scm
Member
my son and I are thinking about getting in to skeet but not really sure what to start out with, i dont think they would like us showing up with the shotguns i have now. any advice please help. new member first post
new skeet shooter
- Thread starter scm
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MacPelto
Member
WHat shotguns do you have now?
Geneseo1911
Member
Welcome scm! I can tell you this: My skeet gun is a Winchester 1300. I've also shot a few rounds with my Saiga 12. I don't know about your club, but everywhere I've been you're accepted so long as you're safe (eyes, ears, muzzle discipline, only 2 shells in gun at a time) and polite.
Starting skeet
SCM-Welcome to High Road and skeet.You don't say what shotguns you have.Starting out,pumps are tough unless you are quick shucker.Most use o/u's and autos.If you own one of these you are fine--if--you have choke tubes!I/C and Skeet tubes.These will give you and son more confidence and quicker results.If ya'll are REALLY going to get into it heavy get an o/u built for skeet.First go to local skeet range and talk to the guys.We're all gun nuts and love to share knowledge,tips,info,and sometimes guns.Many clubs have guns for rent.12ga or 20ga to start out.Shells are cheaper.It's a great game and you and your son will love it!
SCM-Welcome to High Road and skeet.You don't say what shotguns you have.Starting out,pumps are tough unless you are quick shucker.Most use o/u's and autos.If you own one of these you are fine--if--you have choke tubes!I/C and Skeet tubes.These will give you and son more confidence and quicker results.If ya'll are REALLY going to get into it heavy get an o/u built for skeet.First go to local skeet range and talk to the guys.We're all gun nuts and love to share knowledge,tips,info,and sometimes guns.Many clubs have guns for rent.12ga or 20ga to start out.Shells are cheaper.It's a great game and you and your son will love it!
oneounceload
member
The only requirement as far as a gun is concerned is the ability to hold 2 rounds (max you can load at any skeet field). Some guns will work better for obvious reasons. Most clubs restrict shot size to nothing larger than 7-1/2. 9's have been favorite forever, but 8-1/2 and 8's also work well.
Don't forget eyes and ears, a pouch or vest is handy to hold your shells. Skeet chokes are .005 constriction - all you need since the target is 21 yards at the most. Go to a club ad explain your newness - many times an experienced shooter will offer to help with tips and instructions. If they have multiple fields, and you can get one to yourselves, start at station 7 - the easiest station to get success, then move to station 1, and work your way to the middle.
There's an old saying that skeet targets aren't hard to hit, but they're easy to miss....
Depending on what guns you have, (especially if they are your typical 18" HD ones), you might call and ask if they're allowed. Many clubs do not allow short barrel guns due to noise towards other shooters.
Top competitors will typically use an over-under with either multiple barrels or sub-gauge tubes because skeet competitions are shot with 12, 20, 28 and 410. Some folks only shoot 12, and that's fine. Shooting the lightest loads you can find will keep recoil issues to a minimum. In 12 gauge, 7/8 or 1 oz. loads at 1200 fps are all you need. Heavier payloads or faster speeds just mean more recoil.
Have fun and good luck!
Don't forget eyes and ears, a pouch or vest is handy to hold your shells. Skeet chokes are .005 constriction - all you need since the target is 21 yards at the most. Go to a club ad explain your newness - many times an experienced shooter will offer to help with tips and instructions. If they have multiple fields, and you can get one to yourselves, start at station 7 - the easiest station to get success, then move to station 1, and work your way to the middle.
There's an old saying that skeet targets aren't hard to hit, but they're easy to miss....
Depending on what guns you have, (especially if they are your typical 18" HD ones), you might call and ask if they're allowed. Many clubs do not allow short barrel guns due to noise towards other shooters.
Top competitors will typically use an over-under with either multiple barrels or sub-gauge tubes because skeet competitions are shot with 12, 20, 28 and 410. Some folks only shoot 12, and that's fine. Shooting the lightest loads you can find will keep recoil issues to a minimum. In 12 gauge, 7/8 or 1 oz. loads at 1200 fps are all you need. Heavier payloads or faster speeds just mean more recoil.
