Skeet shooting is a blast, both figuratively and literally. Clay pigeons moving across your field of view at differing heights and sometimes two at a time push even the most composed shotgunner to their limit. If you have bested your buddies at the clays range, or you want to stay well practiced for dove season there's only one option. Get competitive. Competitive skeet shooting will not only push you to be the best you can be but will help commit those skills to memory while picking up some new tricks and maybe even a new shooting buddy.
Competitive Skeet Shooting
Before we dive headlong into competitive skeet shooting. I want to clarify that skeet shooting is a shotgunning sport different from trapshooting. Both involve clays but skeet shooting is a course of fire from 8 positions with a total of 25 shots. The clays in trap move away from the shooter whereas clays in skeet move left to right or vice versa. Since skeet shooting involves more than one clay in the air, single-shot trap guns aren't the best choice.
What You Need
The first pieces of gear I recommend for a skeet shooter or any shooter are good sets of protective equipment. Safety is always a priority so a good pair of impact-rated shooting glasses and hearing protection are required for anyone I bring to the range.
For skeet shooting, you will want a shotgun capable of two shots.
The second is a shotgun. As we mentioned above you are going to want a shotgun capable of two shots. Over-under style shotguns are most popular but your side-by-side, pump, or autoloader will work just fine. While you can use a 28 gauge or .410 I would recommend using 12 or 20 gauge for ease of finding guns and ammunition. As far as ammo goes, a box of #7.5-9 shot is all you need. Double-check with your local range if there are restrictions on using lead shot before buying, or pick up equally easy-to-find steel shot. A shell holder is suggested too. This can be as simple as a large open-top pouch but can be as advanced as you want. Many seasoned shooters at matches will gladly let you try out equipment if you ask politely.
Where To Go
If you already shoot at a range odds are they will have an events board or calendar with matches you can sign up for. If you are trying to find a place I recommend the NSSA, or National Skeet Shooting Association. They have a club finder and can put you in contact with organizations in your area. If you belong to or follow a non-profit sporting group, pay attention to their social calendar. Many will host a competition as a fundraiser and there is no better combination than getting to shoot while supporting a cause you care about.
Don’t worry about being the best shooter out there on your first try. The most important aspect of becoming a better sportsman is to always be learning. Introduce yourself, ask questions, and have fun. At the end of the day, competitors from boy scouts to Olympians are doing it because they love the sport. You can be the next Winchester skeet pro or just become the most accurate guy on the dove field. It doesn't matter what the results are as long as you are out there having fun and growing the sport. Keep your powder dry and I'll see you in the field.