Author Topic: Anyone shooting skeet these days? (Read 5692 times)

1marty · « **Reply #30 on:** December 11, 2006, 04:27:01 PM »

As my last post noted I shoot skeet every Saturday at 9 AM in the NY area. I began shooting skeet and hunting at 15 with my dad and that was over 47 years ago. I find it as much as a social event since I generally shoot with the same guys. It's sad almost all of the skeet fields are closed because of developement, anti-gun groups etc. Most of the people shooting skeet are about my age. My daughter doesn't want me to mention in front of the grand kids that I shoot and hunt. She even wanted me to take down the picture of the first deer I ever shot Seems that the younger generation around here are being taught that people who hunt or own guns are evil.

shotgunner · « **Reply #31 on:** January 08, 2007, 02:22:20 AM »

It is good to hear that there are people shootig skeet out there. As the owner of a one field facitity I shoot skeet all year, except when I am hunting. I plan to add a trap field and a 5 stand and when I retire, in 6 or 7 years have something to keep me busy. Skeet is a wonderful game and more people should enjoy it. By the way, I think we would all be better off it it was a 28 gauge game. Maybe if they made enough shells they would be affordable. The lack of recoil would make most everyone a better shot. Shotgunner

DeerMeadowFarm · « **Reply #32 on:** March 05, 2007, 09:23:00 AM »

Our club shoots Skeet informally every Sunday. I finally went this past weekend and shot it for the first time. My only choice was an old Savage Fox in 20 gage. I shot two rounds and broke 12 birds each time. Not too disapointing considering my lack of experience and inadequate firearm. Pretty addicting though; you may see me here more often looking for advice.

Graybeard · « **Reply #33 on:** March 05, 2007, 10:18:02 AM »

I shot one day last week on a very windy day with my .410 and pulled out what I think was my personal best effort with a .410. I broke 23-25-21-23 for 92 of 100. If I've ever done better with the .410 I've sure forgotten it.

DeerMeadowFarm · « **Reply #34 on:** March 06, 2007, 02:12:21 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on March 05, 2007, 10:18:02 AM

I broke 23-25-21-23 for 92 of 100. If I've ever done better with the .410 I've sure forgotten it.

I don't know... I think you'd never forget if you had done better than that before! Nice shootin' Graybeard!

shotgunner · « **Reply #35 on:** March 08, 2007, 12:01:26 PM »

Greybeard

Good work with the 410. It always feels good to shoot a straight with it. I have had a couple of 99s with it but never a 100. I missed a high 5 in the last round once, as far as I have gotten so far. By the way, I was bidding on a 28 gauge 1100 barrel on eBay a couple of weeks ago, were you also bidding? Shotgunner

Graybeard · « **Reply #36 on:** March 08, 2007, 12:34:54 PM »

I don't e-bay. Nor do I shoot semiatuos to any extent. I shoot Browning O/Us mostly other than my Remington 1100 G3 in 12 gauge but since my back isn't up to the bending to pick up hulls I don't use it very often. So nope I wasn't bidding on it.

kenscot · « **Reply #37 on:** March 10, 2007, 05:34:40 PM »

I started shooting skeet religiously for the the last five years. But boy has the cost risen. When I started I paided $3.00 a round plus tipping the trapper now it is $7.00 a round

just curious what are you guys paying?

Graybeard · « **Reply #38 on:** March 10, 2007, 05:47:50 PM »

When I started shooting skeet back in the '70s it cost $1.50 per round at the Eastaboga Gun Club and $1.25 per round at Ft. McClellan. I ended up buying the Eastaboga club and ran it for awhile before closing it down. Just no profit in it and I just didn't the time to devote to it.

Currently both of those ranges are closed and I shoot as a member at Owl's Hollow Skeet Range. We pay $3 per round for members up this year from $2.50 last year. Non members pay $1 more per round. Membership dues are $50 per year.

1marty · « **Reply #39 on:** March 11, 2007, 04:41:04 PM »

It's running me around $6 a round plus tipping the trapper. I stack up when the shotshells are on sale. I find it very relaxing for my mind shooting 3 rounds of skeet each weekend with a group of great guys. Beats going to the mall with my wife.

Graybeard · « **Reply #40 on:** March 11, 2007, 05:55:33 PM »

What's this "tipping the trapper" stuff?

The only way I've ever seen it done around here really is the guys on the squad pull for each other and we load the low house while we're there shooting and the high house after the round is finished so the next squad up will have full houses to start.

Are you shooting on ranges where someone is paid to load the machines and pull the targets rather than the squad members doing it? And you're paying twice as much as we do and still have to tip someone? Geez glad I don't shoot there.

shotgunner · « **Reply #41 on:** March 12, 2007, 12:33:53 AM »

Come to PA. I have a one field club with beautiful targets, nothing but sky in the background and the sun on your back. I am open Tuesday afternoons and Sundays as well as by appointment. I am off summers and will open any day. I am charging $3 a round. It is just about enough to pay the insurance. I hope to add a second field, along with a trap field and 5 stand. You can tip me if you want but you don't have to. Shotgunner

kenscot · « **Reply #42 on:** March 12, 2007, 02:50:56 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard on March 11, 2007, 05:55:33 PM

What's this "tipping the trapper" stuff?

