Skeet, trap, sport clay shooting in Jackson

I'm looking for a place to shoot skeet, trap and/or sport clays in the Jackson area. Would be great if the club rented guns as I don't currently own a shotgun.

Now I'm a total newbie to this type of shooting, but it's something I'd like to try. Also any recommendations on an inexpensive shotgun, say sub $800, new or used for this type of shooting.

EDIT: meant to say "INEXPENSIVE shotgun"

Jd turcotte off of 43 is not too terribly far from you and they do sporting clays. If you want to go sometime let me know, I love shooting clays, and I have a shotgun you can shoot. As for shotgun, many people will recommend the benellis to you and they are great guns. I shoot an older remmy 1100 and cz has their 712 that is getting really high marks, and was recently adopted by the great Tom knapp.

I can't say of a place local to you, but given your budget I'd buy an older Wingmaster 870 or an 1100. I enjoy (note I didn't say am good at) shotgun sports and cut my teeth with a 20ga Wingmaster, I now shoot with an 1100 and a Model 11 in 12ga and a Browning A5 in 20ga and the same 870 Wingmaster depending on what I drag out that day.

If your ever around the Tunica area I highly recommend you look up Willows.

*Edit* Here is a video from member SubGunFan from a thread I posted after the first trip to the willows. I didn't have the opportunity to shoot this when I went due to the river flooding but it is a 3 man 'duck flush' at the Willows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzMUO9UaN7s

Thanks Justin for offering a shotgun to use, I'd love to shoot up at Turcotte, been there a few times, but only used the pistol range.

You just have to promise to not laugh to hard at my shotgun skills, leave the camera/video recorder in the truck and what happens at the range, stays at the range. If you shoot clays like you do your handgun, I'm in for a world of humiliation.

Checked out the CZ 712 and was surprised at the inexpensive price of $471 msrp. Was looking at selling some of my hardly or never used guns and accessories, that should probably cover the price of a new or new to me shotgun.

Thanks Eaglestroker for the shotgun advice and about The Willows, looks like fun.

I'm leaning toward a 20ga to save my crappy shoulder the recoil from of a 12ga.

I too am like you, enjoy shooting, but can't say I'm good at it.

+1 for turcotte. They even have 5 station and skeet now. They've had sporting clays for years.
As far as the shotgun you said expensive then said 800$ did you mean inexpensive? You can get a Remington 1100 for around $350 used thats at least what I sold mine for. If you want a new shotgun to try out this sport as you may not like it you can get a Howa(weathersby) for around $250. I'd personally go with a 12 gauge as you can then use it for all types of hunting.
My boss (read makes much more money than me) started out last year at turcotte his first purchase was a 20ga. Ceasar Guerrini. He is now buying some french thing a Perazi I believe that I'm sure will cost more than my car.
If you want to go and borrow a shotgun pm me I don't live far from turcotte and enjoy going and have a couple of extra cheapies.

Thanks BigDaddyQ, might have to take you up on your offer and yes, I meant to say inexpensive as I don't have the money to blow right now and I'm not sure how often I'll shoot.

As for the 12ga vs 20ga debate, I don't plan on hunting, so would the 20ga be a good choice?

JD, call me a whimp but even at 6'4 275 lbs I still prefer my 20 gauges. I shoot what I'm good with.

If you watch cheap shells go on sale once or twice a year by the case at Wal Mart. I buy everything I can afford to shoot all year with. I've never used high end ammo - but I've never considered myself good enough to be able to tell a difference.

A good 12 gauge semi autos recoil isn't bad at all. My old old 1100 is a pleasure to shoot.

Eaglestroker wrote:JD, call me a whimp but even at 6'4 275 lbs I still prefer my 20 gauges. I shoot what I'm good with.

If you watch cheap shells go on sale once or twice a year by the case at Wal Mart. I buy everything I can afford to shoot all year with. I've never used high end ammo - but I've never considered myself good enough to be able to tell a difference.

At 6'4" 275 I'm not going to call you anything but Sir

I'll keep an eye out for the sales, but I guess with hunting season now upon us, the sales are probably over. Speaking of shells, what is a good load for skeet/trap?

Myers wrote:A good 12 gauge semi autos recoil isn't bad at all. My old old 1100 is a pleasure to shoot.

Yeah, recoil improvements have progressed a great deal since I last shot over 10 years ago.

.. that Willows shoot looks like a TON of FUN!! We need to make a road trip!!!!!!!!

jdphotoguy wrote:At 6'4" 275 I'm not going to call you anything but Sir

I'll keep an eye out for the sales, but I guess with hunting season now upon us, the sales are probably over. Speaking of shells, what is a good load for skeet/trap?

Too young for that Sir mess. I use the cheapest bird shot I can get!

captain-03 wrote:.. that Willows shoot looks like a TON of FUN!! We need to make a road trip!!!!!!!!

Start a thread, get a group, I'll give them a call and see if they won't cut us a price break. I would love to get a MSGO group together and go.

I personally use 12 ga. because for awhile they were cheaper than 20ga. Not sure about prices now. I bought a lot of them a few years back and haven't bought any in a while. Other reasons to go with 20 over 12.
1. you get more shot, bigger patterns, you hit more skeet, and make yourself feel better.
2. no perceptible difference in recoil. If anything my franchi-I12 has way less recoil than my bosses 20ga Guerrini. Man that thing kicks
3. shotguns have more uses than just skeet. Hunting, Home defense, and the like. I usually don't have enough money to buy something for 1 purpose. when i buy a gun its gotta have at minimum a dual purpose.
4. isn't bigger always better?

Another awesome place to skeet shoot is Providence Hills off highway 49 near pocohontos. cost is $3000 for 1 day and a minimum of 12 guys. I think we could get 30 to go at 100 a piece. Its well worth it. I paid 300 to go last time and had a blast. Their duck flush is 75 birds in 5 min with 4 shooters on the line.

as far as load 7 1/2 or 8 shot with IC choke.

Thanks for your insight BigDaddyQ.

When I can scrounge up some money to purchase a shotgun and some folks to shoot, might have to try Providence Hills.

It sure is a shame more people don't know about Capitol Gun Club!! It's 15 minutes from downtown Jackson off W. County Line Road (technically Clinton).

It has 5 skeet and trap fields and five stand. It's open to the public 1-6:30 on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Members may shoot any day, 8a.m.-9pm (the skeet and trap fields are lit for night shooting). They even have a wireless microphone system if you want to shoot by yourself on a random week day night and can't talk anybody else into shooting.

You really won't find nicer folks to shoot with, either. First time I shot, I showed up with a camo pump gun and was a little intimidated by all those fancy over-and-unders, but everybody did a great job of making me feel welcome and helping me get going.

They also have a fairly new pistol covered range with steel targets and are buying a plate rack. Rimfire rifles are also allowed.

Matter of fact, Capitol would love to have a Meet and Greet or some other event for MSGO if there's interest.

SubGunFan wrote:

Tyrone wrote:....................Matter of fact, Capitol would love to have a Meet and Greet or some other event for MSGO if there's interest.

We (MSGO) need to look into this "invitation" from Capitol. A day of shotgun and handgun shooting would be MAJOR FUN........... Sorry, leave the CF rifles at home that day.....

.

Dang right ... Tyrone -- sent you a PM!!

I completely forgot that capitol gun club was there, have not been down that road in years,its only about 6 miles from my house. Im definitely interested in attending a meet and greet.