Usefulness of #9 shot

[Woodcock survey]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

I shoot sporting clays and don't find it boring. My only complaint is that a lot of sporting clay shots don't mimic field hunting. There are sometimes a lot of dropping birds that are implausable in the field unless you are shooting ducks over decoys. Also, all the sporting clays shooters I have seen shoot from a gun brought to the shoulder before the pull. Not good practice for field shooting.

I shoot low gun and generally take a 12 bore DHE for the longer shots and a 20 bore PHE for the shorter shots. Sometimes my small gun is a 28 bore Holland. I've been using the 28 bore for low gun trap shooting using the left full choke barrel. I'm the only one I have ever seen shooting trap low gun with a 28 bore. I'm always in the 20's with that gun shooting low gun. It is a real kick for me and gets people's attention.

I have voiced the same complaint about SC and 5 stand at the clubs i belong to and visit. It was brought to my attention that the majority of shooters in my area do not hunt and these targets are "normal to them. I took over the 5 stand at one club and did away with loopers and falling targets to only realistic presentations and had a number of hunters take it back up. We hunters need to realize that we will soon be in the minority in some sections of the country.

I invented another game to mimic upland birds and it is shot low gun with the puller deciding when to throw it and which trap to throw, same with the 5 stand some days you have to have all 8 traps in vision and then be able to focus and shoot.
There are no straights as yet in 5 stand and only 3 in 10 years in the other.

[Stan Hillis]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

I shoot sporting clays and don't find it boring. My only complaint is that a lot of sporting clay shots don't mimic field hunting. There are sometimes a lot of dropping birds that are implausable in the field unless you are shooting ducks over decoys. Also, all the sporting clays shooters I have seen shoot from a gun brought to the shoulder before the pull. Not good practice for field shooting.

I shoot low gun and generally take a 12 bore DHE for the longer shots and a 20 bore PHE for the shorter shots. Sometimes my small gun is a 28 bore Holland. I've been using the 28 bore for low gun trap shooting using the left full choke barrel. I'm the only one I have ever seen shooting trap low gun with a 28 bore. I'm always in the 20's with that gun shooting low gun. It is a real kick for me and gets people's attention.

Perhaps I didn't make it clear, but I don't find sporting clays boring either, Tom. I meant that I find skeet and trap boring. I would hasten to say that I do not look down on anyone who enjoys trap and skeet, much less excels at them. We're just not all wired alike, and I've likely got a bunch of short circuits.

I may not have worded that previous post properly. The only thing I find a bit boring about sporting clays is having to shoot 5 pairs on a station, on some courses. That's a little much for me. Four is aplenty, but I understand range owners trying to save money on traps. They're very expensive.

[Bruce Hering]

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

Perhaps I didn't make it clear, but I don't find sporting clays boring either, Tom. I meant that I find skeet and trap boring. I would hasten to say that I do not look down on anyone who enjoys trap and skeet, much less excels at them. We're just not all wired alike, and I've likely got a bunch of short circuits.

I may not have worded that previous post properly. The only thing I find a bit boring about sporting clays is having to shoot 5 pairs on a station, on some courses. That's a little much for me. Four is aplenty, but I understand range owners trying to save money on traps. They're very expensive.

Stan: I think we can all agree that practice on clays whether sporting, trap or skeet is worth doing. I am about like you and some others here, I shoot clays of any form for different kinds of practice. Some games I just cant get my brain wrapped around while others challenge me. Shooting more then 3-4 pairs on a sporting course station is not ok for my ADD, A type personality. I can not stay focused that long. Thats why I like FITASC, old style or new.

JMHO

[Stan Hillis]

We can agree to disagree on this, Craig. At the suggestion of a friend I had edited my original post, that you quoted, to be a bit more gentlemanly and less abrasive myself, but you copied it before I got a chance. Anyway, thanks for responding to my original post in a gentlemanly way.

Have a great day!

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

We can agree to disagree on this, Craig. At the suggestion of a friend I had edited my original post, that you quoted, to be a bit more gentlemanly and less abrasive myself, but you copied it before I got a chance. Anyway, thanks for responding to my original post in a gentlemanly way.

Have a great day!

Good day to you as well ! I kinda feel at this age and in today’s society if we’re upright and breathing we’ve won the game regardless of ones preference in clay target games No problem , we can have a glass of iced tea or a soft drink and discuss it further in Georgetown or we can talk about hunting tales from way back . Anyway if you make it there I’d still like to make your acquaintance!

[Andy]

Who really gives a rats ass? We're all SHOOTING and that's all that matters

[todd allen]

Everyone knows that real targets are box birds ;-)

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by todd allen

Everyone knows that real targets are box birds ;-)

Never tried them but I want to once before they set me on fire

[Bruce Hering]

Originally Posted by todd allen

Everyone knows that real targets are box birds ;-)

Todd: Nope.... columbaire is the tough one. LOL...

[Double Lab]

Originally Posted by todd allen

Everyone knows that real targets are box birds ;-)

Well Bruce beat me to it but Columbaire is the ultimate challenge for a shotgun sport. Right Craig, Stan and Jimmy?

Getting back on topic I'm in the same camp as Stan. I have no use for 9's but if they give you confidence, go for it. Although I've seen a number of targets dusted but not chipped with 9's, 8 1/2's and even 8's if the target is hit with the fringe of the pattern. Every time I see dust come off a target but not a chip I ask the shooter what shot size he is shooting. It's generally one of those 3 shot sizes combined with an open choke.