Little help here?

FlyingHigh

FlyingHigh

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Hey guys. I'm kinda new to the whole trap/skeet/clay shooting thing. I recently bought a Mossberg Maverick 88 12 ga. and a box of clays. I took them out today to try. I'm tossing the clay as high as I can with my left hand while holding the shotgun in my right, then swinging the gun up to my shoulder and firing. my hit ratio is maybe 2 grazes/nicks in about 30 tosses. :runaway: :redface:

I'm using 12 ga 2 3/4 inch 8 shot Federal Field and Range shells. And I have no choke tube in the gun. I'm basing my technique off reading I've done. I'm focusing on the target, not the bead sight. I've got both eyes open. What am I doing wrong? Is it the fact that I don't have a choke tube so the spread is too wide too soon? HELP!!! :eek: :runaway:
 
Just curious. Are you right handed or left handed?

Are you shooting from the right shoulder or left shoulder?

In my mind's eye, I'm trying to envision someone who shoots right handed, holding the gun in the right hand..somehow, trying to throw a target with the left hand high enough for it to stay aloft long enough to get that gun up properly into the right shoulder to pull off a successful shot.

Is it just me? Of course...I'm "assuming" a right handed shooter, so this does not paint a pretty picture for me. :confused:

Two things immediately come to mind.

If you want to try to learn to shoot clay targets out in a back field somewhere, I'd suggest you buy a thrower....and then get a buddy to go out with you so you can throw for each other.

Secondly.....find a gun club where you can learn to shoot clay targets properly. The experienced shooters there will be able to do a whole lot more for you than anyone on here can based upon what you've described you're trying to do on your own. ;)

Good luck.
 
Yup, get thineself to yon trap and skeet emporium!:D
What you are trying to do is very hard to help with on the internet, but as mentioned, if you are right handed, throw the clay with your right hand , holding the gun in your left.
he's the big problem.

Throwinf a clay, mounting a gun, and firing, is a lot harder to do than some would think.
The shot spread is going to be tight, and your form is going to be all over the place, so your instinctive edge is going to be maxed out - if you actually have an "instinctive edge"!:eek:
Get some lessons, and a buddy with a small trius or champion spring trap and you will have some fun.
Cat
 
I'm right handed, and hold the gun on the right shoulder. Normally, I guess I would have had a buddy with me throwing the clays for me, but he couldn't make it yesterday. I'll have to try throwing with my right hand. I plan to join a club in the new year and make full use of the facilities. Thanks for the info.
 
FlyingHigh said:
I'm right handed, and hold the gun on the right shoulder. Normally, I guess I would have had a buddy with me throwing the clays for me, but he couldn't make it yesterday. I'll have to try throwing with my right hand. I plan to join a club in the new year and make full use of the facilities. Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...
You won't regret !
trap, sporting clays, and skeet clubs are a whole bunch of fun!
You may be able to get in on a group bulk buy of ammo, if you can, it dosen't pay to handload.
Cat
 
Whether reloading these days pays or doesn't pay can be subject to a bunch of debate.

I haven't done the math for a long time now to calculate out exactly what reloading costs these days. It's subject to a whole bunch of variables....what type of loads you want to build...and your component prices.

I think it still may be possible to save a little bit of $$$ by reloading. Sadly not as much as the good old days thanks largely to the crazy lead prices these days.

But quite a few guys are experimenting with...and using 1 oz loads, 7/8 oz loads, some even getting down to 3/4 oz 12 gauge loads for clay target shooting. These light loads still break targets very well and doing this can still result in some savings I think.

Having said this though, I think it's pretty safe to say that many of us who reload aren't in it simply to save money....unless you're shooting lots of 28 gauge or 410 like us skeet shooters. Then substantial savings are possible loading them.

But reloading for most of us is a hobby, and an extension of our overall shooting "habit". Any $$$ savings we realize doing it is a bonus....especially in the larger gauges..12 and 20.

You're just starting to get into clay target shooting. I'd forget about reloading right now and focus on learning how to shoot first. If you get involved with a gun club somewhere....and get hooked on one of the clay target games like many of us have, you may then want to expand your hobby to reloading. Investigate it thoroughly then.

Until then, keep saving your empty hulls. Don't know what kind of shells you're shooting. Ask someone if they're worth saving for possible reloading later. They may not be. But if they are, keep saving them. If you decide down the road you don't want to load your own, I'm sure you'd have no problem finding a reloader to give them to.

Good luck. And enjoy your shooting.
 
If you are going to shoot clays alone, get a catapult style thrower, so you can launch the bird by pulling a lanyard. The flight path of the target will be much better, and more controllable. Using a hand thrower alone is possible, but adds another degree of difficulty. I've done it, right handed shooter, gun held by forend with left hand, use the thrower with the right, throw bird, drop thrower, mount gun and shoot, but its awkward at best. Shooting with a partner is better, the partner can also give you a pretty good idea where your pattern has gone, if you miss.
Nothing wrong with the loads you are using.
You mention not using a choke tube. Do you mean your gun does not use them, or you are shooting with the tube removed? This isn't a good idea, If the gun takes choke tubes, install an open choked one.
 
You mention not using a choke tube. Do you mean your gun does not use them, or you are shooting with the tube removed? This isn't a good idea, If the gun takes choke tubes, install an open choked one.
Click to expand...


The gun takes choke tubes, but I haven't got any. I have them on order at the local shop, but knowing that shop, I have little hope of seeing them soon, or ever. I tried Wholesale's website and couldn't find any, maybe I'm looking for the wrong thing, or need to phone in. Why isn't a good idea to shoot without a choke tube?
 
Well tiriaq beat me too it, but using no tube in a 'tubed'
gun is not good for the guns sake.
I can't say for sure how your gun will hold up, but a fellow
I know at the trap club I shoot at shot his gun with no tube
(not on purpose, didn't know it was removed). Anyway, he
turned that gun into an expensive open bored walking stick.
 
wow. ok, no more shooting with that barrel until i have tubes. guess i'll just plink with the 18.5" barrel then. thanks for the save there guys. i've only put 60 rounds or so through that barrel so far. i'm guessing the gun should be fine, i hope.
 
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