Shot my first round of skeet today!!

[thirdeagle]

I'm hooked!!! Don't get me wrong, I love punching holes in paper but my trip to the skeet range really opened my eyes. I had no idea one could have so much fun with a shotgun. Hell, the last time I took the shotgun out of the safe I won a turkey and some sausage. This was way better!

Make no mistake about, I suck at skeet shooting; most of the little buggers flew right by. I was chasing targets all day but finally started getting in front of them before it was time to go.

I'd like to hear from some of you skeet shooters out there. I'm interested in all things skeet that you wish someone would have told you when you started. I'm also up for any pointers that will improve my shooting For now, I'll start digging through the forums!

 

[Cougfan2]

Be prepared to suck for a long time! That's part of the joy and agony of the sport. Skeet is addictive, but it is a gateway drug. Wait until you try Sporting Clays!!!

I must admit, I haven't made that leap yet, but I have worked several Sporting Clays events and can't wait to make the plunge. Be prepared for some new MAJOR expense. Like we're not used to that in the firearms community.

 

[Cougfan2]

As an afterthought to your request for pointers. Foot position is very important for skeet. Position your feet where you can break the first target without making extreme body movement towards the target (I'm talking about doubles here) and make a comeback swing without the same extreme moves to the target so that you never get off balance when swinging on the second target.
This will be exactly opposite for right and left handed shooters.

My biggest problem was stopping my swing. That is why I prefer a shotgun that is a little muzzle heavy. It helps me swing through the target.

I learned the four B's montra when hunting pheasants in KS. Beak, Belly, Butt, Bang! Aim about three front of your bird on crossing shots and you'll be pretty close to right

 

[Aka Zero]

I have only been clay shooting 3 times. One was at a range. the other two were kinda of outdoor gathering, set up in a field with and electric thrower and a couple people on the line, playing backup. Would be numbered, and if say #1 missed, two would take the shot, after that anyone that could get it was free to.

Last outing awhile back i was getting 80% of the things I pulled the trigger on. Some of those were pretty far out, and I don't bring up the gun until someone else missed. Snap shooting.

Had a bruised shoulder after the several hundred rounds that day. Shooting an over under 26" barrel. Shoot one of those and you will fall in love, short for the barrel length, which makes it fast.

 

[throdgrain]

Sporting clays is the best if you ask me, less repetative, but all the same I like shooting clays any kind of way.

After all, so much more variation than making holes in bits of paper ...

 

[Virginian]

Keep your head down on the stock. Don't stop swinging. If they aren't breaking, add lead (leed ).

 

[k80]

Mastering Skeet

http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Ske...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226964213&sr=1-1

Order the best Skeet shooting book ever written, "Mastering Skeet" by King Heiple.

 

[Tim13]

Which is the easiest for a beginner: skeet, trap, or sporting clays? I just bought a shotgun to try my hand at it.

Tim

 

[single stack]

thirdeagle, here's a tip for you:

Lead is cheaper than lead. Use enough lead and you'll have enough lead.

Practice, Practice, and Practice some more.


Tim13,

Most folks find that trap is the easiest, skeet second (switch skeet and trap if you wish), five stand third and sporting clays the most difficult. Skeet and trap are considered games of not missing and five stand and sporting clays are considered games of hitting the most.



SS

 

[thirdeagle]

Thanks for the input. . .keep it coming! I plan on shooting again this weekend; I'll be much better prepared this time around

 

[Zeede]

Tim13: Skeet is the easiest to begin with because the target angles are fixed. A beginner can stay on the pad and keep trying the same target until they figure out the visual picture they want to see.

I like to put new shooters on Station 7 and have them hit the Low House to build confidence. Then move over to Station 1 and hit Low Houses again. It's a slow target relative to their position, and still teaches them about lead.

I don't usually have new shooters start to shoot a standard set of targets until their third trip out. There's no point in making them shoot Highs, Lows and Doubles on their first time out. As long as they only get their allotted 25 targets, who cares what order they shot it in?

Cameron

 

[grasshopper]

to add to Zeede's tip, shoot each station till your comfortable with it. when you feel good about 1 and 7 then try 2and 6. 3,4,and 5 require the most lead so build your confidence on the others first. just my opinion.so take it for what's it's worth,not much

 

[ATAShooter]

You have now officially signed your own financial death Warrant.

