Why Not a 16 Gauge?

    I participated this past weekend in a small gauge sporting clays competition at our local site.  I understand that a small gauge is any gauge less than a 12 gauge.  So, I shot the first round (50 birds) with a 20 gauge O/U and shot okay, but not as well as usual.  The course was not a "20 gauge course" as some might think.  (easier?) The last 2 stations would be considered difficult even with a 12 gauge and tight chokes.  I know the course must have a station or two to separate the "men from the boys".  Would 1 ounce 20 gauge loads have helped?  I doubt it.  (I did use mod and full chokes)
    I decided to shoot my "el-cheapo" Stoeger 16 gauge O/U (fixed mod and full choked barrels) the second round.  The ammunition I used was 1 ounce 7 1/2 shot self-loaded Fiocchi shells.  I couldn't believe the difference! (9 more broken targets)  I realize that shooting the course a second time should help, but distant targets I missed the first round were broken with ease.  I think I was the only person to shoot a 16 gauge the whole day.
    Whenever someone asks me what gauge my gun is and finds out it is a 16 gauge, they admit one of their first shooting experiences was with a 16 gauge or they have an old one in the gun cabinet at home, but rarely use it.  This observation led me to research different Internet sites on the present use of 16 gauge shotguns for sporting clays.  Here are some of the items I found.

• Shooters didn't like 16 gauge barrels on the 12 gauge frames as on some of the newer guns.  They felt the gun was still too heavy to swing as easily as a 20 gauge.
• Shooters said a 20 gauge 1 ounce load was as effective as a 1 ounce 16 gauge load and their 20 gauge or 28 gauge gun was lighter and swung more easily. Also, 3 inch chambers are not available.
• Readers complained they couldn't find reloading supplies (especially wads) to reload their hard to find 16 gauge shells.
• Non-reloaders complained about the price of a box of 16 gauge 7 1/2 to 8 sized shot. ($10-$12 per box)
• Some contributors said their 16 gauge gun had fixed chokes and didn't allow them to mix and match different sporting clays presentations.
• Some shooters hinted at "brand-lusting".  They intimated that unless you shoot a Browning, Krieghoff, or some other "better made" gun that you would not be successful shooting sporting clays.
• Another group said the newer 16 gauges were just too expensive.
• Finally, some said few good auto loading 16 gauges are available.

    Here are a few of my thoughts about using the 16 gauge shotgun for sporting clays. (Or even hunting)

• My Stoeger weighs 7 pounds with 28 inch barrels. While not much lighter than a 12 gauge, it is more streamlined and compact than many auto loaders.  The main objection I had to a little 28 gauge that I used was that the 28 gauge, being lighter, hit my shoulder harder, so it seemed.
• Some experts call the 16 a "sweet 16" because the shot column height and width has square  dimensions creating an evenly distributed shot pattern.  Only an expert could prove this phenomenon makes it better than a 20 gauge shot column.  I do know that I hit a lot more targets with the 16 gauge than a 20, 28, or .410 gauge shotgun.
• Reloading components are now becoming more available.  Claybuster CB0100-16, 1 ounce wads are available at Sportsman's Den in Shelby, Ohio, as well as Ballistics Products, Inc. (www.ballisticproducts.com ).  For empty hulls, I shoot local Walmart purchased ones and save the spent hulls for reloading, and have had about 1000 hulls given to me by old timers (ha) who used to shoot the 16 regularly.  Ballistics also has 16 gauge hulls for sale (expensive!) to get started with.  I also was lucky enough to be given a 16 gauge Mec Jr. reloader by a friend who seems to be able to find just about any shooting supply in Ohio.  I spend less than four dollars a box to reload the 16 gauge.
• Reloading recipes are available on the Internet if you search hard enough.  I use 19.5 grains of Unique powder, 1 ounce of shot, Win 209 primers, CB0100-16 wads listed at 1220 ft/sec. I do not like sites that want you to pay for their recipes! Ballistics has a book called "Sixteen Gauge Manual - 6th Edition" for sale also.
• Nostalgia is important to me, because older guns and gauges really interest me.  There is something to be said about taking the path less followed.  I love to hunt pheasants with my 16 gauge.  I wish my dad had handed me down one of those bottom ejecting 16 gauge pump guns.
• So far, my 16 gauge Stoeger "farmer's gun" ($250 after rebate) has worked flawlessly.  I've shot about 2000 rounds through it in one year.  So, I say pooey to those people who say a 16 gauge is too expensive to try out and a gun like the Stoeger is a waste of money.
• Humm... Fixed chokes?  I have a challenge for you.  Shoot several rounds of sporting clays or skeet with mod/full or full/full in your trusty O/U shotgun.  Truthfully, I shoot better with more closed chokes.  Some people spend more time changing choke tubes at each station instead of concentrating on where or how to break the target!  Learn to have confidence in your technique, not your tools!
• I don't like auto loaders for sporting clays anyway.  All that clinking and clanging and extra cleaning are bothersome.  (I did start shooting with a Remington 1187 auto loader.)

