For those interested, here's what's been happening in my pursuit of the wily and elusive clay pigeon. This may serve as a guide for tyros, and for those who have been thinking about trying out a clay game....
I started shooting trap seriously last January, running about 200 shells/week through an 870TB. Starting scores ran 13-15/25, and it took maybe three months to plateau at around 19/25. After reviewing all aspects of my equipment and form, I bumped up into the lower 20s, then mid 20s.
I ran my first 25 straight on May 25th. Got the patch, and had fun. Since running 25 was one of my short term goals for the first year, I was proud and pleased. So, being contrary as heck, I decided to switch a few things around, steepening the learning curve a bit.
Firat,I had been shooting with an extreme forward tilt, suitable for firing heavy "Serious" loads to help absorb recoil and aid second shot sight acquistion. Not needed for the light loads used in trap, so I worked on a straighter stance with a bit more flexability in the hips for those hard angle shots from Posts 1&5.
Second, I had been taking my shots long, giving the Full choke(an overchoke for 16 yard trap with hard shot in my loads) a chance to open.I went for getting on the bird faster and taking it closer to the house. Since I'd chosen the Full Choke to make me hold tighter as I got the moves down, this was tightening things up a bit. So,worked on that for a while, concentrating HARD and making the moves smooth and fast. BTW, since I'm a one eyed shooter that has to hold on the top of the trap house to see the bird right away, this meant a faster swing and more exactness in pointing. It worked....
Anyways, went and shot this AM with the Geezer League at PGC. Shot three rounds,and the scores were 23,24,25. Yup, ran 'em again. Got the patch, and having about as much fun as I can with my clothes on(G)....
A coupla things....
First, I'll probably get to a ATA match later this month just to have fun and see how I do. I usually shoot better if the folks I'm with are good shooters.
I'm not terribly competitive these days, and I doubt I'll go to many matches. But, I really like busting those birds. I may take this TB to a dove shoot and see how it does.
Second, in all my years of shotgunning, I may have finally found a good fitting stock. The trapstyle stock on the TB is a Monte Carlo style, and with the top of the comb touching the cheekbone, I've gotten more consistent in my mount. The longer length helps also, this is 14 7/8" and the Morgan pad does make things work out right.
Third, I had some POI probs at the outset, took care of them. Other than that, a smaller front bead and the Morgan pad, this TB is very close to stock. Once I got it fitting and hitting, I've left it alone.
Fourth, to feed this shell habit, I got into reloading. It wasn't hard, I produce shells that pattern very nicely, and my reloading costs run $2.56 a box. That's for a 1 oz load of hard shot, about 1200 FPS. Same load,switched to 7 1/2 shot instead of 8s or 8 1/2s, will do very well for upland birds and dove.
Finally, after this very intensive shooting, an 870 really feels like a body part instead of a tool. For any form of shotgunning, including 'Serious" shotgunning, this is what's needed for optimum performance.
Thanks....
I started shooting trap seriously last January, running about 200 shells/week through an 870TB. Starting scores ran 13-15/25, and it took maybe three months to plateau at around 19/25. After reviewing all aspects of my equipment and form, I bumped up into the lower 20s, then mid 20s.
I ran my first 25 straight on May 25th. Got the patch, and had fun. Since running 25 was one of my short term goals for the first year, I was proud and pleased. So, being contrary as heck, I decided to switch a few things around, steepening the learning curve a bit.
Firat,I had been shooting with an extreme forward tilt, suitable for firing heavy "Serious" loads to help absorb recoil and aid second shot sight acquistion. Not needed for the light loads used in trap, so I worked on a straighter stance with a bit more flexability in the hips for those hard angle shots from Posts 1&5.
Second, I had been taking my shots long, giving the Full choke(an overchoke for 16 yard trap with hard shot in my loads) a chance to open.I went for getting on the bird faster and taking it closer to the house. Since I'd chosen the Full Choke to make me hold tighter as I got the moves down, this was tightening things up a bit. So,worked on that for a while, concentrating HARD and making the moves smooth and fast. BTW, since I'm a one eyed shooter that has to hold on the top of the trap house to see the bird right away, this meant a faster swing and more exactness in pointing. It worked....
Anyways, went and shot this AM with the Geezer League at PGC. Shot three rounds,and the scores were 23,24,25. Yup, ran 'em again. Got the patch, and having about as much fun as I can with my clothes on(G)....
A coupla things....
First, I'll probably get to a ATA match later this month just to have fun and see how I do. I usually shoot better if the folks I'm with are good shooters.
I'm not terribly competitive these days, and I doubt I'll go to many matches. But, I really like busting those birds. I may take this TB to a dove shoot and see how it does.
Second, in all my years of shotgunning, I may have finally found a good fitting stock. The trapstyle stock on the TB is a Monte Carlo style, and with the top of the comb touching the cheekbone, I've gotten more consistent in my mount. The longer length helps also, this is 14 7/8" and the Morgan pad does make things work out right.
Third, I had some POI probs at the outset, took care of them. Other than that, a smaller front bead and the Morgan pad, this TB is very close to stock. Once I got it fitting and hitting, I've left it alone.
Fourth, to feed this shell habit, I got into reloading. It wasn't hard, I produce shells that pattern very nicely, and my reloading costs run $2.56 a box. That's for a 1 oz load of hard shot, about 1200 FPS. Same load,switched to 7 1/2 shot instead of 8s or 8 1/2s, will do very well for upland birds and dove.
Finally, after this very intensive shooting, an 870 really feels like a body part instead of a tool. For any form of shotgunning, including 'Serious" shotgunning, this is what's needed for optimum performance.
Thanks....