Help me start trap shooting!

[Glock19Fan]

Hello.

Today was my first time trap shooting, and overall, I dont think I did too well, about 10 out of 25 clays.

I want to join the team, but I dont know where to start. I need a good shotgun (preferably no more than $250) an accurate load, and some tips on shooting.

Any help would be really appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[BozemanMT]

Take a lesson.
failing that, mounting the gun is most important.
Aim in front, in shotgun you are almost always behind the bird. (miss in front, if you have to miss).
Remington 870 pump.
the cheapest ammo you can find, you'll use a lot of it.
1oz loads do just fine.

 

[mattw]

I got an 870 express with a 26" barrel, modified choke. I have been using winchester and federal 8 and 7 1/2 shot.

the 870 cost $214 total
you can buy a box of 100 shells from wal-mart for $15
you can buy a box of clays for $4
you can buy a launcher for $20
all of that = $253.00

i should be using a tighter choke, but since the spring on my launcher is weak it does alright. for practice the value pack ammo is great, for competition you might want to use the high-brass shells with more powder so that you can get the farther clays (recoil should not be a factor since you are using bird shot).

the best thing to practice is mounting the shotgun, like bozeman said. try experimenting from low-ready, unmounted, and mounted positions to see which one you can get the most hits from. I do better from unmounted because i guess i think too much when i am already mounted. the key is to practice enough so that you can "feel" where to put the gun, not just see where the clay is and see where your gun is pointed.

a few hundred rounds and you'll get the hang of it

 

[Dave McCracken]

The Archives contain much info, including the 101 threads.
Welcome aboard, Fan.

Look around for a used 870, either a Wingmaster or the newer Express models. Since 870s last longer than we do, it would be difficult to get a worn out one.

Friend Anapex recently scored big time on a trap 870 for $250. Deal of the decade.

Get the stock fitting right and with a good pad.

For starting out, use the lightest loads you can find. Winchester's Feather loads or another 7/8 oz load would be close to optimum.

Get a lesson from a decent instructor. The time this saves is incredible.

HTH....