Sporting Clays?

[oremike]

When are you gonna shoot sporting clays? That's my favorite by far

I want to shoot a round of trap with my BPS next to compare to the CZ and then get some instruction for the sporting clays. I've got back to back gun shows the next two week ends. So maybe a month or so before I'll be ready for company.

 

[oremike]

For those wondering about me and Sporting Clays here is an update. Due to my Heart thingy I have to stay out of the direct sun and below 80 degrees. So the sporting clays in on hold until fall.

 

[cowboykid8]

Fall or at least cooler cloudier days will be here before you know it.

 

[DLS]

Yep ... cooler weather and rain! It's so much fun shooting in the 🌧.

 

[oremike]

Well Fall is here and I've shot my last bowling pin match for the year so now I'm going to start up with the shotgunning. The plan is to watch a registered sporting clays shoot this weekend to get an idea of whats what then take a class and start playing the game.

 

[Tlock]

I only made it out once this year. New job kept me to busy

 

[DLS]

It's a fun rabbit hole to fall into!

 

[oremike]

Is there a preferred load/brand of ammo or better yet one to stay away from? I was looking at the Norma Clay-strike and can't decide between 7 1/2's or 8's.

 

[Tlock]

I've shot a bunch of different brands over the years. I buy on the cheap end and haven't ran into any problems. I shoot 7 1/2 mostly but haven't notice a different

 

[oremike]

I've shot a bunch of different brands over the years. I buy on the cheap end and haven't ran into any problems. I shoot 7 1/2 mostly but haven't notice a different

Kinda my thought as well. It's a scattergun not a long range sniper rifle so lots of pellets going thata way is the best it can do.

 

[oremike]

An update on my progress towards shooting sporting clays. I shot 2 rounds of trap a week ago and did miserable. I got 3 birds the first round and 2 the second. This is out of 25 birds each round. Ok, this isn't going to as easy as I thought. But I'm determined to figure it out. My first thought was to throw money at the problem and buy a different shotgun. Then I thought about it and realized there is nothing wrong with my CZ I just need to figure out how to shoot it. On deeper reflection I realized the gun was kicking the bejebers out of me the loads I was shooting were 1 1/8 oz of shot at 1300 fps. Most everyone else was shooting 1oz loads at 1150fps. This was causing me to drop the butt stock lower into the pocket of my shoulder and shoot way high not to mention flinch and wince. I watched some u-tube videos and paid attention to what they were doing different than I was particularly head to stock placement. Most had their cheek on the stock some with risers to get them there. So yesterday I shot trap again with the light loads and my cheek on the stock. I got 18 birds so a marked improvement but a bruised cheek bone. Today a ordered a 1/8" closed cell foam stick on pad to protect my cheek bone. Moving forward I'm going to shoot trap more because the clays come from just one spot and are easier to see and track when you know where they are coming from. Once I get comfortable with trap and can get most of them and at least know why I missed I'll move on to more difficult targets.

 

[Barefootdog]

I've enjoyed following your entry into the shooting clays sport.
Look forward to your progress reports.

I joined the Creswell club last spring but haven't made it there once since...

 

[Bobbygun]

I joined the Creswell club last spring but haven't made it there once since...

You are as bad as me! I won a free annual membership to the old Baron's Den and went exactly once before it expired. I joined Emerald Empire Gun Club, went through the orientation, and then never went back before that annual membership expired. That one wasn't exactly free, but it was a "throw-in" item when I bought the gun of the year at a Friends of NRA banquet. EEGC just had too many rules, so I have more fun shooting in gravel pits on BLM or National Forest. I did have fun shooting some trap and 5-stand at EEGC as a guest of a friend that is a member/instructor out there a few years later.

 

[oremike]

Next time I head over to Creswell Clays I'll post up here in advance and you guys can shoot trap with me. I bought something like 500 birds and get 100 free so will need help shooting them all up anyway.

 

[Greg S]

Two things to looks at first.

Eyes. How is your vision and the last time you had them checked?

You need to focus on the targets so had, you can tell which way they are spinning. Think of this, get your leade, pull the trigger and follow through without lifting your head.

Second is gun fit. Shooting from a low gun position, fit is more important because you don't have time to settle into the gun. You shooting eye is the rear sight on a scatter gun. Consistent mount is critical and determines % of pattern above and below the front bead. Ideally , I can't recall if it is 50/50, 60/40 ECT.

PM sent.

 

[oremike]

My plan is to shoot a round or two of trap this Tuesday the 29th. If anyone would like to join me I plan on being there around Noon.

 

[oremike]

I shot a round of Trap yesterday mainly to check out the Kick-eazy cheek pad and it worked great. No bruised cheek bone. I started off shooting out of the bottom barrel that had a Improved cylinder choke in it and got some but missed more so I switched over to the top barrel that had the improved modified choke and got lots more birds. I'm thinking with the light loads at least for Trap I need a tighter choke so I left the top choke as is but when I got home switched out the bottom one to just a straight Modified. Next up I'd bought a shotgunning vest with a pocket for a pad so I cut a piece of closed cell foam to fit the pocket when I got it. Now I'm thinking that it's preventing me to feel the stock on my shoulder so my stock weld isn't the same every time. Next time out I'll shoot with out the pad. It's a heavy shotgun with light loads and I've never needed a pad befor so we'll see how that goes. So far it's being a fun journey way different than the punching paper I've been doing for years.

 

[oremike]

Today I shot a quick round of trap to test out my new adjustments to me and the CZ. I'd changed the butt pad from stock to a longer one from Kickeez and took the closed cell pad out of my shooting vest. I think I got it right this time and now feel ready to learn to shoot Sporting Clays.

 

[oremike]

I renewed my membership to Creswell Clays so next up in a couple weeks is a Sporting Clays class. I bought a Ponesness Warren reloading press so when I get closer to the end of the 2 cases of ammo I've got will get that set up and running.