Shooting at the same target?

[Caliper_Mi]

Was out at the range yesterday with my g/f and a co-worker. We had the clays field to ourselves and took the opportunity to try something I have heard of people playing. We'd launch a clay and if shooter 1 missed it, shooter 2 would take a follow up shot to hit the clay, or a large chunk from the clay if there was one. Each shooter was at a separate station seperated by probably 10-15 feet.

Eventually, a range officer saw this (they spend most of their time at the rifle/pistol range and leave the shotgun area pretty much DIY) and told us we could not do it, it was unsafe. His claim was this: That with two people firing at the same target, you would have the shot richochet and come back at the shooters.

He was not too clear what the shot would richochet off of but I am assuming individual pellets richocheting off each other? (obviously can't be off the clay!) This really doesn't sound like something that makes sense to me and I was wondering if anyone else had heard of this and knew whether it is true or not. Obviously we can't do this at that range either way, but would like to know if we were really flirting with danger.

On the plus side, he did tell us that it was OK to launch two targets and that the "single load only" signs meant one load per target so it was OK to have one shooter going after two clays. We've only done recreational clay shooting using a hand or spring powered launcher, so that was a bunch of fun although my hit rate did go down.

 

[shiftyer1]

I can't believe the pellets would richoet back!!! My opinion for whats its worth is that maybe this has the potential for over competative shooters MAY get reckless tryin to race for the follow up?

 

[oneounceload]

That with two people firing at the same target, you would have the shot richochet and come back at the shooters.

WHAT?!?!?!?!....please............someone needs to educate that boy......it takes three pellets to break a clay - at ANY clay game - trap, skeet, 5-stand or sporting, ricochets are not a problem

 

[ArmedBear]

That's horsecrap.

Chip shoots and Annie Oakleys (aka Custers) were very common games for Trapshooters, at least until most of the people who could shoot well moved over to the newer discipline of Sporting Clays. Now, some die-hard Trap and many Sporting Clays shooters do these things both formally and informally.

 

[bigalexe]

I think he was just looking for some reason to tell you not to do it. Utterly ridiculous idea that two shooters can cause a ricochet backwards. Heck the club I shoot at even has Buddy Backup games on the trap line on a somewhat regular basis.

Buddy Backup is two shooters, designated as 1st and 2nd shooter who get scored as a team for the round.

 

[WardenWolf]

A lot of range officers, particularly on shotgun ranges it seems, have lately started developing serious bugs up their backsides. It's practically impossible to train when they're harassing you and insisting you only have 1 shell in your gun at a time and other stupid things. How else is a person to learn fast followup shots? It's pretty bad when even the oldtimer volunteers there say, "Wait till he goes away then load up."

 

[Steve C]

Brings back fond memories. We used to play this game at the club I once belonged to. It would be called a 2 gun cut throat with 2 people shooting at one bird. We also played a 3 gun cut throat. Shooters would pay $2 and line up along the back fence behind the fan tail, 1st shooter would call for the bird and if he missed the second shooter would shoot and the 3rd in a 3 gun if #2 missed. If the subsequent shooter(s) broke the missed bird the person(s) who missed was put out and in our games you could have one buy back (ie you paid another $2 and went to the end of the line). Shots rotated and the game continued until only one man was standing and the money went to the winner, 2nd and 3rd place (usually) and a portion went to the club. Other rules where, if the second person shot but the 1st guy broke the target he put himself out. A variation was the "All gun" where shooters could fire as long as the target was missed and still in the air. Lots of fun, esp when the target was busted at the extreme range around 90 to 100 yds.

Other games where bushwhacker, buddy shoots, and combination of the games. Winner usually got to call the next game to be played.

 

[oletymer]

That range officer is dumber than dirt. As others have stated Annies and buddy shoots are common all over the country.

 

[savetheclaypigeons]

Used to do it all the time on the skeet fields at the far station. I think the old timers called it coon's ass or something and turned it into its own game.

 

[PJR]

Pellets can and do ricochet off clay targets. It's not unusual on a skeet field to have a pellet go under the rim of a high target and cause the pellet to come directly back at a shooter. A few years ago I had a pellet of mine strike a shooter standing 10 feet behind me. It went into the top layer of skin on his neck enough to draw blood. This is why we where eye protection.

Shooting chips on a trap field isn't an issue. It can be a concern on a skeet of five stand field if the chip breaks so far off the target line that your shot may go into a safety zone. It's a minor concern IMO but not without some merit.

 

[GoingQuiet]

The RO clearly does not understand physics.

I invented what I call "Sibling Rivalry Shotgun" about two weeks ago when I was on the skeet field with my little brother and 3/4 cock machine.

I got tired of him wasting clay pigeons and I was working the machine. So I loaded my Remington 1100, he said pull - I launched the pigeon, let him take a shot at it - if he missed I'd break the bird.

Right when I did that - he started breaking birds.

Then we did it with three/four people with two clay pigeons. It was a free for all.

Its really fun. If we could have three more 3/4 cock machines we could launch 6 pigeons at one time!

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Pellets can and do ricochet off clay targets. It's not unusual on a skeet field to have a pellet go under the rim of a high target and cause the pellet to come directly back at a shooter.

Better not tell those guys! Yes, we were all wearing eye protection.

Thanks guys for confirming what I thought. It seemed incredible far fetched to me, but I have learned that I am occasionally wrong and more often when my g/f is present!

 

[627PCFan]

Been hit in the lip for a richotte on the skeet range before and drew blood. Always wear eye protection. And from the ranges Ive been to, its only allowable on five stand after the 1st shooter has missed.