    If you are interested in reading more about the 16 gauge shotgun, follow the path listed below.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/16_gauge_wakeman.htm
http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/guns/2002/06/16-gauge-revival

    Get off your duff, do something different for a change.  Dust off and clean that old 16 gauge in your closet, or borrow one and accept my challenge to you at your favorite sporting clays site.  I think you will have fun as well as success with these forgotten guns!  I would, myself, be interested in a local sporting clays competition open to just 16 gauge shooters.  How about you?

"Know guns, no crime. No guns, know crime."- Ralph Lauretano

The Adventures of Buying a Golf Cart

    I thought buying a golf cart for shooting sporting clays courses would be a simple process.  However, the opposite was true.  Everywhere I turned seemed to have an obstacle as big as Goliath.  Here is how my adventure unfolded.
    First, I owned two 4-wheelers and I enlisted the help of Craigslist to sell them so I could afford a good used golf cart.  Wow, I sold both of them in less than a week and received the asking price for each.  Cash in hand, I searched the local Craiglist for carts and found at several I was interested in.  Some friends said a battery powered cart was the better choice while others said replacing old batteries was very expensive and a gas powered cart was the way to go.
    The first cart I considered was a gas powered Yamaha.  It had fancy wheels and a rough faded exterior and when I looked at the motor, it was dirt covered at least an inch thick.  Wouldn't you think a guy would clean it up to sell it?  The price was non-negotiable and I thought I could do much better.  Have you ever noticed that a seller has an inflated idea of what their item is worth?  I walked away from that one quickly.

    Next, I considered a nicely kept ten year old battery powered cart.  The owner said the batteries were as good as new (yea, right) and he hadn't bothered to charge them all summer, so they were dead.  Buying six batteries at $140 to $160 each is not a good situation.  He wanted a ridiculous price and the cart even had a flat tire! Thanks, but no thanks.
    I made reservations to see other advertised carts and found out that most of them were being sold because they were pretty well used up.  Some owners had a new cart hidden in their back yard or garages and were eager to get rid of their old filthy ones at an unreasonable price.  I even visited certified dealers of golf carts.  What an experience!  The salesmen were not interested in helping me (unless I wanted to buy an $8000 new cart) and were arrogant.  They must have thought my IQ was really low when I mentioned I wanted a cart for sporting clays.  I finally asked one of the managers if he was interested in selling any golf carts and I didn't appreciate the way I was being treated.  He told me the market was very good at this time and I had better get used to it.  OK,  I took a roll of cash out of my pocket, waved it in his face, and left.  He did sputter a lot!  Ha!

    My final adventure occurred when I responded to a beautiful gas powered, red colored, lifted, chrome wheeled cart being sold on Craigslist from a nearby city by a "newly divorced mother" for only $1600.  I knew the page looked too professional, but I responded with an email.  I received a prompt reply that a purchase must be handled through Ebay's buyer protection program.  Hum... Ebay on Craigslist?  No way.  As I feared, it was a complete scam.  Did they think I would pay for an item I had not even seen?  There are scammers everywhere!
    At this point, I gave up buying a golf cart for at least this year.  I found it a lot cheaper to ride in a friend's cart.  If money is no object, plenty of shiny new carts are available to the buyer.  Good luck for the rest of us!

    I hope you have a better experience purchasing things than I did.  Now, I can get back to writing about sporting clays.

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.           - William Arthur Ward
Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.
          - Yogi Berra
   
  

Do I Need a Golf Cart to Shoot Sporting Clays?

    I grew up on a farm, played football, coached football, and mow my own yard.  One of the excuses I use to shoot regularily is the need for a hobby that provides some exercise for my 60 plus year old body.  I do admit, however, that I ride a golf cart with friends to travel from station to station as we shoot.  I have been searching my mind for reasons (excuses) to purchase my own golf cart. 
    I will discuss the cons first.    

