First Time shooting Clays

N

new_camper

New member
I might try shooting clays for the first time this weekend, any tips. I know that I will be terrible at it, but I guess you got to start somewhere.
 
Don't look at the sight EVER! Just look at the target and pull the trigger. This is what I have done when I have had the best luck. It's difficult because in basically every shooting discipline you use the sights except for skeet.
 
any tips
Click to expand...
Head down and follow through.

Check the Remington site (or Google) for downloads of their pamphlets Fundamentals of Trap and Fundamentals of Skeet. They will give you basic pointers that will save you from a lot of trial and error shooting.
 
make sure you know and understand the clubs rules for safety... typically:

a. alll guns have to be unloaded ..unless you are on the shooting station in the trap, skeet or sporting clays field. That means no shells in the magazine of a pump or semi-auto either.../ no shells in a side by side or over under, even if its broken open as you move around the club.

Games like Trap singles...mean you can never have more than 1 shell in your gun at any time.../ and never when you move between stations.

Some games ( on some stations of Skeet ...and in sporting clays ) you can often load 2 shells...but never more than 2...it doesn't matter how many shells your gun will hold in a magazine.....

b. from the time you uncase a gun ...open the action.../ break it open if its an Over Under....open and lock the bolt open if its a semi-auto ...and open the pump if its a pump gun...and keep it open .../ and no shells in it ...as you leave your vehicle and move around the club.

c. check your shells....most clubs limit you to shells with shot no bigger than 7 1/2's ( no 6's, 4's, etc...) ....only 7 1/2's, 8's or 9's....some clubs are restrictive on velocity as well ...but you're usually ok, if your shells are no faster than 1200 fps...

d. make sure you know how to operate your gun .. especially if it has a safety that automatically engages as you close the gun ....so you don't waste targets ( they may charge you for extras). Make sure your gun is well lubed...so it operates with no problems. Guys that bring out grandpa's 1950's semi-auto that hasn't been cleaned or lubed in 19 yrs ...hold up the squads in the field....

e. many clubs limit shotguns ...to guns that have barrels no less than 24" long...so call ahead if that's an issue.

f. be friendly ...and ask for help .../ see if they have a member or someone that will help you out ...give you some tips / etc...

Be Safe ....and Have Fun !! ...and welcome to our side of the hobby ! Its addicting...

Most of this is Courtesy and Common Sense...
 
Just have fun.

Nobody cares if you miss. Just be friendly, and open to advice (sometimes, too much advice.).

If you miss, you will usually be behind the bird.

Relax! Have fun.
 
i have some friends who are really good shooters, took me this year and gave me pointers and i went from hitting about 20% of the time to hitting about 99% of the time in just a few stations, even true pairs. The biggest change for me was not to try and start with the gun to my face and aiming, instead start with the gun down a bit and just looking.........the clay comes out and you start tracking it with your eyes and head and just bring the gun up and shoot, never really aiming the gun, it just becomes part of the process of watching the target go thru the air.
 
Don't look at the sight EVER! Just look at the target and pull the trigger. This is what I have done when I have had the best luck. It's difficult because in basically every shooting discipline you use the sights except for skeet.
Click to expand...

We shoot a lot of informal hand tossed clays in the summer...

Last year, my Kid asked me how I could hit so many birds with no bead...

I had no idea the bead was gone off my SxS, and have no idea how long it had been gone...I have never 'seen' the end of a shotgun...

Both eye's open, head up...

Our OP will be fine...
 
@Couzin

I am going with a friend and we are both using his shotgun (at college and I cant have one, but he lives near by) so I was thinking that we would try skeet shooting
 
Skeet shooting as in the actual game Skeet, or skeet shooting as in some backyard clays and a hand thrower?

There's a difference - if you are actually shooting on a skeet field, and you have it to yourselves, start at station 7 and master that one, then move back to station 1 and master that - those are the two easiest stations. Then start moving towards the center where the targets become more quartering to crossing

Head on the stock, eye on the rock, keep the gun moving
 
Last edited:
Have fun! I was horrible at first. You'll get better!

Might not hurt to pay for 1:1 or 1:2 (one instructor two people) instruction at the start, worked for me.
 
First of all, Just keep at it. Never let a low score discourage you. I found that you will fail and fail and fail. Then one day, you'll be busting 25's left and right. As if you had been doing this for years. Also, don't be surprised if you do well at first, then your score starts to fall. It happens. Just keep at it.
 
Just one more suggestion, with whatever hand is your lead, try pointing down the forearm with you index finger and gripping the forearm normally with the rest. That way you're always pointing at the bird.
 
Like oneounce said, head on the stock, eye on the rock...

... and watch some Gil Ash NSSF videos on utoob. Gil is a good instructor and covers many aspects of clay shooting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top