out for the first time....what a blast...but....

J

jon1985

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Location
Carleton Place, Ontario
I was out shooting clays for the first time, and what a blast. I chewed through 50 rounds faster then I could have expected.

I say shooting clays because I dont know if it would be considered skeet or trap. The clays came across my shoulder and away from me at about a 45* angle.

Brief layout of what I was using. I had my rem 870 pump with a 20" barrel. I bought the shotgun to get into 3 gun hence the shorter barrel. I was using a MOD choke because I was trying to compensate for the shorter barrel. That said, I was having a hard time hitting the birds as they got further away from me. Which choke would work best with this barrel length? Im sure a longer barrel would be the biggest improvement but thats not in the cards right now. That said I am watching for a 28" threaded barrel.

I was using 2 3/4" 1oz #8. I found some 1 1/8oz #7.5 on sale so we will see if there is any difference.

Any tips based on above information?

Any tips in general for better shooting?
 
You definitely were not shooting skeet, and likely not trap either. It sounds like you were using a portable thrower, and just casually shooting informal clays. If you want tips, keep both eyes open, concentrate on the target and ignore the beads, and keep swinging the gun as you shoot.
 
IN a shotgun, barrel length only affects swing and balance and the sighting plane. It has nothing to do with velocity or muzzle energy. A longer barrel wouldn't hurt in your situation but more practice is probably what you need. With someone who is familiar with the game to coach you a little. I'm not entirely sure what you were doing but a mod choke should have done it for you, Trap is shot with a mod choke up to a full and that can be 36 yds+. Skeet is shot with an open choke as the targets generally are closer and perhaps even moving towards you. Shoot lots. You will get better.
 
the thrower is fixed in the ground at my club. 90 degrees off my right shoulder about 5' over.

I was told a longer barrel would help keep the group tighter out a bit further. If not I wont worry about it.
 
Well - The longer barrel will get you 8 inches closer to the target. As you get more proficient, you will start picking up the birds earlier, and success rate will go up. Its a common rookie mistake to "wait for the shot to get better"...
 
Next time to go shooting clay birds, have someone stand behind you. It is possible to see the pellets in flight
and if they are behind, over, below etc. Sounds strange to be able to see the pellets in flight but it works.
Looks like a very fast swarm of bees.
It is very difficult to know why you are missing but someone else might.
 
cosmic said:
Well - The longer barrel will get you 8 inches closer to the target. As you get more proficient, you will start picking up the birds earlier, and success rate will go up. Its a common rookie mistake to "wait for the shot to get better"...
Click to expand...

The two most common mistakes that I see, are people trying to use the bead like a sight, and follow the target way too long, and people that swing the gun, and then stop swinging before they pull the trigger. Just concentrate the target, and as soon as the barrel passes the target by the right amount, pull the trigger as you keep swinging.
 
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