Got invited to shoot trap...

[Oleg Volk]

...by a friend who was a rabid anti only ten months ago. She brought two other female friends along.

We brought a SxS .410 Stevens 311 and a Winchester Lady Defender 20ga pump. The range provided an instructor, and we shot first a round with 410, handing off the gun every five shots, then two rounds with the 20ga (which they all liked better). On the way back, it turned out that my friend is considering buying a youth-sized shotgun, also wants to go shoots SMGs and they all wanted to try IDPA. They kept saying how friendly and helpful everyone was at the range.

So, there! Patience and logic work out in the long run...though I admit to having had some of my attitudes improved by the association with her also.

 

[straightShot]

Well done!

 

[Dorian]

Wow.... congrats!

 

[ruger270man]

thats awesome.. I dont think many pro-gun people become anti-gun, but I bet a lot of anti-gun people become pro gun..

Gee, wonder why that is..

Hopefully there is a dominoe effect, and they tell their liberal friends how much fun shooting is..

 

[keyhole]

Cool! And shooting trap seems to always provide more fun to new shooters, with the "instant feedback" of bustin birds. And can always learn something new, even from anti's.

 

[George S.]

Trap is a whole lot of fun and doesn't really cost a lot of money to get into. And you got invited by ladies!

Think it was over 40 years ago that I first got to try out trap shooting. My dad bought me a Winchester Model 37 in 12 gauge and I still have it. I seem to remember waking up the next morning with a pretty sore shoulder.

 

[mondocomputerman]

Sounds great! You got any pics?

 

[Waitone]

Oleg, does this mean you've step away from the dark side (pistols) into the bright light of shotties and latte?

Say it ain't so !

 

[jerryd]

Try them all! Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays used to love going to Remington Gun range in Lordship Ct. Home of the Great Eastern Used to watch all the pros shoot all the great shotguns that i couldnt afford then and now! Got to meet Robert Stack the actor, still drool at all the beautiful shotguns!! By the way i was never that good, just alot of fun!!

 

[280PLUS]

cool,,,

Get good with the 20 or even .410 ga and you will annoy a lot of peeps that can't hit with a 12. THEN when you do use a 12, why, you just don't seem to be able to miss.

I like Remington's 870 express in the youth cut 20 ga. myself, some might not like the pump action for doubles though. I bought it for my oldest when he was 12 but kinda still have it in my safe (he's 21 now) and use it occasionally when I feel like shooting clays. I do rather well with it and it DOES annoy the guys with the big $ guns. Plus there are a few out there who can appreciate those with the skill to do well with a small Ga gun which is good for a little recognition by those who are in the know.

Also a great home defense gun because it is legally short, light, fast and mama can handle the recoil of a 20 Ga no problem.

I never have straightened out which is "trap" and which is "skeet". I keep fergettin'.

Happy Shootin' !

 

[Oleg Volk]

Trap is simple, birds going away. Skeet is a variety of harder shots. No pics -- the range faced away from the light, and I was busy learning along with them anyway. But I'll get new photos of Niki with guns next time.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

See? This is why I've never tried trap, skeet or sporting clays. I might like. And then I'd start looking at Ruger Red Labels... or even better: Perazzi... yummy!

And this "hobby" is expensive enough as it is.

 

[gotbass]

Oleg - Actually trap is harder. In trap you never know what direction the bird is going to go. In skeet the bird always travels the same path. In trap the better you get the further back you shoot for handicap, where in skeet you always shoot from the same places. Skeet is made harder by shooting smaller gauges. To shoot really really well in either is as much mental as mechanical ability. Not really cheap either as there is a temptation to always aquire the Holy Grail gun. There is no such thing as too many guns. Mike

 

[Dave McCracken]

Oleg, Kudoes!!!

Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays are as much fun as one can have standing up and fully dressed. It doesn't take a fancy shotgun either, most pump guns work well if the shooter's up to it.

And, there's instant gratification. If you do things right, you see the target explode right then and there.

Destroying things loudly is good therapy.....

 

[280PLUS]

Destroying things loudly is good therapy.....

I second that emotion,,,

 

[Brian Dale]

Persistence pays off ... good work, Oleg!

{Note to self: try trap this spring}

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Oleg,
Since you were learning also, do you have any tips on trap for a guy who would love to do this on a regular basis, but who sucked at it on the 2 occasions he's tried it? Technique, shotgun, etc. Don't have a shotgun now, but was considering a Remington 11/87.

 

[bogie]

Oleg, bring 'em camping to the Creek if they wanna shoot some buzzguns. This year should be fairly civilized...

 

[TrapperReady]

Trap is simple, birds going away. Skeet is a variety of harder shots.

Slight correction. Skeet is a variety of different shots. Since it has a lot of crossers, many people consider them more difficult. However, once you work out the lead necessary, and get a little practice, it's no more difficult.

Trap isn't too difficult to get pretty good at. It can be maddening to become nearly perfect, due to the randomness of the target presentations.

In any event, good job with the "conversion".

 

[kudu]

I didn't think anyone could miss those big clay bowls thrown in the air with all that shot in a shotgun.

Well Oleg, maybe you might hang out with us in the shotgun section more often. But watch out for sm, he might lead you astray or get you in trouble.

 

[Oleg Volk]

Whenever I go a few months w/o practice, I suck at trap badly. I shoot with a 20ga cylinder bore, it's ok for the purpose. The best I've ever shot was with with an IC choke 1187 Police with rifle sights, for some reason.

 

[Brian Dale]

Oleg, kudu wrote,

watch out for sm, he might lead you astray or get you in trouble.

Just remember to stay in the boat.

 

[capnrik]

I shoot with a 20ga cylinder bore, it's ok for the purpose.

Oleg, with experience you may find that to shoot Trap from the regulation 16 yard line, a full choke 12 gauge is the right tool. In any case, a day spent shooting with pretty girls reinforces the notion that we truly are the richest nation on earth. Congrats!

 

[Travis McGee]

KUDOS! One mind at a time, we'll take back the country!