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Message
Clay Shooters Step In - Bringing My Son For the First Time
Posted on 6/13/16 at 1:41 pm
Posted on 6/13/16 at 1:41 pm
I've been shooting sporting clays for a couple years now so I'm no seasoned expert but I can usually go 65-70/100. Im just average I guess. I'm still learning myself so teaching someone, especially a kid, is where I need help.
A relative gave my 9yr old his first shotgun out of the blue. Brand new Mossberg 500 .410 pump. LOP is 14" and my son's is 11" so its a little long. Add in the fact that it's a pump (not ideal for clay shooting) and you get the idea on a couple of obstacles we have to overcome.
He's shot his Henry Golden Boy .17 several times, knows his gun safety and is a quick learner but a shotgun is a different animal obviously. All that being said, how should I begin his clay shooting training?
Was thinking of just skeet and working on a single going away from him (no real lead to worry about...just shooting it in the butt). Once he has that we could go to doubles (also going away) then progress to quartering away singles.
Thoughts?
A relative gave my 9yr old his first shotgun out of the blue. Brand new Mossberg 500 .410 pump. LOP is 14" and my son's is 11" so its a little long. Add in the fact that it's a pump (not ideal for clay shooting) and you get the idea on a couple of obstacles we have to overcome.
He's shot his Henry Golden Boy .17 several times, knows his gun safety and is a quick learner but a shotgun is a different animal obviously. All that being said, how should I begin his clay shooting training?
Was thinking of just skeet and working on a single going away from him (no real lead to worry about...just shooting it in the butt). Once he has that we could go to doubles (also going away) then progress to quartering away singles.
Thoughts?
8
Posted on 6/13/16 at 1:45 pm to GeauxTigers0107
quote:
Was thinking of just skeet and working on a single going away from him
Very common place for beginners to start.
However, if the gun is a poor fit, I recommend fixing that issue first. Nothing keeps a beginner from returning to the clays course faster than an ill-fitting gun that is painful to shoot, misses all the targets, and feels like an un-folded lawn chair to the shooter.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 1:55 pm to CFDoc
quote:
I recommend fixing that issue first
I've already talked to a guy about cutting the stock down to, say, 12". Still a touch long but something he won't outgrow anytime soon. So that is in the works. Thanks.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 2:23 pm to GeauxTigers0107
i would start by just letting him shoot beer cans with it, shooting clays is tough for anybody with a .410
after he gets comfortable shooting cans with the 410 then let him shoot some easy clays with it, but I would wait till he could handle a 20 gauge
after he gets comfortable shooting cans with the 410 then let him shoot some easy clays with it, but I would wait till he could handle a 20 gauge
Posted on 6/13/16 at 2:39 pm to GeauxTigers0107
1. Agree 100% with needing to get the LOP fixed. You can always add shims in the future to get the length back -- but by then he'll be ready for a 20 gauge.
I'd bet that 11" LOP will be closer to what he needs than 12".
2. I would hope you can find a sporting clays range near to your location that has some slow incoming targets set.
Skeet targets are leaving the trap at ~ 45 mph. That forces a youngster to see it, get the gun pointed, decide to shoot, and pull the trigger in a very short period of time.
Second best target presentation in my experience w/ new shooters, is a slow, rising, going away shot.
3. Don't forget fundamentals of getting his feet set properly for wherever he'll be braking the target.
4. And don't forget to teach him about follow-through.
I'd bet that 11" LOP will be closer to what he needs than 12".
2. I would hope you can find a sporting clays range near to your location that has some slow incoming targets set.
Skeet targets are leaving the trap at ~ 45 mph. That forces a youngster to see it, get the gun pointed, decide to shoot, and pull the trigger in a very short period of time.
Second best target presentation in my experience w/ new shooters, is a slow, rising, going away shot.
3. Don't forget fundamentals of getting his feet set properly for wherever he'll be braking the target.
4. And don't forget to teach him about follow-through.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 3:32 pm to GeauxTigers0107
First off, check for eye dominance. Start him off shooting from the same side of his dominant eye.
Start him with singles going away and crossing.
He needs to see pigeons crossing to help him develop follow thru.
Dont start with the gun shouldered. Start from a good stance.
Teach him to focus on the clay pigeon, bring the gun up to his shoulder and press the trigger as the gun touches his cheek using his hand eye coordination while following thru.
Start him with singles going away and crossing.
He needs to see pigeons crossing to help him develop follow thru.
Dont start with the gun shouldered. Start from a good stance.
Teach him to focus on the clay pigeon, bring the gun up to his shoulder and press the trigger as the gun touches his cheek using his hand eye coordination while following thru.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 3:34 pm to theenemy
As he starts hitting them consistently you can add some report doubles
Posted on 6/13/16 at 4:09 pm to GeauxTigers0107
You are absolutely right one what birds to start him on.
First make sure that the shotgun fits him because if it does not then it will hamper his learning abilities.
Second would be to make sure that his bead is below the bird so that way he has a full sight picture and that he is not covering the bird with the barrel. Finally I would make sure that he is not coming back to the bird and that he is not trying to back track on anything crossing so he is smooth as possible. I hope that makes sense and that would be my first things to focus on other than proper form for recoil absorption.
I have been shooting steady for about two years and have worked into consistent mid to high 80's on non tournament birds.
First make sure that the shotgun fits him because if it does not then it will hamper his learning abilities.
