Recommendations for learning trap

Dukeoflawnchair

Dukeoflawnchair

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So I think I might have messed up...or maybe not, but I'll let you folks be the judge. I brought my gf out to shoot trap for the first time this past weekend. She has shot lots (.303, target, slugs, etc) out in gravel pits with me and a few friends, but never at something moving w/ other more experienced people shooting. At any rate, she choked and didn't hit a thing, resulting in her feeling embarassed / bad. She also started flinching, although that got better real fast after the first few shots of the set. Being the class act that she is, she's wanting to get this down and give it a better try next time. Unfortunately, we were too late to get a second set in.

My question is whether anyone else is familiar with this situation and what they recommend to help. Of course, I'd be happy to learn myself and teach her what I can, but I'm fresh on the trap line as well. Should I get her shooting more target shot in closed conditions to better familiarize herself with shooting a particular gun w/o observers? Or should I keep her on the firing line for the benifits of good and negative feedback?

The Range officer (another class act) helped her out the best giving her great advice and good support (Props to the good VGC folk). One thing he recommended would be a smaller gun that fits her properly...which is in the works.

Anyhow, thanks for your patience and any advice!

Cheers,
 
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Get her a gun that fits and use lighter loads. 1 ounce at 1200fps maximum.

Secondly, does she shoot with both eyes open? If so check her eye dominance. Cross dominance is more prevalent in women. Have her point at a distant object with her master hand with both eyes open. Her finger will be under her dominant eye. If they are on the same side no problem.

If she's had rifle/handgun experience tell her to ignore the bead and focus on the target and keep the gun barrel in her peripheral vision. Like golf or tennis where you have to keep your eye on the ball in clay shooting you must keep your eye on the target. Focus on the clay.

If she is flinching, she might be raising her head causing her to shoot high. You have to keep your head on the stock, eye on the rock and don't stop your gun until well after the shot.

These should get her started in the right direction. Then work on foot, gun and eye hold positions.
 
You will be miles ahead to get a good Trap Shooter / Coach to teach HER how to shoot a proper Trap gun while YOU are nowhere in sight !!! ;)

Always best not to try to "teach" a wife or gf ... let/get someone else do it, even if you "think" you may be qualified. Far more patience, understanding, ...and learning actually occurs if a proficient third party is involved.

Best a "one-on-one" thing to start with - on a quiet range ... once proficient, after a few sessions, then move on to a squad with other shooters.

What CB said about light loads, a gun that fits properly and good shooting form will all contribute to an easier learning path.

If it were me wanting to teach a new Shotgunner how to hit moving targets, I would start with Skeet and an open choked gun... say 7 lows to begin with, let them break a few targets while technique was being adjusted. Then 7 highs, a little more coaching and broken target success, move over to 1 High, then 1 Low, let a little more confidence build with more targets being hit before moving on to more diificult crossers. IMHO, Skeet is likely a little easier to learn, and will build more positive initial shotgun technique & success than will Trap.

Move on to Trap & other clay target games like 5 Stand or Sporting once the basic techniques are in place to hit moving targets.

( The US Airforce used Skeet to teach the principles of forward allowance to WWII aerial gunners ! )
 
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Thanks for the advice! I ran into this gentleman (Tony) on the range (http://www.gotrapshooting.com) , and figured that I might get her lined up into his course. Of course the problem can be solved by throwing more money at it, right? :p Other folk at the range were helpful as well, but I'm getting the impression that this would be our best bet...also wouldn't feel as bad holding up other shooters and the RO's time...
 
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Don't feel too bad about holding others up (within reason) ... they had to learn too. A little time taken in the beginning can avoid big problems later on.
We all had to learn !

Some of the bigger Clubs actually have "beginner" or "instruction" days to help new shooters get introduced to the game and feel more comfortable. One of my Clubs actually has a "Ladies Skeet Clinic - by Ladies", just to keep the comfort level there.

No men around other than to set the targets and load the machines for them. ( Also a good day to get the guys to do some clean-up & maintenance work elsewhere at the Club.
 
Hey, that's chill. I've officially got the trap bug, so I'm hoping to become a regular here at the VGC...I'll see what they have in ters of instruction days / clinics. Thanks for the advice!
 
Get to a patterning board and see what your guns (chokes) are doing.

Besides a gun that fits, look at a vest with shoulder protection (you may be able to borrow) or a slip on recoil pad.

If $he like$ $hooting trap, be prepared. ;)
 
A day of one-on-one instruction will do wonders. A light 20-ga. gas gun would be the ticket to be able to shoot all day without developing a flinch or tired arms.
 
i think a lot of practice helps.... usually the trap days at PoCo is quite light, sooo maybe a good place to practice and learn
 
beretta boy said:
One of my Clubs actually has a "Ladies Skeet Clinic - by Ladies", just to keep the comfort level there.
Click to expand...
Is that the one hosted by Jackie? It's a very good clinic. The women at our club who took it were very enthusiastic about it.

Instruction is always a good suggestion. I was stuck in 2nd gear until I received some professional instruction. Now when I miss I at least usually know what I was doing wrong and why.
 
