Author Topic: Sporting Clays (Read 1944 times)

Halo · « **on:** September 20, 2007, 03:14:44 PM »

I'm just getting into exploring Sporting Clays shotgun shooting. Looks like a lot of fun. Was going to be a renegade and try it with break-open coach shotgun or H&R single-shot, but was convinced to be kind to my shoulder and go semi-auto.

So found a nice Remington 1100 12-gauge on sale and am now ready to roll.

How about some sporting clays tips from you veteran shotgunners?

Deth7 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2007, 03:25:47 PM »

Don't go shooting with Dick Cheney........

Hornet33 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2007, 03:34:32 PM »

Well you have a great gun for it. Semi is the only way to go for sporting clays. I'd recomend using a modified choke to start with. Also if your going to get into it on a regular basis you might want to look into reloading. Ask around at the range with the local shooters and they can give you all sorts of great advice.

Have fun and be safe.

By the way..I see you live in Woodbridge. You aren't shooting at the club over in Greenbelt are you? It's the Prince Georges County Trap and Skeet Center. It's right next to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. I used to shoot there every Friday night with a friend of mine when I lived in Baltimore. They have a really good pro shop there.

Dago · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2007, 04:03:45 PM »

You cannot shoot sporting clays with a single shot gun. I use a pump, but an over under or auto works well.

I enjoy shooting sporting clays occasionally. I carry 2 boxes of 7.5 shot, and 2 boxes of 9 shot.

Enjoy.

Pyro · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2007, 04:37:58 PM »

Have you done any clay shooting before and have you bought your gun already?

eskimo2 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2007, 05:35:46 PM »

When I lived in Alaska I had my own clay thrower. My favorite shotgun was a $5 POS single shot H&R 20 Gauge. I think I shot better with that than with my 12 pump. I could even shoot it with one hand and hit more often than not. I’m sure experts would never use a single, but I wouldn’t totally write them off.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #6 on:** September 20, 2007, 06:33:19 PM »

My oldest son and I just joined the Seattle Skeet club last Saturday, where they have trap, skeet, 5-stand. They are building a sporting clays course.

Saturday is our first day shooting! (Well, his first since Hunters Ed).

Pyro · « **Reply #7 on:** September 20, 2007, 07:40:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by eskimo2
When I lived in Alaska I had my own clay thrower. My favorite shotgun was a $5 POS single shot H&R 20 Gauge. I think I shot better with that than with my 12 pump. I could even shoot it with one hand and hit more often than not. I’m sure experts would never use a single, but I wouldn’t totally write them off.

The reason single shots aren't suitable is because sporting clays consists of shooting pairs of targets either thrown simultaneously(true pair) or with the second one coming as soon as you fire at the first target(report pair). That's why single shot shotguns can't be used. I bet this guy could do it though given what he does with a pump:

http://www.benelliusa.com/player.tpl?t=Tom%20Knapp%20World%20Record%202&v=WorldRecord2.flv

and an auto:

http://www.benelliusa.com/player.tpl?t=Tom%20Knapp%20World%20Record%203&v=WorldRecord3.flv

Dago · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2007, 08:11:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pyro
The reason single shots aren't suitable is because sporting clays consists of shooting pairs of targets either thrown simultaneously(true pair) or with the second one coming as soon as you fire at the first target(report pair). That's why single shot shotguns can't be used. I bet this guy could do it though given what he does with a pump:

http://www.benelliusa.com/player.tpl?t=Tom%20Knapp%20World%20Record%202&v=WorldRecord2.flv

and an auto:

http://www.benelliusa.com/player.tpl?t=Tom%20Knapp%20World%20Record%203&v=WorldRecord3.flv

Pyro lives, who knew?

Halo · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2007, 09:24:40 PM »

(quote) edit> By the way..I see you live in Woodbridge. You aren't shooting at the club over in Greenbelt are you? It's the Prince Georges County Trap and Skeet Center. It's right next to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. I used to shoot there every Friday night with a friend of mine when I lived in Baltimore. They have a really good pro shop there. (unquote)

No, Greenbelt is north in Maryland around the beltway past Washington. I'm about 25 miles south of the District.

I'm looking at Shady Grove Sporting Clays in Remington, VA, about 40 miles south, and Bull Run Regional Park about 20 miles west in Centreville, VA.

Halo · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2007, 09:32:36 PM »

(quote) Have you done any clay shooting before and have you bought your gun already? (unquote)

No and yes.

I've done a lot of research on line and visited a couple skeet ranges but never shot on them.

I'm going to start with a week day appointment at a rural range. I don't expect to hit much, but I want the sporting clays experience. If I like it I'll stick with it; if not, it will be another in the saga of making memories.

I'm rather a cheapskate, always trying to get the most bang for the buck, so to speak. I was leaning toward Benellis but they're too pricey for me, and some shooters still favor gas recoil over inertia.

The Remington 1100 reportedly has been a favorite for decades and still is considered to be one of the softest shooting, which is very important to me. Many on-line and local sources recommend it, so when I found a good price on a 12-gauge Remington 1100 Classic Field, I bought it.

Shot about 70 rounds with it and am impressed. Unfortunately it won't eject 1-oz light loads, but I probably should be shooting 1 1/8 anyway, and it's kinder with 1 1/8 than my coach shotgun was with 1-oz.

Halo · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2007, 09:45:05 PM »

(quote) My favorite shotgun was a $5 POS single shot H&R 20 Gauge. I think I shot better with that than with my 12 pump. I could even shoot it with one hand and hit more often than not. I’m sure experts would never use a single, but I wouldn’t totally write them off. (unquote)

I really like the operating and cleaning simplicity of break-opens. But they do kick hard, even with extra recoil pad. Some shotgun ranges here won't allow short-barrel coach shotguns, and of course single-shots are one shot too light for many scenarios.

I keep the 12-gauge Stoeger coach shotgun and the single-shot H&R for home defense. Quick, easy, and reliable under all conditions.

I was going to try the Stoeger on sporting clays at a range that does allow short barrels, but after reading more, figured better heed the consensus that coach shotguns are too punishing for extended shooting like skeet, trap, or sporting clays even though they're used in less volume shooting in cowboy gun matches.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2007, 11:33:18 PM »

Halo, my 1100 is a 1970's shotgun, and it has a permanent full choke, but I still have good success shooting skeet/trap with it. I've considered putting a poly-choke on it but just haven't gotten around to it.

Pyro · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2007, 10:29:18 AM »

If you hadn't bought your shotgun yet, I was just going to say to take a look at the Sporting model of the 1100 if that's what you like. But that would also up the price and what you bought is fine. Being able to use 1 oz loads is nice though.

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

Toad · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2007, 10:30:09 AM »

You can have gunsmith put screw in chokes in most barrels. If barrel walls are on the thin side, they may have to bulge the end of the barrel slightly in the last inch or two. It's not too bad and it's nowhere near as big a bulge as a poly choke.

They do it around here for about $100 plus choke tubes last time I checked.