The only way I've ever seen it done around here really is the guys on the squad pull for each other and we load the low house while we're there shooting and the high house after the round is finished so the next squad up will have full houses to start.

Are you shooting on ranges where someone is paid to load the machines and pull the targets rather than the squad members doing it? And you're paying twice as much as we do and still have to tip someone? Geez glad I don't shoot there.

That is is how we run it at my club but we shoot over the water and have self mandated the use of steel shot which is costing us $7.00 a box plus $4.00 for the round and I can't shoot my 28 guage.

At the the public range ( only one with in 100 miles) you are paying for a kid to load the houses and pull the targets $7.00 for the round plus what ever the cost of your shells and it's the expected norm that you tip 1-2 bucks per round so it can get costly here.

1marty · « **Reply #43 on:** March 12, 2007, 03:19:53 PM »

I'm shooting at a public range and therefore since you are shooting with veterans and novices they have kids pull and load the traps. I tip $1 per round or $3 in tips everytime I go. The 3 bucks a week isn't going to change my life style that much.

DeerMeadowFarm · « **Reply #44 on:** March 13, 2007, 10:58:06 AM »

We charge $3/Round for members and non-members, and we don't tip the trapper; the scorer maybe...

shotgunner · « **Reply #45 on:** March 14, 2007, 12:35:21 AM »

The steel shot thing will kill trap and skeet if it is allowed to spread. With lead shot going for over $20 a bag and gas near $3 a gallon it is hard enough. If you are shooting over water it is one thing, I shot a Lordship once, but for any club shooting over dry land fight the tree huggers. If you keep the PH of the soil correct lead is not a problem. A little lime is usually all it needs. No mater what kind of steel shot loads they make you can't shoot it through aluminum tubes. Shotgunner

Countryboy · « **Reply #46 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:28:21 PM »

and I thought $3 a round was plenty.

shotgunner · « **Reply #47 on:** March 15, 2007, 05:43:25 AM »

I didn't shoot a Lordship, I shot AT Lordship Conn. some years ago. It was a beautiful facility that Remington ran overlooking the Long Island sound. Shot and targets landed in the water. Right around the time the steel shot thing started they closed Lordship down. The oppisition said it was lead poisioning. I would guess that Remington figured out that the real estate was worth much more than the argument. Too bad, it was a beautiful place. Shotgunner

sculbert1 · « **Reply #48 on:** August 30, 2007, 07:41:55 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on September 26, 2006, 01:16:03 PM

Glad you found your way here William, stick around and talk more with us. We'd be glad to have you. Always room for a few more wingshooters. That's really my first love in shooting.

Graybead,
Where are you shooting at? I'm a few miles north of Gadsden and have been looking for a place to shoot skeet.

Graybeard · « **Reply #49 on:** August 30, 2007, 11:48:57 AM »

We shoot at Owl's Hollow Range. The state bought the land a few years ago from Goodyear. They took over the rifle/pistol range and run it like other state rifle/pistol ranges but have an agreement with our club to allow us to run the skeet/trap range just as before when Goodyear owned the land.

I think Owl's Hollow Road is again open from the Gadsden side but I don't think they've paved it back after road work. To get to range from that side you can turn of US431 onto 5th street (left turn if you're going south or right turn if going north) and go until it dead ends about two blocks away. Turn left and go a long block and turn right onto Owl's Hollow road BEFORE you cross the RR track. The range will be on the left about 6 miles out. We're open at the skeet range Wednesday and Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoon. Posted hours are 8-noon Wed and Sat and noon to 4:00 on Sunday. In reality in summer some of us are there by 6:30 or a bit past in the mornings as it's too danged hot later.

You can also go as I do. I come north on US431 and make the right turn off it to US411 and make a left turn onto it and go about 5-6 miles and turn off on Turkey Town Gap road which dead ends on Owl's Hollow Road about two miles beyond the range so a left turn and a short drive takes you to the range.

I think the rifle/pistol range is open seven days a week during daylight hours and only cost is you must have a valid state hunting license to use it.

Right now I'm mostly shooting on Wednesday and occasionally on Saturday but not as often. I'm there early and usually gone by 8:30.

shotgunner · « **Reply #50 on:** September 09, 2007, 12:41:00 PM »

I just bought two more Western skeet machines, I plan to add a second field in the spring. In the meantime I am going to set them up as 5-stand machines. I put one in the bottom of the high house so it will throw a bird parallel to the high house. The other machine is set up 40 yards out to throw an in-comer. I will use a station behind the shooters to throw some hand set targets. Should be fun. With shot over $30 a bag it might be hard to get many people to shoot. Shotgunner

Graybeard · « **Reply #51 on:** September 09, 2007, 01:09:02 PM »

Shot has been over $30 a bag a long time around here. I'm told the current price is about $53 per bag. I've not bought any since it went beyond $30 per bag but did stock up on a few hundred pounds when it was right at that price. At the rate I shoot I have enough ammo and components to get me thru at least the end of next year I think. I'll deal with the beyond that when I get there. I'm shooting the .410 and 28 almost exclusively now and a bag of shot loads 800 and 533 respectively I think I recall so I get a lot of shooting from a bag of shot.

1marty · « **Reply #52 on:** September 12, 2007, 04:30:57 PM »

I use to reload but I found a local store by me which charges $39 a case for Fed top gun 12 or 20G from 7 1/2 to 9's. It appeared cheaper to go the finished product approach.