Shooting Etiquette and Synopsis
Trap Synopsis and Etiquette
If you are the squad leader, meaning you are the shooter on post 1 when the round starts, check that all other shooters are at their post and ready before initiating each series of 5 shots. This is especially true for any shooter moving from post 5 to post 1.
Before the very first target of the round is thrown, the Squad Leader, should ask “squad ready?”, if the answer is no, then wait a bit before everyone is settled and ready. After all are ready to go, a sample target should be called so that the squad can decide if the Trap mechanism needs adjustment. If the test bird is acceptable, then the Squad Leader can start. Note: this is only done on the very first target of the round not on every post.
When it is your turn, do not be too anxious to shoot. Don’t raise your gun until the shooter before you has completed his shot and lowered his gun. Then load your gun, mount it, get ready, call for the target in a clear voice, track the bird and pull the trigger. After firing, lower your gun and remove the spent hull. After you take your shot, whether you break the target or not, try not to speak out either in joy or displeasure, these are distracting to the other shooters. There will be plenty of time after the round to laugh or cry, whatever the case may be. Unless you are shooting doubles, load only one shell at a time. If a delay occurs remove the shell(s) from the chamber.
Between shots, remain on your post, standing facing the trap quietly. Refrain from bending down to get a new or spent shell or pace back and forward or side to side. These are very distracting to the other shooters.
After all shooters have taken their 5 shots, it is time to move to the next post. Ensure your gun is unloaded and the gun’s action is open.
When moving from post 5 to post 1, walk behind all of the other shooters keeping your barrel pointed at the ground. When you are settled on post 1 and ready to shoot, ensure that you look at the leader of your squad and give him a thumbs up (or other non-vocal overt gesture) indicating you are ready. The leader should be waiting for you before continuing with their own shot.
At the end of the round remain on your last post facing the trap until the last person has fired their last shot.
If you are using a Semi Auto Action Shotgun, ensure your gun is equipped with a shell catcher. No other shooter likes it when spent hulls are flung at them or worse yet, hit them in the leg or face.
Try not to talk loudly during the round, if one of the microphones picks up your voice, you may cause a target to be thrown outside of your turn.
If using a pump or semi auto, try not to close or open your action directly in front of the microphone as you may cause the machine to throw a target out of turn.
Wait until the end of the round to reach down and pick up empty shells from the ground.
Always be aware of where your barrel is pointed especially after your shot. Follow through is a good thing, too much follow through may not be.
When you close the gun’s action make sure to have your barrel pointed down range. Not at or on your foot or directly at the ground. Accidental discharges do happen on occasion. If one were to happen to you, you will probably prefer that your foot or someone else is not involved.
HTSC Skeet Range Synopsis and Etiquette
When entering the skeet field, have your eye and ear protection in place, your shotgun action open and pointed in a safe direction. In general, automatic, pump, and single shot shotguns should be pointed up and down range. Break open shotguns should always have the muzzle in sight and pointed down. Never, ever point your shotgun at another person even if you believe it is unloaded!
When waiting your turn to shoot, keep your voice down so you will not disturb/distract the active shooter. Be ready to take the shooting station without delay when it is your turn. If you are shooting by yourself, ask the clubhouse manager for help, use a voice call, but DO NOT use your foot on the target release buttons.
Load your shotgun only if you are on a shooting station. Load only one round at one target stations and a maximum of two rounds at doubles stations. Have your shells ready where you do not have to fumble around or stoop down to get them.
Call for your targets in a clear voice, remember the target puller is also wearing hearing protection.
Remain on your shooting station until you have fired and/or unloaded your shotgun and have removed the fired shotshell casings from your shotgun. Do not step off the shooting station until this action is completed.
If expended shotshell casings fall to the ground, do not retrieve them immediately. Wait until the end of the round to retrieve your shotshell casings.
Stay with your shooting squad, do not move ahead or lag behind. This distracts the other shooter(s) and could be unsafe.
5-Stand Synopsis and Etiquette:
A round of 5-Stand consists of 25 total targets that are shot from 5 different stations or stands (hence the name), 5 from each of the 5 stands. After 5 targets, the shooter rotates to the next stand. Shooters take turns in rotation shooting targets until that station is complete. Targets are launched from multiple different throwers which are located in random locations in the field. They are released in a predetermined sequence, that order is posted on a menu card in front of each shooting box.
Shooting Sequence:
The first target at each station will be a single, you may, if you need to, use two shots to break it. The second set of targets will be a report pair. Which means, whether you break the first bird or not, the second target will be launched after the first target shot is fired. The third set will be a true double pair. Meaning both targets are launched at the same time.
To shoot 5-Stand, since there are double targets involved, you’ll need a gun that can shoot two shells without reloading. Such as an over / under, semi-auto, or pump style shotgun.
One point to remember is, since you can shoot twice at the single target at each stand and there are 25 total targets, you may need more than 25 shells.
Field layout:
A 5-stand field is setup similar to a trap field, with five shooting stations set up next to each other in a line or slight arc. Multiple traps are positioned in random positions out in the field, the actual number of traps and layout varies from club to club and field to field; five to twelve traps are common. The traps are set up to throw a variety of targets at different angles and speeds. Sometimes different sized targets are thrown. The targets are setup to simulate different game birds and sometimes rabbits. So you may see crossing, outgoing, overhead, incoming, and vertical presentations.
Due to the large variety and angles of the targets that can be presented, like sporting clays, each 5-Stand station will have a frame set up to limit the shooter’s gun movement. This is to ensure the safety of the other shooters on the field by preventing too much gun swing while engaging the targets.
Some safety rules:
All guns must be open and empty while moving from one stand to the next.
Shooters may not leave their station until they are instructed to do so by the referee or until the last shooter has fired their last shot.
A shooter may only load their gun while they are in the shooting stand and in the ready position.
A maximum of two shells may be loaded in the gun at any time.
The shooter’s feet must be behind the front opening of the shooting stand while shooting.
Only legal trap / skeet loads may be used.