skeet,trap clays ?? what is the difference ?

jdemora

jdemora

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Sorry I dont know much about shotguns and all the terms. I just purchased a 12g pump with choke adjustments and I was told it would be fine for all around hunting and sporting but I do not know what trap and skeet means sorry for my ignorance please help me out.
thanks
 
Trap: clay pigeons basically go straight away from you, at slightly different left/right angles.

Skeet: clay pigeons housed at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock are thrown across the field, and you shoot at them from the positions of the lower part of a clock on a semi-circular field.

Sporting clays: mimics a variety of hunting conditions. Clays can be thrown at any angle, orientation, distance, speed, etc. while you are in the bush or in a field.

I'd suggest you start with trap because it only offers 5 different going-away shots, albeit from 5 only slightly different positions. You will 'see' targets repeated the same way more often. Skeet only has two different target presentations, but your position around the field changes your view of them drastically. Sporting clays it the most varied, and difficult to hit. But very challenging and fun.
 
Jonny- I believe that Kingston has a very good gun club, if I was you I would look up their address and pay them a visit as I am sure that it would be a great place to meet some good people who will take you under their wing and show you what the great sport of shooting is all about. Try all the games and you will find one that you feel at home with. Good luck and good shooting!!!
 
Trap, skeet, sporting clays and 5 stand sporting clays are games played with shotguns. Each sort of imitates a type of hunting , trap with the birds bursting out in front of you is like upland or grouse hunting, skeet with birds flying over you more like duck hunting, sporting clays is sometimes done in wooded areas and is more like real hunting in the woods and 5 stand sporting clays is trying to do sporting clays but on a restricted trap or skeet field with added clay throwing machines placed in different places with the 5 different stands or positions changing the angle the targets are shot at. They are all fun to try but sometimes one or more can become addictive.
 
also new to shotgunning (is that a word) and I was wondering what the differences were, awesome answers.

Can anyone suggest an entry level (ie inexpensive) gun. Would a basic 870 be ok? If so what barrel length and guage?
 
12 GAUGE is usual as it is cheapest to shoot and largest , other gauges are what you shoot when you get good with the 12 ,as the smaller gauges are thought to be harder to shoot well. Shorter barrels are used in skeet but to start anything works. An 870 would be okay .
 
This is a copy of a post I put up some time ago for those who want to start clay target shooting.

So you want to go clay target shooting

Here are some random thoughts if someone is thinking about getting into the games.

You don’t have to join a club. Most clay clubs permit non-members to shoot clays at a higher per round price than members.

Trap is the easiest game to learn to shoot and the game most commonly available. It’s five stations with five single targets per station. The line is 16 yards behind the trap house. The birds leave the house and fly in random directions. Watch a couple of rounds to see how it’s done before you sign up

The Basics:
Shotgun – any gun will do but preferably a 12 gauge with a modified choke or tighter for trap. Your hunting gun, whether pump, auto or breaking gun is fine although if you are using an autoloader understand that your hull might fly out and hit the gun or shooter on your right (or left in the case of a southpaw). This does not make you popular particularly if your hull puts a ding in someone’s $15,000 Krieghoff. There are removable shell catchers available for most autos or just putting a thick rubber band around the ejection port will stop this problem.

Note: Depending on the club your Defender type shotgun might draw sideways glances or even not be permitted. Don’t bother showing up with a pistol grip only shotgun as most clubs require guns be shot from the shoulder. That said my first trip to a trap range was with an 18” 870 and I was warmly welcomed. I bought a longer barrel the following week.

Shells – Clay targets are shot with #7-1/2, 8 or 9. The loads are limited to 1-1/8 ounce and 3-1/4 dram at the clubs I go to. This is a range rule because larger shot travels further and pre-determined shot fall zones are part of a club’s range approval. Often the clubs will have the right loads for sale at a premium price. For trap use either #8 or 7-1/2.

Eye and ear protection – it’s mandatory at every club I’ve shot at.

Belt pouch – It’s not mandatory but if there is one thing that new shooters start to fumble with it is their shell management while shooting. Get a divided pouch with two sections. Put the shells in one section and save the other for your hulls.

You are now good to go.

Arriving at the club
Leave your gear in the car and check out the surroundings. If there are squads shooting watch them and learn how the game is shot. Wearing eye protection while watching other squads is a good idea and often mandatory.

Shooters sign up for each round. Find out where the sign up takes places, wait for a quiet moment, introduce yourself and mention that you are interested in trying clay shooting. At most clubs, the person signing up squads will introduce you to someone who will walk you through the fundamentals.

Grab your gear and get to the line. If you are on your own explain to the squad that you haven’t shot trap before. Every other guy on the line had a first time too but we appreciate you letting us know because you are probably going to be slower than the rest of us. Take any position on the line except #1.

