SKEET
The general principles of American Skeet the clay discs used are 4+5/16 in in. diameter, and 1+1/8 in. thick, and fly a distance of 62 yards. The Firearm of choice for this task is usually a high-quality, Double-barreled side by side shotgun, double-barreled over and under shotgun with 26- to 30-inch barrels and very open Choke tube, often, shooters will choose an improved cylinder choke,(a tighter pattern) or a skeet choke,(an open pattern) but, this is a matter of the shooters preference. Some gun shops refer to this type of shotgun as a skeet gun. Alternatively a sporting gun or a trap gun is sometimes used. These have longer barrels up to 34 in. and usually tighter chokes. Many shooters of American skeet use Semi-automatic shotguns or pump-action shotguns.
The use of clay targets to simulate hunting scenarios is one reason the targets are called ''clay pigeons. The event is in part meant to simulate the action of bird hunting. The shooter shoots from seven positions on a semicircle with a radius of 21 yards. and an eighth position halfway between stations 1 and 7. There are two houses with trap machines in them that launch the targets, one at each corner of the semicircle. The traps launch the targets to a point 15 feet above ground and 18 feet outside of station 8. One trap launches targets from 10 feet above the ground it is called the high house and the other launches it from 3 feet above ground it is called the low house.
At stations 1 and 2 the shooter shoots at single targets launched from the high house and then the low house, then shoots a double where the two targets are launched simultaneously but shooting the high house target first. At stations 3, 4, and 5 the shooter shoots at single targets launched from the high house and then the low house. At stations 6 and 7 the shooter shoots at single targets launched from the high house and then the low house, then shoots a double, shooting the low house target first then the high house target. At station 8 the shooter shoots one high target and one low target. The shooter must then re-shoot his first missed target or, if no targets are missed, must shoot his 25th shell at the low house station 8. This 25th shot was once referred to as the shooter's option, as he was able to take it where he preferred. Now, to speed up rounds in competition, the shooter must shoot the low 8 twice for a perfect score.
The use of clay targets to simulate hunting scenarios is one reason the targets are called ''clay pigeons. The event is in part meant to simulate the action of bird hunting. The shooter shoots from seven positions on a semicircle with a radius of 21 yards. and an eighth position halfway between stations 1 and 7. There are two houses with trap machines in them that launch the targets, one at each corner of the semicircle. The traps launch the targets to a point 15 feet above ground and 18 feet outside of station 8. One trap launches targets from 10 feet above the ground it is called the high house and the other launches it from 3 feet above ground it is called the low house.
At stations 1 and 2 the shooter shoots at single targets launched from the high house and then the low house, then shoots a double where the two targets are launched simultaneously but shooting the high house target first. At stations 3, 4, and 5 the shooter shoots at single targets launched from the high house and then the low house. At stations 6 and 7 the shooter shoots at single targets launched from the high house and then the low house, then shoots a double, shooting the low house target first then the high house target. At station 8 the shooter shoots one high target and one low target. The shooter must then re-shoot his first missed target or, if no targets are missed, must shoot his 25th shell at the low house station 8. This 25th shot was once referred to as the shooter's option, as he was able to take it where he preferred. Now, to speed up rounds in competition, the shooter must shoot the low 8 twice for a perfect score.
