What is the difference between Trap and Skeet? I bought a trap thrower yesterday at Wal Mart. And tried it out in the back yard. It throws the clay pigion? out really far. Do I shoot it from behind as it is going out away from me? What is the maximum range of #8 and 7 1/2 birdshot?
What is the difference between Trap and Skeet?
- Thread starter lbmii
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Trap, they go away from you (either from behind or just in front) left, right at any altitude.
Skeet, two birds, one left, one right, basically the same altitude, but the shooter changes position after a single left, single right and a double. So the target angle is always changing.
Max range on birdshot? Probably 300 yards. To actually hit, much less.
Skeet, two birds, one left, one right, basically the same altitude, but the shooter changes position after a single left, single right and a double. So the target angle is always changing.
Max range on birdshot? Probably 300 yards. To actually hit, much less.
SDC
Member
This page will give you a run-down on the lay-out, rules, etc, for both ( http://gemini.tntech.edu/~cpardue/skeet-trap.html ). For trap, you'll be behind the thrower, with the pigeons going out away from you on one of 5 paths. With #7 1/2 shot, I'd want to have a safety area of at least 250-300 yards in the direction of the shot, but it's doubtful that shot that small could even get that far at maximum elevation.
SKEET:
Skeet is a semi-circle with 8 positions around it. On the left side of the field is a "high house" which throws the clays across the field. On the right side is a "low house" which throws clays also. The birds cross the middle of the field at the same time when doubles (high and low houses are triggered at the same time) are thrown. Skeet involves a lot of gun movement. It was designed to simulate hunting conditions for upland game. If you've ever swung a gun on dove...it's a lot like that.
Over the course, you end up shooting a whole box of shells (25)....every station is a high bird and a low bird, one at a time...you call out PULL and a high is thrown, then you call PULL and a low bird is thrown....on some stations (1,2,6,7) you get doubles also....so the order for those is:
PULL (high)
PULL (low),
PULL (doubles, in which you shoot the going away bird first).
Skeet can be shot with any gauge (including .410, which is lots of fun)
I think the longest shot is around 25 yards, and you usually use #9 shot with an improved cylinder or skeet choke. O/U are usually the high end guns and they're usually fairly specialized. In general, any autoloader is just about perfect for you as long as it fits your body type. Rem 11-87, Rem 1100, Beretta 390 and 391, Browning Gold etc are more than appropriate. Pumps are equally at home on the skeet fields. Just don't forget to actually pump it! Rem 870's, Ithaca's, even Mossbergs are perfect for the beginner. Utilizing the right choke and load, and you should have no problem breaking targets.
TRAP:
Trap is only shot with 12 gauge. Trap is five positions in an arc formation 16 yards behind the house. The house is in front of you where the trap machine rotates inside it. When you call pull, the machine throws a bird; the clay could come out any direction within the machines rotation. You start on one of the five position behind the trap, and shoot five shells on each "stand." All the shooters take turns...as in, one shoots, then two, then three, then four, then five....then it starts over again for round two on that specific station...and you shoot that way until everyone has shot 25 birds. You never know which direction the bird is going to go. Although there is a limited amount of travel for the machine, it's still a surprise where the bird comes out.
The lanes that you shoot in start at 16 yards, and they're handicapped all the way back to 27 yards behind the house. If you want to be humbled move back to the 27 and give it a shot.
Most single barrel break action guns for trap are specialized also. (Beretta, Browing BT-99, Perazzi) The auto or pump that you can use on skeet can also be used on trap...just change the choke to a modified or full, and up the shot size to 7 1/2 or 8 and you're ready to shoot.
The big difference between skeet and trap is that skeet is a crossing bird game where trap is going away from you most times.
Sporting clays is the newest game out there. It's basically a walk and shoot type course. Courses generally are 100 rounds...10 stations with five double targets thrown. Every station has different doubles thrown. Sometimes rabbits and standards, sometimes two standards, sometimes battues and standards....it all depends on the course design. Sporting clays is the most social and probably the most fun. It can really challenge your hunting and shooting technique.
Some of the types of birds thrown on a sporting clays course:
As far as gun requirements....I would suggest a pump or auto in either Rem, Beretta, Browning, Ithaca or Mossberg with screw in chokes including imp cyl, mod and a full....possibly skeet if you really want to get into it. Eight shot will work in a pinch if you can't can't find any #9 shot.
