Which Clays for Beginners

[bratch]

I've got a buddy at work who is wanting to go shoot one of the various forms of clays with me. He has never shot a gun in his life. I have only shot clays down at our farm using a hand thrower or a cheap Do-All trap.

We are going to be going to one of the local ranges for this one. What would be the best to get him started on? I'd like him to have a good time and want to come back.

Here is the pricing from one of the clubs we are looking at:

Sporting Clays 50 Targets: $20.00

100 Sporting Clay Targets: $40.00

5 Stand 25 targets: $10.00

Trap Skeet & Wobble 25 Targets: $7.00

 

[RNB65]

Trap, skeet, and wobble tend to get boring in a hurry because it's always the same thing over and over.

Most 5-stand setups are for better shooters. Most of the shots tend to be long with a lot of tough angles and fast moving targets. Beginners usually get frustrated at missing everything.

I'd say hit the sporting clays course. Let the trapper know that you're both new to sporting clays and ask him to thow easy targets. See if the course has anyone available to teach the basics such as range safety, stance, hold and gun mounting.

Most importantly, have fun!

 

[IDriveB5]

id start out on trap, its a little easier to learn tha the others.
also, id suggest a light load, like 1oz@2-3/4DE. that should take away from some of the recoil scare factor.
good luck, have fun and dont forget to start with safety first!

 

[MNgoldenbear]

Pretty much second IDriveB5's comments. Yeah, unless your goal is to shoot cleanly every time out (NO, I can't!), trap & skeet could get boring soon. But If you are just going out this time to try it out, not settle on a choice for life, the trap and skeet fields have a lot to offer a beginner. I tried trap shooting first, and it was kind of reassuring that there weren't any really extreme angles. I've had a lot of fun with skeet, though not much success on #3-5.

I took a friend and her husband out at her husband's request -- he wanted me to help familiarize her with the firearms they had available to them: a Glock 19 and a Remington 870. For the shotgun, I wanted to use the pistol range backstop to simply familiarize her with firing the gun (she's a little, early 60's grandma and school administrator) but was told that range no longer allowed that practice, and that we'd have to use one of the clays ranges. I didn't think we'd have much success, but it was the only option. I took her out and we "camped" on #7 (next to the low house, on the right) and I threw her high house singles, which seem to just about float in front of that position. After a few misses and a few minor form corrections, she broke several clays in a row! We had envisioned this as a trip to familiarize her for possible future home defense needs, as she didn't have much interest in firearms. After starting to hit, she commented to me that she could really see herself "doing this on occasion just for the fun of it." SCORE!

Just a thought after rereading the rest of the post. If the person is very new to the whole shooting game, either low #1 or #2, or high #6 or #7 are probably the easiest positions to work from. Beginners have a tendency to aim too "hard" and wait too long. At least these targets are basically incoming, giving them a shorter shot if they wait a bit longer than ideal rather than zipping away from them.

Yeah, the older games are somewhat easier, but easy is good when you're trying to get a newbie to have a good time and whet their appetite for more.

Good luck!

 

[Jack R]

Being far from an expert in the clay games...I think that I would start the friend on targets from your do all trap on the farm.....slower..more predictable (easy shots)....no pressure, seeing more experienced shooters break targets, and making it look easy, which is not the case...Jack

 

[Dave McCracken]

5 stand can be a bit tough on brand new shooters. Sporting is a marvelous way to BA/UU/R but may not be the best choice for those just starting out.

I usually use a trap range for starting out a new shooter, then move to a wobble setup to try some different angles.

If a skeet range is available, Low and High 7s are good for first targets.

Try them all.....

 

[bratch]

The farm would have been an option when we were still in school but its now an hour and a half drive. We were planning on going one afternoon to one of the clubs that are close. Something quick and easy.

 

[MNgoldenbear]

BTW, thanks for the guys pointing out difficulty of 5-stand. Haven't done it, but it always sounded easier than the regular sporting courses. I think I'll brush up a bit (a lot, maybe? ) before going out to shoot that.

