dghboy315
Member
My first trap and skeet experience started on a beautiful spring-like Friday morning at the Prince Georges County Trap and Skeet Center in Glen Dale, MD next to NASA Goddard Space Center. PGC is one of the best trap and skeet ranges in the area. It used to be a private club before it was given to the county to run and that fact is easy to see if you ever visit.
Dave met me at 10:15 AM in the clubhouse. After buying a book of trap tickets and some light target loads (Dave suggest starting with the lightest load you can find), we moved out to a trap range and started in on the basics with the extra Remington 870 Dave had brought for me. Since I had never shot before, we started with basic stance and shooting skills. It’s very different from shooting a rifle. You have to get “behind†the shotgun instead of standing next to it like with a rifle. This took me a bit to get used to, but like with everything, it got easier with practice. The second important point Dave imparted on me was to “forget about the front sightâ€. Being a regular pistol shooter, this took a while to integrate into my mental databank. At first, I didn’t even see if I hit the clay target because I was instinctively returning my eye to the front sight. But again, it got easier as the day went continued.
After about 15-20 min of the basics, we dove right into single trap with the shotgun already in the mounted position. I hit the first clay. It was AWESOME. I’m sure it was beginners luck b/c I ended up missing the next few, but it was still great to start off like that. As I continued the round, Dave continued his lesson, giving me helpful pointers like, “keep he the gun moving†and “move with your whole bodyâ€. The light loads worked because I hardly felt anything. We ended up doing 3 rounds of single trap.
Then we moved to wobble trap. Here, the clay targets are launched from a oscillating plate and at much more extreme angles. To add to the difficulty, Dave decided to do this round starting from a low hold meaning that I would have mount the gun to my shoulder while I was tracking the target. In addition, I had moved up to a heavier load b/c it was cheaper by the case. By that point I knew I was going to be there for a while. Finally, Dave indicated that we were going to do this round fast. We would both stand side-by-side in the center position and just alternate as fast as we could. I was a bit worried because there was so much to adjust too but I stepped up anyways -- I ended up hitting a majority of the clays. By the second round, I was doing even better.
After that session, Dave told me the secret, “don’t think too muchâ€. You see, most people have natural targeting, aiming, and estimating ability. When you try to think to much about what you are doing, your brain gets in the way of your natural ability. By forcing me to shoot fast, Dave was allowing my instincts to take over. Dave McCracken is a good teacher.
Finally, we moved over to the skeet range. I had always wondered just how different the various clay sports were, well I found out. Skeet is a totally different experience. The game tests totally different skills and you need completely new timing strategies, not only from trap, but also in between the different positions of skeet. There are so many more variables in skeet. There is a high house position that launches clays from high to low across the field. There is a low house position that does the opposite. And finally, there are doubles to deal with, where both the high and the low clays are launched at the same time. This is where you have to shuck (is that the right word?) the pump gun between shots to chamber a new round. Needless to say, it is very difficult, but still very fun.
As the three hour mark rolled around, we both decided it was quitting time. We had shot 175 rounds and at least I was a little sore. Really though, with a little food and rest, I could have gone on for the rest of the day.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dave McCracken once again for him time and instruction. I’m sure I would not have enjoyed the experience half an much without your patient and abundant knowledge. If there is every anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask. As for everyone else, go out and try trap and skeet shooting as soon as you can.
Dave met me at 10:15 AM in the clubhouse. After buying a book of trap tickets and some light target loads (Dave suggest starting with the lightest load you can find), we moved out to a trap range and started in on the basics with the extra Remington 870 Dave had brought for me. Since I had never shot before, we started with basic stance and shooting skills. It’s very different from shooting a rifle. You have to get “behind†the shotgun instead of standing next to it like with a rifle. This took me a bit to get used to, but like with everything, it got easier with practice. The second important point Dave imparted on me was to “forget about the front sightâ€. Being a regular pistol shooter, this took a while to integrate into my mental databank. At first, I didn’t even see if I hit the clay target because I was instinctively returning my eye to the front sight. But again, it got easier as the day went continued.
After about 15-20 min of the basics, we dove right into single trap with the shotgun already in the mounted position. I hit the first clay. It was AWESOME. I’m sure it was beginners luck b/c I ended up missing the next few, but it was still great to start off like that. As I continued the round, Dave continued his lesson, giving me helpful pointers like, “keep he the gun moving†and “move with your whole bodyâ€. The light loads worked because I hardly felt anything. We ended up doing 3 rounds of single trap.
Then we moved to wobble trap. Here, the clay targets are launched from a oscillating plate and at much more extreme angles. To add to the difficulty, Dave decided to do this round starting from a low hold meaning that I would have mount the gun to my shoulder while I was tracking the target. In addition, I had moved up to a heavier load b/c it was cheaper by the case. By that point I knew I was going to be there for a while. Finally, Dave indicated that we were going to do this round fast. We would both stand side-by-side in the center position and just alternate as fast as we could. I was a bit worried because there was so much to adjust too but I stepped up anyways -- I ended up hitting a majority of the clays. By the second round, I was doing even better.
After that session, Dave told me the secret, “don’t think too muchâ€. You see, most people have natural targeting, aiming, and estimating ability. When you try to think to much about what you are doing, your brain gets in the way of your natural ability. By forcing me to shoot fast, Dave was allowing my instincts to take over. Dave McCracken is a good teacher.
Finally, we moved over to the skeet range. I had always wondered just how different the various clay sports were, well I found out. Skeet is a totally different experience. The game tests totally different skills and you need completely new timing strategies, not only from trap, but also in between the different positions of skeet. There are so many more variables in skeet. There is a high house position that launches clays from high to low across the field. There is a low house position that does the opposite. And finally, there are doubles to deal with, where both the high and the low clays are launched at the same time. This is where you have to shuck (is that the right word?) the pump gun between shots to chamber a new round. Needless to say, it is very difficult, but still very fun.
As the three hour mark rolled around, we both decided it was quitting time. We had shot 175 rounds and at least I was a little sore. Really though, with a little food and rest, I could have gone on for the rest of the day.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dave McCracken once again for him time and instruction. I’m sure I would not have enjoyed the experience half an much without your patient and abundant knowledge. If there is every anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask. As for everyone else, go out and try trap and skeet shooting as soon as you can.
