First time shooting Trap

Major Sights

Major Sights

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
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Location
LLB, AB
Well after multiple schedule conflicts over the past week and half, I was finally able to get to the trap field in time to shoot.

The VP gave me the "walk-through", and took me over to a separate range to give me a 1on1 coaching round. I did so/so on that, then we went in and signed up for the next available spot in a round of trap.

I was using a Norinco HP9 with a 26" Remington barrel, a worn wood but-stock, and synthetic fore-end, and a modified choke. All in all, an ugly boom stick.

First official round, I started on the 4th station. However on both stations 5 and 1 I shot 5 of 5. My only trouble seems to be 2 and 3. My total was 17.

Second round, I started on the 5th station, and again, went 5 for 5 on the 5th and 1st station. 2 and 3 still were rough. Total was 18.

Can't wait to go again, and get better. :D
 
Welcome to the club!!

You will find that there are a great bunch of people at Peterborough Skeet and Trap (including a number of Gun Nutz as well!)

Be aware, though, it can be very addictive:eek:!

James
 
Thanks guys. I think I surprised a few guys there, I told them I never shot trap, but I have done 400-600 clays at home, during the last few weeks. I don't however see a need to have to use a full choke as somebody "suggested".

If I am hitting 18 of them and only loosing it on key stations, then I see a familiarity issue not a gear issue. Would it make it more difficult? Perhaps, at the time I feel good and comfortable hitting 20+ consistently with a modified, then I will move up to full.

Just didn't enjoy being told what I had to do. Luckily, I have thick skin and can see the good meant in some of the comments. Sometimes, it is just better to let somebody trip over their feet learning to run then forcing them to march.
 
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Were you shooting at the 16 yard line? Full choke is too much choke at that distance in trap! It will make 'em smoke for sure, though, when you do connect!

I've only been shooting trap since the summer so as a newbie the only advice I have is to listen and absorb all the words of wisdom that you can and use your noodle to separate the good advice from the bad advice.
 
procede with caution highly addictive sport and ya thoose stations can be quite the thing get use to but oncee you get them down ull have no trouble. Just practise practise practise and keep every thing as consistant as possible.
 
Van Isle said:
Were you shooting at the 16 yard line? Full choke is too much choke at that distance in trap! It will make 'em smoke for sure, though, when you do connect!

I've only been shooting trap since the summer so as a newbie the only advice I have is to listen and absorb all the words of wisdom that you can and use your noodle to separate the good advice from the bad advice.
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Yes, we were on the 16yard line.
 
Gee, I think that is good shooting to start with Major Sights, way to go. It sounds like modified choke at the 16 yard line is working well for you. So, personally, I'd stick with it. What choke to use can be a long conversation. I've kind of settled on Improved modified or full for myself at 16 yards, but there are lots of guys that shoot modified. In fact, I shoot right next to one guy at our Tuesday fun day who does and he often shades me a bird or two. I've kind of concluded that it depends on how your gun patterns, how quickly you shoot, what kind of payload you are using and so on. There can be some fun days studying how your gun patterns. It might be a good idea as well, to stick with modified and train yourself to shoot quickly and efficiently. It might not hurt to ask the instructor at the club about that. I'm not claiming any great knowledge here, but I went to a workshop where the instructor advised me to shoot more quickly. He kept me right on the edge of my comfort zone. I tend to be a bit laid back when I shoot, though I still pick the bird up before it peaks in its flight (definitely important in trap, when shooting a gun set up for trap, this...)
 
You are doing well as a new trap shooter. Here are a couple of thoughts that may help on posts 2 & 3.
It's easy to misread slight angle targets and shoot them as straightaways; This results in chips off the tail or a miss. Try slowing a fraction of a second to allow your eyes/brain to correctly map the target course.
On post 3, if you hold above the house, try holding a little to the right of center if you are right handed or to the left if left handed. Reason is a center hold may result in the barrel(s) momentarily obscuring the target as it first emerges from the house. This is particularly true of dead straight aways or very slight angles. You wont see the target quite as quickly...result may be jumping at the target and shooting over; or misreading that slight angle and shooting behind. Holding to the side allows you to see the target as soon as it becomes visible.
Hope this helps.
 
