Tried Sporting Clays

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mdThanatos

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For the first time in 25 years of shooting, I decided to try out a real shotgun range. I have never shot Skeet, Trap, or Sporting Clays before today and found out about a local range that was closer than the rifle/pistol range I frequent, so that's what I did.

I recently purchased a Remington V3 but decided to use one of the rental guns they had, a Browning 725 with 32" barrels. I let the owner know that I had never done any formal shotgun shooting and he suggested that shotgun, brought me four boxes of shells, and gave me a tour of the Sporting Clays area as well as provided some instruction on what direction the clays would be flying.

I didn't keep track of my hits but I did hit more targets than I missed. I had a pretty good time and am kind of kicking myself for not getting into it sooner. All I know is those hundred shells went by way too fast, although my shoulder is a little sore now. There is another range close by that does Skeet and Trap that I want to visit to see how I like those.

On a side note, I decided to look up the shotgun I used to see some specs and pricing on it..........all I can say is wow. Don't know if I will be buying an over-under anytime soon, but I will definitely try out my V3 for busting clays.
 
My 1100 semi dampens recoil. Using 1 oz loads helps, too. ... But I do lust after a Beretta Silver Pigeon O/U. Maybe 20 gauge would help, too.
 
Welcome to the dark side.

The one guy I shoot with was having trouble with sporting targets so he got with me and I worked with him on skeet which will give you about 80% of the variations you will see in a sporting clay range. After almost a year of skeet shooting, about 2000 shells give or take he improved on his trip to the sporting clays range and brought his average of about 50% to about 80%. We still shoot more skeet than anything else as our sporting range is a 100 bird course and I can shoot 3-4s round of skeet in half the time and price that a round of sporting costs in time and money.
 
I like over under and side by sides for the fast sharp recoil impulse. It may sound odd but Tbh for me I get on target faster. Might be psychological, but I like it more. The recoil almost feels more ‘predictable’. I also like them for the traditional aesthetic and old world feel.

Also for the bruised shoulder, just make sure you get good contact with that mount! I would feel sore at first, but now I don’t since my low ready mount is like muscle memory.

I hope you enjoy, because you won’t stop!
 
after years of trap and skeet I tried sporting clays and found 100 straight was not in the cards! the changing set ups every week really made it challenging. great fun but lots of money.
 
My main shooting hobby with hundreds of thousands of rounds fired over the last 35 years or so. Sporting is always changing which is why I like it over trap or skeet.

ZZ Birds and pigeons are even more challenging (and expensive). Over the long haul the gun is the cheapest part of this, even the $15K target guns.
 
I got into sporting clays a few years ago and wish I had discovered it sooner. It's humbling at first but everybody starts out with lots of misses unless they are already an experienced trap & skeet shooter. Originally used my High Standard 12 ga. pump with modified choke until I found a nice deal on a mint, late model, 12 Ga. Browning Citori Over & Under, which was one of my "dream guns". Shot in an informal Sat. morning league at my club until my step grand daughter needed transportation for her Sat. morning archery league so now sporting clays is on the back burner temporarily. Can't wait to get back to it.
 
George P said:
My main shooting hobby with hundreds of thousands of rounds fired over the last 35 years or so. Sporting is always changing which is why I like it over trap or skeet.

ZZ Birds and pigeons are even more challenging (and expensive). Over the long haul the gun is the cheapest part of this, even the $15K target guns.
Click to expand...
Sporting clays is my favorite kind of shooting. I agree it’s definitely harder and that’s why I like it too. It’s also the best way to practice for the real birds.
 
Sporting Clays is the best! It’s like golf with guns. You get different target presentations that can vary at each station any given day. For a real challenge, approach the stand without looking at the signage which shows which direction the clays will come from.
 
mdThanatos said:
On a side note, I decided to look up the shotgun I used to see some specs and pricing on it..........all I can say is wow. Don't know if I will be buying an over-under anytime soon, but I will definitely try out my V3 for busting clays.
Click to expand...

SELL ALL OF THE THINGS AND BUY ONE. You won't regret it. :D

Sporting clays are my absolute favorite shooting sport. There is just so much variety that you always feel challenged.
 
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