• I need the exercise of walking between stations.
• Cost: Initially purchasing the cart and insurance.  Replacing tires, buying gasoline or batteries, gun racks, paying for repairs, and a purchasing a trailer to haul the cart.
• A storage place at home to keep the cart.  Most neighborhoods don't want to see a cart parked in the yard.
• Safety: hauling the cart or wrecking it due to poor driving.
• My wife. This a very important reason.  Ha!

    Now, the pros for purchasing a golf cart.

• Health.  Many of the people I shoot with are reaching an advanced age and can't walk from station to station.  If not for the golf carts, they would not be able to keep shooting sporting clays.
• Competitiveness.  Riding in the cart slows fatigue from walking and carrying, allowing for better concentration.
• Utility:  The cart can carry all the equipment needed to shoot 50 to 100 shot shells per round on the course, plus a heavy shotgun and shooting bag.  If someone has forgotten something or they need a prune juice break, the cart becomes very valuable.  The cart can carry rain gear, water, insect repellent, hand warmers, first aid kits, extra guns in case of malfunction, choke tubes, sun screen lotion, and of course, your hunting dog.
• Speed.  Unless your shooting pals discuss every shot or get sidetracked talking about hunting adventures, the course can be completed faster saving valuable time for yard mowing, sports viewing, or completing the wife's "honey do" list.

    As you can see, I have probably talked myself into purchasing a golf cart.  So, now begins research into getting a good cart at a reasonable price.  My next blog will deal with the results of this adventure.
    Do you have any hints for me?  Should I keep depending on my friends for a ride?

The West was not won with a registered gun."
- unknown
 

Has Sporting Clays Become Too Commercialized?

    As I was reading a book about how churches, clubs, and other groups have resorted to gimmicks and other advertising ploys to attract people, I realized Sporting Clays shooting has followed a similar path.  Does this sport exist for the shooters? Or does it exist for the gun and ammunition manufacturers, or shooting clubs, or sports clothing companies?  I would think that the shooter would be attracted to Sporting Clays for exercise, fellowship, competition, and mental relaxation.  So, what has happened?
    Magazines, computer chat groups and forum sites, and television programs are littered with people telling the shooter that he must shoot a certain gun, use a certain load, stand a certain way, wear certain clothes, and shoot at only certain sites.  What started out as a service to shooters has become a means for the above groups to make money without regard for the shooter.  Is it right to charge a fee to read some one's personal opinions about how to shoot "properly"?  Just as the church should exist for the people, sporting clays should exist for the shooters, not the other way around.

    So, how does a church, a club, or even a shooting sport continue to exist without creatively attracting new members?  Education is the answer.  In the case of Sporting Clays, the shooter must be provided with opportunities to learn how to mature in their shooting abilities and become a more effective shooter.  Let's face it, we might say that just shooting the gun is fun, (especially when we have a bad day) but, in reality, breaking the targets is the real goal we have in mind when we shoot. 

    A club could provide free shooting instructions, sporting guns demonstrations, reloading demonstrations, and shooting stations designed to be attractive to all shooters, not just the "master" shooters. These activities are not gimmicks because they are designed primarily to help the shooter, not some business.  Word of mouth expressed by satisfied, motivated shooters would increase the participants of the sport at local facilities.  Did you ever wonder why so many shooters participate for a short period of time and then quit?  They become frustrated because they feel they can't learn how to compete on their own.

    As a retired teacher and coach, I found one of the most difficult aspects of the learning process was to motivate the students to learn on their own time, not merely taking notes, going home, and then repeating the process daily.  Education increases success; success increases motivation; and motivation increases participation.   

    I hope you understand the meaning of my ramblings.  Do you agree that the basics of sporting clays as a true "sport" are being ignored and harmed by commercialization?

"My goal is to translate response into results. Some teachers teach for others to learn. That's not me. Some teachers teach for others to accomplish. That is me."
- Anonymous

Sporting Clays Can Be a Humbling Experience

    Have you ever been shooting Sporting Clays especially well only to fall flat on your face the next time out?  I missed 10-15 more birds than usual.  I wish I could pinpoint the reason(s) for my sudden fall.  I had developed a proven (or I though was proven) plan to follow each time I shot two rounds of Sporting Clays, regardless of the course.  I though I had finally reached a point of proper experience and knowledge to make me more consistent and therefore more "successful" in breaking those dastardly clay birds.  Being a retied science teacher, I felt a scientific approach was my best plan.

