General FAQs

What exactly is trap and skeet?

Trap:  American trap shooting, as governed by the Amateur Trap Shooting Association is composed of three different events:  singles, handicap, and doubles.  All events are shot on a field consisting of a house and 5 runners (spaced 12 degrees apart) that extend from 16 yards to 27 yards behind the house.  Targets are thrown out of the house in a random arc, but always at the same height.  A total of 25 targets (50 in doubles) are shot in each sub-event on any one field.  There are typically 5 contestants at one time, one on each runner.  Beginning with the contestant on the far left runner, each contestant, in turn, calls for a target (2 in doubles) and fires one shot at each target.  After each shooter has fired 5 shots (10 in doubles) the contestants move one position to the right and the contestant on the far right station moves around to the far left station.  Typically, a total of 100 targets are shot at by each contestant in any event: singles, handicap, or doubles.  Contestants stand at the 16 yard line in singles and doubles.  Contestants stand at various distances from 17 to 27 yards in handicap, depending on past performance.  Equipment is limited to shotguns no larger than 12 gauge, firing shells containing a maximum of 1-1/8 oz. of shot and 3 dram equivalents of powder.

Skeet:  American skeet is shot on a field that consists of 8 pads, 7 of which are arranged in a semi-circle and the eighth at the center of the semi-circle.  The eighth pad lies directly between the two houses (where the throwers reside.)  The targets are always thrown in exactly the same direction and at exactly the same height.  The target out of the high house starts at approximately 3.5 meters off of the ground and is thrown nearly horizontally.  The target out of the low house starts at approximately waist height and rises to a height of approximately 3 meters by the time it crosses the high house target in the center of the field.  The competitors take turns shooting from the pads in the order they are numbered, eventually firing 25 rounds.  After all competitors have finished a pad, the group moves to the next pad in the following order:

          Pad 1 – One high house, One low house, One pair

          Pad 2 – One high house, One low house, One pair

          Pad 3 – One high house, One low house

          Pad 4 – One high house, One low house

          Pad 5 – One high house, One low house

          Pad 6 – One high house, One low house, One pair

          Pad 7 – One high house, One low house, One pair

          Pad 8 – One high house, Two low houses

Generally, competitors shoot the target from the house they are standing closest to first when shooting a pair.  If a competitor misses a target, he/she will immediately attempt to shoot an identical target again ONLY ON THE FIRST MISS.  When this happens, the last low house target on Pad 8 is eliminated and this is called “taking your option.”  Equipment is limited to shotguns no larger than 12 gauge, firing shells containing a maximum of 1-1/8 oz. of shot and 3 dram equivalents of powder for the 12 gauge contestant.  There are typically also 20 gauge, 28 gauge, and .410 bore contestants.

How long as the Illini Trap and Skeet Club been around?

The club was founded in 1982. Since its inception, hundreds of University of Illinois students, faculty, and guests have learned to shoot the clay target sports. In this time, we made avid shooters out of some individuals who had never previously held a gun before.

Who can shoot on the team?

The club is open to all University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff. We also allow members to bring friends or family along, to be introduced to the sport.

What do I need to bring along?

The club has all the guns, reloading equipment, vests, shooting pouches, eye and ear protection, and any other necessary equipment that you might need to have a successful day at the range. Members and coaches will be more than happy to answer any of your questions about either sport, and can give you introductory shooting lessons if you have never shot before. We can also teach you how to use the shotshell reloaders if you have never used one before. All you need to do is show up and bring your wallet or checkbook to cover shells and range fees.

Can I bring my own gun?

If you have your own shotgun, you are welcome to bring it out! You may find that it is easier, however, to use one of the club guns that is designed specifically for shooting trap or skeet. Please remember: IT IS ILLEGAL TO STORE YOUR GUN(S) AND AMMUNITION IN THE DORMS!!! If you live in one of the dorms and would like to bring your own gun, the club owns a large gun vault, where your gun can be safely and legally kept. Please note that 12 gauge is the maximum gauge allowed in competition, so we recommend you practice with the same gun you may compete with.

How much does it cost?

There is a $30.00 fee to join the club ($12.00 of which is for the University of Illinois insurance policy required for all sporting clubs). Please note: We don’t mind if you come out and give shooting a try before you pay the $30.00 club fee, but you can only shoot once before membership dues are required.

Prices for shotshells and clay targets are:

$2.50 per 25 clay targets (full round of trap or skeet)

$3.00 per 25 reloaded shotshells

$3.50 per 25 factory-loaded shotshells

Is this sport safe?

Absolutely. WE MAKE IT THAT WAY!!! We instruct ALL shooters (experienced or not) on basic firearm safety and proper gun handling. The continued existence of this club is based on our accident-free record! Rest assured that safety is our top priority.

What if I don’t have a car?

This is not an uncommon issue! Contact one of the club officers or coaches and they will work out transportation for you, to and from the club. Once you get to know a number of members, it is pretty easy to work out a ride for each weekend.

So what do I have to do next?

Come out and give it a try! It’s addictive! If you get hooked like the rest of us, don’t say we didn’t warn you!!! After you gain some confidence shooting, you can continue shooting as much or as little as your schedule and pocketbook will allow.

More Specific FAQs (added 12/14/03)
Maybe we'll answer them the second time around.

