Trap shooting greenhorn

[BigDogatPlay]

In the sweet spot! Go get 'em.

Improved Cylinder is a little open for Trap, especially if you are a beginning shooter and take longer to get on the bird.

That said, most shooters need spend more time focusing on their shooting fundamentals and less time on worrying about the optimal choke.

Excellent advice.... Modified is the best place to start I think. Improved Cylinder works well if you are on the birds quickly, but not if you aren't.

[TERRYGER]

#8 or #7 1/2....... Walmart is your friend. #9 are Skeet size....But they all work.. Buy what is cheapest

Choke.

If are shooting them fast (before they get to far from you)
IC

If your have trouble getting on target ...Full

seasonsed trap shooters all use full. IC is useless past 16 yards. mod is okay if that is what you have but learn to shoot with a full and you will be far more successful later on.

they also don't buy the cheapest rounds like walmart as they have poor patterns. they generally load their own. if you go to walmart spend the extra money on win AA or rem STS. you will be glad you did. they have superior patterns and the cases are reloadable.

yoiu will always have some macho amateur bragging about how he outshoots the pros with his big 5 mossberg 500 of 870 and his walmart rounds but that is pure fiction.

if there was any truth to it the there would be so such thing as a AA shooter or class.
it would be called the big5/walmart cheapo class

[Thefeeder]

Terryger,

The OP is in starting gate with one shotgun and and two chokes. Should he/she just stay at home if they do not have the perfect equipment ? He has a field shotgun, a box of target loads, and two choke...he is welcome to join me at the club to shoot and learn.

There are some seasoned shooters on here and there are Mall Ninja's. Anyone who has actually been hunting or shoots real matches can tell the difference. Yes, the keyboard Fud is thick.

[AAShooter]

I shot trap the first 2 years with my 870 field gun with a 28" modified barrel. I shot singles, doubles and handicap. I never regretted it . . . I can run a pump . . . doubles is great practice.

During that time I watched and learned. Many shooters let me try their guns and then when I bought my trap gun I was very happy with the purchase. I am glad I didn't just run out and buy a trap gun to start.

I would suggest that he go invest in a modified choke. Although I have no data, I am not sure about the statement that "seasoned trap shooters all use full" chokes. They may use them but I am not sure they use them for shooting all three variations of the game: 16yds, doubles and handicap (up to 27 yards). At 27 yards it makes a lot of sense.

[Chris M]

If you're in the south SF bay area, send me a PM. I shoot trap at Coyote Valley Sporting Clays in Morgan Hill every once in a while. I'm certainly no pro, and I may not have a whole lot to teach, but that doesn't mean we can't still (try to) bust some clays.

[BMC]

AA, while I agree about the chokes, some people such as myself use a full choke for singles, second shot in doubles and for handicap. As you probably know you'll hear more dedicated trapshooters discuss "restriction" rather than full, light full or mod chokes. Not all full chokes are the same restriction. I have an 870 Trap TC that I use primarly for annies and pots that came with three chokes - Full, Extra Full and Super Full. The "Full" is more like a traditional modified or even light mod in terms of restriction. The Super Full will ink pot shot targets at 60 yards..lol. By and large for new trapshooters it is better to start with a mod-restriction choke because all they are really interested in is breaking targets. Going tighter on the restriction comes later when they are looking to be more critical with the shot which a tighter choke will provide as it tends to give a better idea of where you are at in the shot (reading the break).

[AAShooter]

If you're in the south SF bay area, send me a PM. I shoot trap at Coyote Valley Sporting Clays in Morgan Hill every once in a while. I'm certainly no pro, and I may not have a whole lot to teach, but that doesn't mean we can't still (try to) bust some clays.

A great place to shoot!!

[AAShooter]

AA, while I agree about the chokes, some people such as myself use a full choke for singles, second shot in doubles and for handicap. As you probably know you'll hear more dedicated trapshooters discuss "restriction" rather than full, light full or mod chokes. Not all full chokes are the same restriction. I have an 870 Trap TC that I use primarly for annies and pots that came with three chokes - Full, Extra Full and Super Full. The "Full" is more like a traditional modified or even light mod in terms of restriction. The Super Full will ink pot shot targets at 60 yards..lol. By and large for new trapshooters it is better to start with a mod-restriction choke because all they are really interested in is breaking targets. Going tighter on the restriction comes later when they are looking to be more critical with the shot which a tighter choke will provide as it tends to give a better idea of where you are at in the shot (reading the break).

