I made my first trip to the trap field today. In fact, it was my first attempt at any type of clay shooting, and my first time shooting since I was a kid (over 20 years ago 
).
I first have to say that if I hadn't spent the past few weeks lurking around here, it would have been far less fun and I'd have been far more nervous than I was. I was grateful for the advice and patience of the trap minder and my fellow shooters, who were all college-age kids and were a lot of fun to B.S. with when we were done.
I'm pleased with how things went, in spite of a couple of embarrasing moments (forgot to take off the safety twice, forgot to chamber a round once), and a minor blunder or two (the first round, I started loading up 3 shells, until informed I should only do one at a time and leave the action open between shots). I should have just sat down with the range monitor before starting and asked all my questions before stepping up to the firing line.
In any event, it was a gorgeous fall day in Colorado, my Dad's old Sears 200 performed flawlessly, and I'll only have minor bruising from a few bad mounts / lapses in concentration. I'll be back again, and I'll bring some friends next time.
Oh - and I thought 14 and 18 weren't bad scores, all things considered. At least by the second round I was relaxed enough to remember not to just point and bang.
It was the most fun I've had for less than $20 in a very long time. Thanks to Dave McC, Armed Bear, sm, any everyone else here who's ever posted any bit of helpful advice to new shooters. Since my friends here either don't shoot or don't have the time to go when I do, you've all done a great job as virtual mentors.
).I first have to say that if I hadn't spent the past few weeks lurking around here, it would have been far less fun and I'd have been far more nervous than I was. I was grateful for the advice and patience of the trap minder and my fellow shooters, who were all college-age kids and were a lot of fun to B.S. with when we were done.
I'm pleased with how things went, in spite of a couple of embarrasing moments (forgot to take off the safety twice, forgot to chamber a round once), and a minor blunder or two (the first round, I started loading up 3 shells, until informed I should only do one at a time and leave the action open between shots). I should have just sat down with the range monitor before starting and asked all my questions before stepping up to the firing line.
In any event, it was a gorgeous fall day in Colorado, my Dad's old Sears 200 performed flawlessly, and I'll only have minor bruising from a few bad mounts / lapses in concentration.
I'll be back again, and I'll bring some friends next time.Oh - and I thought 14 and 18 weren't bad scores, all things considered. At least by the second round I was relaxed enough to remember not to just point and bang.
It was the most fun I've had for less than $20 in a very long time. Thanks to Dave McC, Armed Bear, sm, any everyone else here who's ever posted any bit of helpful advice to new shooters. Since my friends here either don't shoot or don't have the time to go when I do, you've all done a great job as virtual mentors.
