Sporting Clays Question

[learn2shoot]

Question regarding sporting clays... I have been only 2-3 times and love it I use a Rem 1100 (which was my father's when he was in college). I am taking a friend who has a O/U however, I cannot remember a station with more than 2 shots at a time. I was looking for some clarification if a O/U was sufficient or if some stations had 3 or more shots between reloading opportunities.

 

[junyo]

Nope, lots, if not most people use an O/U. You never shoot more than 2 without getting a chance to reload.

Edit:
You might want to have this moved to Shotguns, so the most experianced members in this area see it and can add their insights.

 

[tegemu]

I use an Over/Under all the time. Two shots are all you get per pull, you never, legally, get a third shot. I prefer an O/U because, in the event my first shot is a Blooper (Not full charge and trash stuck in the barrel), I cant fire again on the same barrel causing a Kaboom (Barrel blows up.)

 

[AnthonyRSS]

Some shoots have special three bird stations for autos and the like. Not registered or standard or anything, but fun.

Anthony

 

[Hoser]

Sometimes you will have a long shot that needs a tighter choke and a close up shot that needs something wide open. Thats when an over and under shines. That and when you reload and want to save your hulls.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Many dedicated SC people use O/Us. Most of the rest use semis including the 1100.

Both have good and bad points. Try both and see what works for you.

 

[BozemanMT]

Official sporting clays rules have no more than two shots without reloading. (including BTW if you have an auto, you should only load 2, not 4 and shoot two sets)

Some other games and flurries do more, but not officially.

 

[richardschennberg]

One or two other shotgun sports require reloads on the clock and a shotgun that auto-loads the first shell (such as Browning Gold) is a slight advantage. Most shotgun sports do not give significant advantage to one over the other. In Sporting Clays there is only one difference: an O/U allows you to choke different for the two shots, sometimes helpful if one target must be broken a lot further out.
More importantly, if you will shoot "low gun," you need a gun that fits you and you must get used to mounting the same gun. It might take thousands of shells to learn a new gun unless you have two that fit and shoot almost identical, so pick the one you like best and stick with it.
Richard
Schennberg.com

 

[dmarbell]

Sporting Clays Fun Shoot

I shot the course at my local club today for the first time (I'm a slow starter, had to buy a couple of guns first!!). Shot 12/50, which I thought was pretty embarrassing, but the trap puller said some people shoot 4 or 5 the first time. Some of the shots were into the sun glare, which won't be a problem tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow is a 100 bird "fun shoot" with the same stations but different presentations. I see no reason not to participate, for "fun", but I don't want my name posted with a 24 or so. Not a member of any association, so I'll shoot in open.

Any reason not to shoot? I mean, I'm a 12 handicap in golf, and I don't mind playing superball with a 30 handicap, or someone who plays once a year. I don't want to practice shooting holes in the sky, but it supports the club and stuff, and it's better than sitting in front of this computer looking at guns I can't afford!!


Also, Dave and other 870 guys. My almost NIB Wingmaster is miss-feeding some shells. I could be short stroking under pressure, not sure. Today I shot factory loads only. Tomorrow includes some true doubles. I have cleaned it well, but not taken it completely apart (which probably means I haven't cleaned it well). I don't see any stuff anywhere. Any suggestions? Pump it hard?

Danny

 

[Zero_DgZ]

Many dedicated SC people use O/Us. Most of the rest use semis including the 1100.

'Cept for me. I either use a mall-ninja'ed Mossberg 590 or a single shot NEF break-open.

That's the great thing about clays. As long as you can bust 'em with it, you can shoot 'em with it (yes, I do doubles with the NEF - sort of... it's fun, but I'm not too good at it yet).

 

[Dave McCracken]

Rack it hard, Danny. Pumps are meant to be worked under adrenaline boost. Bet that cuts down on misfeeds.

Don't take this personally. Most misfeeds with pumps are "Pilot Error". Once the moves become automatic, the short strokes vanish.

