I've seen considerable interest in the thread titled Progress Report (Trap), and the E mail box had some folks with questions, so here it is.....
These are opinions, and not Writ on stone tablets.
Assuming(I know) that one is trained and competent enough to shoot safely, here's what a newcomer to trap needs to know, and to have....
A brief trip to the ATA(Amateur Trapshooting Association) website will give the rules and layout. Jerry Meyer's book on Clay Games has a nice overview, or just find your local trap range and watch. Trap's easy to learn and hard to shoot well. But, shooting trap is fun, even if you miss some. And you will miss some at first, less after a bit.
Since trap singles, AKA 16 yard trap, is shot one shot at a time, any style shotgun will work, even that overpriced and accessorized Loudenboomer SP Magnum.I'd skip rifle style sights, shotguns used on flying stuff are pointed, not aimed.Use what you want to, your field gun will work very well.
I use a pump. Chokes should be on the tight side, Modified may be the best choice for starting.
Whatever choke that will give a good tight pattern(Say 30", not counting flyers) at the distance you break birds is good. Shot size runs from 7 1/2 to 9, the smaller sizes give thicker patterns, the larger have more oomph per pellet and drift less in windy conditions. Your call here. I use an oz of 8 1/2s, 2 3/4 dram load, and a Full choke.
Patterning is a must, and one that strikes a little high is best. Trap targets are hit on the rise,so a highshooting gun is good.
Your shotgun needs to fit you. We've lots of stuff on this in the Archives, so I won't waste bandwidth on it now.Trap uses a premounted gun, so we can get everything right before calling for the bird.
Accessories will include something to hold your shells in, both before and after being shot. A hunting or shooting vest will work fine, tho in warm weather I like the purpose built belt and pouch combos better.Cooler weather calls for a vest,I've a moderately priced 10X. The belt/pouch is a Bob Allen,cost $20-30, has enough room for two boxes of shells in the top, a pocket for extras, and a mesh bag for empties. Sure, you can just eject them and leave them lay, but oft they can be reloaded to save money. Many ranges specify any shell or hull hitting the ground is theirs. Besides, if you really want to make yourself unwanted,ding an empty off the next shooter over or worse, his cherished trap gun. Folks shooting autos should invest in one of those stamped metal shell catchers or a heavy rubber band to keep the empty in the gun.
Clothing should be comfortable, and not bind your swing. Ladies will be more comfortable with bras that do not have little metal thingies for adjustments right where the butt fits. A hat is a great idea.
Eye and ear protection is mandatory at most ranges, and a very good idea everywhere. Over on Trapshooters.com, a thread relates how a shooter got a piece of a pellet in his eye. He was lucky, it didn't blind him permanently. Lots of folks use wraparound glasses or side shields. Ear plugs and muffs both work well, use what you want but USE them.
So, you're accoutured, and ready. You step up to the line, note the location of the voice mikes, and wait for your turn on the 5 person squad. As the person before you shoots, you chamber a round, mount your shotgun, and.....
If you're a shooter who keeps both eyes open,hold your shotgun about horizontally above the trap house roof. If you're a one eyed shooter like me, you hold lower, right below the forward edge of the trap house roof, to see the bird as it appears. Experiment and see what works best for you.
You're now mounted, and the gun is pointed where it should be. Look along the rib and note that everything is lined up correctly, and SHIFT YOUR FOCUS TO THE AREA WHERE THE BIRD WILL APPEAR. Do NOT look back to the barrel, a guaranteed miss. Take a deep breath to oxygenate your muscles,clear your mind of other things, concentrate on the empty air where the bird will show.
Stay focussed as you call for the bird. It will come up at a random angle,track it with your eyes.
As your eyes move, so does your shotgun. Imagine your bbl(without looking back at it) is a paintbrush and paint over the clay. When all feels good,pull the trigger.
Whether or not you hit it, maintain safety while you remove the empty. Wait until the rotation comes again to you, repeat 24 more times. Your first round of trap is now history, you're smiling and while you didn't hit them all, you had fun trying. Make safe your weapon and leave the line....
A couple of things....
Most dedicated trap guns are muzzle heavy to keep the swing moving. Stopping the gun is a guaranteed miss. Many pumps and autos have balance close to ideal for the purpose with 28" or longer bbls.
A longer bbl also has a better sight radius, moves the noise a little further away, and may give a bit more speed to the load.
While I like a shotgun less than 7 lbs or so for a field gun, no field gun gets shot as much as a trap gun.Most trap folks use 8-10 lb guns for the swing and less felt kick.
Read your breaks. If a big piece of the target flies off,note the direction. Chances are the bulk of your pattern was on the opposite side. IE, if the big piece heads straight up, your load was low, you hit with the top of the pattern. Note this, and that wonderful computer under your hat will begin to adjust, starting with the next shot like that.
And while some trap shooters need to work on their people skills and manners, most are fine folks who will go far out of their way to help a newcomer with good manners and who is willing to help set up, pick up empty hulls and in general, be the kind of person we all would like to have around, and to be. A little effort here can reap great rewards.
Hope this helps, good luck and good shooting....
