Shot my first round of trap today

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DustyGmt

DustyGmt

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I went to my local range today and shot 4 rounds of trap. It was great. I wasn't, but the guys were really cool about it. I think I missed 5 in a row at one point. I was a lil jittered out about being new and trying to follow the rhythm of the squad and get into the swing of it so I didn't pay super close attention to how many I missed or what my best round was, all I know is I hit more than I missed and on the 4th round one of the guys started giving me good pointers and they immediately improved my shooting. I think I'm addicted.

I was shooting my 870 TB and they were shooting O/U's. One guy admired it and offered to buy it from me on the spot for over what I paid. Another guy is a national competitor and he had an $20,000 Trap gun, Perazzi I think. Cool group, super helpful and welcoming. Got myself a new Saturday haunt I think. Can't wait to go again. Guy said he gave me enough to chew on for one day and I drew myself a lil schematic of the hold spots he was showing me on where to hold my barrel in relation to the trap house at each station. He said next time he'd tell me a lil about foot stance, etc....

I've been wanting to cut my teeth on trap for a while and I got a lil taste and I really enjoyed it. I would have shot 4 more rounds. What surprised me is I was thinking as I was driving to the range, looking at the 100rd packs of shells, boy I'm gonna be sore if I shoot all those. Funny thing is I shot 100rds of 12ga and don't feel sore at all.

I appreciate a few of you guys here that steered me in the right direction on a few things about trap, I've had a couple threads I started over the last year asking about it and you guys who replied were right, those guys at the range were super helpful and I think happy to see a new trap shooter. When I pulled up to the gate the guy asked if I was there for trap and I told him I was and he seemed pleased I was there.

Good times.
 
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95% of the guys on the trap and skeet ranges are are friendly and helpful, just ignore the other 5%. Our club has mostly good helpful members that will go out of their way to help new shooters and welcome them. I've offered many new shooters a spare gun or extra shells to help them out if they needed them. It all comes back around eventually. Pleased to hear that you have the shotgun bug, although I prefer skeet over trap I can more than hold my own shooting either.
 
Armored farmer said:
Don't get too bug-eyed over those high $$ trapguns. I've broke plenty of 100s with a 870 and a model 12 .

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I think I'm perfectly content with an 870. I do know though, due to the nature of our thing, that could change in a hurry. But at least for now I like just using a quality pump. I'll probably make it a point not to try anybody else's expensive gun. That's key. I think it could be an expensive hobby on its own, nevermind lusting after a $4K-$5K trap gun. I might be after an 1100 after not so long though :D
 
I'm still shooting the TB I bought new in 1975. Several hundred k rounds later the barrel, stock and bolt are the only original parts. I still shoot at or near the top of my two local leagues. That gun will do just fine. I get no bigger thrill (other than seeing my 15 year old granddaughter break a 25) than when I take the money from a P, K, B gun shooter from the fence
 
First step to getting better is to just show up! Seems you got that down. The rest is just learning more every time you shoot. I bought a cheap Mossberg Silver Reserve O/U when I started and people made fun of it because it had a crappy reputation. Shot great for me and when I got my first 25/25 they stopped making fun of it. I bought a Browning Citori a couple years back. Not sure why. I still shoot that Mossberg.
 
You don't need a very exspensive so called Trap gun to do well on Trap. Basic Fundementals and practice will get you where you want to be. i shoot mainly autos I have broke a few 25s with my Field gun. A higher priced gun will not make anyone shoot better. It is only important gun wise that it fit you decently and be reliable You will learn where to hold and foot positioning as you go. In the mean time there is a lot of Good info and videos out there to help you with that. When I first started shooting Trap I wasn't very Good at it. no computors to help but I did read a decent article in a gun magazine that explained where to hold at each station. Doubled my scores right away. Been shooting Trap off and On ever since. A Little Skeet Too. Enjoy and welcome to the Wing Shooting Sports.
 
There is another Post asking about begining Trap Shooting a few Pages down from This one. It has an Early Film done by the Remington Pros That is VERY GOOD. I suggest you check it Out. Anyone can get help watching it novice and Pro alike. Good Luck and Good Shooting!!!!
 
