Author Topic: Sporting Clays (Read 1943 times)

rogwar · « **Reply #30 on:** September 21, 2007, 07:46:11 PM »

Make certain you indentify your dominat eye.

Here's one way:

http://www.nova.edu/hpd/otm/cop/DominantEye.htm

I am right handed but had to learn to shoot birds using left-handed stance because of a left dominant eye.

Shoot a rifle right-handed, pistol with either eye but left is a little better but cannot hit anything shooting a shotgun right handed.

Easier to identify your dominant eye now and start shooting that way rather than change later.

Halo · « **Reply #31 on:** September 21, 2007, 11:50:25 PM »

(quote) When you say you have a week day appointment, does that mean you're going to be taking a lesson from an instructor? (unquote)

I'll take whatever help I can get, but I'm looking for a weekday appointment mainly to avoid weekend crowds for my first try at sporting clays. That should mean more help for me, but I'm not hiring an instructor as such.

The guy I bought the 1100 from at Gander Mountain has a chest full of shooting pins and is a shotgun instructor. He spent a lot of time with me and gave me lots of information. He seemed to be a good instructor and obviously is a good salesman.

I've found a ton of apparently good advice on line on sporting clays. Incidentally, two other great assists are Remington's shooting computer simulation TopShot and of course Aces High with its off line and on line CV 5-inchers which are a lot like shotgun shooting.

I'm still focusing a lot on recoil reduction. Even with the softer shooting 1100, I'm going to add a Limbsaver slipon pad. Without one, I got some minor bicep bruising after about 75 rounds of mostly 1 1/8 oz No. 8 12-gauge.

Unfortunately the 1100 does not eject low noise low recoil loads (apparently 1-oz). I could quickly get a reputation as a nerd by shooting only one low noise low recoil round from a semiauto 1100, but I can't quite totally discard the idea.

I've read some downers about detached retinas, hearing loss, and cheek surgeries from too much shooting with not enough protection, so I am super cautious. Some of the misfortune is to people who shoot hundreds of rounds a day (I'll never be in that category) but some of it is insidious accumulation over a long time.

Shotguns are probably the most punishing of all shooting since so many people fire so many rounds in such comparatively short time periods. And many shotgun loads kick as much or more as many high power rifle loads.

Maybe I need a nerf ball shotgun? Or one of those ping-pong ball pumps?

FBBone · « **Reply #32 on:** September 22, 2007, 01:54:19 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Charon
Technically, they passed a law last year that clarified ammo sales by mail if you faxed over a copy of your FOID card. In ILL you have to show this card to even touch a firearm or purchase ammo. That was the sticking point on mail order sales.

Now, many vendors will comply with that in the ILL outside of Cook County, but the vast majority still refuse to sell in Cook County because of the potential legal harassment. Also why I didn't get my Curio & Relic license (an 03 FFL license that allows collectors to mail order guns). Most of the big name C&R suppliers like AIM, and the small value added sellers like Empire Arms still refuse to sell and ship a perfectly legal bolt action rifle to a C&R holder in Cook County.

Ive been to GAT before NHawk, it's just right down the road. It might be a good idea to cull this shotgun and some of the extras I have and get a nice used 1100 in 20 ga or 12 ga.

Bells got nuked recently by the airport expansion I believe, or some other rezoning deal. No surprise, they are having a hard time finding a new location in their dealings with the city over the deal.

Charon

Illinois SUX!

NHawk · « **Reply #33 on:** September 22, 2007, 05:51:38 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Charon
...Ive been to GAT before NHawk, it's just right down the road. It might be a good idea to cull this shotgun and some of the extras I have and get a nice used 1100 in 20 ga or 12 ga.

Bells got nuked recently by the airport expansion I believe, or some other rezoning deal. No surprise, they are having a hard time finding a new location in their dealings with the city over the deal.