These are opinions, and not Writ on stone tablets.
Assuming(I know) that one is trained and competent enough to shoot safely, here's what a newcomer to trap needs to know, and to have....
A brief trip to the ATA(Amateur Trapshooting Association) website will give the rules and layout. Jerry Meyer's book on Clay Games has a nice overview, or just find your local trap range and watch. Trap's easy to learn and hard to shoot well. But, shooting trap is fun, even if you miss some. And you will miss some at first, less after a bit.
Since trap singles, AKA 16 yard trap, is shot one shot at a time, any style shotgun will work, even that overpriced and accessorized Loudenboomer SP Magnum.I'd skip rifle style sights, shotguns used on flying stuff are pointed, not aimed.Use what you want to, your field gun will work very well.
I use a pump. Chokes should be on the tight side, Modified may be the best choice for starting.
Whatever choke that will give a good tight pattern(Say 30", not counting flyers) at the distance you break birds is good. Shot size runs from 7 1/2 to 9, the smaller sizes give thicker patterns, the larger have more oomph per pellet and drift less in windy conditions. Your call here. I use an oz of 8 1/2s, 2 3/4 dram load, and a Full choke.
Patterning is a must, and one that strikes a little high is best. Trap targets are hit on the rise,so a highshooting gun is good.
Your shotgun needs to fit you. We've lots of stuff on this in the Archives, so I won't waste bandwidth on it now.Trap uses a premounted gun, so we can get everything right before calling for the bird.
Accessories will include something to hold your shells in, both before and after being shot. A hunting or shooting vest will work fine, tho in warm weather I like the purpose built belt and pouch combos better.Cooler weather calls for a vest,I've a moderately priced 10X. The belt/pouch is a Bob Allen,cost $20-30, has enough room for two boxes of shells in the top, a pocket for extras, and a mesh bag for empties. Sure, you can just eject them and leave them lay, but oft they can be reloaded to save money. Many ranges specify any shell or hull hitting the ground is theirs. Besides, if you really want to make yourself unwanted,ding an empty off the next shooter over or worse, his cherished trap gun. Folks shooting autos should invest in one of those stamped metal shell catchers or a heavy rubber band to keep the empty in the gun.
Clothing should be comfortable, and not bind your swing. Ladies will be more comfortable with bras that do not have little metal thingies for adjustments right where the butt fits. A hat is a great idea.
Eye and ear protection is mandatory at most ranges, and a very good idea everywhere. Over on Trapshooters.com, a thread relates how a shooter got a piece of a pellet in his eye. He was lucky, it didn't blind him permanently. Lots of folks use wraparound glasses or side shields. Ear plugs and muffs both work well, use what you want but USE them.
So, you're accoutured, and ready. You step up to the line, note the location of the voice mikes, and wait for your turn on the 5 person squad. As the person before you shoots, you chamber a round, mount your shotgun, and.....
If you're a shooter who keeps both eyes open,hold your shotgun about horizontally above the trap house roof. If you're a one eyed shooter like me, you hold lower, right below the forward edge of the trap house roof, to see the bird as it appears. Experiment and see what works best for you.
You're now mounted, and the gun is pointed where it should be. Look along the rib and note that everything is lined up correctly, and SHIFT YOUR FOCUS TO THE AREA WHERE THE BIRD WILL APPEAR. Do NOT look back to the barrel, a guaranteed miss. Take a deep breath to oxygenate your muscles,clear your mind of other things, concentrate on the empty air where the bird will show.
Stay focussed as you call for the bird. It will come up at a random angle,track it with your eyes.
As your eyes move, so does your shotgun. Imagine your bbl(without looking back at it) is a paintbrush and paint over the clay. When all feels good,pull the trigger.
Whether or not you hit it, maintain safety while you remove the empty. Wait until the rotation comes again to you, repeat 24 more times. Your first round of trap is now history, you're smiling and while you didn't hit them all, you had fun trying. Make safe your weapon and leave the line....
A couple of things....
Most dedicated trap guns are muzzle heavy to keep the swing moving. Stopping the gun is a guaranteed miss. Many pumps and autos have balance close to ideal for the purpose with 28" or longer bbls.
A longer bbl also has a better sight radius, moves the noise a little further away, and may give a bit more speed to the load.
While I like a shotgun less than 7 lbs or so for a field gun, no field gun gets shot as much as a trap gun.Most trap folks use 8-10 lb guns for the swing and less felt kick.
Read your breaks. If a big piece of the target flies off,note the direction. Chances are the bulk of your pattern was on the opposite side. IE, if the big piece heads straight up, your load was low, you hit with the top of the pattern. Note this, and that wonderful computer under your hat will begin to adjust, starting with the next shot like that.
And while some trap shooters need to work on their people skills and manners, most are fine folks who will go far out of their way to help a newcomer with good manners and who is willing to help set up, pick up empty hulls and in general, be the kind of person we all would like to have around, and to be. A little effort here can reap great rewards.
Hope this helps, good luck and good shooting....
I plan to try my hand at clays tomorra and will try to keep in mind your excellent advice. 
