What have I gotten myself into...

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Plasmic

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I've purchased a firearm on impulse before but never a club membership...

I was driving by the Galt Sportsman's club today and I had an irresistable urge to sign up for their clay section. The Problem is that I know nothing about the sport :redface:. In fact I dont seem to even have a proper firearm for it. I was watching all these guys with beautiful 12-gauge O/U's and I only have a mossberg 500 20 gauge pump.

Well now that I've jumped in with both feet, I was wondering if there was anyone near the KW area that would be willing to show a noobie the ins and outs of trap and skeet. At this point I don't think I'll be investing in a new shotgun this year- I figure my money would be better spent learning proper technique and tons of practice.

Any advice for a new guy?
 
Pull in and say hi! Take in your shotty and start bustin birds. All those guys started somewhere. Most clubs are looking for new members and would be happy to help you get started with your shotgunning addiction.

The most satisfying feeling is kicking ol' fancy pants gunner's a$$ with an old clunker!!
 
Your gun will be just fine. I have seen no difference between guys with different guns on the trap line. I imagine it's easier to shoot doubles in skeet and clays with an over/under (wouldn't really know because I'm mostly a pump-gunner), but the guys with pumps tend to keep up there too.

RG

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Well I plan on going back tomorrow during the day while its less crowded (and yes less intimidating) to give it a shot for the first time.
 
Plasmic said:
Well I plan on going back tomorrow during the day while its less crowded (and yes less intimidating) to give it a shot for the first time.
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The clay section at Galt is only open 9-5 on Sundays and Wednesday late afternoon and evening. Show up and talk to the cashier and he should be able to set you up with one of the regular shooters who can show you the ropes.
 
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Claybuster said:
The clay section at Galt is only open 9-5 on Sundays and Wednesday late afternoon and evening. Show up and talk to the cashier and he should be able to set you up with one of the regular shooters who can show you the ropes.
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Guess I should have paid more attention during the intro talk :) I doubt the wife would let me get out more than a couple times a week anyways heh. If only I could get her involved...
 
There are lots of local clubs that can help you get started shooting trap and skeet.
Bridgeport Rod and Gun is open Sunday afternoons until 24th of May weekend, Thursday nights after that, Wilmot Rod and Gun Sunday mornings,Galt all day Sunday and Wednesday nights.All will welcome a new shooter.Look the clubs over and see how they fit.Beware, shotgunning can be extremeley addictive!
Jim
 
You can shoot trap with a pump, but I wouldn't suggest shooting doubles right away, but its up to you. I know myself, I am new to it also, find getting used to shooting singles first til I get better is a better option...I use my Remington 870 Express, and do very well!! I would also suggest to stop by the club, talk to a few other shooters about guns, and chances are, they will let you try a few to see if you like firing them.

And, you can shoot skeet, but it takes a lot of practice, and most will tell you, that if you are going for competing scores, you probably aren't going to get them using a pump - from what I have been told any ways. Shooting skeet with a pump (to me), has to be second nature LOL - that's something I dont have.

Don't feel weird about going to the club when there is a lot of people there, the better your chances are getting to know some great people, and maybe shooting some nice guns (to help you decide on what you want when you come into the market for a new one) :)...

Happy Shooting! :)
 
See if you can get one of the experienced guys from the range to give you a little one on one session. I was frustrated with only hitting a few (7 or 8 out of 25 - ouch!) the first couple of times out. Thought I should have done better since I've handled guns for years (deer hunting, etc). Then one of the guys offered to stick around after a shoot and he gave me the same target (high house, straight away) over and over again until I could hit it pretty consistently. Then we switched to the next station and repeated the process. I learned more in that hour (I wasn't leading the birds enough for example) than I did in several previous rounds; and once I could hit them I wanted to come back again soon. I sure shoot better when I'm hitting more than missing... something about not grumbling under my breath as I load the shells! :)
 
Just Starting

x3 on the Rem 870.

I use my Remington 870 express 3 1/2" (using 2 3/4" obviously) for sporting clays as I'm young and broke :) and can hold my own pretty well (>50%) against the older guys with their O/U beauties.

I also just got into the sporting clays recently and was a little intimidated about not knowing what I was doing, but the guys at the range (didn't know anyone before going the first time) were great at showing me the ropes, giving me great advice, and seemed really interested in showing a new guy what it's all about! I've been out about a half dozen times this summer and it's been a BLAST(weak I know, haha)! I think I've maybe caught the gunners fever, haha.

And don't worry about not hitting many, my old man got 8/50 his first time out and I've seen guys (with years of experience and a hell of alot nicer guns!) shoot even less!

Hope you enjoy the summer, but just remember (as stated earlier) it's addictive!
 
In my experience (with a lot of 500's and only a couple of 870's) The 500 is a more "loose" but much faster gun than the 870's. You should do well with your gun. Keep at it and you'll love it.
 
Hey Plasmic,

I think you are smart to want to get some instruction before delving yourself in to a sport like Trapshooting. Its a fun sport and is only frustrating if you don't get proper instruction. Besides, if you are going to go and pay for targets and shells you are going to want to hit some targets, or "smokem all!" Then its really fun! Beware though, you will become addicted. I haven't lost a bet yet with newcomers that have tried the sport. Once you start breaking targets you'll never look back.

Don't worry about the type of action you have at the moment... you are going to want to start out shooting "singles" in the beginning and in singles you can use almost any 12g shotgun.

There is a way that you can learn in a comfortable one on one environment... AND you don't even need a gun, or a PAL... check this link of my Coach and good friend, who is a double ATA (Amature Trapshooting Association) certified coach. There is a cost associated with intruction, but its as you said, you don't want to go out their on the firing line and not have fun. You'll spend alot more in shells and targets trying to learn on your own. This way, you can learn at your own pace, just you, the trap, and the coach.

http://www.learntrapshooting.ca <-- there is a link on the site for you to send them an email.

In fact, I would recommend anyone on this thread at any level of shooting that is interested in improving in the sport to take some instruction from a pro. I have been a shoting clay for about 15 years and still have a coach for competition. Even if competing is not your ambition and you only want to shoot casually - I have never seen anyone who didn't want to improve the number of targets they hit in one round.

Just so you know, I don't get any commisions for the referal... just passionate about the sport and love to see others have fun at it. If you are serious about learning... there is a registered competition Sunday May 24, at the Hamilton Gun Club. Look for anyone wearing gold (or yellow) ball caps and T's and ask them to introduce you to their coach.

Good Luck
 
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Your 20 ga. pump will be fine. You can use it for trap no problem, same with skeet. Just have the doubles thrown as singles until you build some comfort with pumping.

You are gonna have a lot of fun.
 
my dad took the manitoba - sask trap provincial championship back in the 50's with a remington 31 pump in 12 guage- had the gun for years and had it rebuilt at least 1 time- long story short, you don't need a fancy gun- just a "quick" one-
 
My suggestion is learn some trap and skeet before you move onto the more exciting (IMO) 5 stand and SC, the latter can be very daunting for a newbie. But if you want to try sporting clays at Galt, i'm a regular and am their on sundays at 11:00am, just ask the gentelman at the register for a "newbie" freindly shooting squad and he'll point you towards me (can't miss me im 6'5"). I've been a member their for 20 years (since I was 14) and am a competitive Fitasc shooter, consistently shooting 47/50 and 95/100.
 
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