Trap Shooting Questions - Please Help

[xXWildPonyXx]

Ok I have a Bunch Of Questions About SPORTING CLAYS*edit* Shooting. I went to the Sunday 50 clay sporting clays shoot at starview sportsman association. I shot 30 out of 50 which was really good for my first time. I had some things I did wrong that I will correct on my next time around. I missed 5 easy clays because I would go for the hard one first then try to get the easy one, and missed the easy one 5 times I can remember. So instead of getting one I would not get any. Well I was noticing a couple things which arose a few questions.

1. Whats the differences in the chokes and when do you use them? I noticed all the guys in my squad changing choke tubes throughout the stations for different shots and I pretty much did just as good with my 1 modified choke tube.

2. Wat is better to have O/U or semi automatic? That seems to be what everybody uses. The only advantage to O/U is is looks like they can use 2 different choke tubes. Are there any other benefits?

3. Most people in my squad I think were wearing the yellow tinted glasses which don’t do much for the sun. Do they help you see the clays better?

4. Most people were using 3” shells I think, they looked bigger than mine. I was using 2 ¾” do they 3” shells have more pellets or more powder. Im trying to find the best rounds that don’t cost too much. Im shooting the 100rd for 29.99 #7 shot 2 ¾” game and target from dicks. Anything in that price range going to make a big difference?


I had more yesterday but cant think of them I will add more when they come to mind

Thanks for your help

for reference im using a mossberg 500 with a 28" barrel and modified choke

If anybody is looking for a shooting partner (york area) this week let me know supposed to be warm till Thursday-Friday

[Frenchy]

Seeing you have a lot of questions, I will answer in color and leave your text intact.
Ok I have a Bunch Of Questions About Trap Shooting. I went to the Sunday 50 clay trap shoot at starview sportsman association.
Trap is essentially 25 birds, the “trap” house is directly in front of you and there are 5 stations, you shoot one person at the time 5 people max to a squad and 5 rounds per station then rotate, what you define bellow looks more like Sporting clays or perhaps 5 stand.
I shot 30 out of 50 which was really good for my first time.
30/50 for Sporting clays can be average to some, very good to others and down right terrible to experienced shooters. What is good for the first time is actually liking it enough to go back and asking questions.
I had some things I did wrong that I will correct on my next time around. I missed 5 easy clays because I would go for the hard one first then try to get the easy one,
As a general clay rule, you should always take the long shot first then the shallow shots
and missed the easy one 5 times I can remember. So instead of getting one I would not get any. Well I was noticing a couple things which arose a few questions.
Man with big stick make hole in the sky syndrome… We all been there.

1. Whats the differences in the chokes and when do you use them? I noticed all the guys in my squad changing choke tubes throughout the stations for different shots and I pretty much did just as good with my 1 modified choke tube.
As an all round choke tube, Modified is probably the best you will get. As a general rule, O/U folks will have 2 distinct chokes for the duration of the shoot and those can only be determined by the ability of the shooter and the course.
One might have a Modified and an Imperial, or a modified and a skeet.. All depends on the course, Actually, I have heard/seen more people using 2 different shot pending on what they are shooting at that station.

2. Wat is better to have O/U or semi automatic? That seems to be what everybody uses. The only advantage to O/U is is looks like they can use 2 different choke tubes. Are there any other benefits?
With a O/U that you can trigger select the tube being shot, or a double trigger system (see old shotguns) the shooter has the chance of shooting 2 separate shot pattern, where as on an auto/pump shotgun, you have what you have. There are some Semi and or Pumps out there with what is called an “Adjustable” choke that can be adjusted pending on your needs with a twist of the choke. I would be damned if you had time to do this with a loaded gun between shots on a single stage tho.

3. Most people in my squad I think were wearing the yellow tinted glasses which don’t do much for the sun. Do they help you see the clays better?
Yellow has its merits, to some, they will make the brown and green stand out, and the orange/white birds will stand out. I personally prefer an Orange tint, they make the orange clay stand out like a neon.

4. Most people were using 3” shells I think, they looked bigger than mine. I was using 2 ¾” do they 3” shells have more pellets or more powder. Im trying to find the best rounds that don’t cost too much. Im shooting the 100rd for 29.99 #7 shot 2 ¾” game and target from dicks. Anything in that price range going to make a big difference?