While you're at GAT, check the reload equipment. If you have a place to do it, that might be the most economical route to go. It sounds like you know what you're doing, but don't do it in your kitchen. I used to do it in a detached garage 50ft away from my house. I had a nice bench set up for shotgun and brass reloading. Somewhere I know I still have the lead pot and some .38/.357 molds, .38 & .30-06 brass and some 12ga wads/hulls. But god only knows where they might be.

Sad that Bells is gone. Everyone I knew went there if they needed some work done on a gun. Few purchased new guns there, but the custom work was terrific.

mtndog · « **Reply #34 on:** September 22, 2007, 07:12:32 AM »

Hi Charon

Take a look at Berretta 391 urikas , fantastic all around gun, comes with multiple chokes.

Bell was shut down for numerous reasons ,one being loaning guns to the mob for hits then selling them to law abiding citizens. it has been in the family secrets trial.

we'llhave to hook up one day and hit my club
http://www.northbrooksportsclub.org/

mtndog

Pyro · « **Reply #35 on:** September 22, 2007, 10:36:08 AM »

Charon- you'll want to shoot your shotgun just to get some rounds through it but if you really enjoy clay shooting, renting a gun might be a good option too. There's a range here that has Beretta 391 sporting models for $15 a day(costs $1100+ new). Another range has $10/day rentals but I'm not sure what they have. If you're paying $3-4 extra for a box for 16 gauge, that difference covers your rental for 1 round of SC. Shoot more than 1 round and it will save you money plus you get to shoot a really nice shotgun that's tailored to the task at hand.

Halo- An hour with a shooting coach is a pretty good way to start. If you start off with a gun that doesn't fit properly or poor technique, that's going to make for a difficult learning curve. Your bruise sounds like you're not getting the gun mounted properly or it's coming off your shoulder when you go to shoot.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #36 on:** September 22, 2007, 07:19:21 PM »

My son shot his first two rounds of Trap today. He did really well for a first timer. He hit 10 of 25 the first round, and 8 of 25 the second round.

I hit 20 of 25 first round and 18 of 25 second round. (Hey, it's been 7 years since I touched my shotgun other than a bi-annual cleaning-oiling, what can I say?)

7 more Saturdays of trap before our goose hunt.

Cost FWIW:
Each round costs $3.50. Box of shells=$4.50. Total cost for 2 of us shooting 2 rounds each is $32.00.

Dago · « **Reply #37 on:** September 22, 2007, 07:25:23 PM »

It's common for new shooters to shoot high, have him aim a little under trap and see how that works for him.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #38 on:** September 22, 2007, 07:26:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dago
It's common for new shooters to shoot high, have him aim a little under trap and see how that works for him.

Thanks. Will advise.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #39 on:** September 22, 2007, 07:30:28 PM »

Pyro,
You obviously know what you’re talking about. How long have you been at this? How often do you practice and compete? What kind do you do (trap, skeet or ?)? What gun(s) do you use? Do you ever travel to compete? How do you rank in your club or division (or whatever it may be called)?

Halo · « **Reply #40 on:** September 24, 2007, 10:02:39 AM »

Pyro, I see now why you advocate going with an instructor. I went over to the Bull Run Shooting Center on Sunday where everyone has to take a two-hour introductory course before being allowed to shoot there.

What a great introduction. Small group of seven with an excellent instructor. Included was about a dozen shots at skeet and trap targets. Guys used rental over and under 12-gauges and women 20-gauges that were included in the $25 price.

I had been holding my shotgun just a bit too low and perhaps not tucked as close as it should have been in my shoulder pocket. I busted about 9 of my 12 birds and the instructor was pleased (yes, he was most encouraging and complimentary with all the students, as a good instructor should be).

I was the oldest and maybe the second most successful shooter after another guy. Another guy was good too and one not so good. Two of the women had excellent instincts but the other was a bit too young and gunshy in spite of the instructor's very helpful training.

I'm signed up for a special sporting clays round next Sunday with an instructor and small group. Really stoked about that. Should be a terrific intro to sporting clays.

5-stand sounds great too -- a sort of mini sporting clays in one place. I'll eventually do trap, skeet, and wobble trap too just to try 'em all at least once.

