Helping my son improve at trap

[davek8s]

And make more money......ammo is expensive once he learns about the good stuff.

He was given a MEC jr 20 ga reloader and I'm teaching him to reload. We reloaded 25 rounds already. We're going to test them out before we load up anymore.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice I'm looking to get some lessons for he and I.

[Wrens Ranch 1]

Love this... it's all about kids..

Trap and sporting clays differ as crossing shots don't appear in trap. Some of our team members claim that trap shooting wrecks up their sporting clay scores, but hey...need to learn both.
My recommendation is ... build on a good foundation first. I don't care if they miss all of the birds, they need to start with a good base. A comfortable stance is imperative. Posture and firearm mounting is next. The firearm needs to fit as well as you can afford. A competent stockmaker or gunsmith can fit the stock to your boy. We all assume that the kids will grow up and continue in the sport, so an adjustable stock is nice. Stocks have a "cheekpiece" and the cheek needs to stay on it. Raising the head and lifting the cheek removes the chance for repeatability, since lifting removes their index point. And it usually results in a shot over the target. I usually will have them mount the firearm with the eyes closed, and then open them to let them see where their firearm is pointed. This lets them see the effects of not keeping an index point.
Yes, lead and follow through are important, but we often underestimate the power of the human brain. Once the basics are established, the brain will take over, and many shooters will tell you all that they see is the bird... the bead and rib dissappear...
Keep practicing dad... you're on the right track.
Matt

[ysr_racer]

Trap and sporting clays differ as crossing shots don't appear in trap.

Agreed, but trap shots do appear in sporting clays

[MJB]

When shooting dove all shots appear.......just saying

I tell ya.....dove for wing shooting practice & ground squirrels for rifle practice.

Nothing better for the real world!

[trapperjohn]

DaveK8s - do yourself and your son a favor: START with the No Cal Shotgun/skeet clinic taught by TheFeeder.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=405000

He has a wealth of experience teaching new shooters and youth the fundamentals of shotgun target shooting. The cost is unbelievably low, and the value is incredibly high. It is affordable enough that you could attend three or four cliinics for the cost of one session with a semi-private instructor, and the quality is on par.

These clinics will ground you firmly in the fundamentals of gun fit, stance, swing, follow through, and focus. These fundamentals can then be applied to whatever clay game you and your son want to try - trap, skeet, sporting clays, etc. Even hunting, if that's your thing.

The skeet field is an ideal place to learn the fundamentals, regardless of what others say here. The targets are consistent and uniform (within the vagaries of wind). You can learn to shoot outgoing targets (as in trap, skeet and sporting clays), as well as incoming and crossing targets (as in skeet and sporting clays) - all within the same skeet field. And the targets won't change from week to week, so you can return and practice the fundamentals on the skeet field while you grow in experience and skill, and go to take on the other games.

Clay shooting is nothing like rifle shooting, as you will soon learn fully. Enjoy the time sharing the games with your son - it is a great way to bond and relate in ways that will last the rest of your lives. I know, because that's what did it with my son as well.

Good luck and safe shooting.

[beetle]

DaveK8s - do yourself and your son a favor: START with the No Cal Shotgun/skeet clinic taught by TheFeeder.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=405000

He has a wealth of experience teaching new shooters and youth the fundamentals of shotgun target shooting. The cost is unbelievably low, and the value is incredibly high. It is affordable enough that you could attend three or four cliinics for the cost of one session with a semi-private instructor, and the quality is on par.

These clinics will ground you firmly in the fundamentals of gun fit, stance, swing, follow through, and focus. These fundamentals can then be applied to whatever clay game you and your son want to try - trap, skeet, sporting clays, etc. Even hunting, if that's your thing.

The skeet field is an ideal place to learn the fundamentals, regardless of what others say here. The targets are consistent and uniform (within the vagaries of wind). You can learn to shoot outgoing targets (as in trap, skeet and sporting clays), as well as incoming and crossing targets (as in skeet and sporting clays) - all within the same skeet field. And the targets won't change from week to week, so you can return and practice the fundamentals on the skeet field while you grow in experience and skill, and go to take on the other games.

Clay shooting is nothing like rifle shooting, as you will soon learn fully. Enjoy the time sharing the games with your son - it is a great way to bond and relate in ways that will last the rest of your lives. I know, because that's what did it with my son as well.

Good luck and safe shooting.

agree 100%. and since the lessons are held at metcalf, after you are done with the class come on over to field 5 and shoot a friendly round of trap with the regulars that hang out there.

[mtenenhaus]

nothing like personalized instruction
that said, you can often find used instructional DVDs by Leo Harrison or Phil Kiner, M Loveless and others on eBay

they're pretty good to watch