Trap shooting - point to hold bead?

[bigbearbear]

I went to try out the manual trap range today, so much fun! It took 3 shots before I figured out I need to point the shotgun and hold the bead below the clay in order to hit it.

And hence my question, when shooting trap, with the clay target flying away from you and on a ascending angle, do you hold the bead below the target in order to hit it? Or is this because my shotgun, a Benelli SuperSport, is shooting high?

Thanks.

[CK_32]

Honestly everyone has these rules and stuff. I just get around the area I don't know if I just have good instinct or hand eye coordination but I just swing it naturally and in the area and usually get hits and hold up with the other shooters on the line.


My advice is let it be natural and just happen and be smooth. Don't over think it. Cause when I do and "try" to do the "proper way" I'm usually 0-25 instead of my average 23-25 sets.

[bigbearbear]

Honestly everyone has these rules and stuff. I just get around the area I don't know if I just have good instinct or hand eye coordination but I just swing it naturally and in the area and usually get hits and hold up with the other shooters on the line.

My advice is let it be natural and just happen and be smooth. Don't over think it. Cause when I do and "try" to do the "proper way" I'm usually 0-25 instead of my average 23-25 sets.

I'm a long way from that.

When you point the shotgun though, can you tell me where is the bead in relation to the clay target? So you have it on the clay, below it or something else?

[bcsquare]

It really depends on how your shotgun patterns. I found out from skeet that I shoot a bit high so I gap it just a bit under the clay.

I do the same on high 1 and low 7 on th skeet field. You will have pattern it or experiment.

[MossbergMan]

Look at the clay, your body will do the rest once you figure out exactly where your shotgun patterns.
If you have screw in chokes you'll want an improved or modified cylinder. If not and you have a "security" type SG it'll be cylinder bore. That'll serve you fine until you leave the 16 yard line or have the targets get further out
Does anyone use full choke for trap?

[bigbearbear]

It really depends on how your shotgun patterns. I found out from skeet that I shoot a bit high so I gap it just a bit under the clay.

I do the same on high 1 and low 7 on th skeet field. You will have pattern it or experiment.

Thanks, I'll continue to experiment a little, this at least let me know I'm not doing some totally crazy.

[CK_32]

I'm a long way from that.

When you point the shotgun though, can you tell me where is the bead in relation to the clay target? So you have it on the clay, below it or something else?

To be honest I have no clue don't even pay attention. My main focus is that my cheek is on the stock right, my stock is against my shoulder and I'm ready. Then I just swing and shoot.

But give me someone's O/U and I can't hit a barn. But with my 870/500/930 I can get hits all day. I even dabble with my 18" on my 930. Funny to hear guys chuckle and say you won't hit anything with that and I bust 20 of 25 clays. Always a good convo started

If I had to guess probably ahead and low. But again I don't pay attention I just let it happen.

Look at the clay, your body will do the rest once you figure out exactly where your shotgun patterns.

Pretty much this.

[bigbearbear]

Look at the clay, your body will do the rest once you figure out exactly where your shotgun patterns.
If you have screw in chokes you'll want an improved or modified cylinder. If not and you have a "security" type SG it'll be cylinder bore. That'll serve you fine until you leave the 16 yard line or have the targets get further out
Does anyone use full choke for trap?

I have those extended screw-in choke, makes life easier for lazy bums like me.

And yes, I was using the Modified choke, wasn't confident enough to try anything tighter. I was using a manual trap range today, its like a "trainer" type trap shooting where you get someone (eg. wife, who must now be pacified with nice dinner after working the manual trap machine for the day...) to cock the throwing arm, place the clay and step on level when you call it.

I wonder though, if using a tighter choke like the Full one might be better? I'll try it once I've got more experience with this.

[mjsweims]

It really depends on how your shotgun patterns. I found out from skeet that I shoot a bit high so I gap it just a bit under the clay.

+1
Know how your gun shoots.
Also you probably will only see the rib, not the bead when you shoot. If you try to see the rib and the target at the same time your eyes will go crazy. Try holding your finger in front of you and focus on something 35 yards away - that is similar to a trap target. Your finger will go out of focus when you look farther away. The bead is there for you to mount your gun in the same position each time before you call for a target.

Look at the clay, your body will do the rest once you figure out exactly where your shotgun patterns.
If you have screw in chokes you'll want an improved or modified cylinder. If not and you have a "security" type SG it'll be cylinder bore. That'll serve you fine until you leave the 16 yard line or have the targets get further out
Does anyone use full choke for trap?

Most people shooting trap use Full or Improved Modified. Modified is a bit too open to get a good hit from the 16. I use Full for practice and IM for competition but many only use Full.

[midlife]

Big Bear, the only time I remember where the barrel was pointing is when I miss. When I hit em, I was busy looking at bird.

You'll be shooting in the high teens, low 20s in no time.

I've heard they have good trap instructors out at Coyote Valley. I'd do that sooner than later to get your form right.

[Revoman]

Most shotguns shoot inherently high. Think about what you must see in order to hit a moving target....you gotta see the target. There are occasions when you cover the target, but in general you gotta see what your target is in order to hit it.

Trap is one of the games that requires a high shooting shotgun because the clay is on a rise until it starts to lose velocity and falls (you will need to fire long before that happens by the way).

You should see the target just over the bead for a flat shooting gun, or one which you see very little rib (thus what is termed a 'flat shooter' since little of the rib is showing). For a more standard shooting gun, you should see at least a part of the rib when looking down the barrel (if it has a rib, if not then you would see more of the barrel). If you have a mid-bead, you should see somewhat of a figure 8 with the front bead being higher and the mid-bead being lower.

You eye is the rear sight on a shotgun. So think about it for a second, your eye is the low point, the mid-bead is the mid point and the front bead is the high point. Putting the muzzle in the upward position. Thus shooting a little high because the target is a little high to be able to see it.

You still need to pattern your shotgun, it is highly recommended and you will see exactly where the point of impact occurs in relation to where your eye, and beads are. 40 yards for trap would be a great starting point for patterning. For skeet, 21 yards or a little closer.

Don't forget to follow through when shooting. Most folks stop the swing when the trigger is pulled, don't do that. Conscientiously follow through until it is ingrained.

Lead is whole 'nother subject all together.

[Walking Fire]

You will find this site very valuable. Return to it and study it after each shooting event to learn what you are doing wrong.

http://www.dundeesportsmansclub.com/dundee%20pic/dscinc.trapshooting.fundamentals.1.htm

[alfred1222]

you shouldnt be looking at the bead, the bead serves literally no purpose on a shotgun. mount the gun properly, and watch the bird. Learn to shoot that way and you will continue to improve. start watching the bead, and your game will drop

[hermosabeach]

The NSSF foundation has some great videos by instructors on clay shooting.

They are good to watch and rewatch several times.

[bigbearbear]

Big Bear, the only time I remember where the barrel was pointing is when I miss. When I hit em, I was busy looking at bird.

You'll be shooting in the high teens, low 20s in no time.

I've heard they have good trap instructors out at Coyote Valley. I'd do that sooner than later to get your form right.

Thanks man, and yeah, a trip to Coyote Valley with an instructor is definitely in the plans. I just want to get more familiar with the shotgun first, being totally new to it. I'm such a newbie that today, I still had my safety on when I called "pull" and found that I couldn't shoot.