 

[BozemanMT]

Very first time shooting?
We start people on skeet
but not the game
we start at low 7 (easiest shot in the game), then high 7
then high 1, then low 1
then shoot a little from 3,4,5 to practice crossers

We don't actually shoot the game
once they get used to blowing things up, we go shoot some trap, they usually shoot well enough at trap to be hooked (15+) and we stop at about a 100 rounds. (because that's a lot if you aren't used to it)

We don't start people at sporting clays.
while a 19 is very good on a tough course shooting the first time out, you aren't going to have fun.

The 2nd time, we shoot sporting clays. (although we don't usually do true pairs for them, they get to shoot report pairs)
5 stand is a tough game, the shots are usally far away and running fast. I don't take newbies to 5 stand for a while.

 

[bratch]

This will be his very first time shooting anything; rifle, shotgun or pistol heck maybe even BB gun.

I'll have to talk to the ranges we are looking at to see if we could do a modified course for easier shots.

 

[sm]

BozemanMT's approach is the one I use.

 

[bratch]

sm & Bozeman,

How many rounds do you usually shoot at each station?

 

[sm]

bratch,
allow me to back up a second for the sake of newer members before I address your question if I may.

bratch- before he heads to the range - has or will go over the 4 rules of Safety. He will also try to find the best fitting gun with really light loads for this new shooter to use. Still before they go, he will show how the action works by using the Rules of Dryfire Practice, the safety, how the gun is loaded, how to unload it and make sure it is safe, range etiquette - everything. This way the new shooter is familar with Safety , the gun and range rules/ etiquette.

How many rounds depends on the shooter. I personally want the shooter to have fun as they instill confidence with correct basics breaking first targets.
Meaning I will be honest in sharing I do not want them being sore, or hurting to the point where shooting is a turn off. I want this a mutual understanding from the get-go.

I will allow a shooter to run "breaking targets" for a bit, then suggest a rest to 1) rest 2) allow the human computer to digest what it looks like to break a target from low 7.

Adults (bigger) can shoot more breaking strings. Smaller folks less targets, and even less for kids, I mean 3 in a row, stop, debrief for a kid is good.

During them taking a rest it is good for their eyes / human computer to see targets, these tend to slow down. I may shoot to reaffirm what lifting the head does [ miss] or improper mount, letting the target ride too long, shooting too quick all showing "why you miss" ...and shoot it correctly "how to hit" so they can see the difference and relate " yeah, I saw what you did when you broke that".
Or " oh, shooting too soon means I did not get full use of pattern".

When going to high 1 from low 7 show them as you talk them thru the similarities. IF...If they start to have a problem. Stop. " Do you want to go back to Low 7 and get the "picture" back before going on with High 1?"

If they do , go back.

Just me, still I really really want the shooter to instill in the human computer the correct basics and have fun doing so.

Heck I have had folks shoot nothing but low 7 , have a ball, with others learning at the same time. Afterwards out to get a burger if 'I broke 19/25 today" is overheard...who cares it was all from low 7?

Oh if a shooter breaks 25/25 - darn right we shoot the hat. Bring an extra hat for this reason. And if they go "straight" shoot it, sign it and date it...everyone that is there just like the first real round of skeet when one goes straight.

Acceptance into something - rite of passage if you will. I assure you that shooter is gonna to really appreciate this...will be back and continue to improve.


HTH,

Steve

 

[BozemanMT]

What SM said
Low 7 might take a while because it's the first time they have shot
and you know, getting people to lean into the gun instead of away from the gun is hard sometimes (I don't know why, but it is). But the instant that first bird blows up (usually within 3 or 4 times), they are hooked.
Then a couple more to ensure they have it and it's not luck.
If they miss, I ask them why they missed, usually they know, or you know watching them.
But as Steve said, slow them down. I hold the shells and the buttons, so i hand them one at a time and ask them questions each time. Mostly to slow it down. Me, i can go out and put out 25 rounds on one station, all at once, teh barrels are smoking. But a new person can't handle that, their shoulder will hurt, they won't see it, they get tired, etc. They want to talk, heck half the fun in shotgunning is talking. (another reason I don't start them on trap)

another thought. AFter we move to the trap range, i start way up, about halfway between station 3 and the house. I'm trying to build confidence and seeing what the bird does. then you back up after a couple and they get it. Then shoot some from station 3 (trap), then move to 1 and then to 5.