Do take that apart and clean it. Lube lightly, wipe on/wipe off and go shoot.

Good luck at the fun shoot, It'll be good practice and fun to boot.

 

[BozemanMT]

Tomorrow is a 100 bird "fun shoot" with the same stations but different presentations. I see no reason not to participate, for "fun", but I don't want my name posted with a 24 or so. Not a member of any association, so I'll shoot in open.

Any reason not to shoot? I mean, I'm a 12 handicap in golf, and I don't mind playing superball with a 30 handicap, or someone who plays once a year. I don't want to practice shooting holes in the sky, but it supports the club and stuff, and it's better than sitting in front of this computer looking at guns I can't afford!!

Sporting Clays is hard.
Nobody gets a 100.
most courses pride themselves on no one getting a 100. (I mean, no one)

The only way to get better is to shoot more.
Trust me, no one cares about your score but you (and ok, your shooting buddies, just for smack talk and maybe lunch of course).
BA/UU/R
Go, have fun.

 

[11c2v]

As above, if you use anything other than a double, make SURE you only load and use two. Carrying a loaded gun between stations is a sure way to get booted off the course.

Double should be broken open and autos and pumps should have the actions open.

 

[gaweidert]

I have shot sporting clays with

Remington 870 with 28" barrel
Beretta AL390 with 26" barrel
Winchester 1300 Camp Defender with 22" barrel.

Nobody has ever made a comment on my guns and I can miss equal amouts with any of them. Many want to try it with the 870 pump when I take it to the range. They haven't shot one in years and seem to get a kick out of it. I prefer it myself. I shoot for fun so score is not important. I am never going to be a national champ and I know it. I usually don't even keep score when I shoot by myself. I like the challenge of shooting by myself. Push the button then bring the gun up to the target. More like real world.

 

[dmarbell]

Sporting Clays Fun Shoot

Since I asked for opinions, I thought I should report back on my participation in the fun shoot. I shot my Wingmaster, shot with a man and 12-year-old (+/-) son, father with a Zoli O/U, son with a 20 ga. Beretta 391. They didn't keep score. The son pointed in the general direction of the clays and pulled the trigger as quickly as possible. On some true doubles, he shot twice in less than a half second!

I shot 25/100, with a pretty hard setup that included 4-5 true doubles (and only my second time on the course, or any SC course). I had no idea where to point and lead on most of the stations, so it was mount, swing and guess, and pull the trigger. I felt like I was pointing into space, in the general direction of the birds. I'm ready for my second lesson on where to look and how to lead. The father had shot the course a lot, and was giving me hints on leads, but it probably only confused me. I had read McCracken's Lead 101 thread this morning, and realize I should have read it before yesterday.

By the way, I hit 5/8 at the first stand, with easy true doubles, and I thought I was off to the races. But, when you start missing, it seems you don't expect to hit anything at all, and you don't.

I'm hooked though, so my golf clubs are for sale. The only thing I'll miss is the beer cooler on the golf cart!!

Danny

 

[Dave McCracken]

Danny, SC is exasperating, exhilarating and as much fun as we can have standing up fully clothed. It is NOT easy, and certain targets and presentations tend to have cusswords attached.

But, there's nothing out there that will make someone a shotgunner better.

See if this ups your score.

First, figure out where you want to break the bird. Adjust your stance so your front foot more/less points there.

Then, figure out where you're going to see the bird as more than a flash. Note where vision hardens into focus.

Hold your shotgun halfway between these points.

Call for the bird. Move as you see it, the swing happens as you mount. When the shotgun touches your face, shoot.

HTH.....

 

[toivo]

I prefer an O/U because, in the event my first shot is a Blooper (Not full charge and trash stuck in the barrel), I cant fire again on the same barrel causing a Kaboom (Barrel blows up.)

Unless you're shooting some pretty iffy ammo, I can't see this being a real concern. If it were, repeating shotguns and rifles in general would be a lot less popular than they are.