Congrats! Keep your eyes on the target and after many, many shots, you will naturaly see the leed needed. The going away are always a bit tough. Depending on your age and eye sight, shooting quickly may not be possible. In my younger days, I have shot trap gun down. My best was 49/50. But now, I don't care of the score as it is only practice for FITASC events.

BTW, a longer barrel will help you. But you cannot use the front post as a sight. It must stay in your peripheral vision while you HARD focus on the target!

Regards,
Henry;)
 
Just got back from my second go at trap. Did 3 rounds, all were better then my last time out.

In the order I shot them, I scored:
19
21
21

May have to get a membership soon! :D
 
Well, Major Sights you seem to be well on the way to some good scores. For the next little while I would continue doing what you are doing and have fun. You will get lots of advice. Some good! Some not! At this point I would not make any drastic changes in equipment or shooting style. In a short time you may reach a plateau or mabe even a decline in your scores. Hopefully by that time you will start to know who really knows what they are talking about and who does not. There is lots of time to decide on how much you want to invest in this sport. By all means buy a membership. Breaking Clay should be fun no matter what goals you set for yourself.Membership will be good for you and for the club.
 
Getting a membership at the PSTC will save you money too. At only $50.00 per year, it is a real bargain, and your cost per round will be a flat $3 instead of $5 per round plus your daily insurance charge.

Covey is right. You will get a lot of "advice" and unasked-for coaching from well meaning people, but don't rush to change anything until you shoot for a while and develop familiarity with your own gun and abilities.
Keep what works for you, and then you can ask how to improve once you know what targets and angles you are having difficulty with.

Looking forward to meeting you!

Cheers,

James
 
james01 said:
Getting a membership at the PSTC will save you money too. At only $50.00 per year, it is a real bargain, and your cost per round will be a flat $3 instead of $5 per round plus your daily insurance charge.

Covey is right. You will get a lot of "advice" and unasked-for coaching from well meaning people, but don't rush to change anything until you shoot for a while and develop familiarity with your own gun and abilities.
Keep what works for you, and then you can ask how to improve once you know what targets and angles you are having difficulty with.

Looking forward to meeting you!

Cheers,

James
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You are right, and once the new "year" rolls around I will be doing that, but for right now I'm fine paying a little extra, every little bit helps ;)

I don't yet see the "tactics" of the game. Its quite simple in theory, like archery, you just need to practice. It kinda reminds me of one quote from Zorro.

Don Diego de la Vega: Do you know how to use that [sword]?
Alejandro Murrieta: Yes. The pointy end goes into the other men. :D

Only thing I would really change is my shotgun, the pump action is getting annoying quickly, sending shells all down the line, the pump getting stuck now and then, the fact its a norinco. I also hate being the only one (yesterday anyway) picking up my shells at the end of the rounds. A SxS or a O/U would be nice. Would use the same chokes and everything if I could.
 
Our club has a no pick policy. See lots of pumps in use. Just eject into your hand and pocket. I can also understand you wanting another firearm, but you have proven for now at least that when it comes to breaking clay your norinco with 870 bbl is up for the task. I can understand your wanting another gun. I am always in that state.
 
Covey Ridge said:
Our club has a no pick policy. See lots of pumps in use. Just eject into your hand and pocket. I can also understand you wanting another firearm, but you have proven for now at least that when it comes to breaking clay your norinco with 870 bbl is up for the task. I can understand your wanting another gun. I am always in that state.
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Yeah I was doing that the first time, but my gun was giving me some issues and not wanting to eject, and when it did let loose there was so much rearward force I couldn't stop it from ejecting all over the place.
 
You are right to want to do something about that. The trap bunch are really a great bunch, but one thing that gets them up tight is constant movement on the line due to an improperly functioning firearm.
 
Major Sights said:
Yeah I was doing that the first time, but my gun was giving me some issues and not wanting to eject, and when it did let loose there was so much rearward force I couldn't stop it from ejecting all over the place.
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What shells were you using? Winchester steel headed shells are notorious for sticking in chambers. Try a box of premium target shells and see if the problem goes away
 
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