Have fun and good luck!
Sauer Grapes
Member
Welcome to THR! As someone else said, don't worry about what gun your taking to the skeet field.
On any given weekend I could show up with any number of guns to shoot. Nobody will care what your shooting as long as you use safe gun handling practices and don't show up with OO buck...
I've used quite a few field guns to shoot skeet. Have fun and stay safe.
On any given weekend I could show up with any number of guns to shoot. Nobody will care what your shooting as long as you use safe gun handling practices and don't show up with OO buck...
I've used quite a few field guns to shoot skeet. Have fun and stay safe.
bigalexe
Member
What's so terrible about your guns? As long as they point, go bang when you pull the trigger, and hold 2 rounds they are good. Also it helps if they are at least 20 gauge and have Modified or skeet chokes, full chokes are a bit tight for the skeet field and using an improved choke or a .410 is just handicapping yourself.
I do imagine that oddities such as a Saiga-12 or Serbu Super Shorty would be frowned upon though.
Right now I use a Mossberg 500 Franken-gun for skeet, trap, deer, goose, and turkey. The gun is a Pump-Action with a Knoxx Spec-Ops (tactical) stock, a wood fore-end, and a 24" Ribbed Barrel. At first glance it looks like somebody grabbed a bunch of leftovers from the junk pile.
I do imagine that oddities such as a Saiga-12 or Serbu Super Shorty would be frowned upon though.
Right now I use a Mossberg 500 Franken-gun for skeet, trap, deer, goose, and turkey. The gun is a Pump-Action with a Knoxx Spec-Ops (tactical) stock, a wood fore-end, and a 24" Ribbed Barrel. At first glance it looks like somebody grabbed a bunch of leftovers from the junk pile.
I've only gone with a 12 ga Mossberg 500 and a Benelli Nova. Both sporting 28" barrels and ported "long range" duck chokes. It makes good practice before season. Yeah, it does start conversations when you bring out those guns, but they are never derogatory. Most of the time, I have people talk about how much they used to love their pump-guns. It usually ends with them shooting my gun for a round, and me shooting their nice O/U.
don't be surprised if you show up with a tactical looking shotgun and they throw you out. Some clubs have a minimum of 26" barrel length, others have 24" and others just won't let you shoot if your gun looks more tactical than a field/sporting gun. The reason why some clubs don't want the tactical shotguns on their ranges is more or less based on their experience of having some fool thinking it would be funny to load up like Rambo and play commando at the range, popping off more than 2 rounds at a target.
Best find out what the gun regulations are at the clubs around where you live before showing up. Whether you think they are right or wrong does not really matter....if you want to shoot skeet, you need to follow their rules....
Best find out what the gun regulations are at the clubs around where you live before showing up. Whether you think they are right or wrong does not really matter....if you want to shoot skeet, you need to follow their rules....
scm
Member
sorry guys for not stating what i had before. i have a remingto 1100 tac and have been told not to show up with it as stated from a couple of you all. id like for me and my boy to go out there and have a good time, hes excited as all hell get out to get out there so thanks for the advice and info. we have also found a couple clubs around here in jax fl. not sure which one but well be there soon once again thanks for your time
oneounceload
member
Several good places in that area......WW, Yulee, etc.
check out clubs here:
http://www.claytargetsonline.com/list.php/FL
mgkdrgn
Member
"They" shouldn't give a rats *** what you show up with, so long as it's safe, goes boom, and you pay your range fee.
There are two reasons to do the clay bird thing (of any kind). One is to do it just for the fun of bustin clay birds. If that is the case, you -might- want to invest in a specialized tool so that you can bust as many of the little crockeries as you can.
The other is to learn how to shoot YOUR GUN better. I have only ever owned two shotguns ... same two I have now ... same two I had 30 years ago. Remington 870 pumps. I've hunted with them (birds, rabbits, deer), shot trap with them, shot skeet with them, shot sporting clays with them. The trophies I have (not many, but a couple) didn't come from shooting game. There were plenty of guys in my league with O/U's and semi-autos that didn't get any.
