clay shooting

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Jeremiah10:23

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West Virginia
My son got his first try at the clays this past weekend and is now addicted.

Does anyone know of skeet range in the Huntington WV area?

What would be a good inexpensive gun to recommend to him?
 
Here is a list of clubs in WV:

http://www.claytargetsonline.com/list.php/WV

He needs to try as many as he can and find the ones that fit him and THEN you decide from there. Buying a gun just because it is the cheapest - if it doesn't fit - will make the fun into torture from the effects of recoil and the frustration from missing the targets
What is the difference between these? They are listed on the ranges on the map.


Skeet Trap 5 Stand Sporting FITASC Other Birds
No Yes No No No No No
 
For your first response - it is telling you what clay games it offers - it would seem that club only offers trap, not skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand or FITASC

Each is a game unto itself, different rules, different layout, etc.

As to "fit" - it really is hard to describe over the net without watching how he shoots now. That being said, there are a few good threads on this at www.shotgunworld.com by a stock fitter named Rollin Oswald.

Fit is MORE than just "length of pull"; it is also cast on or off, pitch, toe in or out, drop at heel, drop at comb, thickness of comb, etc. For basics getting started, this might help a little:

Start with an UNLOADED gun and pick a spot at a room distance (say where two walls and the ceiling form a corner. Essentially, the gun should be able to be held comfortably in both hands - and with eyes closed - brought to the shoulder and mounted in a natural movement so that when he opens his eyes, he is looking at that spot he picked out and not seeing any rib in his peripheral. Shotguns used for clay games and upland birds are pointed, not aimed, so this ability to do it without effort is somewhat crucial. He should NOT be "scrunched" up on the stock like it is a M-4, nor should his arms be so extended he can barely hold the gun. A slight forward leaning stance - NEVER bent backwards.

Many fitters will advocate one or two fingers space between where his trigger thumb rests on the stock and his nose - that can vary obviously depending on arm length - (which on a young growing kid can vary a LOT! ;))

This is assuming he is same eye/hand dominant and not cross dominant.

He should NOT be getting shoulder or cheek bruises of any kind if it fits properly.

For targets nothing more than 1oz will save recoil effects and still break targets.

A gas gun recoils less than an equal weight pump, but costs more. If this is just casual, a pump MAY be a decent way to start. Depending on his age there may be a SCTP program in your area where shooting is done through the school
http://www.shootsctp.org/

If so, THAT would be a great place for him to get better fitted, checked for eye dominance, learn the rules and ropes, try different guns, etc.

Good luck!

Most importantly, stay safe and have fun
 
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