Trap,Skeet,Sporting Clays? Explain the differences?

[ultramagbrion]

Im ignorant concerning shotgun target sports so if you folks would kindly explain the differences in the three and the guns used for each.

And can one style shotgun be used for all three as an entry level use??


T.I.A.,Ultra.:whiskey:

[Sig220]

Well, I will give a shot:) (pun intended)


Trap: Is longer shots (going away) where a tight choke and tight pattern will assist you in scoring. Also a need for 2 quick shots on occasion

Skeet: There are multiple stations, a tight choke and pattern is not looked upon as helpful. Improved cylinder choke is most favored. Also need for 2 quick shots.

Sporting clays: A variety of shots are presented near the ground, in the air, going away, crossing, also a need for 2 quick shots on occasion.

Although I could say I have shot skeet for over 30 years, it would be misleading as I first shot skeet in college in 1974 and last shot skeet last month!! I did not shoot much in between.

You can shoot any three of these with ANY shotgun you prefer, it all depends on how competitive you want to be. In all three, o/u are the preferred by most in the know. I don't have the funds for that, so I shoot them with what I have on hand........870/modified choke and 1100/modified choke. I mainly shoot to improve skills for dove/duck hunting, and don't worry about "competing" that much.

Plus as your skills improve, it can lead to some entertaining sandbagged bets!!

A good reference site is www.remington.com you will have to search the site, but it gives excellent tips......(don't have the bookmark w/me)

Good Luck!

[FAL guy]

Sig220 covered the basics a bit. Here is more in depth.


Trap: Utilizes a single thrower (trap). The shooters shoot 5 single shots from 5 different shooting positions. The positions in a line behind the trap with the #3 position centerd on the trap. The clays are thrown no more than about 45 degrees right or left of the centerline. While there are differnet games ivolving shooting doubles, this is the standard game. Most shotguns for this game are long barreled single shot.

Skeet: Utilizes two throwers, situated one on each side of the "field". One is called the "high" tower and throws a clay 10 feet above the ground, the other is the "low" tower and throws a target 3.5 feet above the ground. Shooting takes place from 8 different positons situated in a semi circle, with position #8 being the axis of that circle and positioned between the two houses. The normal game consists of the following.

At positions #1, #2, #6, #7 you shoot high, low, double.
At positons #3, #4, #5, #8 you shoot high, low.
At position #8 you get a bonus low shot if you have shot the rest clean.

The shotguns used vary but most popular is a short barreled double, but anything capable of shooting two shots in rapid succession can be used. The targets are closer than in trap shooting so the guns are not choked as much.

Sporting clays is a game in which you wonder through the area to many different shooting stations each with a different set up. Each can use one or two traps. Targets can also vary in size from standard to the size of a golf ball. At one station you could be shooting at clays simulate quail flushing, or doves jetting by. At another you might be shooting a rabbit running past, then a mallard settling onto a pond. The shots can be going away, coming at you, or from either side. You shoot from as many as 10 or more different "stands". Most are shot as "doubles". Doubles can be "true" pairs or "report" pairs. True pairs are both thrown at the same time. Report pairs is one clay thrown, with the second thrown at the first shot.

I hope this answers your questions

Shotguns used vary from ultra expensive doubles to autos to pumps.

I hope this helps

[ultramagbrion]

Thanks to both of you. Ive been wondering about the games for some time but the few I know that shoot shotgun,only shoot one type,and could never explain the differences tween'em'.

It looks like a hell of a lot of fun.:biggrin:

[Sig220]

The are all fun and just about require you reload or have a fat wallet to buy shells!!

I have played variations of these to include Annie Oakley....where each shooter shoots the same target....any misses and you are out...............unless you "buy" you way back in.

Another is the live bird shoot...........pigeons..........a handler modifys thier flight characteristics and throws them in the air.......kind of expensive runs between 1.50 to 3.00 a bird.

I guess I enjoy the kick and smell the most, so usually just shoot skeet with friends. The club I belong to has two skeet fields, so shooting is no problem.

