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GC I just got back from SD where I broke in that new Beretta Onyx (got the xtra wood, btw). It came with 5 chokes and the imp-mod/mod was the combo that worked best for me on those wily cocks. It came with F,IM,M,IC,C. Is Cylinder the same as skeet? If I want to shoot skeet should I buy 2 Beretta skeet choke tubes?

You should shoot sporting clays!!
Don't buy another choke, buy another shotgun and put about $750 and have it tricked out.
That 390 and 391 are sweet shooting guns

Your cylinder choke is .000 or no contriction at all. Since your barrels are no doubt .722 in an Onyx, that tube will be .722. A skeet choke is .005 tighter, or .717. You can shoot the game of skeet all day with cylinder chokes. It is the easiest shooting game out there, close monotonous targets.

For sporting clays, when I shot my 682's, I usually shot some combination of skeet, IC and light mod, and IM on the real "stretchers". One choke for the close target, one for the longer target in the other barrel.

Where did y'all hunt in SD? I am leaving for Kimball monday week to blow up some chinese chickens myself!

[ October 26, 2001: Message edited by: GulfCoast ]

GC, be sure to save some of those birds to cook up this season. It's been about 12 years since I've had a wild one. I'll bring a duck to add to the pot.

Thank GC. I don't have big plans for the clays, but was curious how cylinder and skeet tubes related.

We hunted right next door to Kimball near Pukwana(sp?). This was my first trip with this group, and my first time to go on opening weekend. What a trip! We walked a 1/2 mile corn strip and my dog picked up 21 cocks on that one pass! We got the limit the first 2 days for sports and guides - the last day we left after getting our sport limit. Being the opening weekend it only took a couple of hours each day. We stayed in Chamberlain and ate a Al's Oasis every meal. I reccommend the prime rib, and Walleye(awesome!). Reports from others indicated that bird numbers were down, and some folks had difficulty limiting as quickly. Apparently our farmer took great care of his birds during last year's severe winter which helped us. He showed us pictures of him feeding grain to the birds in last year's deep snow.

Hope you have good luck!

(BTW: Every pothole up there was already FULL of ducks, so don't let stir you up as bad as it did me!)

Not to worry Amigo: We have state liscences and duck stamps, too!!! Ducks in the A.M., Pheasants starting at 10:00 a.m. Tough job, but someone's gotta do it!

I 'bout fell out reading about eating every meal at Al's Oasis! That is the only game in town other than the little Marriot. I have eaten gosh knows how many meals at Al's (especially the deep fried pork chops) and spent probably hours on the pay phone under the big moose head in the back. Al's is home of the world's most expensive shotgun shells, for sure. I have a picture from last year of the sign out in front of Al's showing Zero degrees in the midst of a blizzard. Gotta love that SD weather in November.

GC,
I almost mentioned the fried pork chops, damn they were good, big too. Couldn't eat them both that night, so I saved one for my lunch the next day. Put it between 2 pieces of bread and made them other boys envious about 2 o'clock that afternoon. Mmm-Mmm.

Another point of interest: Marie's taxidermy. $90 will get you the PRETTIEST mounted bird you've ever laid eyes on - Twice better looking than any I saw at Cabela's or the hotels. She makes those feather wreaths too. I made alot of brownie points when I bought some feathered Christmas ornaments for the wive, mother, and mother-in-law. DO NOT MISS!

Hey GulfCoast got a question for you. We generally go to Iowa and hunt and finding shells is rather easy there. However this is our first trip to SD and was wondering if we should take our shells or buy them when we get there. Generally we shoot 20 gauge 3" mag #6's. Was just wondering if you found shells hard to find there? [img]images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

Finding shells in SD is not hard. Al's does charge more than most places, but Cabelas in Mitchell has heavy load lead CHEAP ($5.50/box). I've been shooting pheasants out of the same 2 boxes for 3 years now, but finally got on a good hunt last week, so I may have to buy another box before next year. Good Luck!

It is not hard to find shells. If you fly into Souix Falls, you MUST GO TO SCHEELS. That is the biggest friggin outdoors store I have ever seen. They make Cabelas look like a happy meal as to volume of stuff. Cabelas in Mitchell is good to stop at just to go, but Scheels is the poop!

I have a pheasant from Maries, and may have her mount a pair of grouse for me this year, if we get any grouse, that is. I leave Monday, and cannot wait. I am eating no meat or fried food this week, since at Al's Oasis, everything is meat and fried.

Did I mention Al's special deep fried bologna salad? A SD tradition!

Here is a little sampler from the first day, first drive last year!

and here is day 2....



GH22: Don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful [img]images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

[ October 30, 2001: Message edited by: GulfCoast ]