Los Altos vs Sunnyvale for Clays

[Patriotdoc]

I am a new shotgun owner and had a blast shooting clays at the norcal skeet clinic two weeks ago. I am hoping to go shoot again this Sunday and Sunnyvale is ~20 min from me and Los Altos ~40 min. Any differences between the two places in terms of clay shooting? I've only shot clays at the skeet clinic before so beginner friendly is a plus!

[wash]

Los Altos is manual traps, Sunnyvale is electronic with a noise limit and you pay per round.

I've heard Sunnyvale is selective in enforcing the noise limit but once they turned me away for having a 22" barrel instead of 26".

Los Altos has never turned me away but the speed limit Nazis can be annoying. They yell at me when I'm not going fast enough to get my speedometer needle off of the 0mph peg.

[Patriotdoc]

How much per round at Sunnyvale? Do I buy clays at Sunnyvale and Los altos or being wal Mart clays? If I end up going by myself as a beginner can I jump in with a group at both?

[Thefeeder]

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Los altos is informal clays. Traps are manual, you cock them, put a clays on them and then release. I don't remember if one person is allowed to pull the trap and shoot. May need a second person.

Sunnyvale has a Trap range only

Coyote Valley Sporting Clays has Skeet range, Trap range, 5 Stand range and Sporting Clays.

You may want to spend the day at Coyote and ckeck out all the different games. Maybe try one that looks fun.

http://www.coyoteclays.com/

[prc77]

Don't forget Metcalf, Los Altos only has 1 trap range,no skeet, but they do have about 12 throwers you operate yourself, and you will need to buy clays for those. $14 shoot all day.

[Patriotdoc]

Thanks Lou! Beyond wally world federal game/target shells 100 packs what is the most economical way to get the clays? Buy at the range or bring the Wally world pack of 90 clays?

[bender152]

If you're going with a few people, Los Altos is nice because it's informal. You can bust a few clays, pause and talk, then continue shooting. Also, you can shoot alone here. You would just have to launch the clays yourself.

If you prefer a more "proper" round of trap, Sunnyvale is better.

Cost:
Sunnyvale: $5 per session (no admission fee)
Los Altos: $15 admission to the entire range, clays are extra (or you can bring your own)

[wash]

Los Altos wants you to shoot bio-degradable clays so buy the right stuff if you want to pay less than what they charge at the entrance shack.

[Thefeeder]

Thanks Lou! Beyond wally world federal game/target shells 100 packs what is the most economical way to get the clays? Buy at the range or bring the Wally world pack of 90 clays?

Buy the clays at Los Altos....they are picky as to which ones they allow. Just bring your shells and buy a case of clays at the range.

All other places ,the cost of the round includes the clays, a round of Skeet or Trap is 25 shots

Sporting clays you can shoot as much or little as you want.....the clays are counted on a counter and you pay for what you use. If want to shoot all the stations, a complete course is 100 shots and cost is in the $45.00 range

[Patriotdoc]

Sounds like some informal shooting at Los altos is in order for me then. When I start busting more clays I'll have to try a proper round of trap at Sunnyvale. Any Los Altos shooters have a cheap allowed-biodegradable clay buy recommendation in between the palo alto area and the rod and gun club? If not I will be purchasing at Los altos this weekend.

[bender152]

A case of clays is less than $20 at Los Altos.

[Thefeeder]

Sounds like some informal shooting at Los altos is in order for me then. When I start busting more clays I'll have to try a proper round of trap at Sunnyvale. Any Los Altos shooters have a cheap allowed-biodegradable clay buy recommendation in between the palo alto area and the rod and gun club? If not I will be purchasing at Los altos this weekend.

When you place the clay on the trap....place them at different locations (top, mis and bottom) for different presentations.....also break the centers out on some before you throw them...those will get interesting

[prc77]

when ya going

[aGunForEachHand]

Los altos is informal clays. Traps are manual, you cock them, put a clays on them and then release. I don't remember if one person is allowed to pull the trap and shoot. May need a second person.

Sunnyvale has a Trap range only

Coyote Valley Sporting Clays has Skeet range, Trap range, 5 Stand range and Sporting Clays.

You may want to spend the day at Coyote and ckeck out all the different games. Maybe try one that looks fun.


http://www.coyoteclays.com/

^this...the best clays in the bay area. Once you shoot a round of sporting clays, you will probably never shoot trap again. (if you like trap, however, they have that too)

[son_of_a_gunny]

Walmart sells the same clays as Los Altos (just a smaller box).
I will not buy clays from Walmart.
Did it once, and too many of them were broken.
Like the box had been dropped in the store?
Just not worth the risk.
I (and my auto-loader) like low cost Walmart Fedral 12 gauge ammo.