Great comments. Whenever some says "everyone" or "nobody" does anything my radar goes off. The days of 4 chokes are quickly fading . . . with removable/changeable chokes almost all graduations are possible.

One of my favorite things is shooting clays under the lights at night with tight chokes. It brings to life the old saying " . . . nothing but dust!" By the way, Livermore shoots trap Tuesday nights. It tends to be a very social time so it makes for a fun evening.

[Donny1]

As Hattles suggested, most ranges are pretty friendly. If you let folks know your geographic area, you might get a volunteer from Calguns to meet you at the range for a few pointers.

I will vouch for that!

I had an offer on here to go to Tripple B here in SoCal and even try some guns we are interests in. It was awesome and I had no idea he was an experienced shooter. He gave us great instruction and I was hitting birds half way through the first round. I was having fun just watching him shoot. I think he said he was rusty and I recall he only missed like 3 birds in 3 rounds.

[BigDogatPlay]

AA, while I agree about the chokes, some people such as myself use a full choke for singles, second shot in doubles and for handicap. As you probably know you'll hear more dedicated trapshooters discuss "restriction" rather than full, light full or mod chokes. Not all full chokes are the same restriction. I have an 870 Trap TC that I use primarly for annies and pots that came with three chokes - Full, Extra Full and Super Full. The "Full" is more like a traditional modified or even light mod in terms of restriction. The Super Full will ink pot shot targets at 60 yards..lol. By and large for new trapshooters it is better to start with a mod-restriction choke because all they are really interested in is breaking targets. Going tighter on the restriction comes later when they are looking to be more critical with the shot which a tighter choke will provide as it tends to give a better idea of where you are at in the shot (reading the break).

Spot on.... very good comments.

My earlier take on Modified being a "good place to start" was referenced to exactly what the OP suggested; that he's new to the game and wants to learn. My belief and experience is that a new / learning shooter with a gun choked Modified will see results quicker at 16 yards than he will with a gun choked full.

I shoot regularly at 16 yards with either a Mossberg 500 or my Russian made O/U choked Improved Modified and get very good results. I put full tubes in the O/U or shoot my 30 inch full choked 1100 for handicap.

It's what works for me, and part of the game is finding what works best for each of us.



ETA: If the OP is in the north SF Bay Area, Valley of the Moon Trap Club has public shooting on Wednesday and Sunday mornings. PM if interested in a Sunday.

[ysr_racer]

I have a question about ATA trap. I'm 52 years old. Is that considered Sub, Sub, Junior Class?

[bucktooth7]

Green horn here,
Wow, tons of info! AA Shooter talks about "annies and pots" what is that?

[AAShooter]

Green horn here,
Wow, tons of info! AA Shooter talks about "annies and pots" what is that?

Actually BNC used the term. I believe he is referring to some of the shooting/betting games shooters play. For example, an Annie Oakley will line up shooters. All the shooters might shoot for a prize or everyone tosses in some money to win.

The first shooter calls for a bird. If he misses with his shoot, the next shooter can try and hit the same bird. This continues until the bird is hit or hits the ground. If the bird is hit, all the shooters that missed before are out. Then the next shooter calls for the next bird.

Obviously the longer it takes to break the bird, the longer and longer shot it becomes so tighter chokes are often needed. It can be a great game. You might start such a shoot with ten shooters or as many as 50.

[BMC]

Yes, annies or pot shoots are as AA described. There are actually many different types of games such as winks and buddy, etc. Its a hard game because the trap machine is basically set to it highest and strongest spring setting so the target is high and fast and goes a loooong way. Its a lot of fun and can humble even the best shooters around really quickly.

[AAShooter]

. . . Its a lot of fun and can humble even the best shooters around really quickly.

Boy, has he got that right.