Also, if you don't have a skeet range, start from trap (in front of station 3), and ask the range to set the machine to throw straightaway (not moving side to side). Explain why, you have a newbie, etc and they will always do it. (esp if you are a regular). They want new customers too. Then, do a box straight away as i said (in front of 3, 3, 1, 5). Then, let the machine go side to side and do it again. (in front of 3, 3, 1, 5)

they'll be totally hooked.
If you start them on the trap range, let the last box of 25 (4th box, no more than 100), be a real game. shoot with them and shoot from the right of them so you can see what they are doing wrong. it's not about your score it's about theirs.

 

[KC&97TA]

I started on trap and haven't gained the courage to move on... I just like to shoot and see things shatter Trap is pretty simple to get the hang of, I like to hang out and watch the Skeet guys but they (not bashing anyone) seem to take thier shooting alot more serious than the Trap guys.

I do alot with 'move, shoot, move' with the carbines, so standing in one spot is relaxing, even if the 12ga is bashing the shoulder.

 

[Kelem]

Skeet, Skeet and the easiest stations.

When staring out its about making clays go POOF!! incomers on a plate are good for that.

 

[BozemanMT]

I like to hang out and watch the Skeet guys but they (not bashing anyone) seem to take thier shooting alot more serious than the Trap guys

Weird, I always thought the reverse.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll find if you ask to join their squad and tell them you are a total newbie they will explain the game and enjoy having you along.
I have never met anyone in any of the shooting sports who didn't enjoy helping someone.

 

[sm]

Weird, I always thought the reverse.

Trap Shooters tend to fiddle with stocks and change guns more. Then again it often depends if a Tourney if upcoming in any of the clay games [ skeet, trap, 5 stand, SC] and the shooters are getting some "serious" practice time in.

You want to see "serious" shooters, attend a columbaire or live pigeon shoot. Do NOT scratch your nose or swat a fly, akin to attending an auction, you may have just signaled you bet $200 on a shooter - and whether he misses, or hits that next bird .

As mentioned I started at skeet and still prefer it to teach. Me "serious"? - well, I have my way of doing things shall we say.

I have been known to forget everything but one sliver of leading clay - one at a time. The Ref has had to inform me 1) "that was the fourth box and its over" as I was headed back to shoot a fifth box . 2) been known to shoot 16 practice rounds in a day. 3) ran out of clays at the range.

Of late been shooting "skeet" and other targets from a moving truck bed, tailgate, topless Jeep...shotgun, and handgun ...convertible...

Still like to sit down on the ground, sit on a stool, sit in a wheelchair, on a scaffold...and shoot moving targets...

Pretty serious fun, and I have my reasons.

Been practicing shooting one handed with a single shot, holding a kid on weak side and taking station 7. The kid gets to load the gun, and "get a feel" of moving the body and the gun moving in relation to target, [swing thru method] aquiring, gettng a lead, bang and follow thru.

Pretty serous lessons.

Kids then use a BB Gun to shoot moving targets using same correct basic fundamentals.

Fix a "clothes line" if you will about 4' high. Take a coat hanger and make a "clip" to hold a clay. Attach fishing line/ string and move the target / clay and from next to kid [safety] and let the kid break a moving clay with a BB Gun.

I do this with bigger folks, adults too in teaching. I really believe in the BB Gun in teaching correct basic fundamentals of shotgunning.
One can do the same with rifles, and handguns (BB pistols).

Been doing this forever, heck I still like shooting clays with a BB Gun. These "serious" lessons transition a kid to shotgunning when they get big enough to actually hold and handle a Shotgun.

Go rig one of these up, a lot of fun for all ages, serious lessons learned and passed forward - great practice and quality time spent.


Steve