How do I get started in clay sports?

[Run&Shoot]

Hi, I am mostly a handgun and rifle shooter, with shotguns mainly for home defense and occassional trap shooting. I did some field hunting as a kid but don't get out there lately. However, it seems there are more clay ranges around (one only a few miles from me), and many of my relatives (out of state) like to shoot trap and skeet. I would like to get started but have never done this before in a trained manner. The little trap shooting I have done was very infomral and I hit only a few. I have a Mossberg 500 wiith 28" barrel and Modified choke, and a Rem 870 Express with the 18" home defense barrel.

1) Is trap easier to start with than skeet (seems it would be)?

2) How should I set up my shotguns for trap (or skeet)? I would prefer the 870, but would eventually like to get them both set up. What length barrels and choke is typical for trap or skeet? (Right now I think a cylinder choke with a pound of shot in a 7" magnum would be best for me!)

3) I assume these could be adjusted with shims or something, but how would I know what needs adjusting (cant, drop, etc.) and by how much? Or, at my beginning stages is fit that important?

4) How do I learn to shoot trap or skeet? Do most ranges offer instruction? Hope for a generous sole to take pity on me?

Handgun popups seem a lot easier than busting those pesky pigeons!

Just to press your patience with me, I would like to get my daughter a trap or skeet gun (she is away from home). She can handle a 12 ga. field load OK. What would be a nice shotgun to start fresh with for clay sports? Is the Rem 870 still a good choice, or would a O/U such as the Citori or Ruger be significantly better? She lives nearer to relatives that could coach her, but they have a wide mix of guns: Bennelli SBE, some Berreta semi, Rem 870s, Citori, etc. It seems that a light load in 12 ga. is just as easy to shoot for a long time as a 20 ga., but would the lighter frame make the 20 a better clay sports gun? I doubt she will get afield for the next few years, but she is also just a few miles from a nice trap and skeet range.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[shermacman]

Do a search on "Dave McCracken", dude knows a little bit about the subject.

 

[Dave McCracken]

There's a wealth of info in the Archives, but here's a couple things.....

Both trap and skeet shooters use longer barrels than your 870 has. Skeet with an 18" barrel is possible, though and great practice for crisis management. For trap, a 28" or 30" Remchoked barrel works well.

Your Mossie is a fine field gun, but I'm dubious about it holding up to the volume of shooting a clays gun gets in the long run.

I'm shooting 5-6K of shells annually, and that's not a heavy Jones by clay standards.

As for your daughter, let her try out shotguns and decide for herself.

HTH....

 

[outofbattery]

I showed up with a 24" Mossberg and started shooting.The instructor I hired for a lesson after I'd shot a dozen rounds was going on about how a good entry level shotgun would cost $2500...so I decided to just stick with my 500 until it stops working I don't tend to go overboard in my hobbies and I shoot a round every few weeks,it really all depends upon how into the sport you get.

 

[Gary G23]

Just get a 28" remchoke barrel for your 870. Get a skeet choke for skeet, an improved cylinder choke for sporting clays, and a modified and full choke for trap.
I wouldn't worry about gun fit a lot at this time. I've changed the length of pull on my 870 by +3/4" but you'll know a lot more about what you need after you have done it a while.
Trap is easier to learn but harder to master. I have shot skeet a while and am very disappointed if I shoot a 23/25. I prefer skeet since it can be done effectively with reduced recoil shotshells. A 28ga kicks a lot less than some of those 12ga dynamite sticks the trap shooters use.
My advise for getting started would be to just show up at the range and get on a squad of other people shooting. Most shooters are willing to help a newbie and you'll definitely learn more by doing than you will reading a book about it.
I was in the same boat as you in the mid-90's. I was a serious pistol and rifle shooter and decided to give clay shooting a try. It is a lot of fun and for me it is a great way to relax.
As far as your daughter is concerned I would agree with Dave it is best to let her decide for herself. Probably a 20ga or 12ga automatic but it depends on the individual.

 

[BozemanMT]

Many ranges rent guns, well worth the $10/$20 to get an idea of what works and what doesn't
usually you cna just go and someone will show you hwo the game works.
however, if you really want to learn to shoot and come up the learning curve
TAKE A LESSON
Probalby cost around $100 for two hours or so (more or less) including targets, etc
Struggling along without hitting anything isn't fun, $100 in ammo will not get you better than $100 with an instructor will.
Take a lesson, almost all ranges have an associated instructor.
Shotguns are great, you'll be totally hooked once that internal light goes on.

 

[kudu]

Good advice so far, look into the archives under Dave's name and under sm, sm rambles a bit but listen to him. Gun fit needs to be addressed as soon as you can. Use the lightest target loads that you can find to begin with, fatigue sneaks up on you so keep your initial range visits to less than 100 birds, 75 might be better to start out with. If I shoot 12ga any more it's with light 1oz or 7/8oz handloads, they will crush targets just as dead as an 1 1/8oz heavy field loads.

MOST IMPORTANT











HAVE FUN.

 

[ATAShooter]

see signature... Hope you will consider...

 

[Scoupe]

While we're plugging our favorite disciplines, allow me to speak up for my game, skeet. http://www.mynssa.com

Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, 5 Stand ... all of them are fun and present different challenges. Start with a shotgun that fits pretty well and find some basic clay shooting instruction to get you started in the right direction. Then just play and have fun. Try the different games. After a while you'll most likely find that you prefer one or two, then consider getting more specialized instruction.

As mentioned, HAVE FUN!

 

[sm]

Other folks covered it .

One member around here started a lady with a BB gun shooting ping pong balls, had her breaking clays in skeet in 30 days. Word is she went 50/50 in about 35 days, had since gone 75/75. She must of had one helluva an instructor...

I like simple, I started with Skeet, then 5 stand, then SC.

If I can see it - I can fell it.
If it flies it dies
Gimme something to shoot and some ammo
Just shoot the darn thing
Moon Pies from a trap are a hoot to shoot...
Bootlegging just ain't for whiskey...

 

[Run&Shoot]

Thanks for the good advice!

Thanks Dave and all the others who replied. Sounds like the 870 is fine to start with. I will get a 28" barrell and the Rem Chokes mentioned. Hopefully the local club has an instructor and I guess I will start with whatever they offer most conveniently.

It's good to read that others have gone through the dummy stage of showing and asking "how do I do this?". I got started in handguns with a great police instructor and have enjoyed it ever since, so I hope some good instruction in something clay will be as much fun.

I imagine that an instructor will also be able to get me pointed in the right direction as far as tuning the fit of the stock, etc.

Jeff

 

[redneck2]

IMO..I've only shot skeet twice. Went 74 for 75 first time and 48-50 the second. Just couldn't get excited

Trap is deceptively simple. Just this little bird flying away. Get out to the 20 yard line and see how simple it is. Angles get accentuated. IMO, the problem is the only thing it simulates is another trap shoot.

To me, the ultimate is sporting clays. In skeet, a good shooter can run 100 easily and guys run 800+ in a row in trap at the national shoot. In clays 100 straight on a tough course is pretty much unheard of. Birds up, birds down, across, angling in, angling out, running across the ground. Just remember, sporting clays will show you how good you aren't in a hurry.

Try them all and see what you like. Unless you're an exception, your level of success will not aproach some of the more experienced shooters. I'd focus on what you like, then strive for excellence. YMMV