How to improve my trap shooting?

the noobie

the noobie

New member
Recently joined the Univeristy Trap team and shot yesterday for the first time in 5-6 years. Didnt do bad hit 17 out of 25 and then 18 of 25, using another members gun that was new to me, but Not where I should be shooting. Dont like tooting my own horn but I used to shoot a lot better than that when I was younger. The team isn't super competitive but this coming spring there's a big shoot that we will be shooting in and it has some good prizes that I would like to have at least a bit of a chance at.

I have never really formally been taught how to shoot trap, My dad used to just take me to a club once a week with a bunch of old timers that all taught me, but I was taught probably 8 different methods.

I usually shoot my Benelli that has a 28" barrel, Its slow to swing but I have gotten used to it. The guys gun I was recently shooting had a 24" barrel and it swung REAL fast, almost too fast for me.

Anyone point me to some good information to read up on and learn from? Im going out to another local club this coming weekend to talk with some of the old timers from this area.
Also should I stick with my 28" barreled gun or should I borrow my dads 24 or 26" barreled gun? Which would be "better"?
 
Go to trapshooters.com and post your question there.You would do better with a dedicated trap gun,a bt-99 for under a grand will take you a long way to being more competive.
 
Im sure a dedicated trap gun would help, Im just trying to enjoy a college team while doing the best with what I have got. In a few years if trap is really my thing I might look into a dedicated trap gun but for now money is too tight.
 
Ok then have you patterned your gun? Knowing where your gun is shooting and what kind of pattern it throws with the different chokes will raise your score.Also try different loads.
 
I'm not a trap shooter, more of a skeet/sporting clays guy but the question about the shotgun - stick with your long barreled gun you are most familiar with. Dedicated trap shooters are mostly using 30" - 34" barrels for a smoother swing and follow through. Shoot what you know and what breaks clay for you.
 
Shoot, shoot and shoot some more. The more it becomes instinct the better you will be. At some point you will stop thinking about aiming. Shotguns aint rifles.
 
A rubber band around the receiver will catch the shells before they are thrown on someone else. Longer barrel helps with sight picture, heavy helps with follow through. IM choke is the choke I liked best. Start with gun on your shoulder and ready, hold over the top of the trap house. Break the trap house into fifths. Station 1 hold 2/5s to right. Station 2 3/5s to right and so on. Station 4 should be on the right hand corner of trap house and 5 should be past the trap house to the right about the same amount. Make sure and hold over the trap house and not right on it. Should help you acquire the bird faster. Holding so far to right on 5 helps you pick up a hard right hand bird faster. But I am right handed so it might be different for a lefty. Mount your gun with your eyes closed and see how close you are to looking down the barrel. Mount your gun till you know where it is supposed to go by feel. Kind of like shooting a bow. A dedicated trap gun will help you. I have seen a lot of guys shoot a Remington 870 trap.
 
I have patterned the gun, but not very closely. Just enough to know if I can take those long shots.

Wow I was figuring that I would be the odd duck out with the 28" barrel but 34" seems huge!
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Ill have to go shoot some more and get my shotgun here so that I can practice with the gun ill be using.

Dumb question but how important are vests?
 
Ahh ok, because when I joined the club they make an offer that If I pay $20-$25 dollars Ill get a vest with my name, school name, and a such on it. Ive always watched people wear the vests but never seen them do much with them other than hold shells. Sounds better than what I do so maybe ill get one.

Practice it is! Luckily The range fees and ammo is fairly cheap. I love my rifles but I love how cheap it is to shoot trap. $2-$3 range fee and $6 for shells per round. With a $6 round trip gas cost, its sure a lot cheaper than my centerfire.
 


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