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Trap Shooting in High Winds, the Medusa Revolver & Beating Auction Premiums
Estimated reading time: 4 min
Dan from Fullerton calls in with a trap shooting story from a punishing wind day at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, makes the case for the Remington 870 as a beginner trap gun, and plugs Gunslinger Auctions for shotgun shoppers. Mark from Huntington Beach asks about the Phillips and Rogers Medusa Model 47, a rare multi-caliber revolver from the 1990s that has not been sold in California since around 2000. The segment closes with a practical breakdown of the bidding options at Gunslinger Auctions and a reminder of what makes the Highway 39 Event Center worth showing up to in person.
Trap Shooting in High Winds at Prado
Dan from Fullerton is the self-described exalted president of his high school class trap club, a position he acquired when everyone else took a step back and he was too slow to follow. The club shoots twice a week and rotates between Prado Olympic Shooting Park in Chino and LA Clays Shooting Sports Park in South El Monte. This past Friday he called for an outing at Prado based on a forecast of 5 to 6 mph winds. The forecast was off by a factor of roughly four. One shooter lost his hat and his ear protection at the same time. A clay going out 90 feet and then climbing in a crosswind becomes a genuinely different problem from a calm-day presentation, and the scores reflected that. Dan finished with 35 out of 50, well below his 44 to 45 average, tied for the lead, and settled it in a sudden death shootout.
He opened the session on a Winchester Model 12 with a full choke barrel, a gun approaching its hundredth birthday in 2028 and gifted to him by a cousin when the club got started on Bastille Day a few years back. When the first 25 got away from him he switched to a Browning 725 and pulled things back together. His recommendation to anyone who has not tried trap: start with whatever you have. A standard Remington 870 with a modified choke barrel is enough to get on the range and learn the sport. Once you are ready to move up or add a dedicated trap gun, Gunslinger Auctions is a reliable place to find quality shotguns at market prices. Skeet can wait until trap is comfortable, not the other way around.
The Phillips and Rogers Medusa Model 47: A Multi-Caliber Revolver
Mark from Huntington Beach, preparing to leave California for the Midwest, brought up the Phillips and Rogers Medusa Model 47, a revolver that most gun dealers and collectors have either never encountered or only read about. The Medusa was produced in limited numbers during the 1990s with a design goal that sounds impossible on paper: a single revolver capable of chambering and firing a wide range of cartridges in the 9mm and .38 caliber family without a cylinder swap. The cylinder was engineered with an extractor system that could headspace and fire rounds ranging from 9mm Parabellum and .38 Special through .357 Magnum and a number of related cartridges, depending on the specific configuration. It was a genuine engineering achievement built in very small quantities.
California’s handgun roster has kept the Medusa off the legal sales market in the state since around 2000, so the crew’s familiarity with it as a working dealer firearm is understandably limited. For collectors in states without a restricted roster, examples do surface at specialty auctions and private sales, though parts and manufacturer support are essentially nonexistent given that Phillips and Rogers ceased production decades ago. It is a collector curiosity with a devoted following among people who appreciate the engineering problem it was trying to solve.
Auction Bidding Options: Live, Phone, Sealed, and Online
Before the break the crew laid out the bidding options available at Gunslinger Auctions for buyers who cannot attend in person. Online bidding through HiBid and Proxibid is available but carries buyer’s premiums. Sealed bids and phone bids bypass those platform premiums and put the buyer in direct contact with the house. Phone bidding in particular allows a buyer to stay live on a lot as it moves, reacting to the room the same way an in-person bidder would. The crew was candid that showing up in person remains the best way to avoid premium charges and to experience the auction on its own terms.
The venue for in-person bidding is the Highway 39 Event Center in Anaheim, a space that doubles as a showcase for classic cars, motorcycles, and vintage neon signage. The firearms auction runs right in the middle of all of it, which makes for an unusual and genuinely enjoyable afternoon even if you walk out without buying anything. For the May 30 sale, doors open at 9am for registration with the hammer dropping at 10am PT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What shotgun should a beginner use for trap shooting?
A standard pump-action shotgun with a modified choke barrel, such as a Remington 870, is more than adequate to start shooting trap. The sport does not require a dedicated trap gun to participate or improve. Once a shooter is comfortable with the basics and ready to invest in a purpose-built over-under or dedicated trap gun, options like the Browning 725 or similar competition-grade shotguns are worth considering. Skeet is a more demanding discipline and better approached after trap fundamentals are solid.
What is the Phillips and Rogers Medusa Model 47 revolver?
The Medusa Model 47 was a limited-production revolver manufactured by Phillips and Rogers in the 1990s, designed to chamber and fire a wide range of cartridges in the 9mm and .38 caliber family from a single cylinder without modification. Cartridges ranging from 9mm Parabellum through .38 Special and .357 Magnum could be used interchangeably, depending on configuration. Very few were made, the company no longer operates, and parts support is essentially unavailable. It is primarily a collector firearm valued for the engineering concept it represented.
Can I buy a Phillips and Rogers Medusa in California?
No. The Medusa has not appeared on California’s approved handgun roster since approximately 2000 and cannot be sold new or transferred through a dealer in the state under current law. Collectors in other states may find examples at specialty auctions or through private party transfers, though supply is extremely limited given the small original production run.
How can I bid at a Gunslinger Auctions sale if I cannot attend in person?
Gunslinger Auctions offers online bidding through HiBid and Proxibid, sealed bids submitted in advance, and live phone bidding during the sale. Online bidding carries buyer’s premiums charged by the platforms. Sealed bids and phone bids bypass those platform fees and connect you directly with the auction house. Phone bidding allows you to stay live on a lot and respond to floor activity in real time, which is the closest remote equivalent to being in the room.
What is the Winchester Model 12 and why is it considered a classic trap gun?
The Winchester Model 12 is a hammerless pump-action shotgun produced from 1912 through 1964, with limited custom production continuing afterward. It was the dominant competition shotgun in American trap and skeet for decades, valued for its smooth action, tight tolerances, and the feel of its slide operation. Full choke barrel configurations were standard for trap use. Original Model 12s in good condition are collectible firearms in their own right, and a example approaching its hundredth birthday remains a perfectly functional trap gun in the hands of a shooter who knows it.
Sources, Credibility, and Continuing the Conversation
The recommendations and observations herein rest on decades of hands-on experience: restorations, hunts, auctioneering, and studio conversation. Practical advice leans best when tempered by cautious humility – test gear, vet sellers, and keep learning from trusted elders in the trade.