Firearm Recommendations

We have lots of different firearms to try out, so if you are just starting out, don't buy a gun just yet.  Come to a practice and try out several different options that we have available.  

The most common type of gun for clay shooting is a break-action gun or over/under, but pump-action and semi-autos are also suitable.

Focus more on “fit” than a specific type of gun.  Most guns are not designed for youth shooters and tend to be too heavy, too long (length of pull), and too low (comb height).

Adjustability is king for clay shooting.  A gun with an adjustable butt plate and adjustable comb is ideal.  If you don't have these, you can use aftermarket products to achieve the same result with an existing shotgun:

Adjustable Butt Plate: 100 Straight Pad Adjuster

Adjustable Comb Kit: Beartooth Comb Riser

We recommend a 12 gauge shotgun for most shooters.  20 gauge shotguns also work.  We do not recommend 16, 28, or .410 gauges as ammo can be difficult to find and expensive.  Keep in mind that although a 20 gauge is smaller than a 12 gauge, this does not always translate into less recoil.  Recoil is primarily affected by the weight of the firearm and the velocity and shot weight of the shell being fired.

Smaller-stature shooters may find it difficult to mount and swing a shotgun that is heavy, but a lighter gun produces more felt recoil which can also be uncomfortable.  If you are a smaller shooter and have trouble handling an 8-10 pound gun, you will want to consider a semi-auto with a gas operating system (versus inertial driven).  This will provide you with the best recoil reduction while also being comparably lightweight.

Clay shooting guns can get expensive, but if you have the money, a used Browning BT99 micro with an adjustable comb can be found for around $1,000.  However, if you want to shoot disciplines other than trap such as skeet, sporting clays, or five-stand, you’ll need something that can deliver two shots, an over/under, semi-auto, or pump.  A Stevens 555 is a budget over/under that you can get for around $650.  A Winchester SX4 compact (~$850) or Weatherby SA-08 (~$500) are good semi-auto options.  Our team has had good success with all of these options.  If you can afford a bit more, consider an SKB 90HTR Trap Over-Under ($1,900), or a nice used Browning Over-Under can be had for about the same price.

Hearing Protection

Overhead ear muffs are usually too bulky to allow a good cheek weld to the comb, which is critical for accurate clay shooting.  For this reason, we would rather see in-ear foam/silicon plugs.  

When choosing hearing protection, look for the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) which is how effective the protection is at blocking out harmful sounds, the higher the better. 

Our favorite earplugs are:

Peltor Sport Tri Flange

Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Ear Plugs

Eye Protection

Generally, any safety/shooting glasses will be fine, just make sure they are rated for shooting sports.

If you already wear glasses, you can purchase over-glasses safety shields, prescription shooting glasses, or some brands of safety glasses that can accommodate a prescription insert.  If you have a Flexible Spending Account, prescription safety glasses are an eligible expense for reimbursement.

You’ll want a variety of lens colors for different lighting conditions and backgrounds.  The most common lens colors are yellow, orange, and red.  Many manufacturers make glasses with interchangeable lenses.  

Shooting glasses with interchangeable lenses can get expensive, so as a starting point, check out the options below:

Ducks Unlimited Safety Glasses

Bertoni Shooting Glasses

Beretta Puull Shooting Glasses

Vests and Shell Bags

You will need something to hold your box of shells while shooting.  This can be a vest or a shell pouch/bag, whatever is comfortable for you.  We have both you can try out.  You can usually find these at Walmart, Amazon, or other online retailers.  Below are some options to consider:

Spika Shotshell Pouch

Beretta Competition Vest

Barrel Rests

These are padded or leather rests for your firearm between shots and work most effectively with break-action shotguns.  

These are acceptable as long as they are not a “toe” type rest that attaches to your shoe.  If the gun rest is on the ground it is fine, but on your shoe, that's a no.

These are ok to use:

Foam/Magnet Barrel Rest

2 Sisters Magnetic Gun Rest

These are the type we don't allow:

Toe Pad