Hey, the wife recently told me that she wants to shoot clays. She wasn't specific, so trap, skeet or sporting clays would suit her I suppose. I only have experience with trap, which I shot 20 years ago for a while. Now to the crux of my question. I don't have fancy shotguns. My gun is an old Savage Model 67L, which I use for everything from birds to deer slugs. It's 12 ga., got a 28 in. barrel and mod. choke. For her I've got a Model 1912 20 ga. with 28 in. mod. choke barrel. She has no experience wing shooting. In your opinion, which sport is more suited to us and our equipment? I don't want to invest in a new gun unless she really shows an interest in continuing. Thanks in advance.
Which shotgun sport suits our equipment?
- Thread starter Scout
- Start date
Equipment
You will probably get more knowledgeable advice than mine but....
I just recently started with the clay games. I have shot Skeet, Sporting Clays and Trap.
The one that is most accessible to me is Trap which I enjoy very much.
I use my hunting guns. The first time that I tried Trap it was with an old Ithaca 37 fixed modified choke. It worked just fine - given my limited abilities.
I have since experimented with a number od different SXSs in 12 ga., an O/U 20 ga. and an old Mossberg 20 ga.bolt action.
All of these guns allowed for a Full choke option which I found better than the modified (though the Mod. worked).
I used a LeFever SXS at Sporting Clays and it shot as well as any of the other guns in my group that day.
Only tried Skeet once and that was with a 20. I had fun.
The point of all this rambling is that your guns should do just fine. I very much enjoy the simplicity and precision of Trap - easy to understand, not much moving around, one shot at a time - that is my suggestion for a starting point.
Pete
You will probably get more knowledgeable advice than mine but....
I just recently started with the clay games. I have shot Skeet, Sporting Clays and Trap.
The one that is most accessible to me is Trap which I enjoy very much.
I use my hunting guns. The first time that I tried Trap it was with an old Ithaca 37 fixed modified choke. It worked just fine - given my limited abilities.
I have since experimented with a number od different SXSs in 12 ga., an O/U 20 ga. and an old Mossberg 20 ga.bolt action.
All of these guns allowed for a Full choke option which I found better than the modified (though the Mod. worked).
I used a LeFever SXS at Sporting Clays and it shot as well as any of the other guns in my group that day.
Only tried Skeet once and that was with a 20. I had fun.
The point of all this rambling is that your guns should do just fine. I very much enjoy the simplicity and precision of Trap - easy to understand, not much moving around, one shot at a time - that is my suggestion for a starting point.
Pete
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Technosavant
New member
A modified choke is a bit more tightly constricted than normal for skeet (usually, an improved cylinder or skeet choke would be preferred), but they'll work.
Trap tends to be easier to pick up, but is very difficult to master. Skeet is harder to pick up, but once it "clicks" it isn't all that difficult to master. Sporting Clays is its own thing.
I'd think that with those shotguns you could do any of them. They aren't ideal for those games, but you have shotgun experience, so you'll be able to overcome any of the drawbacks rather quickly.
Trap tends to be easier to pick up, but is very difficult to master. Skeet is harder to pick up, but once it "clicks" it isn't all that difficult to master. Sporting Clays is its own thing.
I'd think that with those shotguns you could do any of them. They aren't ideal for those games, but you have shotgun experience, so you'll be able to overcome any of the drawbacks rather quickly.
oneounceload
Moderator
With Mod chokes, trap from the 16 or sporting clays would easily be handles with those guns. Shooting singles on the trap field might be easier to start with, as sporting clays are all shot as pairs - whether following, report or true. Using a pump for those MAY be somewhat more difficult, as working the pump for most tends to pull their head off the stock and the gun off the target flight line, leading to more misses than with a semi or O/U.
Just get her shooting - then proceed from there
Just get her shooting - then proceed from there
Trap from the 16 yard line - singles - will be the easiest game for you right now / and give her some experience.
I wouldn't rule out some sporting clays ....some are True Pairs, some are "report" pairs so they throw the 2nd bird on the report of the gun ...and some courses will adapt if you ask the puller to throw just Report pairs ... It its an automated sporting clays course ... you should be able to pull Report Pairs ...with just a little delay on the 2nd target to let her get her vision set where she expects to see that 2nd target. Adjust your shells - to 9's if you get some close in targets / 7 1/2's or 8's on the rest of the course..
Sporting Clays is a lot of fun / if you have a good course around -- but more expensive. Trap targets will cost you $ 5 - $ 7 for 25 birds ( plus shells ) so $ 20 - $28 per 100 --- where most sporting clays courses are about $40 - $50 per 100 targets (plus shells )...
I wouldn't rule out some sporting clays ....some are True Pairs, some are "report" pairs so they throw the 2nd bird on the report of the gun ...and some courses will adapt if you ask the puller to throw just Report pairs ... It its an automated sporting clays course ... you should be able to pull Report Pairs ...with just a little delay on the 2nd target to let her get her vision set where she expects to see that 2nd target. Adjust your shells - to 9's if you get some close in targets / 7 1/2's or 8's on the rest of the course..
Sporting Clays is a lot of fun / if you have a good course around -- but more expensive. Trap targets will cost you $ 5 - $ 7 for 25 birds ( plus shells ) so $ 20 - $28 per 100 --- where most sporting clays courses are about $40 - $50 per 100 targets (plus shells )...
oneounceload
Moderator
Actually, when I think about - shooting skeet, but only from station 7 and then station 1 would probably be the easiest targets to shoot at AND hit. On the trap field, see if they have a field set up with the machine set to only throw straight-away targets - that would be the second choice
I concur with my friends, darkgael, Big Jim and oneounceload (congratulations on your 4K post, 1-oz) for your equipment, 16-yd singles is appropriate for a pump with a mod barrel. And, trap is the only clay game where you won't be required to get off a quick second shot. That's why the game is so popular with those wanting to try some clay targets with their field pump guns.
Practicing the easier Skeet shots is good training, if you have a understanding gun club that will let you take your 25 targets randomly.
Practicing the easier Skeet shots is good training, if you have a understanding gun club that will let you take your 25 targets randomly.
oneounceload
Moderator
Grumpy is a way of describing a POLITE trapshooter.......
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.300 Weatherby Mag
New member
Skeet and Sporting clays are 
....
Trap shooters are grumpy and gay....
....Trap shooters are grumpy and gay....
.300 Weatherby Mag
New member
Other than my Bob Allen shell pouch.... Nothing I wear falls under the funny dress category... I know what you mean though
I've shot ATA and NSSA and, yes, I've seen some Skeet shooters in loafers and sandals. And, I've seen trap shooters in footwear more appropriate at a rodeo.GotDogs said:
Typically, I shoot (trap or Skeet) in a T-shirt, jeans and cheap gym shoes. Once, three of us comp shooters were practicing Skeet and a new shooter joined the squad shooting last. I happened to notice the three of us were all wearing CostCo's Court Classics and the newbie wore an expensive name-brand pair. The three of us came off Station 8 with clean rounds, and the new shooter missed several targets. While walking off the field, he commented that he needed a lot more practice and wanted to know if there were any secrets to shooting Skeet. I pointed to his feet, and with a straight face commented, "You've got the wrong kind of shoes." He looked at our matching Court Classics and thought I was serious until the others realized our shoes matched, too, and started laughing -- we were shooting $8K+ shotguns and wearing bottom dollar shoes.