I have never shot them before but it looks like fun. I have a 20ga pump but don't know what I should try. I will be going to the Strathcona range on the weekend. I know they have trap and skeet but what is the easiest to shoot and learn. Any help from the Claymasters here would be great.
I want to try clays
- Thread starter jayz
- Start date
First of all, it is a bunch of fun!
I may be biased, but I'd say skeet is easier to start with. There are some easier targets to start with (Stations 1 and 7). It's a lot more fun when the targets break. You'll start to get a feeling for it, and be able to move on to the harder targets.
By all means, bring lots of ammo and try them both.
Brad.
I may be biased, but I'd say skeet is easier to start with. There are some easier targets to start with (Stations 1 and 7). It's a lot more fun when the targets break. You'll start to get a feeling for it, and be able to move on to the harder targets.
By all means, bring lots of ammo and try them both.
Brad.
Shooting
With a 20 gauge pump start on the skeet range. You may want to try a couple rounds with just single targets to get the hang of it then progress into the doubles from high and low house. Don't know what you have for chokes in the pump but skeet or IC would be best.
A 20 gauge on the trap field starting out well likely leave you frustrated so give that some time and get a 12 gauge to tackle it.
You can have some fun and do well with a 20 on the Sporting Clays so give that a shot if you have a Sporting course there.
Give yourself some time to learn the game and enjoy doing it. Took me a couple years to get to the point of being competitive but shotgun sports are by far my favorite firearm sport these days.
REM3200
With a 20 gauge pump start on the skeet range. You may want to try a couple rounds with just single targets to get the hang of it then progress into the doubles from high and low house. Don't know what you have for chokes in the pump but skeet or IC would be best.
A 20 gauge on the trap field starting out well likely leave you frustrated so give that some time and get a 12 gauge to tackle it.
You can have some fun and do well with a 20 on the Sporting Clays so give that a shot if you have a Sporting course there.
Give yourself some time to learn the game and enjoy doing it. Took me a couple years to get to the point of being competitive but shotgun sports are by far my favorite firearm sport these days.
REM3200
I absolutely disagree with the previous posts. ATA trap is by far the easiest way to start out learning to shoot targets. Set the machine for straight aways, stand on the 16 yard line at station 3, pre mount the gun and yell pull. Once you can hit those, let the machine oscillate, but stay at station 3. When you can hit those reliably, start switching stations.
You will find this infinitely easier to start out with than skeet, and you will break more birds. A 20 gauge with an I/C choke will do fine from the 16 yard line with #8 shot. The 20 gauge carries the same 7/8th oz. payload as the 12 gauge international trap or skeet loads, so you are at no real disadvantage. Go and learn to judge the flight of the birds, and then by all means try all the other games offered at Strathcona.
Sharptail
You will find this infinitely easier to start out with than skeet, and you will break more birds. A 20 gauge with an I/C choke will do fine from the 16 yard line with #8 shot. The 20 gauge carries the same 7/8th oz. payload as the 12 gauge international trap or skeet loads, so you are at no real disadvantage. Go and learn to judge the flight of the birds, and then by all means try all the other games offered at Strathcona.
Sharptail
It's often said that trap is easier to learn and harder to shoot while skeet is harder to learn but easier to shoot.
I started shooting trap and agree with Sharptail. Start with trap. It's one shot at a time and you don't have to remember whether you need to shoot doubles. I've seen new shooters become very frustrated with skeet.
Of course I've seen experienced shooters become very frustrated with skeet too. That's why I prefer sporting clays.
I started shooting trap and agree with Sharptail. Start with trap. It's one shot at a time and you don't have to remember whether you need to shoot doubles. I've seen new shooters become very frustrated with skeet.
Of course I've seen experienced shooters become very frustrated with skeet too. That's why I prefer sporting clays.
I just got back from the range. WOW did I have fun. I shot 4 rnd of trap. I have a question though do the clays come in hubcap sizes? Just kidding I did manage to hit a few and I will only get better with more trips to range. Now I will have to soften up the wife to get a shotgun.
Jayz, congrats, glad you made it. I knew you'd have fun on the trap range. In order to soften up the wife, take her shooting! There is no better way to spend some "quality time" together (well, in public anyway). The clubhouse atmosphere of Strathcona makes for a comfortable way to introduce women to the sport.
Saturday was rather busy. I went out again on Sunday after the rain, and had the entire range to myself. Kind of like having your own private shooting facility - I could get spoiled for that.
Sharptail
Saturday was rather busy. I went out again on Sunday after the rain, and had the entire range to myself. Kind of like having your own private shooting facility - I could get spoiled for that.
Sharptail
jayz said:I just got back from the range. WOW did I have fun. I shot 4 rnd of trap. I have a question though do the clays come in hubcap sizes? Just kidding I did manage to hit a few and I will only get better with more trips to range. Now I will have to soften up the wife to get a shotgun.
Jayz,
Welcome to the board, welcome to the sport, and welcome to the Strathcona range. We're thrilled to have you join our little fraternity. It's always good to have a newcomer in our midst reminding us of the excitement of discovering shooting. The good news is - the fun never goes away. There's a lifetime of learning potential in all of the types of guns, makers, and the family fun that you can have target shooting and/or hunting (or gettin' out with the guys if your kin don't get into it with you).
SS
I think "Which is easier?" depends on the amount and type of experience you have beforehand; I was primarily a rifle shooter before I tried the clay games, and I found trap really easy (23/25 the very first time I tried it). When it came to skeet, though, I would've been better off just throwing boxes of shells in the fire for the first 2 years I tried it, simply because I didn't have any flying game shotgun experience, and I didn't have any idea of the proper lead to use at each station. Skeet is really about consistency, over and over again, and once you track a clay, squeeze the trigger, follow through, and it turns into a black cloud of dust, something in your brain just "gets it".
