Author Topic: Clay Games (Read 4516 times)

Muggins · « **on:** January 27, 2009, 04:19:05 pm »

I thought it might be an idea to post up a description of the various types of clay games (and there are a heap - trap, skeet, wobble trap, chinese trap, DTL, olympic trench, 5 stand, sporting clays, etc) there are to help people to understand the differences in the games and to maybe pique some interest in people to try something a bit different.

Things are different in different parts of the world, so I would invite people to post up their clay game of choice and a brief description of the game. Let's see if we can document the different games here as a reference.

So .... what's your game?

WeTheArmed.com

Muggins · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2009, 04:39:40 pm »

DTL - Down The Line

In New Zealand, DTL is the most popular clay game. Its an easy game to understand, hard to truly master and it tends to be the formal game that people are introduced to first (other than just paddock clays). DTL is very similar to trap but there are some subtle differences.

The DTL field is exactly the same as the trap field. 5 stations arranged in a semicircle around a low trap house at a distance of 15 metres, numbered 1-5 from the left most station. A squad of five shooters take a station each and the shooter on station 1 calls for the first target. Clays are launched from an unseen oscillating trap that can launch a rising clay target in a random direction within a prescribed arc (up to 22 degrees either side of centre) at a prescribed speed and at a fixed elevation. The shooter has two shots with which to break the target. A break is marked as an 'X', a lost bird is marked as an 'O' (in a variant, the breaks can be scored as first barrel, second barrel breaks or lost bird).

The shooter on station 2 then calls for a target and each subsequent shooter in the squad calls for a target in turn. Once all five shooters have called their first target, each shooter moves one station to the right and the shooter on station 5 moves to station 1. The shooter who was originally on station 1 (now on station 2) is still the first shooter in the squad and calls for the target.

Each shooter shoots from each of the five stations five times to make a total of 25 targets presented, however, no shooter gets a chance to stay at any one station for more than one target. This means that there is little chance to get comfortable at a station and the constant movement between stations makes the game slightly harder.

As the shooters develop advanced skills, they can be handicapped by moving the stations further back from the trap house from the 15 metre position back as far as 25 metres behind the trap house.

Variations to DTL include Single Barrell (only one shot at each target), Double Rise (two targets are released simultaneously - a true pair) or Continental (random elevation changes as well as changes of angle ... this is essentially Wobble Trap).

Muggins · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2009, 04:57:46 pm »

Skeet - American Skeet

This is probably the next most popular clay game in New Zealand and its the same as US Skeet. It's a game shot from 8 stations arranged in a semi-circle with two trap houses at different elevations. The targets launched from each trap house are regulated to follow the same path, however, the shooter's position relative to the target changes as they move to each station. At each station the shooter is presented with targets from both the high house and the low house which sit at opposite sides of the semi-circle, so the targets from the two trap houses are going in opposing directions.

Station 1 sits in front of and under the high house and each shooter in the squad is presented with a high house target, a low house target and a pair of targets, one from each trap house for a total of 4 targets (one shot at each). Once each shooter in the squad is presented with their targets at station 1, the squad moves on to station 2, etc.

Stations 1-7 sit around the semi-circle with station 4 in the middle of the semi-circular arc between the high house and low house and station 7 in front of the low house. Targets at stations 1, 2, 6 and 7 are pretty much outgoing or incoming with relatively little relative lateral movement and at these stations the shooter is presented with a high house single, a low house single and a pair of targets (4 targets at each station). Targets at stations 3, 4 and 5 are pretty much crossing targets which require a greater degree of lead and at these stations the shooter is presented with a high house single and a low house single only (2 targets at each station).

The final station, station 8, is situated in the middle of the semi-circle between the high house and low house and single targets are launched towards the shooter (2 targets). This makes up 24 targets with an additional target, called an option. The option is usually a repeat of the first target missed as a lost bird, however, if the shooter completes all 24 targets without a miss, they may nominate an additional target presentation. Most shooters nominate a low 8 presentation as their option.

Targets are broken at about 21 yards from the shooter.

g.willikers · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2009, 05:52:38 pm »

My favorite clays game uses clay pigeons, but in a different way than usual.
A number of them are widely scattered around the range at different heights and distances, on perches or just on the berms.
Fastest time in dusting them wins.
For added challenge, have more targets than ammo in the gun, requiring reloading on the clock.
This game can be done anywhere without expensive equipment.
Try it, betcha' you'll like it.

alone · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2009, 07:20:26 pm »

Crazy Quail.

