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Resources

Experience Level:

Novice

10 Easy Ways to Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month

A day at the range is a day of fun: Learn to shoot, invite a newcomer, share a good time. […]

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Intermediate

Getting Started with Trap Shooting

During the 18th century, European hunters began releasing live pigeons from “traps,” which usually consisted of a hat placed over the bird prior to its release. That’s how the sport got its name, but today live pigeons have been replaced by clay discs (which are often referred to as “clay pigeons” in reference to the early use of live birds). Trap ranges are found throughout the country, and it’s a safe bet that there’s a range not far from you.

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Intermediate

Shotgun Slugs — What Are They and What Can You Do With Them?

The shotgun is a very versatile firearm, capable of filling many roles. From breaking clay birds to calling in spring turkeys, the camaraderie of the duck blind and even in the role of home-defense, the shotgun has wide applications.

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Intermediate

Shooting Clays | How to Hit a Moving Target

Hunting and competing with shotguns can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a real challenge. For instance, in the three primary shotgun sports—trap, skeet and sporting clays—you’re firing at a small orange clay disk being hurled through the air.

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Novice

Getting Started in Sporting Clays

Sporting clays is arguably one of modern shotgun history’s most popular sports. It is one that can be extremely challenging, yet it’s also a discipline a complete beginner can participate in and enjoy.

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Intermediate

Understanding Shotgun Chokes

When you pull the trigger of your shotgun, a column of round shot pellets leaves the barrel and spreads out into a “pattern.” This pattern widens as the group of shot pellets gets further away from the muzzle. At some point, that pattern will be spread apart too far to hit targets at the extreme edge of the shotgun’s effective range; there will be too much space between the individual pellets in the pattern, and all that space is opportunity for a target to escape unscathed.

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Intermediate

An Introduction to International Skeet

The world of shotgun sports, including everything from American trap and skeet to International trap, skeet and double trap, is broad but enjoyed by many. Whether you are a competitive shooter or just enjoying any of the disciplines for fun with friends and family, it’s always a great feeling to watch those orange clay birds disintegrate before your eyes.

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Intermediate

Shooter Profile — Theo Ribbs, Dripping Springs, Texas

Wearing Tiger Woods’ iconic red-and-black Sunday colors, Theo Ribbs pursues a similar path in the world of sporting clays. This young, African-American shooter witnessed a great example of breaking down sports barriers via positive attitude and skill from his father, Willie T. Ribbs, the first black driver in the Indianapolis 500 (1991). At 23, son Theo is building his own brand with the help from family and other great athletes before him.

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Novice

The Remington Model 1100 Auto-loading Shotgun

The shotgun is a tool less precise than a rifle or handgun, but excellent for hitting objects that are flying or running. The single-shot shotgun has been a staple among entry-level shotgunners, but as the game birds pursued by hunters and the clay targets by competitors often present themselves in multiples, the advantage of more than one shot is easily understood.

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