Fishingted said:
You don't need a very exspensive so called Trap gun to do well on Trap. Basic Fundementals and practice will get you where you want to be. i shoot mainly autos I have broke a few 25s with my Field gun. A higher priced gun will not make anyone shoot better. It is only important gun wise that it fit you decently and be reliable You will learn where to hold and foot positioning as you go. In the mean time there is a lot of Good info and videos out there to help you with that. When I first started shooting Trap I wasn't very Good at it. no computors to help but I did read a decent article in a gun magazine that explained where to hold at each station. Doubled my scores right away. Been shooting Trap off and On ever since. A Little Skeet Too. Enjoy and welcome to the Wing Shooting Sports.
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What that brochure I linked to above does with pics and explanations
 
George P said:
Print this out; Remington stopped printing these a while ago:
http://www.damascusiwla.org/Remington_Trap_Fundamentals_2004.pdf

Gives a lot of good basic pointers on foot position, hold points, etc.
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Will definitely give it a look. I believe in my Beginner Trap Thread a while back you or someone else linked a video that looked to be from about 1950's-early 60's. Very old grainy footage but very well done. I'm going to revisit it now that I'm officially into it and not just thinking about it.

One thing I noticed while watching that video a while back is the clays looked like they turned into a puff of chimney dust. That's what I was hoping for at the trap range the other day, I thought having a tightly choked trap bbl would do that, I'm guessing maybe modern clays are more prone to shatter and break as opposed to older clays turning into a lil cloud of dust. They appeared to vaporize :D that's what I was hoping for.
 
If you want to "smoke them" you'll use a Full choke. That said, for a new shooter, from the 16 yard line, a LM or M will break clays; as one old timer told me....."25 chips beats 24 inkblots EVERY time"
Look at that brochure, maybe get a lesson, and learn HOW to shoot , then practice. Once you get your form, etc. down pat, then start to tighten up your choke
 
DustyGmt said:
Will definitely give it a look. I believe in my Beginner Trap Thread a while back you or someone else linked a video that looked to be from about 1950's-early 60's. Very old grainy footage but very well done. I'm going to revisit it now that I'm officially into it and not just thinking about it.

One thing I noticed while watching that video a while back is the clays looked like they turned into a puff of chimney dust. That's what I was hoping for at the trap range the other day, I thought having a tightly choked trap bbl would do that, I'm guessing maybe modern clays are more prone to shatter and break as opposed to older clays turning into a lil cloud of dust. They appeared to vaporize :D that's what I was hoping for.
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I Think You are Right Sometimes I get a real Pretty Starburst when I get perfect direct hit. but I never just vaporize them like in the video. I think They make em a little tougher than the old ones. I recall back in the day a lot more targets would break from the throwers which you hardly see anymore. I actually like to watch that video before I am going to the range. Great refresher on proper tecknique.
 
George P said:
If you want to "smoke them" you'll use a Full choke. That said, for a new shooter, from the 16 yard line, a LM or M will break clays; as one old timer told me....."25 chips beats 24 inkblots EVERY time"
Look at that brochure, maybe get a lesson, and learn HOW to shoot , then practice. Once you get your form, etc. down pat, then start to tighten up your choke
Click to expand...
Improved Modified is my Fovorite Choke for front line Trap.
 
Fishingted said:
I Think You are Right Sometimes I get a real Pretty Starburst when I get perfect direct hit. but I never just vaporize them like in the video. I think They make em a little tougher than the old ones. I recall back in the day a lot more targets would break from the throwers which you hardly see anymore. I actually like to watch that video before I am going to the range. Great refresher on proper tecknique.
Click to expand...
If they are throwing BIO targets, those are a little harder (physically) due to the difference in materials used. otherwise, the targets haven't changed in their construction in forever.
 
George P said:
If you want to "smoke them" you'll use a Full choke..........Once you get your form, etc. down pat, then start to tighten up your choke
Click to expand...

I actually have a 870 TB 30" Vent Rib Fixed Full Choke barrel, shooting from 16y. Maybe since it was my first day I wasn't hitting them straight on enough so as to smoke them, either that or the composition of the clays didn't lend itself well to "smoke".
 
George P said:
If they are throwing BIO targets, those are a little harder (physically) due to the difference in materials used. otherwise, the targets haven't changed in their construction in forever.
Click to expand...
Ah yes, I bet they are biodegradable. That's typically what I see for sale at wally, and is probably what they were using. I would like to try a different brand, if you know of any that will give me the desired effect feel free to shout em out.
 
DustyGmt said:
I actually have a 870 TB 30" Vent Rib Fixed Full Choke barrel, shooting from 16y. Maybe since it was my first day I wasn't hitting them straight on enough so as to smoke them, either that or the composition of the clays didn't lend itself well to "smoke".
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Yea Just remember a Break is a Break LOL.
 
