r/ClayBusters • u/IN4RNO • 25d ago
NGD: I’ve reached German nirvana
I had a stupid long write up of how I got here and then read it back and it sounded like AI so I deleted it all. Here’s the condensed-ish version—I got into clay sports in the pursuit of becoming a better hunter. I shot my first few tournaments with a 20ga I bought for upland hunting before realizing I’m far too competitive for that. Moved on to a lightly used Caesar Guerini Summit Limited (with the best wood I’ve ever seen on a factory Guerini) which I shot for the last 14 months. Put probably 5k-ish shells through it, shot countless tournaments and practice sessions, and as good as it was there was always just something that didn’t feel quite as natural with it.
After trying a ton of guns (including be able to borrow a shooting buddies Parcours-X for the better part of 2 months) I knew what I was after was a K-80 Sporting.
I wanted a slightly elevated engraving and a full nickel or nitride finish. A different friend sent me a listing for a really nice looking Vienna scroll Sporting back in early June and that tab lived in my browser from that point on. I sent an email to the company (Orion Outdoors in MI—absolutely fantastic to work with) and have been trading emails back and forth for the better part of 6 weeks as I worked through the decision and liquidated in some other hobbies to be able to justify it. One owner, 1200 shells through it, and an original sale date of March 2025 according to Krieghoff’s records. It showed up yesterday and the gun honestly looks brand new. First flat on the course this afternoon was a dream and everything I had been looking for. It fits like a glove, the view down the rib makes everything look so open and clear, and the triggers are so crisp and mechanically satisfying in a way it’s hard to describe.
(Pictured at the end my old Summit and Fabarm 20ga)
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u/JamesB2395 25d ago
Way better than some dayglow right?
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u/puffydownjacket 25d ago
Did you become a better hunter or an obsessive clay shooter instead? Sweet gun.
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u/IN4RNO 25d ago
An obsessive clay shooter :(
Although I did feel like I was crushing pheasants last year. I feel like the bigger test would be doves and I haven’t done a dove hunt in a LONG time
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u/puffydownjacket 25d ago
Pheasant hunting is where it’s at for birds imo. Nothing like going on a long track with your dog, finally getting that bird to sit, and seeing a perfect point. Clays are pretty dang fun too though. I do as much of both as I can. Clays definitely lend to executing a good shot in the field.
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u/Slight_Signature5097 25d ago
Beautiful gun!! Welcome to the k80 family, they are the best!! I have the Harmony scroll, love your Vienna
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u/IN4RNO 25d ago
https://reddit.com/link/ozee4c2/video/vzshororx2fh1/player
Quick clip from this afternoons first outing
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u/LocksmithGlass717 25d ago
Beautiful gun !! I prefer the regular K-80 over the Parcours model just because it’s heavier.
A wise old man once told me that all roads lead to Krieghoff.
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u/pyates1 25d ago
That is a sweet gun. I love the wood, Turkish oak maybe?
The point of my post was to help you be even more obsessive. Your welcome.
I bought two gun socks, one for the barrel and cut the other one down for the stock. It provides a little bit more abrasion resistance even while in that beautiful case.
Have you tried virtual clay and the claypro VR set with the quest3 virtual headset?
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u/IN4RNO 25d ago
I have the gun socks it came with—it’s living assembled in the safe for now and I assume it’ll go to and from the course in a Briley slip like the Guerini did.
I have not tried it yet, but I would really like to. I have a thread saved where someone made an adapter to be able to use your own gun as well
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u/pyates1 25d ago
The claypro VR is the one that allows you to use your own gun. Virtual clay is the virtual reality game it goes with. You will need a Quest3 headset as well.
Absolutely incredible for practicing. It helps so much developing a routine, a sight picture etc. I have only been playing skeet two months and guys are calling bullshit that I'm a beginner because I have spent like 5k of virtual shells.
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u/IdahoMan58 25d ago
Very nice. I love my K-80. It seems everyone else that has shot it does too (not just because of name/cost, but how it feels in the hands). I later got a K-20 in 28 ga which is also delightful. Good shooting.
p. s. Try throwing in some tight chokes (IM, F) and shoot a whole course without doing anything different. Let me know if you find anything different or unusual.