Question about trap and night shooting

[bigbearbear]

I have a potentially stupid question about trap shooting:

What is the official "setting" for clays launched for trap shooting?

I've been shooting mostly at Coyote Valley recently and I get perhaps around 15 clays with their settings, on a good day that is.

Tonight, I was invited by a member of the Sunnvale Rod and Gun club to go shoot at their trap field. The height of the clays launched seems fixed and only the side to side angles are random. I find that it seems a lot easier compared to Coyote Valley. I shot 5 rounds tonight and scored: 18, 24, 22, 23, 24.

My score seems a little too high for what I normally score at. And it also seems like the clays are flying slower than those thrown in Coyote Valley.

So if you shoot in the bay area and have shot trap at either of these clubs before, can you tell me which one of their setting is the "official" trap version?

The 2nd question I have is: Is it typically easier to shoot at night? This is the 1st time I'm shooting at night, and I've noticed that clays are easier to see because the background is dark and the flood lights really highlight the clay. It seems to allow for much better focus on the clay target. How big an effect does this have on your score?

Thanks.

[RayPDA]

http://www.shootata.com/Portals/0/pdf/ata_rulebook_web.pdf

Page 49 on the PDF

[bjl333]

This is the 1st time I'm shooting at night, and I've noticed that clays are easier to see because the background is dark and the flood lights really highlight the clay. It seems to allow for much better focus on the clay target.

You've answered your own question right there ... The main thing is you cannot see anything else BUT the bird!! The barrel becomes transparent during night shooting because the flood lights are pointed outward and not down at your gun to light it up for you. Even if there lights on your gun it is harder to see a black gun against a black background. You have to trust yourself with the lead because all you see is the clay!! That is basically what we try to teach in the skeet clinic.

[mjsweims]

If the birds are flying at different heights at CV it could be that they have their traps throwing wobbles. Regulation target speeds are 42-43 mph and have a very narrow height requirement and must be within + or - 17 degrees horizontally IIRC.

[bigbearbear]

You've answered your own question right there ... The main thing is you cannot see anything else BUT the bird!! The barrel becomes transparent during night shooting because the flood lights are pointed outward and not down at your gun to light it up for you. Even if there lights on your gun it is harder to see a black gun against a black background. You have to trust yourself with the lead because all you see is the clay!! That is basically what we try to teach in the skeet clinic.

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm still new to shotguns and I wasn't sure if I was imagining it or was my observation correct.

It is very interesting to experience this first hand, if you're reading this and have never shot clays at night, I recommend giving it a try. With the dark background, your eyes can focus more easily on the clay because it has less distraction. Also, the orange clay looks like its glowing due to the flood lights, making it again easier to focus on and do so earlier. It felt as if you're given extra time to shoot.

[AAShooter]

It sounds like you are shooting different games. Trap, Skeet and Sport Clays are different games. Are you shooting trap on all the venues? Then trap has several versions: singles, doubles, handicap, continental, and bunker (olympic). Each is slightly different and the speed at which the birds are thrown can differ. Further, shooting against some backgrounds and in certain lighting can definitely impact shooting scores.

[midlife]

What you described is wobble trap. Not an official American trap game. But more challenging. Look at the ata rules. There's 16 yard, handicap and doubles. All at same height

Your scores with wobble off are great for a new shooter.

Night shooting is fun. With good lighting seeing clays easier to see especially if you use light yellow tinted glasses.

Lights at my local range are lousy so it's harder at night. I also find it harder to see small chips at night.

Btw. I shot my second 25 today! It's very hard to get past 24. Had about 10 in last two weeks. But just one 25. Need to work on my mental game.

[midlife]

If you want to work on your score and start shooting in ata competitions ask them to turn off wobble. I'm gonna shoot in my first ata event over the holidays.

[midlife]

Btw. The speed might be an illusion. A low hard crosser w wobble on will appear very fast.

[AAShooter]

From Wikipedia:

"A variant of standard trap is Wobble or Wobble trap. The main difference is a more variable target flight path than in standard trap shooting because the trap machine oscillates up and down as well as side to side. Shooters are allowed two shots per pull, and shooters at stations 1 and 5 stand at the 18 yard (16.5 m) mark while positions 2–4 stand at the 17 yard (15.5 m) mark. Although this version of trap is not sanctioned by the ATA, many shooters consider it to be both more challenging and engaging as well as a more realistic preparation for bird hunting."

Also, some place will crank the speed of the bird up for wobble (continental) trap. If you like fast birds, shoot bunker (olympic/international) trap. Livermore Rod and Gun has bunker trap when it is open. I think Martinez also has bunker trap but I am not positive of that.

[midlife]

All wobble I've shot has been one shot per clay. All from same distance. Not sure if practicing wobble helps improve regular trap scores.

[bigbearbear]

What you described is wobble trap. Not an official American trap game. But more challenging. Look at the ata rules. There's 16 yard, handicap and doubles. All at same height

Btw. I shot my second 25 today! It's very hard to get past 24. Had about 10 in last two weeks. But just one 25. Need to work on my mental game.

According to the PDF Ray showed me (thanks Ray!), I've never really shot Trap until last night.

And congratulation on the 25!

I got another invite to go shoot at Sunnyvale R&G again on Sat, this time in the afternoon. Hopefully I'll be able to maintain or improve my score.

[AAShooter]

All wobble I've shot has been one shot per clay. All from same distance. Not sure if practicing wobble helps improve regular trap scores.

It is a little less predictable than regular trap. That makes your focus on the bird, picking it up quickly, and reading it's direction of travel. All are good skills for normal trap. However, you might adjust your holds for wobble traps that may not be helpful for regular trap.

[bigbearbear]

If you want to work on your score and start shooting in ata competitions ask them to turn off wobble. I'm gonna shoot in my first ata event over the holidays.

Btw. The speed might be an illusion. A low hard crosser w wobble on will appear very fast.

They have this control panel that is supposed to let you turn the vertical randomness on/off, however, it has been broken since the day I signed up.

And yeah, if you get a low extremely left or right clay, it is very difficult to hit it. It took me forever to figure out how much lead you need to even have a prayer of chipping the clay.

Good luck on your ATA event!

[ysr_racer]

Three hole targets