First time sporting clays

[bennya]

Got out to Silver Willow on the weekend for my first time out (first time shooting a shotgun actually). I am now officially addicted to it!

After a little bit of time finding a gun that fit well and worked for me (I am in a wheelchair so had to find the right weight / balance so that I could maintain my balance while swinging on target) we got out and had a ton of fun. Now I am thinking hard about what to do next. Clearly I am going to do more of this so want to find the right gun, and practice like crazy.

Now that I have the flavour of what works for me and what doesn't is it best to handle a bunch of guns and see what feels good(then pick one and give it a go)? Try as many as possible to see what I shoot well? It feels like I am too new to be assuming that I am consistent and the gun is making the difference between hits and misses on clays. My basic assumption is that I should find a gun that fits / feels good and I can shoot comfortably and then work on my skills.

What do people think?

On another note - is it better to shoot a bunch of trap / skeet vs learning on the sporting clays course? Or just pick something you like and can get out and do often?
Thanks in advance
Ben

 

[cosmic]

Sporting clays is the hardest, and most variable of the clay sports. Practicing skeet and trap would afford you the opportunity to repeat similar shots, so you can learn more efficiently. Also, they offer less wear and tear if you're mobility challenged.

Regarding the gun selection - you are right, your experience is currently the limiting factor in birds hit. People will say that shotgun fit is paramount, however, unless you know what fit is, and have some basic skills, the point is lost. If you can get some pointers about fit at your club, and possibly shoot various guns, you'll learn a lot. I think you'll find that most folks are happy to give you guidance, and to let you try their shotgun - its part of the sport...

 

[Snort]

Could on you for giving this a try. Once you get going you will soon find that it gets in your blood and you want to do more.

I would think that a semi auto would be what you would want to use. Felt recoil is less and much easier to function while in your wheelchair than an O/U.

Given enough time, you can learn to shoot an improperly fitting shotgun quite well. That being said, a properly fitting one is just so much easier to shoot well and is less punishing on the body.

If you can find any friends that will let you shoot their guns i would start there and after that try renting some different ones from Silver Willow.

Trap and skeet fields are likely to be much more accessible for you but i personally find that nothing makes you a better sporting clays shooter than shooting more sporting clays.

 

[JIMMY 808]

Well Ben I wouldn't say you can't shoot sporting clay as you just did!

But most trap fields are very wheel chair friendly. You are in Calgary maybe check out the trap club there it is wheel chair friendly ramps to the club house.

At most bigger shoots there is a chair shooter class.