Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: texace on August 25, 2004, 08:43:44 PM
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Being that it has been a dream of mine since I was 4 to represent the United States in the Olympics at one point, I have decided that I am going to step up my efforts to become an Olympian in 2008.
Yes, I am serious. Deadly serious.
I have set my sights on shooting, being as I've been doing it for a long, long time. Skeet shooting, to be specific. I know that a lot of you are sportsman, so I've come with a question.
I currently use my dad's Remmington 820 20 guage shotgun with the plug removed and an improved choke. I've been shooting with him since I was 6. I've taken it quail hunting and I'm a decent shot. However, being that he occasionally uses it when he goes hunting without me, I am looking for a shotgun of my own.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should look into? I intend to take the gun with m to Bejing in '08, so reliability is a factor. A good bird gun with an improved choke preferable. 20 guage, obviously.
Thanks...and wish me luck. :D
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Well, unless theres a rule agianst it, first thing I'd do would be to consider a 12 gauge.
Bigger shell = more shot= better chance of hitting
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My Remington 1100 is my favorite.
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I prefer my Mossburg 550 loaded with 000.Its much harder to hit,and kinda expensive but the results are spectacular :lol
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Bennelli is a fine gun. Get fitted for the proper stock. Very important if you want to shoot competitively. There are many nice shotguns out there, an over and under will serve you best in the long run for serious shooting. You can have them in two differant chokes.
Go to the range, maybe attend a couple big tournamenst, ask around, watch what the guys are doing and using. I have shot with guys using 410s many times for skeet who were fantastic. Reloading 410s cost a lot less in powder and shot.
I use a 12g, and reload my own as much because I enjoy knowing my load and I enjoy reloading in general.
Get lessons and practice as much as you can.
dago
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I love my bennelli, 12 ga,3 inch mag semi auto.
My wife and I have 870s also,hers is a sweet 20 ga 3 inch mag.
Mine is a 12ga.
For price, reliabilty, and strenth I would go with Rem. 870 20ga 3 inch mag model .On this one dont get choke, buy pattern you want and if you need another buy the barrel.
Sure you dont want a 12ga?
When you get to where you can hit the majority of clay from the hip then you will be ready for the proper over and under rig.
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International Shotgun (http://www.usashooting.com/Disciplines/shotgundesc.cfm#skeet)
....The four-inch clay disks travel at up to 55 miles per hour, and competitors may fire one shot per target. Competitors hold their 12 gauge shotguns at hip level until the target appears, which can be anywhere from 0-3 seconds after their call....
....The Guns: Skeet guns have open chokes, which spread shot pellets at a wider radius. The barrels measure 26-28 inches in length. World-class skeet guns (e.g. Perazzi Mirage, Remington 3200, Krieghoff K-80) cost from$1800-$7000.....
Practice like you play. Gun fit is very important. Get fitted by someone that knows what he's doing.
First step is probably get thee to a good gun club that has a "world class" skeet shooter around. Tell him your plan and let him help you avoid the common pitfalls.
Good luck!
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I'm aware of the rules. :D I'm looking for something to practice with before moving on to the bigger guage. When I refine my speed and accuracy more, then I'll move up and start with the 12 guage. I use a 20 because it's all I have for now.
I appreciate the link and the quote, Toad. :D
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Benelli, Berreta, or Fianchi would be my choices. Unless you can sneak up on a Belgein Browning.
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Benelli
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I really like my Ruger Red Lable over and under. There are better shotguns out there, I'm sure, but it's the one I have had the most fun with.
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Now here is a gun topic where I feel I have nothing of any use to add except.... good luck.
lazs
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I am a big fan of Benelli myself but if you are willing to spend the money Remington is my favorite. Just remember if you wanna make it in 2008 you are going to want to be shooting every day for the next 8 years, and make sure you get yourself into national competion as soon as you can. Good luck with your goal.
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When I was a youth, one of my older brother's friends was Mike Martin. At the time he was a world champion junior skeet shooter. He was a high school kid then.
He shot Model 12 pump guns exclusively and shot "all gauge" with them, .410, 28, 20 and 12.
So you sure can do it with a pump gun. An auto might be good for practice with a 12 if you shoot a lot. The recoil on those 1000 round days can get to be a bother with a 12.
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Originally posted by Toad
When I was a youth, one of my older brother's friends was Mike Martin. At the time he was a world champion junior skeet shooter. He was a high school kid then.
He shot Model 12 pump guns exclusively and shot "all gauge" with them, .410, 28, 20 and 12.
So you sure can do it with a pump gun. An auto might be good for practice with a 12 if you shoot a lot. The recoil on those 1000 round days can get to be a bother with a 12.
don't shreck around, get a Krieghoff
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Originally posted by Bodhi
don't shreck around, get a Krieghoff
What Bodhi said.
When I was into competitive skeet, the SERIOUS competitors had these in a 4 guage set. VERY pricey but it was the premium tool for the sport and I never saw a failure that wasn't related to reloaded ammo. Certainly never from the gun.
They were all stack barrels and single choke tubes. There were no screw in chokes on any of them as they were already set from the factory (or shooter preferance) for that sport. The use of one receiver and stock only simplified fitting the gun and made consistant performance a ton easier.
If you are serious about this sport I suggest you start contacting the top shooters in your area and find out who the best coach in the sport you want is. hen you need to get together with that individual and learn all you can from him. After that you need to find out who he / she thinks is the best coach and keep going. Those foks will e the ones to help you pick the best equipment to suit and fit YOU and help you expand your capabilities.
I sincerely wish you luck in your goal.
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texace, don't waste your time- guns will be banned by 2008.
Take up the Javelin- we won't ban them til 2012.
