So, about a month ago, I finally escaped from PRK, moved to Plano, TX with my company, and have been aching to go shooting again (my guns have been in storage for almost 4 months). This morning, before work, I went to "Backwoods" range out on highway 380 and shot clay pigeons.
Now, I've never fired a shotgun in my life, and have usually stuck to rifles and handguns. This sounded like fun, and one of my coworkers is a shotgunner, so I said what the heck.
I read all of the 101s and a few of the old TFL threads by Dave McC (well, actually, I read all of them) so I could get a heads up on posture and behaviour, etc, and get in a mindset for firing this alien gun in an alien manner (moving targets).
So, I got up on that platform (having no idea what it's called), loaded the shotgun (a 20 ga of unknown brand (I didn't think to check)), and took aim... Shotgun up, finger off the trigger, legs spread, left leg forward a foot, left knee bent, and body leaning into the gun. Flipped off the safety, called "Pull?" in a tentative voice, and heard a dull thunk. A split second later, there was a loud BOOM, and a shower of black particles appeared many yards in front of me. I called "Pull." again, a little more firmly this time, and the BOOM ended with the little black clay frisbee clipped and spun into a million pieces in the grass. I missed the next few, and finally took a break to let my friends have their shots (we only had the one shotgun). Next time up, I missed almost every pigeon. Huh.. Still, it was fun to try!
Next turn, the first shot ended with a shower of clay particles. And then the next. And then the next. And then the next. "Gimme two." I said. "Pull!" I was much more certain this time. The clay on the right exploded, but the left one hit the ground. I repeated this several more times, sometimes hitting one, sometimes hitting both, until my arms were shaking, and another break was necessary. The 4th time at the platform, I shot 9/10 singles, and then went for more doubles. POP POP! Two clouds of clay bits. POP POP POP! Two more clouds. POP! POP POP! One cloud. I couldn't hold the rifle anymore at this point, so I surrendered it, and the group proceeded on to the pistol range, which... I'm sad to say, was compartively boring.
I think I'm in love. I've never done anything quite like shooting those clay pigeons. And though in total I probably missed around 50% of the clay pigeons, it was still FUN!!! I think I'm going to go buy a shotgun tomorrow. But I have a question for you folks who're far more experienced than me... Aside from kick, what is the main difference in result from a 20ga to a 12ga? Should I stick with 20ga as a beginner? Or should I go with a 12ga? Dave McC listed the 'Big Four', and after his stories, I'm very interested in trying out one of these older Remington 870s. What sort of barrel length should I be looking for, as a beginner? I really wish I could try these out, but the clay range doesn't have rentals, and I'm fairly certain the indoor range (Bullet Trap) doesn't allow shot on the lanes. Also, is there a good website or book or something that details clay shooting? Terminology, rules, etc?
I'm sold on shotgunning. I just need a little helpful info.
Thanks!
Tom Rodriguez
edit: I also meant to ask: I have a tendancy to aim down the barrel with my left (non-dominant) eye closed. Is this improper?
Now, I've never fired a shotgun in my life, and have usually stuck to rifles and handguns. This sounded like fun, and one of my coworkers is a shotgunner, so I said what the heck.
I read all of the 101s and a few of the old TFL threads by Dave McC (well, actually, I read all of them) so I could get a heads up on posture and behaviour, etc, and get in a mindset for firing this alien gun in an alien manner (moving targets).
So, I got up on that platform (having no idea what it's called), loaded the shotgun (a 20 ga of unknown brand (I didn't think to check)), and took aim... Shotgun up, finger off the trigger, legs spread, left leg forward a foot, left knee bent, and body leaning into the gun. Flipped off the safety, called "Pull?" in a tentative voice, and heard a dull thunk. A split second later, there was a loud BOOM, and a shower of black particles appeared many yards in front of me. I called "Pull." again, a little more firmly this time, and the BOOM ended with the little black clay frisbee clipped and spun into a million pieces in the grass. I missed the next few, and finally took a break to let my friends have their shots (we only had the one shotgun). Next time up, I missed almost every pigeon. Huh.. Still, it was fun to try!
Next turn, the first shot ended with a shower of clay particles. And then the next. And then the next. And then the next. "Gimme two." I said. "Pull!" I was much more certain this time. The clay on the right exploded, but the left one hit the ground. I repeated this several more times, sometimes hitting one, sometimes hitting both, until my arms were shaking, and another break was necessary. The 4th time at the platform, I shot 9/10 singles, and then went for more doubles. POP POP! Two clouds of clay bits. POP POP POP! Two more clouds. POP! POP POP! One cloud. I couldn't hold the rifle anymore at this point, so I surrendered it, and the group proceeded on to the pistol range, which... I'm sad to say, was compartively boring.
I think I'm in love. I've never done anything quite like shooting those clay pigeons. And though in total I probably missed around 50% of the clay pigeons, it was still FUN!!! I think I'm going to go buy a shotgun tomorrow. But I have a question for you folks who're far more experienced than me... Aside from kick, what is the main difference in result from a 20ga to a 12ga? Should I stick with 20ga as a beginner? Or should I go with a 12ga? Dave McC listed the 'Big Four', and after his stories, I'm very interested in trying out one of these older Remington 870s. What sort of barrel length should I be looking for, as a beginner? I really wish I could try these out, but the clay range doesn't have rentals, and I'm fairly certain the indoor range (Bullet Trap) doesn't allow shot on the lanes. Also, is there a good website or book or something that details clay shooting? Terminology, rules, etc?
I'm sold on shotgunning. I just need a little helpful info.
Thanks!
Tom Rodriguez
edit: I also meant to ask: I have a tendancy to aim down the barrel with my left (non-dominant) eye closed. Is this improper?