Second would be to make sure that his bead is below the bird so that way he has a full sight picture and that he is not covering the bird with the barrel. Finally I would make sure that he is not coming back to the bird and that he is not trying to back track on anything crossing so he is smooth as possible. I hope that makes sense and that would be my first things to focus on other than proper form for recoil absorption.
I have been shooting steady for about two years and have worked into consistent mid to high 80's on non tournament birds.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 4:11 pm to GeauxTigers0107
For the record I have seen boys come out and shoot in the high 70's with a pump shotgun and full choke. If you are a good shot and know your firearm the birds will break regardless of everything else.
Posted on 6/13/16 at 7:14 pm to GeauxTigers0107
.410 is going to be tough, it's a 67.5 gauge. If you really want to start shooting with him invest in a 28 gauge. That's what I shoot for sporting clays and it has made me a much better shot with my 12 gauge 3.5" steel shot 
Posted on 6/13/16 at 9:55 pm to BACONisMEATcandy
9 may be young too. Depends on the kid. Birds going away are easiest and don't push him to shoot a whole box. Shoot 10 or so take a break. Then maybe a few more.
Something I do w young shooters is hang a clay on a branch and have them shoot it from 10 yds. Bring gun to shoulder head on stock cover bird and pull trigger. Kids love it when it breaks. Then onto moving birds
Something I do w young shooters is hang a clay on a branch and have them shoot it from 10 yds. Bring gun to shoulder head on stock cover bird and pull trigger. Kids love it when it breaks. Then onto moving birds
Posted on 6/13/16 at 10:11 pm to OntarioTiger
Definitely depends on the kid. But we routinely start them at 9 or 10.
The key is to get the kid to learn to point and shoot while following thru.
Shooters tend to want to aim and "ride the target" which is wrong.
Trust me....you want to give them some crossing targets....that makes it much easier to spot mistakes. They can break clays going away with bad habits. If you aren't careful you will let them develop bad habits while shooting easier targets.
Give them some crossing ones and you can spot the mistakes early and correct them.
The key is to get the kid to learn to point and shoot while following thru.
Shooters tend to want to aim and "ride the target" which is wrong.
Trust me....you want to give them some crossing targets....that makes it much easier to spot mistakes. They can break clays going away with bad habits. If you aren't careful you will let them develop bad habits while shooting easier targets.
Give them some crossing ones and you can spot the mistakes early and correct them.
Posted on 6/14/16 at 9:10 am to theenemy
A lot of great advice in here guys. Thanks a lot.
Posted on 6/14/16 at 10:23 am to Cracker
quote:
Trap
don't do that. have him start at the 7th position on the skeet field shooting singles only. also: safety, safety, safety
Posted on 6/14/16 at 10:24 am to GeauxTigers0107
0107 - have fun with it that's the main thing, both my kids love to shoot and I help run a skeet/trap club and I enjoy helping new shooters. We were all rookies once.
With my son I started him at 9 or so and even though he was big and strong for his age the recoil of a 20 startled him, it took a bit to get used to it (gun was a youth model 20 semi). Hes now 19 and starting to beat me at sporting clays but i still kick his a++ in skeet ;)
My daughter if 5’ nuthin and barely a 100 lb (shes 14 and no pics u buncha degenerates) and she shoots a youth model 20 semi w/ no recoil issues. I waited till my daughter was 12+ before she shot a shotgun due to her size and recoil. She shot a pellet gun and 22 lots before tho.
With my son I started him at 9 or so and even though he was big and strong for his age the recoil of a 20 startled him, it took a bit to get used to it (gun was a youth model 20 semi). Hes now 19 and starting to beat me at sporting clays but i still kick his a++ in skeet ;)
My daughter if 5’ nuthin and barely a 100 lb (shes 14 and no pics u buncha degenerates) and she shoots a youth model 20 semi w/ no recoil issues. I waited till my daughter was 12+ before she shot a shotgun due to her size and recoil. She shot a pellet gun and 22 lots before tho.
Posted on 6/14/16 at 1:45 pm to OntarioTiger
quote:
have fun with it that's the main thing,
No doubt! Just found out today that one of his teammates in baseball is a clay shooter (80-85/100....as a 9yr old
). They're going to nationals in Pennsylvania in a week or two. We're gonna get with them and go to the range. His Dad said he'll help me coach him up. Should be awesome! Plus, he'll have a shooting buddy his age now. Thanks again guys.
Posted on 6/14/16 at 1:52 pm to GeauxTigers0107
quote:
GeauxTigers0107
if he takes a liking to it you should look at 4H's Youth Shooting Sports. mack jr #1 has been shooting shotgun with them for 4 years now. i can't say enough good things about this league: laid back parents, well run, kids shoot a lot, everyone is nice and friendly. also, its CHEAP (once you buy a shotgun). they do have "4H loaner" guns for those kids/parents that aren't sure/able to provide.
Posted on 6/14/16 at 2:37 pm to mack the knife
quote:
he takes a liking to it you should look at 4H's Youth Shooting Sports. mack jr #1 has been shooting shotgun with them for 4 years now.
Yeah its a good program. I was involved in it for a few years.
We used to tell parents it's perfect for kids because they get to make a lot of noise and break things. Lol.
Also, we would give a gun safety lesson (how to unload, how to cross a fence, carrying techniques, etc...) before each practice.
Posted on 6/14/16 at 7:55 pm to theenemy
Awesome stuff guys. Yeah, his baseball teammate that we just found out shoots...he does the 4H thing too. His Dad talked good about it.
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