We have about 30 to 35 shooters and are always willing to help newcomers find out how much fun can be had wasting lead with a shotgun. If you do not have your own shotgun someone will probably loan you one to try out your skills. For members and residents of their same home, the fee per line is $2.00, while other guests pay $4.00 per line.

THE RULES

Your gun, your ammo, and 7.5, 8, or 9 shot only. Other range rules are posted at the site.

THE RANGE

The trap machine is housed 16 yards ahead of the firing line, and that line has a slight radius to keep all shooters at the same 16-yard distance. The five stations are three yards apart, and the firing sequence is from left to right, and numbered in that same direction one through five.

At some ranges there are walks extending back from the 16-yard stations that are for the handicap shooters, which beginners need not worry about. They are used in tournaments where competitors are given a handicap distance due to their known averages and abilities.

The arm of the trap is angled to throw the clay about 9 feet high, 10 yards out from the house, which gives an easy rise, similar to that of a flushing bird, such as a pheasant or grouse. The trap machine oscillates horizontally, distributing the targets randomly within about a 35 degree angle. This angle was changed in 1996 from 44 degrees to the present 35 degrees for ease of scoring, a beginner friendly change!

PROCEDURES AND SEQUENCE

It is best for a beginner to observe several rounds of trap carefully to learn safety precautions and firing sequence. They are simple enough, but failing to carry them out properly can be both dangerous and upsetting to the other shooters.

The round begins with one shooter at each of the five stations, with each shooters gun open until it is one's turn to shoot; only one shell is loaded for single trap.

A shooter should stay on his stand and must keep the gun muzzle downrange as he ejects and reloads; it is a breach of etiquette to step back after a shot and/or to hold the muzzle in a dangerous manner.

Once a shooter takes his place on the station, he is expected to remain in place and should not swing the gun around or hold it in a field-style position while waiting.

The lead off shooter is the one who starts on station one and he calls the squad ready. The firing sequence goes from left to right, station one to five respectively, with each shooter firing at one target in turn.

After the shooter on station five has fired, it is again the lead off shooter's turn, and this is repeated through five clays. Then, the scorekeeper will call, "Change!" and each shooter moves one station to the right, with the person on five moving around the back of the line to the first station. Trap etiquette dictates that the next line does not begin until that shooter has gotten settled on station one.

The original shooter, from station one, fires the first shot of each new set of five. This rotation and sequence is continued until all shooters have fired at five targets per station for the total of 25 shots.

EQUIPMENT

Because American style (ATA) trapshooting allows only one shot per target most field-grade shotguns will suffice, including break-action singles and bolt actions.

OPSC SCHEDULE

Our scheduled shoots are held on the 2nd Sundays and 4th Saturdays of the month. We start on the 4th Sat. of March and shoot until the 1st Sun. of Dec. We also shoot most holidays.

Our shoots are open for members and their guests. Our calendar can be found on this website, posted at the clubhouse and in our newsletters.

Please contact Charlie Ruppel for more information.