Barrel length; to put it simply...the longer the barrel, the better the gun "swings." Avg is usually around 28" to 30" for skeet although the trend lately is longer barrels. Trap is usually longer at 30" to 34" A good all-around bbl length is 30".....it's more than adequate for skeet/trap/sporting.
Maximum range is easy to figure out. 2,200 * (shot diameter) = approximate distance in yards.
7 1/2 shot: 210 yards
8 shot: 198 yards
9 shot: 176 yards
Hope this helps.
esheato...
Skeet is a semi-circle with 8 positions around it. On the left side of the field is a "high house" which throws the clays across the field. On the right side is a "low house" which throws clays also. The birds cross the middle of the field at the same time when doubles (high and low houses are triggered at the same time) are thrown. Skeet involves a lot of gun movement. It was designed to simulate hunting conditions for upland game. If you've ever swung a gun on dove...it's a lot like that.
Over the course, you end up shooting a whole box of shells (25)....every station is a high bird and a low bird, one at a time...you call out PULL and a high is thrown, then you call PULL and a low bird is thrown....on some stations (1,2,6,7) you get doubles also....so the order for those is:
PULL (high)
PULL (low),
PULL (doubles, in which you shoot the going away bird first).
Skeet can be shot with any gauge (including .410, which is lots of fun)
I think the longest shot is around 25 yards, and you usually use #9 shot with an improved cylinder or skeet choke. O/U are usually the high end guns and they're usually fairly specialized. In general, any autoloader is just about perfect for you as long as it fits your body type. Rem 11-87, Rem 1100, Beretta 390 and 391, Browning Gold etc are more than appropriate. Pumps are equally at home on the skeet fields. Just don't forget to actually pump it! Rem 870's, Ithaca's, even Mossbergs are perfect for the beginner. Utilizing the right choke and load, and you should have no problem breaking targets.
TRAP:
Trap is only shot with 12 gauge. Trap is five positions in an arc formation 16 yards behind the house. The house is in front of you where the trap machine rotates inside it. When you call pull, the machine throws a bird; the clay could come out any direction within the machines rotation. You start on one of the five position behind the trap, and shoot five shells on each "stand." All the shooters take turns...as in, one shoots, then two, then three, then four, then five....then it starts over again for round two on that specific station...and you shoot that way until everyone has shot 25 birds. You never know which direction the bird is going to go. Although there is a limited amount of travel for the machine, it's still a surprise where the bird comes out.
The lanes that you shoot in start at 16 yards, and they're handicapped all the way back to 27 yards behind the house. If you want to be humbled move back to the 27 and give it a shot.
Most single barrel break action guns for trap are specialized also. (Beretta, Browing BT-99, Perazzi) The auto or pump that you can use on skeet can also be used on trap...just change the choke to a modified or full, and up the shot size to 7 1/2 or 8 and you're ready to shoot.
The big difference between skeet and trap is that skeet is a crossing bird game where trap is going away from you most times.
Sporting clays is the newest game out there. It's basically a walk and shoot type course. Courses generally are 100 rounds...10 stations with five double targets thrown. Every station has different doubles thrown. Sometimes rabbits and standards, sometimes two standards, sometimes battues and standards....it all depends on the course design. Sporting clays is the most social and probably the most fun. It can really challenge your hunting and shooting technique.
Some of the types of birds thrown on a sporting clays course:
As far as gun requirements....I would suggest a pump or auto in either Rem, Beretta, Browning, Ithaca or Mossberg with screw in chokes including imp cyl, mod and a full....possibly skeet if you really want to get into it. Eight shot will work in a pinch if you can't can't find any #9 shot.
Barrel length; to put it simply...the longer the barrel, the better the gun "swings." Avg is usually around 28" to 30" for skeet although the trend lately is longer barrels. Trap is usually longer at 30" to 34" A good all-around bbl length is 30".....it's more than adequate for skeet/trap/sporting.
Maximum range is easy to figure out. 2,200 * (shot diameter) = approximate distance in yards.
7 1/2 shot: 210 yards
8 shot: 198 yards
9 shot: 176 yards
Hope this helps.
esheato...
