Beginner at trap needs help.

Astaziel

Astaziel

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Shawinigan, Québec
So I recently tried my hand a trap shooting. I tried 4 different guns, two O/U and two auto's.
I noticed that I am quite good for a beginner with the auto (last score was 20/25), but as soon as I touch an O/U my scores drop significantly (8/25). Last time there was another guy an the range that told be to get the rib completely flat and to lean into the gun, like when you shoot an ar-15. When I tried to use his tips I missed even more.
So first question is are there things you can do with an O/U that you can't do with an auto. I noticed that in competitions and doubles everyone seems do prefer O/U.
Second, According to a lot of people online, it seems that you should always show some rib, never put it flat, so what should I do? Also, I heard my gun being referred as a 50/50 gun. 50% shot over the bead and 50% shot under. can I still do clay with it?
 
It would seem the 2 guns fit you very differently . if you were to compare the stock measurements of the 2 I would bet they very different .
 
Could be the difference in fit, it could also be that the one that worked for you was choked fairly open- best for beginners- and the one that didn't work well for you was choked tighter than a bull's a$$ in fly time.
 
When you pattern them, you'll most likely find the Semis are patterning higher than the O/U's, which is ideal for shooting trap assuming the pattern is 60-70% above line of sight. A flat shooting or 50/50 shotgun is what you are looking for in a skeet gun. Ideal for a sporting clays gun is thought to fall in between the two. Your next step is off to the pattern board with the chokes and ammo you intend to use to see what the guns are actually doing.
 
As stated ,,when I shoot a new shot gun of any kind or make, I head to the pattern board. My versa max actually shot low , when I first bough it. I called Remington and they sent me a mid high comb piece to raise the comb, and then it was perfect. Also as mentioned, trap guns usually shoot high, to one extent or the other. Sporting clay is a game of compound angles, descending targets, bouncing rabbits, ect . Very hard to shoot these targets with a gun the shoots high, at least it is for me . So flat is what I want. If you gun has a adjustable comb, easy adjustment, higher the comb higher the gun shoots. If you decide on a auto for trap ,better buy a shell catcher, bouncing empties off a guys ten thousand dollar trap, gun is not a way to make friends. I shoot my o/u for one reason above all else. I hate picking up empties. I started out trap shooting and became pretty good at it. Then moved on to sporting clay. Good luck with your decision.
 
Couple of advantages that O/Us have over semis- the ability to run 2 separate chokes (Beneficial for doubles- a more open choke for the first clay, and a tighter choke for the second), and the fact that they don't fire the empty hulls out towards the guy beside you. Some trap guys are a little bit sensitive, and getting hit with shells bothers them. Lol

Pretty good chance that the semi just fit you better than the O/U. A shotgun that doesn't shoulder properly isn't going to do well for you.
 
I'd start by doing two things. First, take the semi and the o/u to the pattern board and see where they shoot because it sounds like a fit issue or it's possible that the o/u is regulated badly. The second thing I'd do is not take advice from the guy that told you to lean into the gun!
 
Maritime Storm said:
Without seeing his stance while shooting, it would be hard to advise this. New people do have a habit of leaning back trying to compensate for the guns weight when they first learn to shoot.
Click to expand...

My reply was mostly tongue in cheek since the advice didn't help and I thought most would see it that way but there's always some that don't.
 
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