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This is not really a Range Report on skeet shooting. Rather, I went to the MDC Lake City range for a skeet training workshop early this morning. It was 29* with a stiff wind. It's been a long time since I've felt that cold; I can't remember when I last experienced chattering teeth! We watched all members of the training class (think 15-16 folk attended) take their turns shooting skeet for the first time.

In late September in a thread about skeet or trap shooting, clovishound wrote about himself and his daughter shooting these sports:

We both stink at skeet and trap, but have a good time.

Well, I joined their ranks this morning. Yup, my shooting was "rank." Also in some Henry threads it was noted how hard these two shooting sports are, and they are definitely a challenge. Anyway, I think I ended up with about the lowest number of hits in the entire class! Ouch!! The instructor also determined I have a vision/sighting problem, which he described as cross-eyed dominance. So I had a lot of difficulty getting the barrel positioned with enough lead to take down those clays because my right-dominant eye was off. I found some discussion about this problem in the guide I got, and will read up on it.

The training class was darn good with an interesting certified instructor; we got a really good book, The Skeeters' Guide; and I'm not giving up; I'll be out there again.

Onward to higher ground and the "recovery." After this abysmal skeet class, I went over to the firing range as I just happened to bring my Henry SGC along. It was after 12 o'clock and the day had warmed a little when I got to the rifle range. I shot offhand, 80 rounds of Federal 40gr AutoMatch. Shot at 3" and 8" splash targets at 15 yards and 25 yards.

I was glad I had my Henry along to shoot -- it really took the sting out of my skeet shooting. It was much more fun than watching those unbroken clays fly passed my shotgun!

Here are the "recovery" targets.

30 rounds at 8" splash [25 yards];
20 rounds at 3" splash [15 yards]. 30 rounds at 8" splash [25 yards]

I have never shot skeet or trap and I am sure my score would be worse than yours.

And as usual, nice shooting with the SGC.

I have to deal with cross eye dominance as well.

I'm a righty but my left eye is dominant. For all clay shooting sports I decided a few years ago to learn how to shoot a shotgun lefty. It has really paid off!

Sounds like off to a good start!! Correct me if I'm wrong, but skeet is sideways and trap is straight
Trap is a challenge, but not tried skeet yet! Fun is all that matters

You do shoot the SGC with authority, PT7! Great shooting again.

I'm another right handed shooter with a dominant left eye. I tried to shoot lefty, but it was too awkward and I just couldn't get used to it, so I shoot with my left eye closed. It's somewhat of a handicap, but I'm an old dog and hard to train.

Yes, pretty much what you said it a difference in the two sports (in bold). But also with skeet when you shoot from station 1 or station 8, depending which house throws the clay, you're close to a "head on" or "straight-a-way" shooting challenge. Skeet is a very interesting and challenging sport, more so that trap.

At the training session, I met an older fellow who is a pretty good skeet shooter, and practices this sport often. What was fun for me was to see/handle his 60th birthday gift: a 12-gauge Franchi O/U with a 24" barrel. That is one nice shotgun. Not only that it is configured well for skeet or trap shooting, but the craftsmanship built into it was excellent. You should have seen the engraved receiver and breakaway tang cover....just beautiful stuff.

Before we left, he said he is at the MDC trap/skeet range very often. And when I have the chance to get there, he said we can shoot together. That would be a fun range time.

DWD445 wrote:Sounds like off to a good start!! Correct me if I'm wrong, but skeet is sideways and trap is straight
Trap is a challenge, but not tried skeet yet! Fun is all that matters