Trap & 5 Stand Shooting - See my new Cynergy O/U

[trippledigitss]

So I got into shooting clays a few months ago now, I dont know, maybe 6 mos ago? I have been shooting once or twice a week on average lately but I'm not getting any better, in fact lately my scores are going backwards! It is such a blast but frustrating as heck to lose ground and miss birds I usually hit!

I started out with my Escort 12ga semi and wasnt very good at all on trap, my best was maybe 8-10 out of 25 but I usually hit anywhere from 3 to 5!  On 5 stand, I was a bit better, in the lower to mid teens. Then I got a bit more serious and bought a Mossberg Silver Reserve Sporting edition O/U and my trap scores went up right away to mid to upper teens and even a 20 one time - but my 5 stand went down to 9-12, etc. I have shot about 1000rds thru the Mossberg and I like it but I want to get a new Browning very soon. I think I'm gonna take lessons after the 1st of the year, I am just so inconsistent it drives me nuts! I will shoot a line of trap and get 17-18, then shoot again and get a 10! Man it bugs me! Last week I shot 5 stand and scored 15 then shot the same card again last night and got a 9... what in the heck?! 

Now my 10yr old is getting into it too, and its really fun to shoot with him, he shoots about a 10 average on trap. I got him a little youth 870 in 20ga. He is taking a youth class at Kenmore but so far we have not been really impressed. The guys are great to volunteer their time and help the boys but it doesnt seemed planned out real well. A few kids get most of the attention, usually the better ones, and the rest are left on their own with little help. There is a long wait for the kids too - there are older teens in there that can hit 97/100 or 25 straight and they are shooting with/against a 10yr old who this is their 1st time, I dont get that part?  But the better guys shoot 1st and the other kids, usually the younger boys, have to wait as long as 2-3hrs before they get to shoot. Again, I really like the fact the guys come out to help but seems it could be run differently, maybe stagger the times better, have the more experienced kids stay after they shoot and help the younger boys? Seems to me kids listen to kids better than adults sometimes...? 

Anyway I dont know what I'm whining & babbling about. I just wanted to vent about how much I like to shoot trap/5 stand but how much I HATE sucking at it!! 

[D-Rock425]

Just keep shooting and have fun.  Lessons would help but sounds like you already have that in the plana.

[uplandhunter870]

yeah just keep sticking with it, when i first started trap shooting it consistently shot between 17 and 20 for 6 months and then one night everything just came together and boom 25. main thing is to make sure your mechanics are correct like stance, follow through swing, dont move the gun until you see the target, and a host of other things keep working on the mechanics and scores will come, i promise, like is said above took me 6 months of shooting 3 days a week to get my first 25, and a little over a 18 months to get my first 100 and i was shooting between 500-750 shells a week

if you have any questions feel free to ask

[trippledigitss]

Yeah D-Rock, I'm gonna take lessons out at Granite Falls with the Competition Clays guy, I think his name is Rich Smith? It is fun for sure, its a blast. But it is frustrating when I know I can do better....

Thanks Upland - at one point I was moving too fast, like calling then moving right away. Then a guy said slow down, wait for it to get out past the barrel, then move. I did that and went out & shot an 18, but then next round, down to 13. Its just up & down like that. I get alot of tips but some are conflicting, i.e., one guy will say, 'get your elbow out & up' , while another will say point it down, etc etc. (I will say it hurts like a B!*CH when I point my elbow out!) I really want to get lined up with some lessons before all my bad habits get to ingrained!

I appreciate any help you guys can offer. I dont really know what questions to ask or have any in mind or I would ask, so anything that comes to mind feel free! Thanks again!

[trippledigitss]

Oh - I have a BAD habit of stopping my swing & lifting my head off the gun. Any tips to work on those? Also, how about gun fitting, do you know where I can have someone look at that? Maybe the lessons guy will take a look?

[Happy Gilmore]

We're going to have Carlson's Gun Club 5 stand set up spring of 2012 again for the first time in many years. We had them set up for a corporate event this summer and some folks started showing up to shoot. Give folks another option for a place to go shoot.

