Shotguns 101

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Becoming a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) connects any shooting enthusiast, whether novice or expert, with the most authoritative information and services available worldwide.

Visit the NRA at: https://explore.nra.org/

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Unlocking New Opportunities:

• NRA Membership: Opens up a new world for shooters, offering guidance and support through individual membership and involvement in NRA-affiliated clubs.

NRA Affiliated Clubs:

• Activities and Facilities: Many clubs provide skeet and trap ranges, organizing specific shotgun events.

• Instruction: These clubs often offer free lessons to members (aside from ammo and target costs), providing a platform for beginners to learn and improve.

• Qualification and Awards: Members can participate in NRA shotgun qualification courses, earning attractive awards.

• Becoming an Instructor: NRA individual members can become certified Shotgun Instructors, sharing their expertise with others.

• Community and Companionship: If you've bonded with your shotgun, joining the NRA community will introduce you to like-minded individuals who share your passion,

Next Steps in Shooting:

• After the Basics: Once you've started your journey into wing shooting, the logical next step is to engage with other shooters.

• Joining a Club: The best way to do this is by becoming part of a gun or skeet club affiliated with the NRA, where you can further your experience, enjoy camaraderie, and continue learning.

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Trap Shooting

Trap shooting has been a well-established sport since the first national championship in New Orleans in 1885. It serves as both an off-season practice for hunters and an extension of shooting opportunities:

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Target: Uses the same clay pigeons as skeet shooting.
Gun: Trap shotguns typically have longer, straighter stocks, often with a 30" barrel and full, improved, or modified choke. Duck guns can sometimes serve efficiently as trap guns due to similar target dynamics.
Round: Consists of 25 birds or 25 pairs in "doubles". Targets are launched at random angles within a 94-degree arc, unknown to the shooter.

Types:

• 16 Yard Singles: Fire 5 shots from each of 5 positions, all at 16 yards.

• Handicap: Similar setup but with shooters positioned further back based on their handicap, up to 27 yards.

• Doubles: Two targets are thrown simultaneously; shooters engage 5 pairs per station.

Skeet Shooting

Introduced to the American public in 1926, skeet gets its name from the Scandinavian word for "shoot" and has since grown in popularity:

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• Gun: Skeet shotguns are optimized for the sport, with about 26" barrels. The choke balances shot spread for even pattern distribution. Most are magazine-fed, capable of quick double shots, with self-loading models now predominant.

• Round: Involves 25 birds following fixed flight paths:

• Field Layout: Features a high house, a low house, and eight shooting stations.

Shooting Sequence:

• At each station, shooters engage one bird from the high house, then one from the low house.

• Doubles are shot at stations 1, 2, 6, and 7, totaling 24 shots.

• The 25th shot is a redo of the first miss. If all 24 are hit, the 25th can be taken from any station of choice.

Both sports offer structured, competitive environments for shotgun enthusiasts to hone their skills year-round.