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Thanks for the boost of confidence there, Airhead :rolleyes:
I've been shooting for about 13 years. I've been in touch with a lot of people and I've been told differing opinions on guns to use. Of course, it all comes down to a matter of choice...I'll have to see what's out there.
I have begun shooting at a local gun club every weekend until I'm too sore to do it or I'm asked to leave. I'm trying as hard as I can, really. A long shot goal...may have to wait until 2012 but if I can get into some nationals here soon, I'll be good to go.
I appreciate the help. I'll have to look into some of the guns y'all mentioned.
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Benelli is a great tac gun.I dont know how it is with skeet but to clear a house full of crackheads it cant be beat.Remington is really hard to beat but ask around the match guys.They can get ya going in the right direction.Good fargin luck in the goal.I wish ya the best.Im looking forward to saying " I know that guy from AH.He can splat those skeet but gawd he couldnt hit but 2 things in a 51 in AH...Jack and S&it...And jack left town;)
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(Please) Correct me if I'm wrong....
From what I understand, the US shooting teams are fielded by members of the military. They are picked out of the pack, and focus exclusively on their particular sport. They don't participate in wars, but instead train for and are sent to competitions like the Olympics.
With all that time, training, and the benefit of picking the elite out of thousands upon thousands, I don't like your chances.
Not to be a downer... and I could be wrong...
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A couple US Olympic shooters bios:
Bade, Lance
* 2002 national trap and double trap champion
* Competed in the 2000 Olympic Games, where he placed sixth in double trap and 16th in trap
* Silver medalist in trap at the 2002 Sydney World Cup
* Gold medalist in trap at the 2000 Cairo World Cup
* 1996 Olympic bronze medalist in trap, placed 10th in double trap
Did You Know?
* Started shooting in 1987 at the Vancouver Trap Club.
* Is a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
* Owns his own business, Olympic Landscape and Lawn Service.
* Is a contracted hunting guide in the winter season. He takes clients hunting for waterfowl and helps them with shooting while sharing his knowledge of the sport.
* Was a special dignitary attending the 2002 National Wild Turkey Federation’s 26th Annual Convention and Sport Show in Charlotte, N.C.
* Hobbies include hunting, fishing, tennis and public speaking.
* Married to wife Lisa, who shoots occasionally.
It's Every Day
Bade manages his own landscaping business while contracting his services to guide hunters in the winter months. But between all his activities he prioritizes the importance of practice. "You don't make an Olympic team and do it part time. I work out four to five days a week. I'll train seven, eight, nine days in a row if I have a big match coming up. I work on my shooting from four to six hours a day."
Eller, Glenn
* 2004 Olympic Trials, 1st- men's double trap
* 2003 World Clay Target Championships, 1st-double trap
* 2002 World Championships, 2nd- double trap
* 2000 Olympics, 12th-double trap
* 1996 British Open Sporting Clay, 1st-junior division
Did You Know?
* Is the youngest man on the 2004 Olympic shooting team at age 22
* Has made the finals in 11 of 13 international events
* Suffered a pinched nerve in his neck the week before this year’s Olympic Trials
* Full name is Walton Glenn Eller III
* Began shooting at age eight under Jay Herbert
* Trains with Olympian Dan Carlisle
* Took a year off from Auburn University to train full time for Athens, but will resume his studies at the University of Houston to finish his business degree
* Hunts game birds and deer
* Was a pole-vaulter in high school
* Is a five-time national team member
* Shoots an average of 300 targets a day
It's Every Day
The youngest man on the 2000 Olympic shooting team at age 18, Glenn was expected to finish as high as third in Sydney. A nasty ham salad sandwich changed all expectations.
When traveling, Glenn is loyal to the Golden Arches. He strayed from McDonalds only once—at the Sydney Games. Instead of a Big Mac, he downed an Aussie ham salad and spent two days in bed with food poisoning. He finished 12th.
After that he said, “It’s nothing but McDonalds.” He said he would find one in Athens and stick to it.
“I went to Sydney expecting to win,” he said, “But looking back on it, I had never won anything, so how could I have expected to do it then? So I don’t think about it anymore.”
“My actual ability is exactly the same as it was in 2000,” he said. “But my mental game and experience have improved a ton. I’ve gone out and proved that I can win. Last time, I had the ability, but I hadn’t done anything yet.”
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“Rifle shooters have a different mentality than shotgun shooters. Rifle shooters are laid back. For them, nerves are bad. We want the nerves to be fired up.”
Just a couple of the non-military shooters.
I think 3 of the US Shooters are in the military, and they earned the slots in competition like everyone esle. Not given the slots by virtue of military associaton, nor denied slots for that reason either. Of course, being in the military and being able to shoot every day on the taxpayers dime doesn't hurt your chances.
dago
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I know it's hard...I know it's not easy. I know there's a slim chance to even qualify...
But I am going to try...do whatever it takes. Even if I can't make it...I will know I tried. To me, the journey there is what counts.
All that matters to me is knowing that I tried to accomplish something I've dremt about for a long time. I do it in the name of my country, my family, and my friends...which includes a lot of you here. I'm not well spoken...I'm not active in the theads as much as I used to...but I know that I can count on some of you when I need to.
The Olympics are not to be taken lightly...but should I make it...I'll know why I'm there. Dedication, skill, and the support of people like you guys.
That's all I need, really...
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Originally posted by Nash
(Please) Correct me if I'm wrong....
From what I understand, the US shooting teams are fielded by members of the military. They are picked out of the pack, and focus exclusively on their particular sport. They don't participate in wars, but instead train for and are sent to competitions like the Olympics.
With all that time, training, and the benefit of picking the elite out of thousands upon thousands, I don't like your chances.
Not to be a downer... and I could be wrong...
Men's trap bronze medallist Adam Vella is a plumber :D
Tronsky