[CP]

Oh - I have a BAD habit of stopping my swing & lifting my head off the gun. Any tips to work on those?

I like to raise my head to watch the clay break too, very bad form.  Try following the clay if you miss or pick the biggest piece of the wreckage and follow that.  If you are following a target you’ll have an easier time keeping your head on the stock.

[trippledigitss]

We're going to have Carlson's Gun Club 5 stand set up spring of 2012 again for the first time in many years. We had them set up for a corporate event this summer and some folks started showing up to shoot. Give folks another option for a place to go shoot.

Where is that range at?

Thanks CP - I have been told that before but dont always remember to follow that advice, especially when I do break a target. 

[uplandhunter870]

for the moving too fast, ie jumping the target, heres something to try it sounds crazy but it works: once you get your gun mounted and are ready to call for a target close your eyes before you call "pull" after you call pull open your eyes and find the target only move your eyes not your body, once you see the target move gun to target and shoot. this does two things 1) it slows you down and 2) it teaches you to wait to see the target before you move the gun.

on the elbow height topic heres my view, and i was taught this by a wa. st. ata hall of fame shooter. when you swing on a target your swing should originate from your hips and translate up to your shoulders. having your elbows raised (ie chicken wings) increases the probability of swinging with your arms and consequently pulling/pushing the gun away or into your face distorting your sight picture. having your elbows tucked in closer to your body locks your arms and forces your swing to be created by your upper body keeping the gun in proper position. try this to illustrate my point mount you gun with elbows up (chicken wing style) and swing your gun around notice how much movement your arms have, now remount with elbows low and swing notice how your entire upper body moves instead of just your arms

for lifting your head try mounting the gun higher on your should. when mounting your gun bring the gun up to your face then into your shoulder. this will minimize distance you need to lower your head down to the stock.

keeping you head down and follow through on swing are things that just need to be practiced until they become second nature for swing follow through do what CP suggested, follow a missed target or pick a piece of a broken one to follow.

[trippledigitss]

Any you guys familiar with the Browning Cynergy's? I've been looking a buying a new Citori 625 Sporting or XT but I found a few really nice Cynergy Sporting models about in the same price range. I'm think I may go with one of them instead. I need to find some nearby so I can go & shoulder them and look at them in person.

Still hitting the brick wall with my scores - in fact my trap scores are going backwards and it is frustrating the heck out of me! So I've been shooting more 5 Stand which is helping me with the hard left/right birds on trap but even my 5 stand scores are sucking. It really P!$$E$ me off some days! I think I am going out for my 1st personal lesson on Jan 28th so hopefully that will help me figure a few things out. 

[D-Rock425]

I would love to shoot one but haven't got a chance yet.  I just joined granite falls sportsman's club last week.  It might get me shooting more again.

[uplandhunter870]

Shot a cynergy once for five targets on trap good shooting gun the design seemed to eat up a fair bit of recoil like the makers claim it just didn't fit me well and was too light for me as I shoot a heavy krieghoff with 34 inch barrel

Based on my limited experience I thought it was a well built gun and would recommend it

[D-Rock425]

I would love to buy a nice trap gun and have a gun fitted just to me.  I bet it would increase my scores.

[sakoshooter]

Work on the basics. Form. Keeping your cheek on the stock thru the shot. Follow thru - like you're gonna shoot at it again. Proper lead: Passing lead or Sustained lead. Most prefer a passing lead. Shoot w/both eyes open. Shotguns are made to point not aim so keep both eyes open. Practice. Did I mention practice? Most of all, have fun.

[trippledigitss]

Thanks sako - I have tried shooting with both eyes open but I seem to do worse. I see two beads and never know which one to 'aim' from. What do you mean by passing or sustained lead? I am usually coming from behind the bird (on 5 stand) since I am pointed at where its coming from vs where I plan to shoot it at. It is fun thats for sure, but I hate when I miss birds I think I should have hit!

D-Rock - yeah I've thought the same thing. I'd love to have one fitted to me to but I dont know where to have that done at. Can you have a production gun like a Browning custom fit to you or do you have to have a custom gun made? Either way it sounds expensive!