DustyGmt said:
Ah yes, I bet they are biodegradable. That's typically what I see for sale at wally, and is probably what they were using. I would like to try a different brand, if you know of any that will give me the desired effect feel free to shout em out.
Click to expand...
BIO targets need to have the sulfur in them neutralized with lime or similar or they will kill all of the vegetation where they land.
 
DustyGmt said:
I think I'm perfectly content with an 870. I do know though, due to the nature of our thing, that could change in a hurry. But at least for now I like just using a quality pump. I'll probably make it a point not to try anybody else's expensive gun. That's key. I think it could be an expensive hobby on its own, nevermind lusting after a $4K-$5K trap gun. I might be after an 1100 after not so long though :D
Click to expand...
Just Bought a Vintage SKB XL 900 Trap Model. 30 inch full choke Monty Carlo Stock Higher vented Rib and Hi Vis Front Bead. Fits me Well. Love it. Stole it on Gun Broker for 355.00 plus shipping and FFL agents charges. First Dedicated trap shotgun I ever owned. To be Honest I could hunt Tree Rats and Pheasants with it No Problem. One thing I love about my XL 900s is they will digest about anything 2 3/4 regardless of power. The guts on them are built like a tank. I have 3 of them. Two 12s and a 20 gauge. One of the 12s will also take 3 inch magnums with the properly chambered Barrel. Which I do have. The 20 is also chambered 3 inch with a switch on the barrel for high or low powered shells. Lotta fun on Skeet and sometimes I shoot trap with it For Kicks and Giggles LOL. Got bryley choke tubes in it.
 
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George P said:
If you want to "smoke them" you'll use a Full choke. That said, for a new shooter, from the 16 yard line, a LM or M will break clays; as one old timer told me....."25 chips beats 24 inkblots EVERY time"
Look at that brochure, maybe get a lesson, and learn HOW to shoot , then practice. Once you get your form, etc. down pat, then start to tighten up your choke
Click to expand...
Great Advice. If I had it to do all Over again I would of hired a Good Coach from the Get Go. Would have saved a Ton of Shell Money in the Long run. Always said hitting is more fun than not hitting. I recall being on a skeet range and missing a particular target almost everytime. A fella shooting with me told me how to set up on that target and I never missed it again. A good coach can be worth their weight in Gold and Shell Money LOL
 
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DustyGmt said:
I was a lil jittered out about being new and trying to follow the rhythm of the squad and get into the swing of it
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You're new. Seasoned shooters will understand if you shoot at your own pace.

DustyGmt said:
I'll probably make it a point not to try anybody else's expensive gun. That's key.
Click to expand...

:D Very, very, True! That's how I got the Ljutic bug, and I've infected the Club President; he shot mine, scored a 23, and has been quietly asking me where he can find one.

Fishingted said:
There is another Post asking about begining Trap Shooting a few Pages down from This one. It has an Early Film done by the Remington Pros That is VERY GOOD. I suggest you check it Out. Anyone can get help watching it novice and Pro alike. Good Luck and Good Shooting!!!!
Click to expand...

I often refer back to it, the fundamentals are just that, and they never change. This video will get you shooting a 20; from there it's all between the ears.

DustyGmt said:
I actually have a 870 TB 30" Vent Rib Fixed Full Choke barrel, shooting from 16y. Maybe since it was my first day I wasn't hitting them straight on enough so as to smoke them, either that or the composition of the clays didn't lend itself well to "smoke".
Click to expand...

Bios are very, very, hard to inkball. I was inkballing the White Flyers I hit with mine Thursday, but that was only 16/25. (See my 'Another Grail Gun Achieved' thread about that.)
 
entropy said:
Bios are very, very, hard to inkball. I was inkballing the White Flyers I hit with mine Thursday, but that was only 16/25. (See my 'Another Grail Gun Achieved' thread about that.)
Click to expand...

I was admiring your gun in that thread, looks alot like mine :D. I didn't want to bugger up your thread with a pic of my gun but this is mine.
IMG_20210427_151242.jpg


I was a lil unsure of my consumer prowess after having paid what I paid (6 and change), but after the older feller who is well established in the trap scene pawing over my gun and making offers, I felt much better. Your "Grail" thread didn't hurt my feelings either.
 
You paid a fair price. Beautiful TB! I had a guy offer me more than double what I paid for my Model 12 right away, but I'm keeping that one, too. The guys I shoot with know I won't be selling my 870 TB.
 
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