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SKB Shotguns – Kids Dig ‘Em
Posted by Junior Shooters
By: Andy Fink
The snow was falling in big flakes and the wind was blowing about 10 miles an hour as the young boy took his jacket off and tied it around his waist. Wearing jeans and a T-shirt, he came up to position one of the trap range. Everyone else had at least a heavy shirt on and most wore a jacket as it was pretty darn cold. The SKB Shotguns 85T youth model combo 12-gauge was nearly as big as he was. He had a serious expression on his face as he loaded the gun, always safely keeping the muzzle down range and pointed at the ground. He brought the shotgun up smoothly to his shoulder as the clay bird flew out of the trap house. Boom! It was a perfect hit and the bird shattered into pieces. He continued to shoot up half a box of Fiocchi 12-gauge light loads.
With a big grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye, 11-year old Max came off the line. “That was cool,” he said. “It is a really nice gun. Thanks for letting me shoot it.” He was excited and you could tell he wanted to shoot the SKB again.
When I asked Rob Johansen of SKB Shotguns if he could send some guns so I could have several of our junior shooters test them, he came through right away. He provided three of the nicest shotguns I have had the privilege to shoot and handle. All three of the shotguns were variations of SKB’s beautiful SKB85TSS Competition Trap Combo- the Adjustable Comb and Unsingle model.
(The SKB 85&SS Combo, Two Barrels, Unsingle & Double, Adjustable comb, additional chokes, grease tube, eight light pipes, choke tool, and manual.)
The straight stock model came with a 32″ barrel. The second model had a Monte-Carlo type stock (which drops the rear of the stock slightly) and a 32″ barrel. The third model was a youth model with a Monte-Carlo stock, a 30″ barrel, and a reduced 13.5″ pull, just right for most juniors. They were all chambered in 12-gauge 3″.
The SKB 12-gauge .735 back-bored barrels are produced using a hammer forging process which ensures trueness over the length of the barrel. They are highly polished and chrome lined from the chamber to the muzzle.
All of the 85TSS barrel groups are fitted with an inter-choke tube system. Briley Manufacturing, recognized world-wide for its innovative leadership in choke tubes and barrel technology, provides SKB with an array of stainless steel choke tubes all certified for use with steel shot.
SKB added a performance enhancing competition sight system to the 85TSS series called Lightpipe by HI-VIZ that allows the shooter to be aware of the muzzle position while focusing on the flight of the target providing fast acquisition and barrel alignment. There are eight different interchangeable light pipes.
Another feature that is available, though not provided on the shotguns we received, is the optional pigeon porting. This is provided by Mag-Na-Port International and reduces perceived recoil by 12 to 20 percent and muzzle lift by 60 to 80 percent in 12-gauge models.
The adjustable comb stock provided on each of the shotguns allows the shooter to adjust the comb to match the height of the individual?s cheek for a perfect sighting plane. This, along with the forward sweeping pistol grip, places the hand closer to the trigger, aligns the wrist more comfortably, and enhances the shooter’s ability to swing and control the shotgun.
The combo models come with the new unsingle barrel equipped with an adjustable rib allowing the shooter to change the point of impact to match their style of shooting. The rib is set at the factory to shoot approximately 65/35 or approximately 4″ above the point of aim. It can be adjusted from 50/50 to 90/10 by simply rotating the wheel to change the angle of the rib. There is a select button behind the trigger that selects which barrel shoots first; U for under and O for over and it must be on the U for the single-barrel.
The 85TSS series also has beautiful engraving on the receiver, a first-class appearance, and is ready out of the box for you to shoot some of the best rounds of trap you have ever shot. The trigger pull is light, and the checkering on the pistol grip clean and comfortable.
Okay, enough of the technical details, let’s see how it shoots. Not being a trap or skeet shooter, I thought it appropriate to see if I could get some local juniors and even a couple of adults to help me out. I contacted Ned Bishop who is a good friend, a former national champion, and at the age of 82 still shoots an occasional round of trap and participates regularly in cowboy fast draw competitions. Ned was nice enough to volunteer his time so we packed up all three shotguns and headed out to the Caldwell Gun Club chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, just about 50 minutes outside of Boise. When I opened up the three boxes and displayed the shotguns I got a crowd of juniors, adults, and even a few old timers. They couldn’t wait to touch, hold, and try out these beauties!
One of the first people to try it out was Nick Adams, the Idaho State Singles Champion in trap in 2006 and Idaho?s representative to the Grand American that year. Nick has regularly shot Trap since ’93 but actually started in his teens. In 1993 he was the PITA (Pacific International Trap Association) State champion. Nick tested the full-choke 34″ and the double 32″ Monte Carlo with adjustable comb. He gave the SKB 85TSS two thumbs up! “It is a well rounded shotgun. The adjustable rib and comb provides a unique combination to adjust the point of impact and give every shooter the capability to become a better shooter. It has such a good feel and balance it enables you to easily point the tapered rib to reach your break point. I think it would make anyone a better shooter as it is so easy to adjust and point. You can really break good scores with it. They put a lot of thought into it. It is a super shotgun. I have shot top end trap shotguns such as Kreighofs, Perazzises, and Berettas and the SKB is a full package deal!”