This range restricts barrels to 22 inches (I think, definitely longer than coach and home defense guns) and loads to 2 3/4. I'll use my Remington 1100 Field Classic 12-gauge 26-inch on the sporting clays; the clerk said semiautos are fine and they have no problem with their shell ejections, e.g., do not require ejection shields.

The guy who sold me my 1100 said he was a single-digit handicap golfer who gave up golf for shotgun shooting. He said they both cost about the same and took up similar amounts of time. That's a good comparison, I think.

Dunno whether I'll stick with shotgunning in the long run, but if I can do it without bruising and busting my wallet, it will be tempting.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #41 on:** September 24, 2007, 10:14:58 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Halo
Pyro, I see now why you advocate going with an instructor. I went over to the Bull Run Shooting Center on Sunday where everyone has to take a two-hour introductory course before being allowed to shoot there.

What a great introduction. Small group of seven with an excellent instructor. Included was about a dozen shots at skeet and trap targets. Guys used rental over and under 12-gauges and women 20-gauges that were included in the $25 price.

I had been holding my shotgun just a bit too low and perhaps not tucked as close as it should have been in my shoulder pocket. I busted about 9 of my 12 birds and the instructor was pleased (yes, he was most encouraging and complimentary with all the students, as a good instructor should be).

I was the oldest and maybe the second most successful shooter after another guy. Another guy was good too and one not so good. Two of the women had excellent instincts but the other was a bit too young and gunshy in spite of the instructor's very helpful training.

I'm signed up for a special sporting clays round next Sunday with an instructor and small group. Really stoked about that. Should be a terrific intro to sporting clays.

5-stand sounds great too -- a sort of mini sporting clays in one place. I'll eventually do trap, skeet, and wobble trap too just to try 'em all at least once.

This range restricts barrels to 22 inches (I think, definitely longer than coach and home defense guns) and loads to 2 3/4. I'll use my Remington 1100 Field Classic 12-gauge 26-inch on the sporting clays; the clerk said semiautos are fine and they have no problem with their shell ejections, e.g., do not require ejection shields.

The guy who sold me my 1100 said he was a single-digit handicap golfer who gave up golf for shotgun shooting. He said they both cost about the same and took up similar amounts of time. That's a good comparison, I think.

Dunno whether I'll stick with shotgunning in the long run, but if I can do it without bruising and busting my wallet, it will be tempting.

They probably don't have a problem with it because its unlikely that the 1100 will eject an 8 shot casing. Mine never has, not enough powder there to back that action back enough to eject it!

mtndog · « **Reply #42 on:** September 24, 2007, 10:24:53 AM »

Hi Halo,

Golf is a good analogy for shooting clays. Setup for when and where you are going to take the clay is important, its all before you say "pull'! Just like golf. Its the setup and alignment before you take a swing that makes a huge difference.
Eventually you will start to hear about "sight pictures" (maybe you already have). You will develop a set of pictures in your head of when to take the clay for the different types of shots, (mostly sporting clay types), After you've developed these "sight pictures" it gets a whole lot easier.
i also took lessons from an instructor, best thing in the world ! Other than setup and position his biggest advice was not to worry about lead. swing thru, beaggressive and when you see it shoot it, the clay will almost appear slow motion off your barrel. But follow thru...also like golf.

mtndog

Toad · « **Reply #43 on:** September 24, 2007, 10:32:22 AM »

Halo,

My brother shoots at Bull Run all the time. I think he's one of the range officers. I've even shot there; pretty nice place.

He's an excellent wingshot, was a Class A trapshooter at one time and shoots every game that's available at Bull Run.

He'd probably help you out for nothing. If you're interested, let me know and I'll check with him.

Be advised, we'll be heading out to SD on a 3 week pheasant hunt soon, so get in early or wait a while.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #44 on:** September 24, 2007, 10:40:05 AM »

I used to shoot trap at home. However, the commies up here at school have shut down all ranges within an hour of here.

So I haven't really shot in a while, though the last time I did, I got a 22 and a 21.