Shot being what it is, there are people who can go shoot clays with a .410/28 and hit every thing and others who need a 12G 3’ magnum shot to scare every thing. There is no reason to beat up your shoulder on clays. 2 ¾ game loads or target loads are more then sufficient. 3’ Magnum loads are meant to shoot duck and or turkey, you only need one pellet to break a clay, Why go the extra expense and beat up your shoulder?


I had more yesterday but cant think of them I will add more when they come to mind
The more you get into the clay sports, the more questions you will have.

Thanks for your help

for reference im using a mossberg 500 with a 28" barrel and modified choke

If anybody is looking for a shooting partner (york area) this week let me know supposed to be warm till Thursday-Friday
Best bet for a partner, go to the club and wait, some one will show up, post a sign there that you are interested and your available days and times. Find out when the practice shoots are.

[customloaded]

Originally Posted by daveshepp

Ok I have a Bunch Of Questions About Trap Shooting. I went to the Sunday 50 clay trap shoot at starview sportsman association. I shot 30 out of 50 which was really good for my first time. I had some things I did wrong that I will correct on my next time around.

.

Are you sure you were shooting Trap and not Sporting Clays?


So instead of getting one I would not get any. Well I was noticing a couple things which arose a few questions.

1.

This also leads me to believe you were shooting sporting clays vs Trap. I've never known trap or skeet shooters to change chokes at each station, only sporting clays. My opinion on changing choke tubes is this. Its just something people thing are cool in a group of buddies, a fad if you will in the arena. Unless you are shooting for big money at national level, ain't worth the time to look so important. If memory serves me right, the difference in chokes is only some thousands of an inch and yes, it does affect the pattern and how the shot spreads out but, as a beginner not shooting for big bucks, don't worry about it.

2.

The difference of being better is which gun do you shoot best? I shoot with a pump, O/U, and a semi-auto. Just depends on how Im feeling that day.
Money! Only difference is money and how much I got to spend on this super fancy gun with ingraving. Thats it. I do find since I reload, its easier to get the empty shells from an O/U than a pump or Semi as you just open the breech and pull out hte shells and put them in the shell bag vs bending my lazy ass over and picking them up off the ground.

3.

Two things, one is safety. Shooting glasses are rated to absorb shock incase of some sort of accident. As far as for sun, not so much sun as it filters the various wave lengths of light so the Clay targets appear brighter so they are easier to see, ie shoot.

4.

I'll behave and not say anything about everyone else in your squad having a bigger one than you!! LOL Ok, 3" shells? Again, sounds more like Sporting clays and they just might have been using those but I doubt it. Yes, bigger shells hold more powder and shot. Ok, for trap, most folks shoot #8, Skeet #9, and sporting clays #7 1/2. I shoot what you are shooting for a long time for everything, trap, skeet, sporting clays and did well but the cost pushed me to reloading. The shells you are shooting are fine. I would might maybe go to #8 shot as there will be more pellets and its more universal for all shooting activities.


I had more yesterday but cant think of them I will add more when they come to mind

Thanks for your help

for reference im using a mossberg 500 with a 28" barrel and modified choke

If anybody is looking for a shooting partner (york area) this week let me know supposed to be warm till Thursday-Friday

Your shotgun is fine and is a standard universal model for just about anything. Its perfect for someone just starting out or not Rich.

Feel free to PM me.

[xXWildPonyXx]

yeah i really dont know what to call what i was doing but it was stations all throughout the property. at 1 station you might have 2- doubles then the next you might have 3 doubles. all i really know is it was fun :-) Guess i will learn the lingo over time. i should be getting a 11-87 sometime in the next couple weeks so hopefully that will improve my score. i need to get in more practice time. maybe even get some instructor time in.

[customloaded]

Originally Posted by daveshepp

yeah i really dont know what to call what i was doing but it was stations all throughout the property. at 1 station you might have 2- doubles then the next you might have 3 doubles. all i really know is it was fun :-) Guess i will learn the lingo over time. i should be getting a 11-87 sometime in the next couple weeks so hopefully that will improve my score. i need to get in more practice time. maybe even get some instructor time in.

Hey Bro, no issues. Definately Sporting Clays. If your going to buy a new guy or a new gun to you, ie used, buy and 1100. The 11-87 was tried as an improvement but the reality is, the 1100 is a much better gun. YOu can find good used one's just about anyplace. I would recommend a skeet 1100 with Adjustable chokes. Just a thought.