Shooting in a Skeet shoot any tips?

[pgg]

I have never been much of a bird hunting shot gun guy but am shooting in a charity skeet shoot today any suggestions or good video clips I could watch online? I have a choice of shotguns either a 20g beretta over
under or a browning 12 gage auto. My buddy said the auto because shooting a over under 100 times would beat the cr*p out of me is this the right thinking? I am not normally recoil shy so I dont know if his thinking is correct for me. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. PGG

 

[PREMOD70]

Position yourself so that your body is pointing in the direction of where you will break the bird, most novices line up their body by pointing at the trap house and when the bird flys they shoot behind due to their body having to overtwist to point at the bird; if you are required to shoot doubles line your body up for the last shot, not the first. Always over leade the bird, you can shoot too far in front and the bird may fly into the remaining shot string but if you're behind all it's always going to be is a miss. Never get in a hurry, ask the puller for help if you get confused and enjoy the day, the score will be a pleasureable afterthought if you do. Good luck.

Ps: I'd go for the 20ga. O/U, the A-5 can be a little harder to get used to if you have never fired one; a plus is the O/U is easier to keep safe for a novice. Most of the time a 20 will have less recoil but that is subject to the weight of the load, weight of the gun and the speed of the load.

 

[CoverDog]

I shoot a 20 or 28 SxS at skeet. Your only shooting 21-22 yds. Remember at stations 2,3 and 4 your lead needs to be about what the number of the station is. Station 2 a 2' lead, 3 a 3' lead etc. And stations 5 the lead is the same as station 3, and at 6 it's the same as station 2. Station 1 & 7 it's almost a straight away. Station 8 is an instinctive shot you will be breaking that shot almost overhead.

And whatever you do , don't look at the bead of your gun. Shotguns are pointed not aimed.

As Premod70 said position yourself and aim your gun where you want to break the target, then pivot at the hips back toward the house (don't move your feet once in position) and call for the bird. When you swing back into the position where you want the bird to break you should be lined up on the bird and everything will feel natural.

 

[Larryh128]

If it is indeed a SKEET shoot, you really need a couple skeet tubes for that O/U. Birds are close & mod & full aren't going to get it. You could get by with I/C but It'll cost you targets. Remember, not many people miss in front of the target.

 

[KMart]

Remember that everything you do with a rifle is exactly opposite with a shotgun. You slap a shotgun trigger and squeeze a rifle. As Coverdog said focus on the target, with a rifle you focus on the front sight(open sights). Keep your head locked to the top of the stock...it is your rear sight. If your head comes up, you shoot high. Mount the butt of the stock in the pocket of your shoulder every time. If you get the butt out on your arm, you will shoot to the left. Swing through the bird as quickly as you can and pull the trigger...trying to shoot a sustained lead and measure how much lead you have will mess you up.

Remember, shoot him where he eats not where he sheets.
Enjoy the day. It is great fun....and addicting.
The bird at station 8 low will not hit you in the head.

 

[Strut]

Eye on the rock - head on the stock - keep swingin.

leads go from 0, 1, 2, 4 then back down to 0 by steps - station 8 Blot and blast

Enjoy

 

[pgg]

I was wrong it was sporting clays but all your help worked I hit 45 of 100 targets with your suggestions being very helpful. A guy on our team shoots in a league once a week at the same place and only hit 9 targets more then I. That is what makes this forum so great thanks for the tips. PG

PS I did get sprayed twice from other stations is this somewhat common or should it almost never happen? No one else mentioned getting hit but I got hit by two pellets one on one station one on another. I was saying I thought it had happened when another guy in our group said no way but I was pretty sure of what it was on my foot. The next station I had one hit my chest. Latter at a mixer for the group I was talking about it and pointed at my chest a girl said look in your pocket and sure enough it had a bead of shot in it. Brand new shirt so it was what him me. Weird deal PG

 

[skeetlee]

Most important thing is to relax have fun and pay attention to what the better shooters are doing. Keep your eyes off the barrel and tell yourself everytime you go to the line to have a hard focus on the target and target only. The gun will follow. Dont get to wrapped up in how much your leading the targets. If you start worrying about this your eyes will go to the barrel and your gun will slow or stop moving. These are skilled that are learned just like anything else so dont set to high of an expectation on yourself especially if this is your first time out. Like i say, find the best shooter there and pick his brain if he is willing. Also dont listen to 95% of the other shooters. they are going to tell you that your " over the top or you were in front of that one" Most folks cant see the shot and they really have no idea were you were. 80% of the time when you miss it will be because you were not confident with your lead and you looked at your barrel so if fact your barrel slowed or stoped and you missed behind the target. Remember hard focus on the clay target!!! Report your scores back here. Have fun brother!! Lee

 

[PREMOD70]

I was wrong it was sporting clays but all your help worked I hit 45 of 100 targets with your suggestions being very helpful. A guy on our team shoots in a league once a week at the same place and only hit 9 targets more then I. That is what makes this forum so great thanks for the tips. PG

PS I did get sprayed twice from other stations is this somewhat common or should it almost never happen? No one else mentioned getting hit but I got hit by two pellets one on one station one on another. I was saying I thought it had happened when another guy in our group said no way but I was pretty sure of what it was on my foot. The next station I had one hit my chest. Latter at a mixer for the group I was talking about it and pointed at my chest a girl said look in your pocket and sure enough it had a bead of shot in it. Brand new shirt so it was what him me. Weird deal PG

Good shooting, maybe you give the advice next time!! I hope the spray was as in rain, just shot falling from the overhead shots, rather than a poorly designed course where ones body is being endangered, I would talk to the manager if that is the case.