Skeet Field.

One shooter, one person to pull targets.

Shooter can only load two shells.
Puller has to pay attention to shooter, and how many shells fired, and how many shells shooter reloads.

Shooter loads two shells and starts at station 6 , and advances to station 8, then to station 2.
Shooter does not call for targets. They do get to say they are ready to start.
What shooter may say after the start, may not be suitable for public forum viewing.

At any time the puller may pull clay targets.

Puller may pull a single, or a double, again puller has to watch and keep up with shooter.
In other words, Puller may not pull a double, after the Shooter has fired one shot.

Puller may pull anytime, and pull any target presentation.
In other words, two singles from the same house, back to back in rapid succession.
Or pull from the house which will in essence have a target come from behind the Shooter.

The split second a shooter closes the action on a break open gun, or closes the bolt on a repeater ( pump or semi-auto) or loads through the magazine on a repeater, the Puller may pull a target.

Crazy Quail pits Puller against Shooter.
Shooter is also pitted against knowing how to run the gun, and make hits.

This replicates quail hunting in regard to not knowing when a single, pair, or covey is going to flush.
Nor where they are coming from, or heading toward.

Shooter is wise to know his/her gun, and how to run it, as they need to focus on the targets.

*smile*

kudu · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2009, 07:46:05 pm »

We used to play a 2 man game called Flurry. A puller had a prearranged pattern of throwing targets on a tape player that he listened to. This game involved an overlay skeet/trap field so there were 3 targets available to fly. The 2 shooters were set up about 10 feet behind station 3 and 5 of the skeet range. You got 30 birds in 60 seconds, high, low, and trap. We usually had a couple of straw bails that we stood behind and we could lay out shells on them to have fast access to reloads. We were only allowed 2 shells in the gun at any given time. It was a very humbling game for most folks but was super fun.

alone · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2009, 02:35:23 am »

kudu !

Hello my friend! Great to see you here at WTA.
Give your gals a hug for me, please.

Re: Flurries.

Hehehe...

It "seems" there are variations of Flurry/Flurries just as there are variations of other clay games.
Yes, I have shot a similar game which kudu is sharing.

Broken Arrow, is one "variation". Hard to explain, as we never really shot "Broken Arrow" the same exact way.

Err...you get a certain type of boys and girls together, that are shotgunners, and have have a bunch of trap machines, such as found in 5 stand , or sporting clays....

Sorta set them out...
Start tossing multiple targets every which-a-way...

Folks just start shooting "the durn guns" and "the durn targets". Interesting how folks settle in, work as a team and note someone is reloading and they bust birds that person was felling. In return, someone covers your six.

No rhyme or reason, no calling for targets, just shoot the durn guns at the durn targets.

It gets interesting as to whether the shooters are going to run out of ammo, or the machines run out of clays...
I guess one has to be there, still when a gal that was tripping a trap machine is dying laughing and hollers out ...I am out of clays, I need more clays...

Most interesting are the times when a tennis ball machine is incorporated into this, using old tennis balls.

There is much truth in "Don't think- Shoot!"

We've always been crazy - it keeps us from going insane - edited version of me and mine.

(Waylon Jennings and Jimmy Buffett's versions...sorta, just naughtier)

Muggins · « **Reply #7 on:** February 20, 2009, 03:48:02 pm »

Kudu, good to see you here.

Flurries sound fun .... chaotic, but fun.

mnw42 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2009, 08:39:49 pm »

One of the more fun games is 'Protection'. It is played on a regulation trap field with 10 shooters set up in pairs on the 27 yd line. You are only allowed to load one shell at a time. There are a few variations, but this is how I've played. Shooters set up as pairs on each position 1-5 and is assigned as No 1 and No 2. Depending on the rules either the No 1 man or No 2 calls pull - No 1 shoots it. If he misses the secondary shoots. If either hits it is scored as a hit, but if the No 2 shooter shoots before the No 1 it is scored as a loss. The shooters alternate between No 1 and No 2 for each target and rotate like standard trap.

Sporting Clays is great fun too. I used to help set the course at the local club I worked at - we were sadistic bastards

Author Topic: Clay Games (Read 4516 times)

Muggins

Clay Games

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