Skeet noob - basic advice sought.

Hi all,

Been shooting for a couple of years now, mostly sporting but I'm considering a change.

I have a good skeet layout nearby (Doveridge) which I have used very occasionally for self buttoning practice for sporting etc, but I'd like to have a more serious crack at it.

I know there are different types of skeet but which should I go for?

Are there weekly registered skeet shoots like there are weekly registered sporting shoots?

Apologies for the dumb questions, but any help or advice great fully received.

Ian.

That's like saying you have been eating in a great restaurant for years but now you are thinking of only eating carrots. (Which, coincidentally are boring and orange also).

I take it such a move isn't recommended then?

Mate, life is full of choice. I just wouldn't understand that one.

I could see doing it for a little while, or as well as, but not as a full substitute. Personal opinion.

I do enjoy sporting, but after slogging away at it for a few years I just don't seem to be able to make any sustained progress. It's not quite one step forward and two back, but it certainly feels that way sometimes.

I was just wondering about maybe having a change for a while, rather than anything permanent. It might help me get back into sporting in the longer term but equally I might find I have a better aptitude to it?

Ian,

(I can put a positive spin on it - as i am a skeet fan unlike Will....... .)

In a nutshell there are three types of skeet in this country.

The first and easiest access is English Skeet which is run by the CPSA. There are literally loads and loads of grounds up and down the country which offer registered English Skeet. Just look through your pull magazine at the fixtures and you will see loads of Reg ESK or Reg SKD (Doubles) and go along.

The next is NSSA skeet which is run by BSSA on behalf of the American Association. There are 8 grounds around the country offering this option on a regular basis (weekly). The fixtures list are on the link here on the left under "Grounds and Fixtures" - http://www.mynssa.co.uk/1.html 

This is the version which gives me the most enjoyment at the minute and has done for a couple of years now. It has the added options of shooting differing gauges etc if you want too. I would always advise advance booking for NSSA - or at least enquire as some grounds can fill quickly.

Lastly is the Olympic Skeet which is run by someone - this is the supposed "ultimate version" as per the title give away. Its not offered a whole lot from my basic knowledge of it but again you will find fixtures in pull magazine under "Reg OSK". 

Any further questions just ask....

No reason not to try it mate.

English Skeet ESK is good, NSSA (American) Skeet is also good.  Olympic Skeet is really hard and not many places to shoot it or compete in it (more's the pity).

You can shoot Skeet Doubles SKD as well, which is fun.  Same as you can in NSSA.

Note:- If you fancy a go at Registered NSSA Skeet i can sort you a years free membership to the Association if you get in touch via PM.

I have really enjoyed my shooting since I started properly in 2005 and a huge part of that has been the progression. Tracking my average and watching it (painfully slowly at times) rising. Even when there was a dip for a while I was ok with it as I sussed that I was not shooting a few easier shoots. The last two years have been interesting as I sorted my prescription glasses out and started another upward trend. But if I was really not progressing I would have not been so keen.

You should be getting better at sporting if you are doing it regularly. It is a gradual thing, like learning a language, but progress should be measurable as long as there is not something stopping you. Eyesight good? If there is no obvious thing, then worth a decent few lessons with a good coach? Could add in a whole new direction and revitalise things? Going to (only) skeet just seems a kind of downward step for a sporting shooter to me; as if the shooting is being moved down to suit you rather than you being moved up to the shooting. (Tin hat from the skeet boys grenades).

Bombs away........

.......

Will its funny how different people do different things for differing reasons. I started out as a sporting shooter and did OK - 4th in my class at the World Sporting in 96, then 95 at the British in 2001 and able to shoot in the high 80's / mid 90's on occasion at various grounds around the country being my highlights i guess.

Till someone suggested i try skeet to help my routine and mental game for sporting around 2002 - not shot a serious ESP competition since as i ENJOY skeet more and get much more from the challenges it offers.

Skeet to me is not a downward step - its just a different set of challenges. Its up to the individual which they enjoy and want to shoot.

Skeetfreak said:

Bombs away........

.......

Will its funny how different people do different things for differing reasons. I started out as a sporting shooter and did OK - 4th in my class at the World Sporting in 96, then 95 at the British in 2001 and able to shoot in the high 80's / mid 90's on occasion at various grounds around the country.

Till someone suggested i try skeet to help my routine and mental game for sporting around 2002 - not shot a serious ESP competition since as i ENJOY skeet more and get much more from the challenges it offers.

Skeet to me is not a downward step - its just a different set of challenges. Its up to the individual which they enjoy and want to shoot.

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It's the great thing about shooting, so many different ways to enjoy it and one will suit your personal wishes best, as you prove. I love the intrigue of walking up to a sporting stand and seeing what is there! The precision and routine of skeet clearly floats others boats. Vive la difference.

With Iggy, I just feel he should suss what has made him plateau in sporting, because even if skeet becomes his thing it may be relevant.

Same for me enjoyed sporting for a while and tried skeet for something different. Pretty hooked on it now I shoot nssa registered at my local ground with skeetfreak and some really good friendly guys.

You're lucky being near Doveridge as they have great skeet ranges.....English and Olympic. I wouldnt jump straight into olympic as there is a big difference from English and it can put new shooters off. I wouldn't give up sporting for it either as shooting both go hand in hand....the skeet could help out on the sporting too.

another newbie, tried ESK and love it looking in time to progress to Doubles then Olympic, not quite sure why it appeals, maybe because its a game of precision and mental discipline and you need perfection or damned close to it to win. I found the 3hrs I spent doing sporting with Salopian has actually helped my skeet and I know skeet is putting in the basics for sporting so there's a nice crossover between the disciplines.

Interesting thread. I started last December and cut my teeth on skeet. After 6 months of it twice weekly I grew bored rigid of it and as a result don't shoot it now preferring Trap & then sporting. However, as a newcomer to the world of shooting I found the basic skills that skeet shooting gave me absolutely invaluable. It was fantastic for experience with crossers and importantly gave me confidence with lead and crucially keeping the gun moving!

What I love about this sport is that there are so many different disciplines and although I have fallen out of love for skeet I am sure I will be back but for now, Trap is where it is at.

Iggy said:

Hi all,

Been shooting for a couple of years now, mostly sporting but I'm considering a change.

I have a good skeet layout nearby (Doveridge) which I have used very occasionally for self buttoning practice for sporting etc, but I'd like to have a more serious crack at it.

I know there are different types of skeet but which should I go for?

Are there weekly registered skeet shoots like there are weekly registered sporting shoots?

Apologies for the dumb questions, but any help or advice great fully received.

Ian.

Click to expand...

All you need to do is buy Todd Bender's DVD and you're sorted!

Jan Powell said:

All you need to do is buy Todd Bender's DVD and you're sorted!

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Best thing you can do with it is get your mate to stand behind you and throw it over your head...practice for high one!!!

Shoot some registerd All Round then you get skeet, DTL, ABT & sporting all in one shoot.

I started out a few years back and the first discipline I tried was English Skeet and to this day love it. I also shoot NSSA and equally enjoy it. Shot my first 50 straight (registered) and finished on a 98 at Oxney this weekend shooting. NSSA

I've even seen the great George Digweed down at Dartford doing a few rounds of skeet!

I also shoot sporting and compak/sport trap and enjoy going to different grounds, I would say i was reasonable at both skeet and sporting.

Skeet is a great discipline and in my opinion is great for the basics in sporting, they help each other like rhubarb and custard mmmmm