The right gun -can- up your busted count, no doubt about that ... but YOUR skills count for much much more.
There are two reasons to do the clay bird thing (of any kind). One is to do it just for the fun of bustin clay birds. If that is the case, you -might- want to invest in a specialized tool so that you can bust as many of the little crockeries as you can.
The other is to learn how to shoot YOUR GUN better. I have only ever owned two shotguns ... same two I have now ... same two I had 30 years ago. Remington 870 pumps. I've hunted with them (birds, rabbits, deer), shot trap with them, shot skeet with them, shot sporting clays with them. The trophies I have (not many, but a couple) didn't come from shooting game. There were plenty of guys in my league with O/U's and semi-autos that didn't get any.
The right gun -can- up your busted count, no doubt about that ... but YOUR skills count for much much more.
oneounceload
member
You seem to be confusing a gun club (aka trap/skeet/sporting club) with a gun range (aka tactical/buckshot/slug/pistol) place. The two are not even close to being the same. Gun clubs where the primary purpose is shooting clay targets in a variety of games has some form of protocol, decorum, rules, etiquette, and safety requirements that are different from an indoor covered range. Those requisites exist for the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of everyone at that location; therefore they do give a rat's patootie about things like that.
You have a choice, since it is their club, you can abide by their rules or take your gun elsewhere.......it isn't hard to understand, nor difficult to comply.
OP - if you have a "tactical" gun, most of the added doodads can easily be removed, and an aftermarket target barrel around 28" is easily affordable that will allow you to take your current to that club and fit it. Once there, you might want to ask others what they shoot, WHY they shoot what they shoot, politely ask to borrow or try them, or see if the club has guns to rent. You might find a gun model that fits you just right - and adding another gun to whatever collection you currently have is always a good thing!...
Where I shoot if it's legal, shot from the shoulder and shot safely then have a good time. But it's important to understand the distinctions and different rules at most clay facilities.
These include empty and open unless on the shooting station, no more than two shells in the gun, eyes and ears at all times. Pretty simple but not a weekend goes by where some non-member decides the rules don't apply to him even though they must sign a form indicating they have read and understand the requirements before being allowed on the range.
oneounceload
member
Exactly, and those who do not wear the eyes and ears are typically the ones who get hurt and sue the club - we had that happen at ours - he lost all of his friends and isn't allowed there anymore - all for something he did unsafely and was his fault.......
mjsmith1223
Member
Excellent. Skeet is great practice. Those targets are moving fast and if the wind comes up they start to dance around in the air. Of all the shooting sports I think skeet and sporting clays are my favorite. After having a look at a Remington 1100 Tactical model, I think it might be easier just to add another shotgun to your collection than changing out the pistol grip and the barrel every time you want to shoot a few rounds of skeet. But, that's up to you. Any reason to add another gun to the arsenal is a good one, right?
It's also important to make the distinction between formal skeet and informal backyard clays. Many people use the same term for both: "skeet". Formal skeet is challenging and fun and shot on a half circle field with high house, low house and eight shooting stations; backyard (or field) clays are tons of fun, informal, and usually just one thrower that everyone takes turns operating. With informal field clays, one can shoot whatever gun they want as long as the property owner doesn't care.
It's also important to make the distinction between formal skeet and informal backyard clays. Many people use the same term for both: "skeet". Formal skeet is challenging and fun and shot on a half circle field with high house, low house and eight shooting stations; backyard (or field) clays are tons of fun, informal, and usually just one thrower that everyone takes turns operating. With informal field clays, one can shoot whatever gun they want as long as the property owner doesn't care.
scm
Member
gentalman thankyou for your time, knowledge, and advice. we went to a freinds house with some lad over the 4th and shot, had a great time and he showed us a couple different guns from some friends of his. my son loved the remington 1187 autoloader in a youth model. so i guess were gonna add to our collection. this place is great.
oneounceload
member
Awesome report!.......Glad to hear your son is excited about shooting skeet.........
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