# Shotguns: Traps and other talk **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotguns-traps-and-other-talk/410258 "2007-07-02T18:23:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotguns-traps-and-other-talk/410258/1 "2007-07-02T18:23:17Z")
I’ve been doing the trap shooting thing for about half a year now, and it’s great fun, excepting the part where I suck at it. My current gun is a pre-1968 Mossberg 500 20 gauge with a 26" barrel, which presents me with all sorts of minor difficulties. It has suffered no problems from being in a closet for 30 years, though. On the technique side, I’m missing to the far left a bit and the straight-away shots. Now, I know the people at the range keep saying to get a 12 gauge, but hey, money’s money. I’ve got my eye on a Spartan 310, but that won’t be for a while. How are the rest of y’all shooting these days? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotguns-traps-and-other-talk/410258/2 "2007-07-02T18:28:27Z")
What’s the choke on your Mossberg? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shotguns-traps-and-other-talk/410258/3 "2007-07-02T22:38:06Z")
Adjustable. Just a little wider than half-choke. Half my problem recently is that I got some number 8 shot, for better pattern… but didn’t realize it was 2 1/2 inches, not 2 3/4. It’s shredding the tips of the shell, so I’m betting the pattern isn’t that good… and it’s also not reaching as far out. I have to shoot faster than my skill allows in order to hit anything.