A round of skeet

[Fronty Owner]

Ok, for those that dont know, Im your typical redneck

I got invited to go shoot a few rounds of skeets by one of our vendors.

He said he would send me the itinerary tomorrow.

What do I need to know about skeet?
What are the rules?
What are the basics?
What shot sizes are allowed?

[Adaminak]

http://www.remington.com/pdfs/skeet_...ntals_2004.pdf

This will give you the basics much easier than I could explain them. I think it covers all the rules and even a few tips.

A few other pointers: I'd shoot 8 or 9 shot through the most open choke in the heaviest shotgun you've got. Most ranges require eye protection, and sunglasses don't really cut it. If the range has loaner glasses, they're probably not bad. If you've got shooting glasses already, they'll work too. If it's bright outside, yellow is not your friend. Red or orange is better, and a light smoke or a purple is the best for stupid-bright conditions.

If you shoot with one eye closed, don't try to change right away. The "ideal" way is both eyes open, but I've never been able to do it, so I don't. I know a lot of other folks who are the same way, and they routinely shoot in the top of the class.

If you like it and get addicted (it's easy, trust me), you'll be back asking more questions, and I'll be happy to answer

[n2moto]

Be polite, ASK questions, watch the other shooters, ASK more questions.

It's fun game. Much more than Trap. Trap is easier for the beginner.

[Fronty Owner]

ANSI Z87 safety glasses are required at work, I have plenty of varieties. ear plugs and muffs too.
I called the range, they allow 8s or 9s.
I have an IC choke for my shotgun, I can handle shooting a couple hundred rounds out of it.

[Adaminak]

Good deal; we'll be waiting for an after action report

[Fronty Owner]

Three rounds of skeet.
First round was to figure out how to divide the groups up so everyone was equally matched. I shot an 11.
Second and third rounds were for competition with prizes for first second, third, and last altho I think it was a setup since there were 4 customers or vendors and one person from the host company on each team. and naturally, the host company member got excluded from prize.
Anyway, second round, I started off strong, box one and two cleaned up, then finished the round with a 10.
Third round I finished with a 17.
This was good for second place and a gift card.

What the trick to box 8? besides carrying a shield?

[n2moto]

I'm not much of a skeet shooter, but if box 8 is the one where you split the houses then the trick that worked for me is point at the lower outside corner call the bird move the shotgun up and to the right pull the trigger and away you go.

[Fronty Owner]

box 8 is the one you stand between the houses and the bird comes RIGHT at you. I suspect I have a hiccup when I fire because it seems like by the time I decide to fire and the gun goes off, the bird would be long gone. Other stages didn't seem as bad even tho I missed so much.

[Adaminak]

n2moto has it right for the high house station 8. For low house station 8 put the gun in the same place (bottom outside corner of the window) and when the target comes out, follow the path, cover the bird with the muzzle and pull the trigger. Hard to get the initial move down, but once you get it, it's pretty easy to repeat. Most folks eventually have problems with hi 2 and low 6. Granted there are no real gimme's (except low 7), but low 6 has cost me more 100s than any other target on the field.

[Adaminak]

Oh yeah...there is no shame in a 17, especially if this is the first time you've been on a skeet range. If you keep shooting skeet, you can expect your scores to improve steadily for a few weeks, and eventually plateau in the 22-23 area, with a few 24s to give you hope. The first perfect round will be quickly duplicated, and then you'll "find" problems with targets you never missed before. The key there is to remember what worked for you before, know that you can hit them well, and get back to what you were doing before you thought you had it figured out. It's a terribly maddening , terribly addicting , terribly fun game !