Max Hillma, 11, who was the 2007 sub-junior winner at the Idaho State Championship, tried the youth model, the Monte Carlo with the reduced Length of Pull (LOP). He broke 10 out of 10 with Winchester AA light target loads. His comments were, “It was a little too long but it felt good. I have been trap shooting for a year. It is really fun and I enjoy going out with my dad and shooting.”
Hailey Holcomb, who is 16 and the Junior Ladies Singles Champion at the 2007 Idaho State PITA and was on the cover of Junior Shooters Volume 2, also tried the youth model. Hailey first started shooting trap at 13. She really gets an adrenalin rush when she hits the birds. Her best rounds are 25 out of 25, 49 out of 50, and 91 out of 100. Hailey’s dad, Darrel, adjusted the comb for her and put in one spacer to raise the comb. She said it was easier to close than her own gun though she could feel the recoil a little more as her personal shotgun has a recoil reduction system on it. It pointed well and the balance was great.
Darrel picked out the Monte Carlo 32″ barreled adult model and said, “It shot really well. I got 23 out of 25 the first time. The competition trap with the adjustable comb was set perfect out of the box. I used the unsingle barrel (single trap barrel). I then came back in and switched barrels to the double and went out and shot double-trap and hit 44 out of 50 which is as good or better than what I have been doing with my own gun. They are beautiful guns. I really like the way the combs adjust, once you get the washers in place and are locked, they can’t move. It shoots well and allows for custom fitting. The trigger is nice, crisp, smooth, and light. I had no trouble at all adjusting to it. The youth gun, Monte Carlo with reduced LOP fits a lot of women as well. It fit my wife Lois just about perfectly.”
Philip, 11, just started shooting trap in 2007. He was running track in school and a friend suggested he try trap shooting so he and his dad, Bill, started. He says, “It is relaxing and lots of fun. It feels really good and exciting when I hit the bird.” Bill, Phillip’s dad, said, “This is a tremendous group of guys So many people have been willing to step up and help Phil and teach him how to shoot. Phil really liked the SKB and wished he could get one.”
Lisa, 18, started shooting trap at 17. “My friends brought me out to try it. It looked like fun and I really enjoy it. It is a great feeling each time I hit the bird and it explodes. You have to be focused, and learn how to relax. The people in the club are great, and gave me a lot of advice ? they are very helpful. The SKB is a really nice gun. It took just a couple of shells to get used to it. The youth model, with the reduced length of pull, felt good, about the same as my gun, and it kicked less. It was lighter than my gun so it was easier to pull up and it pointed well. It has a good trigger pull – very smooth.”
Jason, Max’s dad, took the Competition Trap Monte Carlo model out with the double-barrel set installed and shot double-trap. He said, ?it swung nice, the recoil was manageable, the rib looked wide with a nice line of sight. It was easy to recover for the second shot when shooting doubles. I really liked it. I did not even have to adjust the comb. It came straight up to the shoulder and I broke the first ten.”
After this extensive testing by a variety of people, both adults and juniors, it was clear the SKB 85TSS series are top of the line shotguns made to give the Trap shooter the capability to be the best shooter they can be. The reduced length of pull model is perfect for juniors. I whole heartedly suggest you give SKB shotguns a try.
Manufactured Suggested Retail Pricing:
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SKB85TSS Trap Combo Adjustable Comb with either the Monte Carlo or standard stock $3,699
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SKB85TSS Trap Combo Adjustable Comb reduced Length Of Pull (LOP) with either the Monte Carlo or standard stock has a suggested retail price of $3,699.00. T
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The Combo contains two sets of barrels an Over/Under and the new adjustable rib unsingle barrel.
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The separate SKB85TSS Trap Over/Under adjustable comb model is $2,429
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The separate SKB85TSS Trap Unsingle adjustable comb is $2,699.
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The separate SKB85TSS Trap Over/Under fixed comb is $2,199.
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The separate SKB85TSS Trap Unsingle fixed comb is $2,499
Contact information
- SKB Shotguns
- www.skbshotguns.com
- skb@skbshotguns.com
- Telephone: (800) 752-2767
- Caldwell Gun Club, Caldwell Idaho ? (208) 459-2616
- Fiocchi Ammunition: www.fiocchiusa.com
Copyright & Published By Junior Shooters & Junior Sports Magazines Inc. May 2008
Edited & reprinted from Volume 3 Summer 2008
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