Do any members shoot sporting clays or skeet?

Question

what is the difference between a round of skeet and a round of trap/?

Answer 1

Skeet, trap, and sporting clays are three very different games.

I shot registered trap as an ATA member. I shoot skeet when I need a break or to loosen up.

Skeet consists of a high and low house throwing clays, and a half circle field, with 8 stations (9 total, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ,7, 8 hi, 8 lo). A round is 25 birds. On stations 1 and 2 and also 6 and 7 you shoot two singles (1 hi, 1 lo) then a doubles pair (hi and lo thrown at same time). 3, 4, 5, and 8 is only one hi and one lo target thrown as singles. Usually, skeet guns have a field stock and short barrel. Skeet, Skeet 2, Improved Cylinder, and sometimes light modified chokes are used. In competition, there are different competitions for different gauge shot guns - 12, 20, 28, and .410 bore. 9, 8 1/2, and 8 shot is most common.

Trap is a little different, there are 5 stations in almost a 1/4 circle around the trap machine. A round of trap is also 25 birds, 5 from each station. The birds are thrown at an approximately 45 degree spread from the center of the machine. The trap machine oscillates left and right randomly - you don't know where the target will be going when you call. Registered birds fly at 42 mph, and climb - they are measured 10 yds from the house and are supposed to be 9 feet high at that distance. Regular trap is shot at 16 yards from the trap house - handicap is shot from 17-27 yards from the trap house. The further back you go, the more lead on the targets you need. In competition, you start at 20 yards handicap, and are assigned yardage based on how well you shoot. Generally, a 96/100 will get you 1/2 a yard. Doubles is another trap game - doubles targets are thrown at the 45 degree angle on the same path - you do know where doubles are going all the time. They come out together as a pair when you call - one right and one left. Trap usually uses a trap gun with a Monte Carlo or straight stock (so the gun "shoots high" and you see the bird break over the barrel) and full chokes are most common, though I prefer Improved Modified for singles (16 yds) and handicap. Modified can also be used for singles and caps, as well as the first shot in doubles. For doubles, depending on the gun I like a light modified first shot, improved modified second shot. 12 gauge is pretty standard - there are no special competitions for smaller gauges, but you can compete with 20 and smaller just as well. Usually, 8's are most common shot size - 7 1/2 is the largest allowed size for trap and are best for handicap (or for all games in the winter) and singles. 8's or 8 1/2's work good for 16 yard singles. I like 9's for the first shot in doubles.

Sporting clays I have not done yet but I hear is a lot of fun. Usually uses a field gun, although I know a lot of people using trap guns for sporting clays. I think open chokes (IC, Skeet, etc.) are common with modified being tightest you want to go. SC targets can come towards you, go over your head from behind, come across, fly at all angles, even go straight up in the air. There is also a "rabbit" target that bounces across the ground.

For all games, nothing beats a 1 1/8 light target load of 8's. Thats my old standby, either Winchester AA's or Remington STS's.

Be Safe! Have Fun!

Answer 2

Skeet shooting has 2 traps that throw the clay pigeons. One is more elevated than the other, that is the "high" house, the other is the "low house". They are facing each other. The shooter shoots from different positions in a semi-circle between the 2 houses and from one station directly between the two.
Trap has a single trap which throws the clay pigeon at different random angles. The shooter shoots from 5 different positions. One directly behind the trap and at two other stations on either side of the center station.
Sporting clays is a lot like hunting. Clay pigeons can come from any angle, height, away from you or towards you. Quite a bit more changeling than either skeet or trap.

Answer 3

I absolutely love shooting trap, skeet and sporting clays. It is by far one of my favorite things to do with a shotgun. There's a sporting clays "ranch" a couple of hours from the house that I go to as much as I can. I also notice that most of the guys that shoot trap, skeet etc... are older. I think this is because it is a shooting activity that doesn't require a lot of mobility. As you get older you're not as ambulatory as you are in your youth. It gives them a venue to shoot for 1/4 of the day and sit down and talk about shooting and hunting the other 3/4 of the day. At the range that I go to there's a 72 year old guy that rarely misses. He is quite an impressive old guy. I hope just to be walking at 72, and if I can even wield my guns by then I'd be happy. As far as younger generations. I try to take my sons and nephews with me as often as I can. I'm a firm believer in educating children on the safety and nomenclature of firearms as young as possible.

Answer 4

I've shot skeet, but never done the sporting clay thing. From what I gather, sporting clays is more than just flinging the clay pigeon out to be shot. Some stations shoot them straight up in the air, others send then rolling across the ground to simulate a rabbit, and some send them straight out. Shooting skeet is fun, but it doesn't take much skill, just a good aim.

Answer 5

I did some skeet hunting before. They are so hard to cook and get tender.

Answer 6

skeet is shooting clay things out of the sky
trap is shooting tthe clay things out of an obstacle like course thing
trap is harder

Answer 7

awww skeet skeet