Trap shooting question

[CSACANNONEER]

If you are talking about real trap shooting and not just breaking clays out in the desert or woods, I'd suggest heading to your nearest trap club, watching and talking with a few regulars. I bet someone might even loan you a gun for a couple of rounds. Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays are all different types of shooting and require different ammo and guns (or at least chokes). Well, they don't require it but, you'll hit more with the proper equipment for each sport. In any event, go have fun. It's a good feeling when your consistantly breaking birds.

[Black Majik]

Trap is the easiest clay sport out there. Benelli barrels are expensive, it may be better to just buy a new Remington 870 express, it'll cost nearly the same amount for a spare VR Benelli barrel.

Go out and have fun, who cares what others think. I see people with HD shotguns at the trap line all the time and don't think any less of them. If it really bothers you, rent a private bay at an outdoor range or out in the desert and use a hand thrower.

Would i look like a dumb as if I went out with my M1 super 90 or a M4 to shoot trap?

Ranges frown upon people shooting .223 at their clays midair.

[jamespres2001]

I also hope to shoot trap for my first time soon!

Sunnyvale Gun Club is open just about every other Sunday. My First two times I went then. Very few people. Just tell the range master you are new to the sport and they will help you out.
Enjoy.
How else are we going to grow the shooting sports?

[ROCKETW19]

Thanks everone for their input. I do feel better about looking silly with a HD gun.

[PEBKAC]

How hard is it to shoot trap?
Would i look like a dumb as if I went out with my M1 super 90 or a M4 to shoot trap?

a)It's really not that hard. However I never found it hard so I'm a bit biased.
b)It does look kinda silly with blackticool shotguns, but don't underestimate the M1 or the M4...both are quite capable if you get used to the sights and use the right chokes. Get good with 'em and it's no longer so silly looking.

[CSACANNONEER]

Thanks everone for their input. I do feel better about looking silly with a HD gun.

One of the funniest things I've seen with HD shotguns is when guys bring up their PG only shotguns with PG forends and try to hit clays from the hip. I've seen this a few different times at Angeles. It's comical but, I usually end up spending all my time watching them and worrying about my safety instead of shooting. Once in a while, I'll pull out a .410 and run 15 or 20 birds in a row right next to them so that they see it is possible for the damn things to break in the air. I suggest, taking your guns with you but, leaving them in the car and talking with some of the regulars (at whichever club you decide to go to) before pulling your guns out. The old farts who hang out their will generally want to help you and teach you whatever they can. Now, their are exceptions to this. My dad shoots trap several times a week and he will not try to teach anyone because, he is a bad teacher! He'ld be more than willing to find a good teacher for you but, for your own good, he won't try to teach you anything. So, if you find a couple grumpy old guys who don't want to teach you, don't take it personally. They might be doing you a favor.

[AndrewMendez]

Thanks everone for their input. I do feel better about looking silly with a HD gun.

I have used my 870 with a 20" Barrel!
As you can see, it was informal, but I think it did the job fine for trying it out!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6Hs648VgBpI&hl

[Dalton]

Just get a friend a thower and head out.

[joepamjohn]

+1 on the 20-22" barrel minimum. The range in Martinez won't let you shoot trap with that 18.5" barrel that's for sure.

My first experience with trap was like 30-50% success rate. I like skeet better preferably since I normally shoot by myself. If you are going with 2-3 friends and nobody is waiting on you, trap is WAY more fun though.

True on the 18" barrel at Martinez. It's a safety issue due to the very close proximity of some of the trap lines.

If you are in the East Bay go to Martinez Gun Club in the afternoon on a Sunday (during football) and you will be one of the only ones there. I have been taking a buddy and both of our 10 year olds, and we have had one of the whole trap fields to ourselves the last few weekends.

Very nice when you have new shooters.

[mjsweims]

In addition to making sure your gun is legal make sure you have the correct size shot 7-1/2 or smaller.

[Jonathan Doe]

My sons started with 3 - 4 hit per 25 shots. With some coachig, with good shotguns, they routinely break 50 straight with little difficulties. Try to get some coaching, and do a lot of practicing. Both of my sons shoot Perazzi shotguns that are fit for them.

[Intimid8tor]

I shoot trap with a field grade Browning A-5. An M1S90 might be a little more difficult with the pistol grip. Other than that, go for it.

[BLD]

I shot my first two rounds of trap yesterday with my 20" 870 security. I looked a little goofy and got some looks from the locals, but I scored 7 and 10. Not too bad for a newbie with inadequate gear. Even though some of the regulars gave me funny looks I still got some good coaching and plan to start shooting regularly. When I can afford it a longer barrel with a full choke will be in order.

And, it was so much fun none of the old grumps with their $2400 over unders could take that away.

[CSACANNONEER]

My sons started with 3 - 4 hit per 25 shots. With some coachig, with good shotguns, they routinely break 50 straight with little difficulties. Try to get some coaching, and do a lot of practicing. Both of my sons shoot Perazzi shotguns that are fit for them.

The key is "fitted to the shooter" not the fact that they are shooting Perazzis. If a certain gun fits a certain shooter properly, it makes all the difference in the world. My dad has an old beat to shat 303 that he can routinely shoot 98-100 with. For some dumb reason, he gets bored so, he'll grab a newer, more expensive gun which doesn't fit him the same and he'll end up dropping at least five birds from his score.

[BMC]

I have numerous "big dog" ATA trapshooter friends who don't hesitate to share that they made the 27 yard line with an 870. I believe that most people with the knowledge of how to mount and stay in a gun can pick up an 870 or model 12 and shoot them pretty good. And that is largely because those types of guns, particularly the stock and sight plane configuration is designed around the physics of the average male. This is one reason that most stocks on such guns as I mentioned are in the vacinity of 14 inches LOP, which apparently is the general average. That said, gun fit and proper mount are probably the two most important things to be "consistently" good at shooting trap, or most clay games. Anyone who can properly mount a shotgun and keeps their head on the stock can break targets. Breaking targets isn't rocket science. Breaking targets with any level of consistency IS.