Important Supplies For The Allstar Trap And Skeet Shooter
For anyone who is interested in the sport of clay pigeon shooting which is made up of three different disciplines. Before they buy any shotgun accessories it is crucial that they become a member of a gun club. Once at the gun club they have the opportunity to not only try skeet and trap shooting but also the sporting clays as well.
Then if they find a particular clay pigeons discipline they like they can now consider becoming a full time member of the gun club. This is also the time when they go out and buy not only a shotgun but also the various shotgun accessories they will need if they intend to compete. However, one must be prepared to spend quite a considerable sum on the equipment, remember you pay for what you get and the better the equipment then the more comfortable you will feel. A person who is relaxed when involved in clay pigeons, trap or skeet shooting will find that they hit the targets much better.
So what accessories will one need if you do decide to get involved in any of the disciplines that revolve around the sport of clay pigeon shooting? Below we take a look at some of the more crucial items that you will need to purchase. Many of these you can purchase from shotgun stores or from stores online that offer trap shooting supplies.
Item 1 – Glasses
You should expect to have to spend between $50 and $500 on this item of equipment for involvement in these sports. If you want to keep costs down initially when just learning then opt for production grade shooting glasses rather than custom made type. Generally these types of glasses use a prescription lens that you can mount within the interior of the glasses in front of your line of vision but can be removed when not required.
The production type glasses compared to the custom made ones can be used for any of the disciplines revolving around clay pigeons. Whereas what you will find is that although the custom made shooting glasses are made to suit your eyes perfectly you may only find that the pair you have are perfect for when doing one particular form of shooting. However, there are a few pairs that come with the added facility to allow you to use them for both clay and trap shooting but normally can be only used where the shotgun is mounted. Also the custom type glasses will be fitted to suit your face shape so not only will this prevent slippage when being worn but provide you with clear sight at all times.
Item 2 – Ear Protectors
This is a very essential shotgun accessory that you should be purchasing if you intend to spend a great deal of time at your gun club or competing in shotgun competitions. Guns of all calibres can create some of the loudest noises we would hear in the world today and without adequate protection your hearing can be seriously damaged. For this particular item of shooting equipment you can expect to have to spend between $5 and $200. Again the more you spend the better quality the ear protectors will be and so the less chances of damage being caused to your hearing.
When it comes to this item of shooting equipment and which will be found in any shotgun accessories section you have to choices of ear protectors. You can either go for ear plugs or ear muffs. The ones that you choose will depend on how comfortable they feel when being worn and of course how much you can afford to spend on them. Generally the ear plug protectors tend to cost quite a bit less than the ear muffs but there are some models that can cost just as much as them.
Item 3 – Shooting Vest
This is the type of item you would wear when the weather has turned a little chilly but doesn’t actually require you to wear a full shooting jacket when competing or practicing. The great thing about this item of clothing to wear when trap or skeet shooting is that it allows you plenty of freedom of movement. As long as you wear a jumper underneath will help to keep you warm when you are waiting your turn to shoot. Also when it comes to these shotgun accessories they have within them pockets that allow you to keep ammunition close at hand for when your weapon needs to be reloaded.
You should expect to spend between $40 and $200 on this item for when involved in clay pigeons disciplines. Again the more you spend the better quality the item will be. For example the top range shooting vests as well as being comfortable come with padding around the shoulder area and are waterproof.
Item 4 – Gun Rest
If you are intending to get involved in skeet or trap shooting competitively then having somewhere to place your gun whilst other team members are shooting is essential. The MuzzleMat is a new type of gun rest available that sits on the ground and onto which you then place the barrel of your shotgun. This allows you the opportunity to relax your arms whilst others shoot so taking some of the strain out of carrying the weight of your shotgun. The more relaxed you are then the better your aim will be and of course you have a greater chance of hitting the targets as they are released.
Item 5 – Shotgun Cases
As you have invested quite a bit of money in your shotgun you of course need to make sure that it is well protected when not in use and when taking it from competition to competition. Therefore you need to think about purchasing a shotgun case in which it can be transported. Today you have two options you can either go for a soft type of case or spend a little more on the hard type cases instead.
Today when it comes to the soft shotgun cases that you will find in shotgun accessories departments are made from vinyl, canvas, leather or Cordura nylon. Most people are opting for the ones made from Cordura Nylon as these can put up with a considerable amount of abuse and are resistant to water ingression. But there are just as many people who prefer to purchase soft cases for their shotguns made from thick good quality leather.
When it comes to the purchasing of the soft cases make sure that at the end where the muzzle is located will contain a heavy rubber tip to provide it with added protection. Also if you can choose ones that are lined either with sheep fleece or flannel to prevent the shotgun from being scratched. Also opt for the types of soft shotgun cases that come with a sling so making the task of carrying the weapon around a lot easier and more comfortable for you.
As for the hard shotgun cases generally these are made from molded plastic or aluminum and should be used when you need to travel long distances. The ones made from plastic tend to cost less than the aluminum kind however they are much more prone to damage happening to them such as scratches. Plus if you want to know that your shotgun is safe at all times especially if it won’t be in your presence because it gets placed in the hold of an aircraft then the aluminum models are a better option. This because anyone attempting to open the case to extract your shotgun will find it very difficult indeed.
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