Sporting Clays Anyone ?

[Empe]

I don't really shoot shotgun at all as I much prefer rifle and handguns ...However
my son and I decided we'd give sporting clays a try and we had a great time . It was a beautiful fall day here in Pennsylvania when we went and the leaves and foliage were in full fall color.

The place we went... Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays is very well organized and is built around a quarry that had filled with water....great scenery.

I didn't do particularly well scoring just over 30 hits out of a hundred but it was great spending the time together and we both really enjoyed ourselves .

We plan on going again.

Anyone else here try it ?

 

[robvious]

It's been a long time since I last tried it... lost to 2 cousins and my son by 2 birds... they all shoot trap on teams and were using there competition guns... I used my hunting gun... I felt pretty good about the results

 

[Rpg]

I shoot some sporting clays once a year or so as a tuneup for hunting season.

I enjoy it but it’s always a humbling experience.

 

[Steve_Revo_]

i shot sporting clays for 20 years before life changed my hobbies... I still love it, however. You’re outdoors, usually with good friends, and the targets can be fun and challenging. I know sporting clays made me a better hunter so it’s a win win. The fact you get to do it with your son is the best part, have fun and enjoy it.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Started in the mid 90's with a Browning 20 gauge Upland Special (26" barrels, Straight stock) and currently have 9 O/U. 2 Automatics and 5 SxS.

My favorites are a 30" 28-gauge Feather XS, the same in 410, and a 32" Sporting 725 also in 410, all Brownings.

I bought the wife a 20-gauge Berretta 391 Sporting model, and set it up for left-handed shooting. Back before Covid, I used it in a 10 week League. I came in 4th overall (of about 86 competitors) Everyone else used 12 gauges. Entry fees were $18 a week ($180) and I won $45, and a banquet dinner. Boy, did I hit the Jackpot! I normally hit 75 to 80 percent with the 410s, in the league I had 90% the first week and 80 to 85% the rest.

I usually shot around 6000 rounds of 410 and 3000 to 4000 rounds of 28 a year. Yes, I reload!

Ivan

 

[mike4sigs]

It has been several years since i have shot sporting clays. unless one has popped up that i have not heard about the closet Sporting clays range to me is 1.5 hours away

 

[Breakaway500]

I use to shoot sporting clays at least once a week for about 10 years.Made it to AA class in the NSCA. Lots of tournaments and trophys. Nowadays 1-2 times a month if the weather is good. Its a great game to hone your eye/hand Coordination and gun skills. The best thing is every course is different and challenging.

 

[375hh1973]

Absolutely shoot sporting clays.

I think it's the most fun you can legally have with a shotgun.

 

[Farmer17]

Ive got a range about 25 minutes away, and if it was closer I would shoot a lot more often, but I really enjoy it. It's hardly ever busy and my wife likes it also and even in the hot summer there are so many trees you are always in the shade. You need to order shotgun shells in bulk when you see a good price because you can spend a lot of money shooting.

 

[jakerudy]

I used to shoot clays once a month with a group of friends. After the round and some lunch we'd follow up with 5 stand and skeet. The score wasn't overly important so we would try about any hunting shotgun. I shot a round with a Winchester Model 42 just for grins.

It was a lot of fun but it is difficult to keep a range open with neighbors complaining about noise. Now I try to shoot a couple of times a year. It is a lot of fun if you don't take it too serious.

 

[gym cat]

Golf with a shotgun--only ten times more fun!!!!!!!!!

 

[pharmer]

Back when I was a Pharma Rep I used to take groups of doctors out to "TM Ranch" for the day. Hour talk by a "thought leader", BBQ lunch catered, then 100 rds clays. My best was 55, had one doc break 97. It was good "ROI", and word got out about how much fun it was. The place had females from UCF (5 miles up the road) as "trappers" that added to the experience. Sadly, place is out of business, as am I.

"Triple N Ranch" where I go now has Clays, automated so you pull your own. Haven't done it yet, 250 rd cases of #9 have gone from $30 to around $100, and I have to pay now. Joe

 

[Roofuss]

We had a nice range in my area that had 2 sporting clays courses, a 5 stand setup, and also trap and skeet. Always enjoyed trap and skeet and was going to give the sporting clays a try this year, but the range abruptly closed back in March due to the health issues of the owner. Closest ranges now are approx. 85 and 100 miles { one way } . The range is said to be up for sale { big bucks ! } but for now, us local shotgun shooters are on hold .

 

[SteveA]

I worked weekends at a sporting clays/trap course during law school. Not much pay but tips made it worthwhile. Flint Oak Ranch is not too far from where I live. We used to have a Kansas Bar Association CLE/Shoot every year there. Also have done some field hunts there. Great place.

 

[bgrafsr]

Used to shoot trap and sporting clays with some buddies about once a week. Sadly my infirmities now make it impossible for me to shoot anymore.

 

[tops]

The place we went... Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays is very well organized and is built around a quarry that had filled with water....great scenery.


Anyone else here try it ?

I shot there several years ago and bought the shirt. Nice course and nice people. Larry

 

[M29since14]

I’m very fond of sporting clays. I introduced my kids to gun safety, gun clubs, and shooting with sporting clays. Our “home range” is about an hour’s drive away. We would more or less make a day of it, combining the visit to the range with other activities in the area. The range owner was very enthusiastic about getting youngsters interested in shooting. He offered half-price targets to students, which was much appreciated. We shot for recreation only, not competitively.

As kids do, they grow up and get busy with their lives. Neither one regularly shoots clays any more, but they both still have their shotguns. I shoot with my friends (all of us retired) about once a week, as weather permits. We shoot a reduced course of about 75 targets, rarely keep score anymore, and we shoot anything from .410s to 12s - then we go to lunch. It’s a rough life.

 

[H Richard]

I shot with a few friends about twice a month for quite a few years, but it has now been maybe 8-10 years since I have done so. The range we used closed up, and the next closest range is about 50 miles away.


Do still shoot trap and skeet, preferring skeet. Any Thursday afternoon when the weather is cooperating I'll be at the range. I'm in the process of trying to determine if I should quit reloading for the 12 Ga, as the price of supplies is nearly exceeding factory ammo, (especially when the local Farm store has a Sr 10% discount every 2nd Tues). The 20 Ga I never reloaded, as I didn't shoot it as much.



I kind of hate the thought of selling the Press (Mec 9000) and all the accessories. That would be like the beginning of the end of all my reloading.

 

[M29since14]

…I kind of hate the thought of selling the Press (Mec 9000) and all the accessories. That would be like the beginning of the end of all my reloading.

I can understand that! When I first started shotgun shooting I could reload 1-1/8 ounce 12 gauge shells for a bit over $2 a box.

These days I rarely shoot 12 gauge. If I did, I doubt I’d be interested in reloading. The economics have changed considerably. I shoot way more .410s than 20s and 12s combined, so the reloading machines still serve a useful purpose.

 

[Papa Lee]

I shoot sporting clays (almost) every Wednesday with our group of 2-6 guys and the occasional gal. It's great fun, and down here in Texas you can shoot all year.