Shotgun Sports
OVERVIEW
Shotgun Sports at the Marshfield Rod and Gun Club is open to the public during our hours of operation. On two fields we offer skeet, trap, and 5 stand. One field is a dedicated skeet field. Field #2 is an overlay field that features all 3 games at various times. Schedules for the shotgun fields are posted in the weekly “At the Club” email. We are open all year round, weather permitting. A round of any of the shotgun games at Marshfield costs $5.00.
Gun safety is strictly observed on the shotgun fields, as it is throughout the club. Break-action guns must be open unless in the gun rack. Pump and semi-automatic guns must always have the action open. Guns will be loaded only when shooters are on a shooting station or pad. Shooters are required to wear hearing and eye protection and all are strongly advised to wear a hat.
All of the shotgun games must be shot with shot sizes #7 1/2 through #9 only. Shooters are responsible for supplying their own ammunition.
There is a mounted steel patterning plate for those that want to pattern their shotguns and chokes, or to check their guns for point of aim/point of impact. Yardage markers indicate 16, 20 and 40 yard distances from the plate. Only lead shot can be used on the plate. No slugs are permitted.
The shotgunners at MRGC are a very informal group. We are casual, recreational shooters. There is usually someone who is willing to offer help and advice to new shooters. However, we are not a teaching facility. We currently have no instructors that are certified by the governing bodies of shotgun sports.
Because instruction can occupy one of our fields for long periods, new or inexperienced shooters should not arrive at the field before 12:00 noon on weekends. This is a matter of fairness to our regular shooters.
THE GAMES
Skeet is a game shot at mostly crossing targets from eight stations arranged in a semi-circle. At Marshfield we shoot American Skeet, the most common variation of the game. Clay targets are thrown from a high house and a low house in an alternating sequence. Targets are shot as both singles and doubles per game rules. One round of skeet consists of 25 targets. Rounds are shot with squads of up to 5 shooters.
For more information, see the National Skeet Shooting Association
Trap is shot from 5 stations, with up to five shooters, arranged in an arc, 16 yards from the target launch point. The clay pigeons in trap are all going away targets, launched from a side to side oscillating machine (called a trap). A round of trap consists of 25 targets.
For more information, see the Amateur Trap Association
5 Stand is shot from 5 shooting stations (from which the game’s name is derived). On our field, clay targets are launched from 8 traps at various speeds and trajectories, from running along the ground to straight up, and everything in between. The game is often referred to as “sporting clays with limited space.” A round of 5 stand consists of 25 targets, with the possibility of taking 30 shots per game rules.
For more information, see the National Sporting Clays Association
All-American Skeet Champion Todd Bender explains how the game of skeet
shooting is played and some of the terms used in enjoying this fun sport.
Shotgun Sports Contact:
Rick Braccia rbraccia@yahoo.com