skeet and trap

BudE

BudE

Hillsborough, NC
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I am a lousy shot with a shotgun and always have been. Now... A gent at the range I go to said that it's like everything else. You need to practice.
I only hunt dove. He said that dove shooting is much like skeet and you need to shoot skeet. He said that trap is "much easier than skeet" and implied it would not help with dove hunting. What say you all? I am not trying to start a war here. I am just looking for some unbiased advice.
 
My shooting career: Began with trap in the late 60's, eventually joined a team that traveled the south east shooting in competitions. We did well and won numerous tournaments and went to Nationals several times and won there as well. Around the early 80's I had burned out on trap so I took up skeet and likewise joined and organized teams that shot in competitions, I'm classed as AAAA in all 4 guages. We won more than our share and collected some decent money as well as "back bets". I have recently lost interest in competitive skeet and have turned slightly to Sporting Clay and 5 stand tournaments. About the time I did that the 2019 fishing season arrived and I concentrated on that and slacked off on my shooting.

With all of that said, ANY practice with the shotgun is good regardless of what discipline you choose. I do agree that I look at trap as "easier" than anything else and therefore shoot it way less than I used to. The target presentations of skeet are more a kin to dove hunting than trap but again, ANY practice with the shotgun is good practice as long as it's meaningful and you have a purpose in doing it.

I travel and shoot birds in several states, anything from quail and grouse to pheasant and prairie chickens and have been out of the country numerous times to pursue birds in foreign countries. I don't purposely hunt anything but birds and am still excited to get up and go hunt a bird, any bird.

My gun club (RCWA) is only about 70 minutes from you if you'd like to come over one day we can shoot whatever you want and maybe I could help.
 
Any practice will make you better, whether trap or skeet. The question is what which one will make you better at. Skeet is more challenging and has more target presentations, and will probably also make you better at a wider variety of shots. Trap is easier to get the hang of, but will only make you better on your shots at birds in similar presentations. Sporting clays is probably the best way to get practice at the full range of presentations and round out your skillset.
 
IMO, skeet or sporting clays will give you more bird like presentations for dove hunting. Unless you are flushing birds, nothing tracks like a trap throw in the wild. I shoot way more sporting clays then skeet.

BTW, a lot of guys that shoot a lot of skeet and sporting clays don't seem to understand the trap presentation and lead. Especially if you are not using a trap style gun. Two things cause the most misses on our course, rabbits and rising birds.
 
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Start with Skeet. It will definitely help with incoming/ outgoing and crossing shots, but it is limited to how high the targets can be thrown (~15ft). Then move into sporting clays. You will see a wide variety of target presentations ranging from game simulation shots or some wacky tournament specific presentations. It all depends on who is setting the course and for what purpose. Also, take Bailey Boat up on his offer to help.
 
Agree with all above comments. Shoot a little skeet and then try sporting Clay's. I like to shoot sporting, skeet and trap. They are all fun and each has it's own challenges.
 
Just go shoot.
I prefer trap, but Im also not a hunter or care about that sort of thing.
I am qualified to coach skeet, but I really dont enjoy the game of skeet. I also find it much harder.
Skeet would be better suited to your needs, but Sporting Clays, as mentioned, would be best.
But just go shoot.

And RCWA is a GREAT place to shoot both
 
Relatively near you in Creedmoor, Sir Walter Gun Club hosts a monthly skeet fun shoot that is open to the public. There's always someone who will be glad to guide you on the sport. They also have a 5-stand monthly match which is more varied and challenging. Info will be found on their web site.
 
If you can find a place that will let you shoot clay birds with a hand held thrower try taping a 5 foot piece of 2 inch PVC on the throwers handle and have a friend sling some birds pass you for both fun and a challenge. A friend and I used to swap turns with the thrower and try to make the other miss, great fun whether shooting or throwing. Doves don't stand a chance after a couple sessions with the velocity/angles/curves you can muster with this type thrower.
 
I could shoot skeet a lot better than trap but I only had a skeet gun. My club has both and only shot skeet a couple of times. We also have a sporting clay and 5 station range which I have not seen either. One day.
BB, Ever shoot at Forest City Gun Club? They had the World Champion Skeet Shoots? Years ago was a member.
 
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