Another is a lot of the hard core shooters use 28 or 20 gauge shotguns, again I don't mind the kick........I use a 12 gauge and sometimes my full choke on skeet......you either turn em to dust or miss!

[Russ]

As a novice to shotgun shooting (started this summer) -- I'd suggest that you start with Trap --it is a controlled, rhythmic and somewhat predictable shooting. I started on a sporting clay run -- and the variation and unpredictabilty factor will really corrode your score if your new to it.

Definately agree on the O/U -- started with a used pump-gun, and the change to O/U was about a 1000% improvement
Russ

[cliffy109]

There's a new one called Wobble Trap that is even better for beginniers. This is similar to trap, but you're a lot closer to the targets. There is a riser platform built over the trap house. Station 1 and 5 are the lowest, 2 and 4 are mid level and station 3 is directly over top of the trap.

The trap thrower oscilates up and down and side to side so it can come out at any angle. Your first shot at each station is a single target. The next two are "doubles" meaning one target immediately after the other.

Its a fairly easy game. I'm not an expert by any stretch but I have shot a perfect 25 a number of times on wobble.

[FAL guy]

Originally posted by Sig220
The are all fun and just about require you reload or have a fat wallet to buy shells!!

You got that right. I went ape for sporting clays and was going through a case of ammo a week(250 rounds). I started reloading and it saved a wad. Luckily for my wallet, I wore myself out on it and am now down to a once a month shoot of 150 rounds.

[55bird]

Claybusting is real fun for everybody.Walmart's superspeed extra(1oz)@$2.98 a box puts reloading on hold.A trusty Remington 1100 (used 2-3 hundred)will suffice for your first couple years and if you stick with it,buy a Beretta over and under.Remington can always be modified for other purposes like Action Shotgun.

[shootist87122]

A round of skeet is 25 shots and a round of trap is also 25 shots, so they are the same.:p

Trap is almost exclusively shot with a 12 Ga and, as noted, requires a tighter choke. Modified choke with #8s (also 7 1/2s) work fine from the 16 Yard line.

Skeet is set up so most shots are taken at ~21 Yds (closer for station 8), so a skeet choke is best. IC choke is fine and possibly even better if shooting promotional loads. (Promotional loads generally have softer shot that deforms and does not pattern as well.)

Skeet can be shot with 12, 20, 28, and .410 (or even 16 Ga.) If you become a serious skeet shooter you will end up with at least the smaller three gauges (AMHIK). I shoot 12 Ga events with the 20 – the skeet don’t care and the 20 has less recoil.

I have but one true skeet gun: it’s a 12 Ga O/U, with "sub-gauge tubes” that converts it to use the smaller size shells. #9s are the preferred shot size for skeet, but 7 1/2s, 8s & 8 1/2s will work fine also.

Any shotgun (except a single shot) will get you to the dance, including a pump. When you show up at the skeet (or trap) range for the first time, tell them you are a neubie and they will be glad to help you get started.

[Batman]

I'm a huge sporting clays shooter and have been shooting it for about 8 years. I shoot competitively. A round of "clays" is typically 50 birds. In competition you shoot 100 birds. A clays course is composed of between 10 and 16 stations where you will have a presentation of single, report pair or double birds to shoot at. Some stations you will shoot 6 birds (three pairs) and some 8 or 10 birds (again typically pairs). Board skeet and trap shooters who just got tired of the same old game developed the game of sporting clays. These shooters wanted to develop a game that resembled “game” (birds mostly) in the field. A skeet or trap field in Michigan is the same as one in Texas or Maine so nothing changes. But every sporting clays course is different. Plus, every clays course changes! The course I shoot at changes the layout and presentation once a month. When you shoot in a registered competition you shoot a "virgin" course (where no one has shoot it before anyone else). It's great fun and is commonly referred to as "golf with a shotgun".

Go to the National Sporting Clays Association as see the whole story.

As for guns, use either an O/U or some type or a semi auto. Anything else and your at a distinct disadvantage.