You tried skeet, now comes the realoader and the dedicated skeet guns, all 4 calibers...410, 28, 20, 12

Then you will try Trap, and then comes the dedicated Trap guns...

Then Sporting Clays, and the Guns that comes with that..

You are Doomed...

 

[gotgcoalman]

I do sporting clay everyother Sunday.

Sometimes you get a 2 for 1 (crossers)
other times you put enough lead in the air to sink a battleship and miss.

The club i'm in have a few jokers so prepare for the (first shot was a good 1 did you have your eyes open for the second 1?)

As for guns (dont laugh)
use for both clay/(rough shooting live stuff)

Hatsan arms fieldhunter pa
winchester 120 pa
baikal single full choke
.45 kentucky blackpowder.

in short i'm using the wrong hardware but it works for me.

If your'e only going to shoot skeet/clay buy the best o/u you can afford(always trade in and up at later stage)
Gun fit is important if it doesn't feel right don't buy it.

member of

yackley gun club &

BASC

 

[Ringtail]

Thirdeagle.

I'm gald you enjoyed your first round of skeet. I got hook on skeet as well. I started shooting skeet last year after bird season because the guys I hunt birds with are good shots and I was tired of being embarrassed. I started out breaking about 17/25 and actually got worse for a while, but now I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

I think the more you shoot the more you'll enjoy it. You will also be suprised when all of a sudden everything clicks and you start shooting really well. Enjoy yourself, and post every once in a while to let us know how you're progressing.

 

[distra]

http://bendershima.com/

The learning curve is not too bad, but it takes a while to put it all together. THE best advice, watch the bird, see nothing but orange, let your subconscious do the rest. Once you start thinking, you're done. Don't measure the lead, just focus on that bird. Did I forget to tell you to focus the bird? Well shame on me, focus on the bird! Glad you're hooked, it's A LOT of fun!

 

[Davandron]

New to Skeet; Wrong Gun?

On the subject of new to skeet, can you guys help with equipment questions? I'm trying to figure out if I have to change my shotgun.

I'm a very new shotgunner, but I've got my Winchester Model 50 Auto 12ga with a 28" modified and decided to try some of the easy skeet stations. The very helpful club member pulling for me cautioned, before I started practice, "That's the wrong gun for this game; too long and too much choke. It will be responsible for most of your misses."

When I shot from #1 and #7 I broke almost everything thrown, including doubles. The gun feels like it fit me well. Do I need to think about changing equipment?

Winny 50 barrels are hard to come by; they made 26" IC barrels but I haven't found one yet for less than $400. I've thought about having thin-wall tubes installed, however I'm worried about messing up an excellent 3rd generation family shotgun. I definitely would not cut the barrel. Thoughts? Advice?

 

[huntsman]

I used to shoot skeet as a warm-up to bird season, shoot low gun with a imp/mod chokes.Not great for high scores but good to get the swing in shape.

 

[Dave McCracken]

You can accept the low scores and enjoy the challenge, or bite the bullet and get a Winchoke barrel for the 50.

I'd be tempted to just get another shotgun, more suited to close clays.

 

[Zeede]

Davandron: Forget all that baloney about you having the wrong gun. I take it you have only shot a few rounds of Skeet. If this is true, keep shooting for awhile until you feel that your potential is limited by the gun.

In other words, don't blow good money that could be spent on more practice on a gun you may not need at the moment.

Cameron

 

[huntsman]

Winny 50 barrels are hard to come by; they made 26" IC barrels but I haven't found one yet for less than $400. I've thought about having thin-wall tubes installed, however I'm worried about messing up an excellent 3rd generation family shotgun. I definitely would not cut the barrel. Thoughts? Advice?

spreader loads.
They made a model 50 skeet gun so before I spent $400. on a barrel I just buy another 50,they really don't carry a high collector value.

 

[Davandron]

Thanks everyone,

I was hoping to hear a ton of "nah, don't worry about it" but of course I am probably decreasing the pattern quite a bit at 25 yards.

I think I'll talk with some gunsmiths about having it machined for thin-wall chokes. Like I mentioned, I'm just hoping that it can be done without doing much harm / risk. Maybe I can find some spreader loads / recipes too in the meantime and keep at it with the gun I've got.

For now, I'll keep at it and hopefully by the time I have a solution I will instantly notice the difference of having less choke.