CB:

The few I "worked at" were at Uxbridge, organized by Jennie Marsh & Evelyn Tucker, with some of the better lady Skeet shooters like Karen Colin & Joan Ego instructing.

My role ... deliver my wife as an instructor, load-up & adjust the machines on 4 fields and stay out of the way. Called upon once or twice to clean-up a balky 1100 so it would cycle again.

It was run consecutively for a number of years, twice a season for a couple
and of late ... don't know. I do know it was instrumental in getting quite a few ladies into shooting ... a few competitively !
 
Thanks BB.

I help instruct a group of women each summer, some of whom are regular shooters, who bring along their non-shooting friends to learn how it's done at a private club. I'm not a professional instructor and am generally out of my depth with an experienced shooter but can get first time shooters introduced to the game and breaking targets.

Truth be told I'd rather teach a group of women how to shoot than a group of men. Women are better students.
 
CB:

I knew there was a lot I liked about you !

You nailed it right on the head !!! :D

And, you don't have to be a professional instructor, just
knowledgeable, observant and patient !
 
beretta boy said:
CB:

I knew there was a lot I liked about you !

You nailed it right on the head !!! :D

And, you don't have to be a professional instructor, just
knowledgeable, observant and patient !
Click to expand...
Thanks BB. I appreciate it.

I look foward to my annual instuction sessions with the ladies. There is something very worthwhile about taking someone who has never fired a gun before, might be somewhat afraid of them and getting them breaking targets. When they break their first one I enjoy it as much as they do.

It also gave me a good reason to buy a very nice 28 gauge Remington 1100 skeet gun when it came up on the EE a few months ago. It's the perfect gun to teach women.
 
Absolutely !

Nothing like breaking targets "comfortably" right off the bat,
as a confidence builder.

I was conscripted to teach a lady friend (a buddy's g.f.) how
to shoot, fom scratch, before a jaunt to Cuba to hunt ducks,
dove & quail. Started her at 7 low with a 20 ga. o/u and got
her breaking targets right off ... she had never shot before - period !
She was actually the 3rd "lefty" lady I've had the pleasure to teach.
Long story short ... we started with the shooting lessons the first
Sunday after New Years in -5 degrees & snow. Three more sets of
Sunday lessons then we're off to the big Island. First thing Monday morning
its off to Embalsa a Lacranes & the duck blinds. Well, the patos were flying
and we weren't 10 minutes into it when into my blind steps the young lady with a grin from one ear to the next. She doubled on the first pair into the decoys and then took three more with the next 4 shots ! The rest of the week was productive too ... both on more ducks, quail, white-wings & mourning doves and on snipe. Turned her into a "predator" within a month !

Yes, very satisfying indeed. The mohitos under the palms around the
pool that night were accompanied by some good shooting stories.
Yo queira mucho ! :D

Agree that the 28 1100 is a good instructional gun ... provided it's
not too long for the senora's !
 
beretta boy said:
Yes, very satisfying indeed. The mohitos under the palms around thepool that night were accompanied by some good shooting stories.
Yo queira mucho ! :D

Agree that the 28 1100 is a good instructional gun ... provided it's
not too long for the senora's !
Click to expand...
Mi tambien!;)

The 1100 LOP is 14" right on the mark. That's usually not too long. I've been thinking about having it cut and getting a couple of recoil pads for it so I can have different lengths.
 
CB:

Capital Plan ... I find lots of ladies in the 5'-2" to 5-8" range that
13-1/4" 13-1/2" seems to work for.

Something like the stick-on "Cheek-Eez" pads are a good bet
to raise comb height if req'd. too.

Regards.. BB
 
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MOVE CLOSER!

We always encourage newbies to shoot their first few rounds from positions immediately behind or just to the side of the trap house. The closer distance helps many of them crush a few targets and build some confidence. When their busting 50%, send them back to the line and let them shoot with everyone else.

It often just takes some time for people to figure out the sighting and followthrough on targets.

You might also consider having her pattern her shotgun. Have her fire at a target from 25 yards and let her examine the shot pattern. It sometimes helps a person identify where they should or need to be aiming.
 
trap lessons

Three good suggestions put forward so far.
1) Drop the g/f off and leave, she needs to think about the birds, not you watching and counting her misses.
2) Gun that fits, something not too heavy that isn't an awkward fit.
3) Move up right behind the bird thrower and set it to only throw straight aways.
Once she breaks the first few birds it,ll ease the tension and she,ll start to have fun. We always move the new shooters that want coaching to the easiest position be it trap or skeet and GENTLY encourage them to try things and get them to break a few birds.
When you quit for the day do it after success so they leave remembering there accomplishments. A happy new shooter always comes back for more.
The first 10,000 rds. are just practice.:eek:
Beretta boy and Claybuster both know what they are talking about.
And the guys are right, i'd rather coach the girls, no macho b/s they listen to advice and try it. Two new shooters on the line one guy one girl coach em both and 2 hrs later the girl is usually beating the guy.:rockOn:

My 2 cents.
 
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