What is the difference between a rifle and a shotgun?
There are two types of long guns, rifles and shotguns. Long guns are defined as firearms that have a barrel length of >16" for a rifle or >18" for a shotgun. Many people confuse shotguns and call them rifles. There are two key differences between rifles and shotguns. First, shotguns are smoothbore while rifles have, as their name indicates, rifling inside the barrel. Second, rifles fire one piece of lead (slug) while shotguns fire as many as several dozen smaller lead (or steel) pellets known as "shot".
To clarify exactly what that means, we'll first discuss what rifling is, what it does, and how it differs from smoothbore guns such as shotguns. Next, we'll discuss how a rifle round differs from a shotgun shell and what the two are used for.
Rifling is simply grooves cut into the inside of a barrel that allow the bullet to spin while being pushed down the barrel. This gives the slug increased accuracy and range. Rifling operates on the same principle as a quarterback throwing a football. Considering it's size and mass, the spiral throw allows a football to be thrown farther and more accurately than just about any other ball in sports. Just about every firearm except shotguns produced within the past 150 years will have rifling.
Shotguns on the other hand are smoothbore firearms, meaning that the inside of their barrels is smooth rather than grooved. This is because a shotgun fires multiple small pellets rather than one larger bullet and therefore grooves would do little to affect the accuracy and in fact, could impede the pellets from smoothly traveling down the barrel.
Because of the unique characteristics of both, rifles and shotguns serve two different purposes. Rifles are generally used for hitting a target at very long ranges, usually anywhere from 75 yards to several hundred yards. Some high powered rifles are capable of accurately hitting a target at close to a mile. The key to such incredible accuracy is the size and speed of a rifle bullets. Generally speaking, rifles have fairly small bullets with a diameter between 6 and 8 millimeters and exit the barrel at several thousand feet per second. This allows the bullet to travel a very far distance, very quickly before gravity causes it to hit the ground.
Shotguns on the other hand are used for hitting moving targets at much shorter distances. When fired, rather than one bullet, up to several dozen small pellets exit the muzzle (opening at the end of the barrel). This increases the chances of a target being hit at the cost of range. The maximum effective range of a shotgun is usually less than a hundred yards. Since hitting a stationary target with a shotgun is very easy considering how many pellets exit the muzzle, trap and skeet add an extra challenge by making the shooter hit a moving target, usually a small clay disk thrown into the air.

What are chokes and what do they do?
Simply put, chokes are inserts screwed into the end of a barrel to constrict the exit of pellets from the muzzle and allow for either a higher probability of hitting a target or a greater range. Chokes work on the same principle as putting your thumb on the end of a garden hose. The more you constrict the flow of water, the farther and faster the water travels, but at the same time, the stream of water is much more condensed and the water falls to the ground over a smaller area. The less you constrict the end of the hose, water does not travel as far, but it splashes over a much larger area. Although there are over a dozen different variations of chokes, their sizes, and their effectiveness, for most practical purposes they can be broken into 5 categories:
Cylinder - no choke
Skeet - a very open choke used specifically for skeet 
Improved Cylinder - slightly more closed than skeet
Modified - middle of the road choke, sometimes used for trap
Full choke - the tightest of chokes, generally reserved for trap

For a more detailed and technical explanation of chokes, please visit http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_chokes.htm

What is a gauge and what is its difference between a caliber?
Gauges and calibers are measures of the diameter of shotgun shells or rifle bullets. Although they measure the same thing, they use two different systems. Calibers, used in rifles and handguns measure the diameter of the bullet in either the metric or English system. Examples include the 5.56mm (.223 Winchester) round used my the American military in the M16 rifle or the 9mm round used in the military's M9 or M11 sidearm. Shotguns on the other hand, are measured in a completely different way. The gauge, for example 12 gauge, is the amount of lead balls of the diameter of the shell needed to equal one pound. For 12 gauge, that means that 12 lead balls of a .729 inch diameter would be needed to equal one pound. Since the smaller the diameter of the barrel, the greater number of lead balls are needed to make a pound of lead, the greater the gauge, the smaller the diameter of the shell. Below are the conversions of gauge to actual diameter:
10 gauge = .775 inch
12 gauge = .729 inch
16 gauge = .662 inch
20 gauge = .615 inch
28 gauge = .550 inch
Note: .410 is not a gauge but simply the diameter of the shell (.410 inch). It is the only exception.
Most shotguns used by the Illini Trap and Skeet club are 12 gauge and it is by far the most popular gauge used today. We also have several 20 gauge guns.

For further reading on gauges, please visit http://www.chuckhawks.com/intro_gauges.htm

Are there any places in the Champaign-Urbana area where I could practice other shooting sports?
The simple answer is no. There is a police training range but it is only accessible to law enforcement personnel and university employees. There used to be an indoor rifle range at the Armory but it was shut down due to toxic levels of lead. The nearest non-shotgun range that is open to the public is about an hour away.

Are you affiliated with any larger organizations such as the NRA or any other conservative groups on campus or national?
The answer here again is, no. Illini Trap and Skeet's sole mission is to allow students a chance to engage in shooting sports. We do not engage in any protests, fund or support any national organizations, nor actively try to affect university, local, state, or national policy. By no means do we have any sort of agenda to alter anybody's point of view, beliefs, etc. In simple terms, we're here to educate people about proper and safe firearm usage, break some targets, and have fun while we're at it, nothing more.

Note: Thanks to Purdue Trap and Skeet Team for the graphics.