   Here was my plan:

• Shoot a 20 gauge the first round and a 16 gauge the second round. I reluctantly put my trusty 12 gauge Browning aside thinking I was reacting too much to the pre-conceived recoil of the larger bore gun.
• Use only improved cylinder chokes in the 20 gauge and mod and full chokes in the 16 gauge.  (The 16 gauge has fixed chokes) I felt I was depending too much on the choke restriction to hit the targets.
• Reload a slightly lower amount of powder (Unique powder) in each of the shells for the previously mentioned guns.  Again, I was worried about recovering in time for a second shot after the recoil of the first shot. (I'm a cheap person too!)
• Use 7 1/2 sized shot always.  I questioned if I was thinking too much about having different sized shot available for closer or more distant targets.
• Concentrate fully on pointing my lead foot to where I wanted to break the target and swung the gun half way back to the thrower.
•  Lift my head slightly to see the target first and placed the stock to my cheek only when I could see the moving target.  I thougt I was seeing the target too slowly and  was consistently shooting behind it.
• Shot at the leading edge of the target unless the target was a fast crosser.  Then I lead it no more than my perceived picture of a 12 inch ruler. (I like Math too)
• Lean into the shot before the target was thrown to minimize recoil effects and "poke and hope" shooting.

    My plan was to simplify my shooting, but I realize as I write this article that the plan was not really that easy.  The technique was easy for me to duplicate since some of it was pre-planned in the preparation of the guns and ammunition.  The plan worked very well until last weeks mis-adventure.  Now my confidence is at a low ebb and I am tempted to throw it all out and begin experimenting anew.

    I have thought long and hard about what caused my bad day.  Here are some reasons (or are they excuses?) I concluded.

• New contact lenses after a bout of pink eye.
• Less clothing on my shoulder.  It was a warmer day.
• Slightly different courses than I am accustomed to.
• Over-confidence.
• Lack of concentration!  I seemed to have a real problem with visualization and comfort that day.  I noticed I missed targets when I didn't plan where to shoot them properly.  I didn't watch the show birds well enough.  Brain block?
• When I stared missing, I had a tendency to ride the target and aim too much.  I did too much second guessing.

    Humm.....  I seem to have answered my own question.  The guns, ammunition, and chokes where the same as usual, not me!  I guess I should write the day off, relax, and look forward to shooting again next weekend.  (good luck doing that!) 

    What do you do when you have a bad shooting experience?  Any advice would be appreciated.  Load 'em up, shoot a lot, and have fun with Sporting Clays.

    From your humbled fellow shooter- Mark.

          Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote! - Benjamin Franklin

Are These Sporting Clays Shooting Mistakes I See?

    I have decided to return to the reason I started this blog about shooting sporting clays: describing how I have grown/matured in shooting over the past seven years.  As I shoot with other enthusiasts, I notice certain actions, both physical and mental, that seem to affect success in breaking those maddening clay targets.  Have you noticed these actions too?  Please let me know of actions you observe that affect shooting success in addition to mine.