Let’s Shoot
When all the shooters are on the line, the shooter in position #1 will ask if everyone is ready and then call for a bird so that all the shooters can see one. After the “looker” has hit the ground, the shooter in position #1 will mount his gun, call “PULL” and shoot. Then the shooter on position #2 will do the same, then #3 and so on.

Note: Don’t be surprised if the shooter says something other than “PULL.” There are different ways to call but the puller will launch a target at the first sound that comes out of your mouth. Some clubs use voice-activated trap releases and the target releases when you make a noise.

Until it is your turn to shoot leave your action open. It is acceptable to put a round in the chamber but leave your action open. Only put ONE shell in your gun for singles.

When the shooter to your left has shot, close your action, mount your gun with the barrel above the trap house, call “PULL” and shoot at the clay. If there is a scorer/puller he will call “LOST.”

When there is a live scorer, he will call “END” after the first shooter has shot five rounds at one station. This lets everyone else know that it is their last round at that station.

When the fifth shooter has shot his last round the scorer will call “Move” or “Change” and then you move to the position to your right. Make sure your action is open and your gun is empty and keep the barrel in a safe direction.

If you are on position 5 you will move up the line to position 1. (Here’s a hint for a new shooter on position 5, turn to your right before walking up the line. This prevents you from banging into the other shooter with your gun barrel and keeps your gun in a safe direction.)

If the club is using voice-activated traps then it is up to the squad leader (shooter in position #1) to announce the position change.

You maintain the same firing order no matter which station you are on. The person who shot first will always shoot first at each station.

At the last station the scorer will call “End and Out” when the first shooter has shot his final target and call “All Out” when the round is over.

These are the basic commands although they can vary from club to club.

After it’s over

Don’t worry about your score. You are there to learn how the game is played. If you hit 6/25 that’s not bad for a new shooter. There is a lot to learn about foot position, hold points, gun mount and a host of other things before you start breaking birds regularly.

Some additional hints
1) Gun safety is paramount. Don’t load your gun until you are on the line and then only one shell at a time for trap singles. Keep your gun empty and your action open the rest of the time. Muzzle down range at all times.
2) Come to the line with extra shells. Sometimes birds come out of the house broken and you may have to shoot again. Also if you drop a shell on the ground you can leave it there and get it later if you have extra shells. Note: Some of the Canadian Tire shotgun packs only have 20 shells and I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been on the line with a new shooter who ends up out of shells with another station to go.
3) Don’t worry about the other shooters unless they are doing something unsafe. It doesn’t matter if the guy beside you has a fancy o/u and you are shooting an 870 Express. You both paid the same price for the targets and the clays don’t know how much your gun cost only whether the pellets are on target.
4) Don’t take too much advice from other shooters. Lots of guys will attempt to give you advice and all of it is well meaning but it can get confusing and contradictory.
5) Think about hiring a shooting instructor. You can either pay an instructor or you can spend thousands on shells learning what he can teach you by trial and error.

If you want to shoot other games and understand them. I’d recommend the Clay Target Handbook by Jerry Meyer.

http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/AS...131/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/701-5348637-5857911

Now if you this causes you to take up clay target shooting and you find yourself spending all of your disposable income on shells, gear and guns don’t blame me. Been there, done that!

Additional comments and questions welcome.

​
 
An 870 is definitely a good starter but if you can find an Auto or an O/U for the right price, there is a definite advantage. My buddy tried for 5 years to shoot a perfect round with a pump (mind you it took him 4 to do it with an auto)
When racking a pump, you tend to pull the gun off target just a bit, it can be done but doubles can be a real pain. Now for Trap (except double trap) you can shoot with a single so a pump would be fine.
 
This forum is amazing . I will go to the Kingston club this week. Thanks so much for all the information !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The gun also has a muzzle break on it, how will that affect performance in both hunting and sporting context and what exactly does it do ??
Thanks again guys for all the info , great source for beginners and pros alike !!!
 
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jdemora said:
The gun also has a muzzle break on it, how will that affect performance in both hunting and sporting context and what exactly does it do ??
Click to expand...
Is it a muzzle brake that is attached to the end of the barrel or is the barrel ported (a series of holes drilled into the end of the barrel)?

The muzzle brake or porting diverts the gases from the shell up and sometimes back to reduce recoil and muzzle jump. There is some controversy on how well this works in low pressure shotgun rounds.

Muzzle brakes, barrel porting and ported choke tubes tend to be tough clean and will make your shotgun louder to bystanders.
 
The club is open Sundays from 9 to 3, and Wednesday's from 12 to 5 (most weeks) and in the summer until 9pm on Wed.
 
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This was a lot of good information. I had my first night out at the range, luckily with some guidance from a friend and this post was bang on! Thxs this cleared up a few things for me.
 
It very simple actually. Just search for information in the search bar. I thought the "first night out at the range" would have been obvious as to why.
I guess 14 year old information is not relevant by your account.
 
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