can come from many perspectives (like sporting clays).  A typical round is considered 25 rounds/shots.

Check out these great shotgun sites - the best on the net that I have found. 

Want a New Gun?

• JoelEtchenGuns.com - I picked up my Teknys from Joel this past year.  Great prices and very knowledgable as Joel is a championship shooter himself in Pennsylvania.  An authorized Beretta dealer, along with premier vendors' Perazzi and Kreighoff, he can satisfy nearly any request.
• PacificSportingArms.com - This is where I picked up my 682 Gold E recently.  One of the finest local dealers in the Southern California area.  Located in Asuza, in a relatively small shop, hidden behind an industrial mall complex, John, the owner, deals exclusively with the best of the best in shotgun equipment.  Very helpful and knowledgable about everything you would want to know about taking up the sport.
• GunsAmerica.com - Probably the most comprehensive and widely new and used gun auction site on the net today.  Not the greatest interface or web design, but an extensive, up-to-date listing of gun-related classifieds on the net.
• GunBroker.com - Not as many listings, than other gun-dedicated auction sites, but you may find your perfect shotgun here.
• AuctionArms.com - Another decent site for gun-related products.
• GunFinder.net - Another decent site for gun-related products supposedly at 10% above cost.

Maybe you should select your new gun first (manufactor's links):

Need Ammo (or any other outdoors supply or equipment)?

• Cheaper Than Dirt! - I have scoured the entire net looking for a better place to buy ammo for my shotguns and there isn't one better.  Great prices, tremendous selection, and great service.  Let me save you countless hours of searching and surfing the net trying to get the cheapest deal on shotgun ammo.  This one is it.  Ammo delivered to your front door - what else could you ask for.  They also have cleaning supplies, outdoor/camping equipment, surplus military equipment, etc.

Want more information on any shotgun-related matter?

• ShotGunWorld.com - This is a favorite shotgun-dedicated forum.  Tons of useful (and not so useful) information with plenty of members and guests to provide immediate discussions on virtually anything and everything to do with shotguns.  Generally, friendly people, but some people get amazingly carried away with the subject.
• SportingClays.net - The Wingshooter's Online Magazine.  The forum isn't organized very well and doesn't get as much traffic as ShotGunWorld, however there are plenty of great articles.  Updated on a monthly basis.
• 800ShotGun.com - The home of Larry Woo's Wings and Clays on-line forum and higher-end store.  Doesn't get as much traffic as the forums above, but still an excellent resource for all sorts of shotgun -related information.

Where can I shoot in the Los Angeles area?

• MooreNMoore.com - This is my favorite sporting clays club in Los Angeles.  Pat Moore, the owner, is one of the nicest owners you will ever meet.  Not to mention, one of the finest shooters around - a true California Hall of Famer.  He offers lessons individually or in small groups.  Best to get a club membership and call this your home once you really get into sporting clays.  Wednesdays are my favortie because Pat and his crew cook up an awesome meal for his members for only $6 and the course is open until 10pm.
• AnglesRanges.com - Offers a complete pistol/handgun, rifle, and shotgun range in a secluded outdoor environment.  Wednesdays are a deal when all day admission is half price ($5.50) and they are open until 9pm.
• OakTreeGunClub.com - Offering a great variety of games including American and International Trap, Skeet, a Sporting Clays couse, not to mention a fine pistol and handgun range to boot.  They also have a terrific pro shop offering a wide range of entry level, mid level, and serious competition grade long guns.  Gun rentals are also available.  Open until 11pm Wednesday through Fridays.  Closed Monday and Tuesday.
• TripleBClays.com - Probably one of the finest facilities for Trap and Skeet enthusiasts in the California.   They also have a sporting clays course, 5-stand, as well as some other games I haven't even tried.  I believe the California State championships are being held there this year.  Gun rentals are available on the premises.

Got additional suggestions for a great link to add?  Promoting your own business?  Share the knowledge.  Send it to me and I'll add it to this reference site.  All links are hand-checked for verification and quality control.  Info@YourE-Business.com