1. Too much movement of the gun right before calling for the target.  The shooter waves the gun in a random pattern not related to the bird's projected path.
2. Holding the gun too high or too low.  It looks like to gun is too heavy to pre-mount successfully.  They must move their gun excessively to get to the target's path.
3. Focusing constantly on the bead of the barrel and not the path of the target.  The shooters seem to think they need to aim through the entire path of the target.
4. Bringing the gun back too far in the early path of the target.  These people have a tendency to shoot behind the target constantly because they can't catch up with it.  Not bringing the gun back far enough also seems to be a problem.
5. Pointing the lead foot to where they can first see the target instead of where they want to break it.  I read somewhere that the further you have to twist your body from a comfortable position, the lower the gun points as you swing through.
6. Poking and hoping.  The shooter seems to have an idea of where he/she wants to break the target, but he/she flinches forward, stops the gun, pulls the trigger, and usually misses the target, or at least randomly misses it.
7. Pre-conceiving the recoil of the gun.  The shooter worries more about the coming recoil than the presentation of the target.  Many shooters profit from lower recoil loads, or by shooting semi-automatics to lessen the recoil.  More power usually doesn't result in more broken targets if you are not comfortable with the recoil of the gun.  Some shooters don't notice how much the gun leaps after they shoot, and how much they have to reset the gun's mounting before they can shoot again.
8. Focusing more on choke choice, shot size, shell load, or gun gauge than consistent technique.  Good (great) shooters have confidence that they can break targets regardless of the above choices.
9. Stepping into the station after admitting they will break very few of the targets.  Isn't it amazing how a good mental attitude can affect shooting success?
10. Keeping the cheek in a constant position on the stock when the trigger is to be pulled.  Some shooters keep their cheeks against the stock through the entire target path while others wait until the target approaches the chosen breaking point.  Did you ever lift your head to admire the break of the first target and completely miss a second target of a pair?
11. Ill-functioning guns or shell "bloopers".  If the shooter has to worry if the gun is going to fire or cycle, or if the shell has been loaded properly, then broken target success is limited. 
12. Stubbornness or erratic technique.  My dad was probably the most bull-headed man I have ever met!  If someone suggested a change in his shooting technique, he would never be willing to change.  Some shooters change their techniques at the drop of a hat, listening too much to the advice of others shooters.  Ha!  At least my dad should never have been confused!
13. Last, but not least, focusing on the task at hand:  breaking the target.  Focusing is a mysterious concept that few shooters seem to notice or admit even exists.  Does focusing include confidence, vision, learned techniques from a lot of practicing, dedication, intelligence, being "right or left" brained (or no brained like me), relaxation ability, breathing techniques, or posture?  Focusing is probably affected by all of these to some extent.  Are these aspects of focusing why sporting clays is a difficult sport?

    As I have matured through the trial and error process of becoming a better shooter, correcting the above mistakes have definitely improved my ability to break targets.  I have become more consistent and more confident when I step into a station.  What has helped you the most?

Top Ten Reasons Why Men Shoot Sporting Clays

    I'm sure the topic of why men shoot sporting clays has been discussed before.  I'm also sure women wonder why men do anything they do.  I didn't include women in this article because it's impossible for men to talk for women, let alone figure them out.  This discussion could apply to many other activities like golf, fishing, hunting, or even stamp collecting.  Some of the items on my list could overlap with others, but here it goes.

1. Genetic-  Does the male Y chromosome contain a gene that makes us competitive? As I mentioned in an earlier post, in early times, some men were better hunter-gatherers than they were crop tenders, or herders. 
2. Risk Taking-  This item may relate to number 1, but I felt it should be considered separately.  Shooting sports are dangerous if not done carefully. 
3. Exercise-  Walking between stations is good exercise, unless you have a friend who has a golf cart.  It is not a lot of exercise getting in and out of a cart.  Ha.

4. Competition- Men receive personal satisfaction, a "high", showing their prowess in the presence of other shooters.
5. Family-  Many men were introduced to shooting by a family member and relish the memories of these people and events.
6. Social -  Shooting sporting clays provides men an opportunity to meet others and make strong, lasting relationships.
7. Mental Release (Relaxation)-  Every man needs a way to escape the pressures of work, family life, or political realities.  I have noticed that breaking targets may relieve aggressive feelings in men.  Nobody cares if you totally kill or destroy the target.
8. Problem Solving-  Sporting clays provides a myriad of challenges of which gun, which ammunition, which positioning techniques, or which mental posturing works best.  Shooters either consciously or subconsciously work on these challenges each time they shoot.  I have to admit these challenges keep me coming back to the course each week.
9. Self-Esteem-  Sporting clays provides a man with an opportunity to "stand out" and be noticed.  Being physically fit and healthy probably could make the shooter better, but it is not as essential as in other competitive sports.  (I say that because I do look in the mirror.)  Sporting clays is also more age independent than other sports.  Men admire older men who can still shoot well.
10. Discipline-  Shooting sporting clays (successfully) requires that a shooter uses the same techniques over and over, plans, plots, and tests.  Mental discipline is equally important.  Have you ever had to shoot a round quickly to get home for an appointment?  You usually don't have a good day.

    I hope you like this list and it is different from others that you have read.  It was very difficult to define precisely the differences between each of the ten categories.  Perhaps I could sum it all up and say sporting clays is fun and these ten categories define having fun for men.  Have I left out some important ideas that you have?  How would you rank them?

“If you're not making mistakes, you're not taking risks, and that means you're not going anywhere. The key is to make mistakes faster than the competition, so you have more changes to learn and win.”
 John W. Holt