TRAP SHOOTING - THE FIRST DAY!What will you expect when you visit a trap shooting gun club? A welcome handshake! As you are given the tour by the club manager, you'll see men and women with shotguns firing at fast flying targets. By now you're either itching at the bit to give it a try or a tad shy of asking to give it a shot. Just ask. You have likely noticed by now the shotguns are not breaking the air with sonic booms and shoving shooters backwards, as you see in Hollywood movies. Instead, you hear a soft pop sound. Doesn't look as dangerous as it appears, right? Good Glory, even women and children are out there shooting! Where have I been all my life? Hmmm, those targets look inviting. How could anyone miss shooting flying clay targets with a shotgun? Well, I guess you are about to find out just how easy it is... to miss! NOW WHAT HAPPENS? If you brought your old shotgun with you, just purchase your ticket and get in line (I told you it was a popular sport). If you don't have a gun? Ask the club manager for a loaner to try the sport. One way or another they'll get you a shotgun. Please do remove your wedding ring before handling anyone's shotgun (or wear a glove) so as not to accidentally gouge any scratches on the wood. Some of these guns are very expensive! You will be taken to the trap stations (also called posts or pegs) and given safety instructions. Easy to remember.
IS THERE MORE? Yes. You likely just shot the 16-yard singles targets above. Now ask the club manager if you can try the handicap targets. Here you'll step back to the 20 yard line and shoot the targets at a greater distance back from the traphouse (the traphouse contains the machine that throws the targets). You can move back even further to 27 yards, but you have to be a good shooter to shoot there. The handicap lines is where the "big money" is to be made in tournament shooting. IS THAT ALL? Nope, you're not done yet. Now you will take a try at double-trap (also called doubles) where you must now stand on the 16 yard singles line and shoot two targets simultaneously. Don't worry, you won't hit them all, few do. This is called the fun game by many tournament shooters. You'll soon find out why. ANY MORE FUN? Yes. Many clubs have a ABT (Automatic Ball Trap) also known as Wobble Trap or Continental. This game is like double-trap except the targets fly out of the trap house with surprising angles. Some will rise sky-high and others will cut the grass. They don't shoot this game in competition in the United States, for fun only. Other countries offer ABT competitions. Is there more? Yes. Most trap shooting gun clubs offer skeet and sporting clays games. NOW WHAT? It's time to eat. And I mean eat! Shooting stirs the juices and the food is usually always well made and presented by the women who volunteer. You don't have to cook if you don't want to. This sport does not require that everyone rotate duties. There are workers and there are shooters. So, feel at ease. You won't be asked to work on your day off to get some badly needed recreation in your life. IS THAT ALL? No. You go out and do it all again, but this time you hit more targets! You have more fun. You've meet new friends. You have a new place to call home. You can rest and relax in the clubhouse and chit-chat with other shooters. You'll not find another cordial environment like you'll find with trap shooters. It's a long tradition of pure friendliness that is highly regarded and envied by other sports. The camaraderie is very strong. You'll fit right in, on your first day! HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING TO SHOOT? Some only bring $10 to shoot a little bit and get a meal (The club should welcome a new shooter with a meal on the house, but if they don't, please forgive the oversight). $15 will get you to shoot all the games and then some. It's not that expensive when you add up the "fun value." There's no-charge for that! DO THEY SHOOT AT NIGHT? Yes. Many clubs host informal fun shoots and league shoots and have lights. And when those targets are hit they explode like bursting fireworks. It's quite a site to see. Try it sometime. If the club doesn't have lights, other nearby clubs do. Many shooters travel from club-to-club just to shoot with their out of town friends. Some travel 150 one-way or more! WHAT CLOTHING SHOULD I WEAR? A loincloth would do. There are no clothing rules. Most shooters wear long-billed hats. You'll get one very soon either from the club, a new friend, or manufacturer who sponsors trap shooting. Generally, just wear what you want. Shorts are fine. For the ladies, high-heels would not be appropriate for trap shooting, so wear sneakers or any flat-sole shoe. Bring sunglasses with you. Dress for the weather. HOW DO I MAKE MONEY? Everybody want to know that one! You can make money in trap shooting and many shooters do to at least help pay expenses. You'll need at least 3 to 6 months of practice on Sunday's first, but you'll likely be winning turkey's, hams, and other prizes the club sponsors before you progress to the registered shoots; where the expensive trophies (gold belt buckles, silver bowls, etc) and money is offered. Thousands of dollars! Now you know why the rich people wanted to keep this sport all to themselves. You can even turn this sport into a tax write-off! That's right, you can. Since you are competing for money you can declare this sport a "business" and deduct all your expenses, gun, shells, practice fees, hotels, meals, etc. Not bad, huh? Want to know more about trap shooting? Click here.
Trap Shooting Secrets.
by; James Russell. All Rights Reserved.
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