Yup, gonna do it.

[Major Sights]

Well, I dipped my toe in the water a few months ago and tried trap. I had lots of fun (despite the cold of the winter), so much in fact that I even got myself a decent starter O/U. A Remington Spartan 310 (Baikal made).

I got the gang together last weekend to do some clay shooting out at the ranch to celebrate the long weekend and I took along my new shotgun. I had (no pun intended) a blast. Clays were dropping faster then flies in a cold snap.

Then I made the decision, "I'm gonna do it!". I will be heading (weather permitting) to my local trap field (20mins away from downtown Peterborough!) this Sunday and getting myself a membership.

My wife already asked me what I would like for my birthday in June, and told her that a nice Beretta shotgun would be nice , but I would settle for a Beretta shooting vest.

Now is there any members of the Peterborough club here who may be there this Sunday? Helpful hints (both on how to be better, and how to look like I belong!) are always welcome.

Here's hoping for good weather on Sunday!

 

[Covey Ridge]

That Baikal is not a bad looking gun!

 

[Tharjoe]

A tip to getting better trap scores? Patience. Patience. Patience.
There will be a whole bunch of people who will be willing to give you advice on how to shoot better. Listen to them and give their advice a try. But don't try to use all the advice you receive all at once.
Trapshooting is a game of concentration and consistency. You can shoot almost any way you like so long as you do it the same way for each and every shot. There are a tremendous number of different techniques out there, and eventually you will develop your own style based on what works best for you. It will probably be a combination of what people have suggested.
Don't be hard on yourself if you sometimes have off days and poor scores. This will happen as you gradually learn your gun and the game. Lots of people start shooting instinctively and do well, then go through a rough patch while they find a technique that works for them.
It's a fun sport! Good luck with it!

 

[dirt dog]

thats a good looking gun, i to just started trap a few of weeks ago i shoot at cobourg thursdays, i don't have the over under yet still useing my pump got to 18 tonight with little tips and tweaks i get a little better each round.

 

[brybenn]

That gun will shot fairly flat so cover the bird don't float it over the bead. Nice gun I love my baikals

 

[BCFred]

Nice looking shotgun all right. What is the choke situation and how long are the barrels?

 

[Major Sights]

Nice looking shotgun all right. What is the choke situation and how long are the barrels?

Barrels are 29.5'' and the chokes are, in the order the barrels fire, modified and improved modified if I remember correctly. I am planning on ordering some extended chokes for it next week from Al's corner store.

What are you all using for trap, and double trap (wanna get my feet wet in that too )?

 

[maynard]

I have not tried all the shotgun games yet. I find trap boring and I don't shoot it well. I love shooting skeet and one day will figure it out. Sporting clays is cool too, I'll go for that anytime. Shot 5 stand for the first time last week, with my 28 ga tubes in the gun, what a hoot. It just might be more fun than skeet.

 

[romiogt]

If your shotgun has a selector switch choose to shoot the bottom barrel first. This barrel is better aligned with the stock to help reduce recoil slightly.

I shoot modified and improved modified. As you progress in the sport you can move towards a full choke for tighter pattern and more smoke targets.

Don't worry too much about fiting in. Not sure about your club but most shooters, especially at trap, are super friendly to those new and old to the sport. As long as you show up with a shotgun, ear and eye prot you will look like you belong. Having a vest or shell pouch is handy too.

Good luck.

 

[Major Sights]

If your shotgun has a selector switch choose to shoot the bottom barrel first. This barrel is better aligned with the stock to help reduce recoil slightly.

I shoot modified and improved modified. As you progress in the sport you can move towards a full choke for tighter pattern and more smoke targets.

Don't worry too much about fiting in. Not sure about your club but most shooters, especially at trap, are super friendly to those new and old to the sport. As long as you show up with a shotgun, ear and eye prot you will look like you belong. Having a vest or shell pouch is handy too.

Good luck.

As to the barrel selector. My gun fires the bottom first always, but if I want to shot top first I just push my trigger slightly forward until I hear a click, then I am set to the top. As soon as the action is broke open (weather I fired or not) it resets back to bottom.

As to the fitting in... your are mostly right. Apparently, Marine ACU pants and boonie cap (my normal shooting wear outside a range Hence the picture above^ ) are not the most common of sights at this particular club. I guess jeans and a golf polo will be fine. Still gonna wear my pistol belt with a dump pouch on it, until my vest arrives next month!

 

[romiogt]

As to the fitting in... your are mostly right.

Wear whatever is comfortable for shooting. If you showed up dressed as in the photo above, or wearing a boonie cap few people wouldnt think twice about it.

Just get out and break some clays, let others worry about what they're wearing.

 

[Major Sights]

Done!

I arrived about half hour after they opened and walked in put down my cash, and declared my intent to become a member. Shot 4 rounds (they were meh... still learning the new shotgun) met some new people and pipped up some when they discussed some ways to bring in new members, and raise some money for upgrades.