Trap club snobs (rant)

[ihctractor]

Very frustrating morning. I have been excited for a long time to try trap shooting. A local trap club held an "open to the public meat shoot" today for a fund raiser. Sounded fun so I went. Right away I noticed it was fairly disorganized and had a lower than expected turnout, then we noticed that the director was sorting through the names of the entries and putting together teams that appeared to skew things in favor of club members. I was in the first round and shot 16 of 25, tying for second. Good for my fist time! At that point the director said we were only supposed to shoot 10 birds not 25. All but one person (the club member) agreed to take the scores from the first ten birds to determine the winner. I had 8 of 10 making me winner. The director got pi$$y and said there would be no winner at all since we shot to many birds, threw out the scores and told us to consider it practice. When asked about the entry fees he got mad and stormed off, keeping our money. Then another member had the audacity to ask if we were going to sign up for more rounds and if not we needed to vacate the club house. Several people left.
This same club has members who have told me in the past that trap shooting is a dying sport and they can't figure out why younger people aren't getting involved. Well here's why!!!!! I was really excited and wanted to get involved but after this experience it's safe to say I'll never fire another round or spend another dollar at that range!
On the plus side it felt good to beat the club member who had thousands of dollars in trap gear hanging on him with my $600.00 shotgun and a Carhart jacket

 

[Mainsail]

Sounds a lot like ham radio.

 

[LeonCarr]

For even more fun go buy a used Remington 870 Express, shoot it until it becomes a part of you, then go back and outshoot the trap snobs again .

How much were the entry fees/winnings? In Texas if it was over 25 dollars and they refused to hold up their end of the "contract" when you won and did not get winnings, you can take them to small claims court to get your entry fees back, and if you win they also get to pay court costs .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[200Apples]

.
The original post is an example worthy of The High Road. Well done, sir, and I'm sorry to hear of those club members' utterly unprofessional behavior.

On the plus side it felt good to beat the club member who had thousands of dollars in trap gear hanging on him with my $600.00 shotgun and a Carhart jacket

How's the saying go? "For every dark cloud there is a silver lining"...?

Hee! Outstanding! and Leon Carr's suggestion had me chuckling.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Through the ages, I have always regarded clays shooting and the shooters as being very bourgeoisie. It can be tough to break through what seems to be an inherent skepticism of new people at their club.

This same club has members who have told me in the past that trap shooting is a dying sport and they can't figure out why younger people aren't getting involved.

The only trap club in my town is invite membership only. Im interested in clays shooting of all types and have been a member at a club in another place I lived at but I am a no go for shooting trap at this place that is maybe 3 miles away from my house and I can hear them shooting when there is an even going on.

That system is next to impossible for new people to get into it. I guess it does not bother them though because last I heard they have full membership. I know a few of them and they are all 20+ years older than me and will probably never look at me as a potential member because of that age difference.

 

[Jason_W]

Clays games seems similar to fly fishing in that while most people who enjoy such activities are cool folks, there is a subset who are insufferably elitist.

"Eeew, you brought a Remington 870" = "Eeew, you're fishing with bait"

That said, it's important not to fall into the trap of judging a group by the behavior and attitudes of its worst members.

 

[oneounceload]

We have several clubs with trap fields. I have NEVER seen anyone, whether trap, skeet, 5-stand or sporting clays act that way

Sorry that happened to you. I understand if you don't want to mention their name, but I would try to find another club. What state are you in?
Click here to find shotgun clubs in your state:

http://www.claytargetsonline.com/index.php

 

[shootr]

I've shot at and belonged to a few clubs and some are just that way. Maintained membership at one club since the early 90s and have seen it change from "nice" to "knucklehead" and back. Never seems to be a shortage of knuckleheads.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I may be wrong, but there does seem to be a tendency towards clays clubs (and gun clubs in general) being "Old Boys Clubs"

It is not necessarily a bad thing. It can give folks the wrong impression though.

 

[herrwalther]

First, last, and only time I went shotgun shooting for score I got 22 out of 25 with a 20ga over/under. Showed a few tricks from my (at the time) girlfriend's father who was state champion. I'd call it beginner's luck but shooting something other than shotguns is actually useful.

If you really want to make the snobs foam at the mouth, shoot competition with a budget tactical shotgun like the 870 Express or Maverick 88. When someone next to you is shooting a $1500+ Beretta or old Ruger and you can match or beat score with a budget shotgun, great feeling.

 

[bikerdoc]

I shoot on family land, but that land is 60 miles from the house. I also use the local for pay indoor range.
I would love to jion another local club ten miles down the road but each time I inquire they tell me membership is full. Seems I dont travel in the right circles. I predict 10 years from now there will be condos on that land.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience. Hopefully you have another option.

Thats actually the opposite of most clays clubs Ive shot at where the very experienced shooters are usually more than happy to share tips and point out bad habits (with good intentions).

 

[Stony]

Don't know the answer to these problems, but they seem to crop up in clubs all over the country. I guess it's just human nature to see people take the high and mighty pose. Elite clique's are just the way of things. I've shot a lot of competition over the years and there are always a few of "those" people in the crowds. My wife is in a quilting guild and they are the same way, so it doesn't just apply to shooting sports. They have one old gal they reer to as the 'quilting nazi" if that gives you an idea.

 

[bangswitch]

On the plus side it felt good to beat the club member who had thousands of dollars in trap gear hanging on him with my $600.00 shotgun and a Carhart jacket

This says it all about the club in question, or at least the organizers. They just couldn't handle somebody showing up and beating the "experts".

