Some Summer Days at the Range

Posted On: 05-24-2026

This summer I highly encourage all youth shooters to take some time at the range to discover what the range has to offer.  While trap my be your go-to shoot, summer might be the time to try some other venues and even perhaps make a few changes. 

First off consider going to the range supports the range during the summer while otherwise youth shooting seems to decline.  I would get out and shoot some sporting clays to start out.  Get some of your friends together and squad shoot all the courses a range may offer.  I say all because some ranges have different degrees of difficulty on different courses so while one might seem easy the others might just humble you to a degree. 

While on the sporting clays course note the ever changing need to watch and plan your shot.  In trap we prescribe our shots as they are consistent but in sporting clays you never know what you might see.  Challenge yourself with gun down mounts and different chokes.  Learn what it takes to see leads and hit targets in a natural environment.

Next up try skeet.  I am amazed at how many have never shot skeet, but once they do they quickly grow a fondness for the sport.  Of course we are at two shots not just one so a different gun may be necessary.  Chokes open up all the way, but loads remain similar.  Learn those leads and the follow through and as you shoot think about how this relates to trap. 

Don’t forget five-stand as another opportunity to refine your skills.  Target movements are like sporting clays, but you never know when target might come from odd directions.  Again, learn the leads by practicing. 

If you have not tried Bunker Trap, I can tell you this is a hoot, but very humbling.  Targets move quickly, but you get to shoot twice so the fun factor is high.  Similar to trap but with so many machines throwing at different angles you cannot become complacent. 

Another great way to exercise the trap field is to shoot some rounds of double trap and wobble trap.  The trap field layout is the same but multiple targets get your eyes moving to acquire the clay and in wobble tall and low targets enter the game. 

Finally, I captioned this “Some Summer Days and the Range” but I want you to take advantage of much more.  As an example, take your gun to the pattern board and see what your gun, shells and chokes actually do.  This can take some time and will require a little attention to detail, but at least when done you might know what those 410 pellets (#8-12ga) are doing for you.  Split the board into quarters and count the pellets.  Determine how your gun and choke split the pellets and find out if this is an advantage or disadvantage. 

Enjoy your summer, support your local range and whenever possible get out and take a few shots.