I was talking to an old shotgunner that started shooting back in the 1950's the other day and this is what he told me-
he could tell if they were trap shooters if they were cussin and throwing there guns in the garbage and they were skeet shooters if they were nearly falling over (glug glug) by the end of the day they were skeet shooters.
THE FOLLOWING WAS A JOKE WARNING THIS IS ONLY A JOKE
(quoted from old Jack)
he could tell if they were trap shooters if they were cussin and throwing there guns in the garbage and they were skeet shooters if they were nearly falling over (glug glug) by the end of the day they were skeet shooters.
THE FOLLOWING WAS A JOKE WARNING THIS IS ONLY A JOKE
(quoted from old Jack)
SASS#23149
Member
Is trap a '12 guage only' sport? I have seen lots of twenties and .410's being used,but maybe formal competition is different?
If you think your walmart thrower 'puts 'em out there',get thee to a real trap club and see what 'out there' really is.
I about fell over the first time I went to a real trap club to shoot.absolutely no comparison.
If you think your walmart thrower 'puts 'em out there',get thee to a real trap club and see what 'out there' really is.
I about fell over the first time I went to a real trap club to shoot.absolutely no comparison.
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I don't believe there is any rule that says 12ga is the only gauge you can use in competition. It may be the largest gauge allowed, but not the only. I believe also that 1 1/8oz loads are the max payload allowed on a competition trap field for 12 ga.
It's all about the fun of shooting, not the equipment.
It's all about the fun of shooting, not the equipment.
sm
member
Damn - you folks are good !!
The Diagrams and Pics - Nice Touch!
WE Skeet folks stand out in the middle and face the Evil Clay , subdue him as he approaches us - Trap folks hide behind a bunker hoping to shoot Evil in the backside
J/K
The Diagrams and Pics - Nice Touch!
WE Skeet folks stand out in the middle and face the Evil Clay , subdue him as he approaches us - Trap folks hide behind a bunker hoping to shoot Evil in the backside
J/K
MrAcheson
Member
Technically no. Some people shoot 20 gauge and smaller. The problem with the lighter loads and smaller calibers is that once you move back to the 27 yard stations, you really want a big gun throwing a lot of shot. Range and hitting power starts becoming an issue fairly quickly. If you want to shoot competitively, you basically need a 12 gauge.
Charles S
Member
Thanks for the info.
Charles
Charles
ysr_racer
Member
1 is for old men and 1 is for old women. Sporting clays is where the real fun is
sm
member
ysr_racer,
I really like Sporting Clays...
...out wonderin' around behind the little animals... - Stafford
Any of them places you visited required you flying up onto the windmill - to get a nekkid puller down?...
I really like Sporting Clays...
...out wonderin' around behind the little animals... - Stafford
Any of them places you visited required you flying up onto the windmill - to get a nekkid puller down?...
Spinner
Member
That just depends on what weeds you been chewin' on. Some said it was a flower, some said it was a weed ... I never give it much thought.
Sure beats the heck outa sniffing burlap. Spinner
sm
member
Spinner
Excuse me...seems like a certain moderator wants me to send a roll of paper towels up MD way...I didn't know trap shooters used Paper towels to adjust gun fit on trap guns....shouldn't be surprised tho...them trap folks always messin' with gun fit....
Excuse me...seems like a certain moderator wants me to send a roll of paper towels up MD way...I didn't know trap shooters used Paper towels to adjust gun fit on trap guns....shouldn't be surprised tho...them trap folks always messin' with gun fit....
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
A good book that covers all the clay games is The Clay Target Handbook by Jerry Meyer. Definitely recommended.
In fact, the only shotgunning books I've run across with more pertinent info are Brister's Masterwork and Gene Hill's Shotgunner's Notebook.
In fact, the only shotgunning books I've run across with more pertinent info are Brister's Masterwork and Gene Hill's Shotgunner's Notebook.
ClarkEMyers
Member
Try shots where you aren't standing over your own trap
Folks will often stand over the trap so they can load and release more easily and perhaps safely in an improvised setup. It pays to stand away from the trap and release with a long cord for safety to get a variety of shots.
Standing over the trap and shooting all straight going away will build confidence faster than it teaches skills.
Folks will often stand over the trap so they can load and release more easily and perhaps safely in an improvised setup. It pays to stand away from the trap and release with a long cord for safety to get a variety of shots.
Standing over the trap and shooting all straight going away will build confidence faster than it teaches skills.
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