The range I shoot at has three types of shooters show up.
1-The "pros", who compete regularly, have high dollar equipment that consists of over/unders or dedicated trap guns, usually shoot no worse than 22 or 23 out of 24 on every round and don't even bother to shoot their "mulligan". They look down their nose if your gun and attire don't fit in with theirs, and tend to only shoot with each other.
2- Enthusiasts, some of whom compete, but most shoot for fun. They don't care who they shoot with; some have very nice guns and equipment, others show up with a carpenter's nail pouch for a shell bag and an ancient Ithaca pump.
3- New people to the sport, or to shooting altogether. They are obvious; uncertain what to do, usually come with pumps or autoloaders and may or may not have a shooting vest or shell bag. They don't know the game rules and have poor gun discipline.

I consider myself an enthusiast; I'm fairly new to skeet/trap, but have been shooting a long time. As a basic shooting instructor, I'm very aware and conscious of safety issues and tend to look for breaches in gun etiquette. I won't hesitate to point out to shooters when they violate basic safety, but I try to do so in a way to teach, rather than scold. I generally have no trouble finding someone to shoot with when I go to the range solo; I do get comments about my gun; I'm the only one I've seen there who shoots a side-by-side. Comments are more "what kind is it" or "nice gun", rather than "why dontcha get an over-under". In some rounds, I'm shooting my 40 year old, $650 gun as well as or better than some guys with $1200 Benellis or $3500 Kreighoffs. I'm just there to have fun within my budget. I actually enjoy shooting with some of the newer shooters. They also just want to have fun with their new toys, and I'm happy to teach them the rules of the game and give pointers on technique, and to teach safe shooting habits.

 

[plumberroy]

The club I belong to has open shoots every Sunday it cost you a couple dollar more than a member to shoot but that is it . when I ask about trying around every one was helpful. one gentleman ask why my 870 didn't look quite right once ? After a closer look he realized it was a lefty . I have shot both my 870's one is lefty 18.25 barrel with remchokes and the other is righty with left safety built by AI&P tactical 18.5 barrel . I usually bust 16-20 bird Only comments I ever get are in good nature about the fact if I ever get a real gun I would be hard to beat
Roy

 

[Ohen Cepel]

As "gun people" we don't always welcome others well.

Even as a gun guy with decades behind me I find shotgunners to be in a class of their own. I have tried to "visit" them a few times and sadly it has always SUCKED. I think trap are the worse, skeet a bit better and sporting clays (since it's newer in the US) a touch more accepting.

I don't like the fashion show that shotgunners seem to be into, the name dropping, and pomp. Add to it they are often not welcoming I tend to keep away.

Wish it was different.

 

[oneounceload]

I don't like the fashion show that shotgunners seem to be into, the name dropping, and pomp. Add to it they are often not welcoming I tend to keep away.

That's kinda funny because as a shotgunner and not a 3-gun, IPSC or Hi-power shooter, I get that same treatment from pistoleros and rifle snobs because I don't have an AR with every tacky-cool gizmo on it, or a long range computer, etc.

Called fitting in with the group, and it isn't limited to guns, but cuts across racial, ethnic, cultural, music, cars, etc. - just human nature

Add to it they are often not welcoming I tend to keep away.

Then do something about it. I welcomed a new shooter to our shotgun club who just moved to the area about a week ago. He is about to become a regular member of our tournament squad; wasn't hard, I introduced myself and asked him what he likes to shoot

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

...with $1200 Benellis or $3500 Kreighoffs.

At those prices they must have been the throw away models...

 

[jlr1962]

OP, don't give up. Those 1%ers are everywhere you go. They are far outnumbered by good folks. Clubs of any kind can be clickish. The feminine hygiene product types are usually run off sooner or later.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

"That's kinda funny because as a shotgunner and not a 3-gun, IPSC or Hi-power shooter, I get that same treatment from pistoleros and rifle snobs because I don't have an AR with every tacky-cool gizmo on it, or a long range computer, etc."

That is also part of the reason I don't get into those things either. I enjoy shooting. Carried a weapon for decades in the military so do not like the posers or people who want to play war games on the weekends. Maybe, I'm just not social these days or not tolerant enough.......

 

[oneounceload]

Quote:
...with $1200 Benellis or $3500 Kreighoffs.
At those prices they must have been the throw away models...

Even though K-80s aren't my personal favorite, if I could find them for $3500, I'd buy everyone I could at that price, especially with new ones going for 12K+. Speaking of which, I saw a nicely engraved K-80; it has the Apollo moon landing engraved Bulino-style done on all three sides of the receiver - price tag was right at $110,000

 

[JohnKSa]

Overall, as a bunch, shooters usually exhibit great sportsmanship, but there are always some exceptions, and not just in shotgunning.

...I get that same treatment from pistoleros and rifle snobs because I don't have an AR with every tacky-cool gizmo on it, or a long range computer, etc."
...
do not like the posers or people who want to play war games on the weekends.

Sounds like there's "love" flowing in both directions. It seems reasonable to assume that both you and they are well aware of how the other feels and that contributes to the situation.

 

[Moparnut]

I have always personally felt like skeet, trap and shotgun sports are kinda like golf. It's like if you don't spend thousands and don't have the newest latest greatest you don't feel welcome. Even worse is most folks do not attempt to make you feel welcome.

 

[HexHead]

If you want to tick off a Krieghoff owner, tell him "That's a nice Remington you've got".

 

[evan price]

I got started shooting trap at a local club. A couple guys got attitudes but most were fine. I totally po'ed guy with a nice perazzi and a lincoln navigator by presuming to park my rusty Toyota next to his truck ( he made a point of telling me not to hit his truck with my door, as if I needed to be told). then got put on his squad, then outshot him with a rattle-can-camo-painted mossberg 500 I had maybe a hundred bucks in. He remarked he paid more for his gun case than I paid for the gun I was using. I told him if he spent more on shells and practice instead of gun cases he would be a better shot.