Trap and Skeet

[Hunter mike]

I'm wondering if anybody knows of any trap/skeet shooting classes happening on the westside.  I live a stones throw from Tacoma Sportsmans Club, but I don't have any experience with this type of shooting.  TSC offers classes that look like a great deal, but according to their calandar I work almost every day of the classes offered.  I'd probably spring for a bit more for some private lessons if that's what it takes.  I'm just looking for something to get started, learn the etiquete, and maybe get some pointers on the shooting.  Thanks!

[rasbo]

I'm wondering if anybody knows of any trap/skeet shooting classes happening on the westside.  I live a stones throw from Tacoma Sportsmans Club, but I don't have any experience with this type of shooting.  TSC offers classes that look like a great deal, but according to their calandar I work almost every day of the classes offered.  I'd probably spring for a bit more for some private lessons if that's what it takes.  I'm just looking for something to get started, learn the etiquete, and maybe get some pointers on the shooting.  Thanks!

check out the sumner sportsmen

[KillBilly]

Contact Jackelope for some good info on Trap & Skeet lessons. Ha has Professional connections in his family. They own a place in Seattle...

[jackelope]

my stepdad does lessons. click the little link in my sig line and it will get you to his website. he typically does his lessons at Seattle Skeet and Trap in the black diamond area.

[uplandhunter870]

if you work during the times the classes are held best thing id reccomend is going to a smaller club like black diamond and basically asking some of the guys for help.

i start shooting trap many years ago and trapshooters are the best people ive ever had the pleasure of knowing minus the typical ###hole that inevitable to come across.

i can give you a brief overview of etiquette.
1.autos without some sort of shell catching device are highly frowned on, a shell catching device is as simple as a heavy rubber band around the front of the action.
2. short barrelled field guns coupled with hot loads are not good.  they are louder than most trap guns and annoy people on the line.
3. only load your gun right before its your turn to shoot.  you may see other people loading and closing there gun before their turn but theyve probably been around a while and as a new guy they will question your gun safety. (seen way to many guys shoot the ground/house because of this)
4. the guy that starts off the round, originally on post 1 always starts after a move.
5. you dont need to call "pull" for the entire county to here.  this will set off the speakers on the neighboring house and mess with the others shooters timing.
6. above all esle just be curtious, good manners and being polite go a long ways, people deemed as jerks are written off and ignored

hope this helps
Steve
dont be afriad to shoot me a pm if you have any specific questions

[Hunter mike]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Jackelope - checked out the website and it looks like they also sometimes do some lessons in Sumner which would be great for me (but Black Diamond isn't too far).


Upland Hunter - thanks for the tips, very helpful.  I'm a bit confused by #2 - does that mean I couldn't/shouldn't use the same gun I would for hunting as a trap shooting gun?  Just want to clarify...

I also asked around at work (lots of hunters there of all types) and found a buddy who can take me out with him sometime - that might be my best option to get started.

[jackelope]

the ranges you shoot at will not allow you to use anything bigger than a 7 1/2 shot size so you probably won't have to worry about hot loads. i've never seen anyone complain about a loud gun. most of the guys i shoot with are shooting ported barrels which are pretty loud anyway.

i've never seen any kind of shell catching device on any auto. i own a couple browning golds and nobody's ever frowned on me either.

[WDFW-SUX]

 

Also no one cares what gun you shoot as long as its a safe functioning firearm. I've seen everything from shotguns with pistol grips to fancy custom trap/sporting guns.

[uplandhunter870]

you can use the same gun as you do for hunting just dont bring the goose loads.

Jakelope-- all my autos that are meant for trap have some sort of shell catcher/deflector.  and if you were shooting before me on the line and didnt have one i would frown.  the shell flying infront of me right before its my turn would be an issue.  i would be polite and ask that you get a shell catcher.  and i have witnessed and been the victim of ejected shells hitting the next guys gun.  i got a couple of dings in my trap gun becasue of that.

[WDFW-SUX]

You must be one of those weenie ATA shooters...

[uplandhunter870]

You must be one of those weenie ATA shooters...

Yessir!

[WDFW-SUX]

16 yard makes my eyes bleed....BORING...

[CP]

Yep, 16 Yard = boring.  And there are those purist trap shooters that can’t stand a shell ejecting within several yards of them.  Some also frown if you don’t mount your gun before calling for the bird. 

5-stand is more hunter oriented.  Try the zero card, it’s a blast and a much more realistic hunting scenario.

[WDFW-SUX]

And there are those purist trap shooters that can’t stand a shell ejecting within several yards of them

 

[Curly]

The purist trap shooter would frown on me then.  I shoot an 870 and I have a mental block about ejecting the spent shell...........I can not stop from pumping the gun.  It is a reflex I guess; as soon as I pull the trigger, I automatically jack another shell in (even if I only have one shell loaded too).  It is just one of those things I guess.  I used to shoot trap in a league back in high school and I just couldn't break the habit of pumping the gun........

At least I can laugh at myself along with some others that I shot with.  I just couldn't (and still can't to this day) stop from working the pump.  Kinda weird, I know.

On a side note, I always thought it was funny how some guys would keep count of the timing of the trap arm.  They get pissed if anything distracts them and they lose track of the arm timing.  They keep count so that the clay target is always a straight away shot.......

Anyway, after all that rambling, I do have some advice.  You might want to look into getting into a trap shooting league.  When I did it back in High School over 20 yrs ago, it was a great learning experience and the inexperienced guys did pretty well because it works a lot like bowling.  You do really well score wise if you just improve every week; and if you're a novice, you probably will improve every time out.

[uplandhunter870]

ill give it to ya that 16yd is about as exciting as watching paint dry.  handicap and doubles is where the fun is in trapshooting.  i dont mind guys jacking shells its just the autos that throw them a country mile.  i didnt bust my hind quarters for two years to afford my gun for another guy/gal to  ding it for me.

sporting clays is a riot, shot it twice over at Drykes place in sequim.  wish there was a sporting course close by here.  i would love to try bunker trap, know a few guys that have shot it and said it is a real humbling experience.  too bad the nearest bunker is in renton ( i think) and is a private club.

those guys that try and time the trap are foolish in my belief, besides with the random interupters that most new traps have its extremely hard to do.  i was talking more of the tempo or rythm of a squad.  in my experience a good squad with a good rythm usually results in better score for everyone.

[jackelope]

uplandhunter-
you should plan to come over to this side of the hill march 20 for the opening weekend of the new sporting clays course at Seattle Skeet and Trap. it's about a 2.5 hour drive from you and should be a real good shoot. Here's a schedule from the washington state sporting clays association site. You're right, unfortunately it looks like there are no sanctioned shoots anywhere near wenatchee, but it's not a bad drive and there should be a great turn out...plus all the equipment will be brand new.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tHfpvwUqeNIJPATFMyciA2w&output=html

[jackelope]

p.s. any of you guys who think 5 stand is exciting haven't lived till you've shot a few sporting clays courses.

[WDFW-SUX]

The Renton club is open to the public and the bunker starts in april.. Its a good game. 

[C-Money]

Uplandhunter, If you are ever in the Moses Lake area on a Sunday, send me a PM. I dont mind helping folks with trap shooting, keep in mind everyone has an opinion. I enjoy helping the FFA kids and I find you usually dont need to do much to get folks going on the right track. I dont shoot much skeet, so no help there.

[uplandhunter870]

Jackelope-- thanks for the invite i will definetaly try to get over there for that, just got to see what my schedule looks like then.