FCS Sporting Clays Shoots/FCS Opens

FCS hosts sporting clays shoot on even months from 9:00 – 11:30 AM at Capital City Clays.  Sporting Clays and 5-stand more closely mimic actual hunting situations than any other clays games, but sporting clays makes better use of terrain and has around twice as many traps than 5-stand does.  We’ll shoot a round of 50 sporting clays on their red course (formerly called the corporate or hunter course), which has covered stations.

The FCS Opens happens each spring and fall.  Participants will shoot two rounds of sporting clays (the red course and the harder blue or white courses), then eat lunch at an area restaurant (lately we’ve been going to Maxine’s Gumbo House in Manor).  The FCS Open goes from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Here are a couple of pictures from Maxine’s.

If a station has multiple trap options, please shoot the first option on the station’s red card for the first pair, shoot the second option for the second pair, and shoot the third option for the final pair.  This gives you a mix of report pairs and true pairs.  Or you can shoot all singles, all report pairs, all true pairs, or a mixture of them.  We recommend that new shooters start out with singles (with the easier one first – then, after they break that one, introduce the harder one), then after they get the hang of it graduate to report pairs, then graduate to true pairs.  We keep score just for fun.  RSVPs aren’t required.

Below are some pictures from recent shoots:

FCS Sporting Clays Schedule:

• 9:00 AM – arrive
• 9:15 AM – shoot sporting clays
• 11:15 AM – announce scores, upcoming events discussion, and possibly a short devotional
• 11:30 AM – depart

FCS Open Schedule:

• 9:00 AM – arrive
• 9:15 AM – shoot sporting clays
• 1:15 PM – eat, announce scores, and upcoming events discussion
• 3:00 PM – depart

Who should attend: Members and guests, including ladies and youth, and? all levels of shooters? (including new ones).  We average nine participants, so we break up into groups.  We recommend shooters be at least 10 years old.  For youths, we suggest a 20 gauge that fits the child (if a youth shoots a .410  or a 28 gauge, he or she will probably miss a lot and get discouraged).  We delight in teaching others but aren’t sporting clays instructors.

Cost and what to bring:

• A round of 50 clays costs $25.98/shooter (including tax).
• A shotgun is needed (of course).  Most shooters use a 12 gauge, but a 20 gauge is fine (for target, game, and field loads, their payload is only 12 1/2% less than a 12 gauge per shell).  If you don’t have a shotgun some of us will be happy to share our gun with you.  Most of the targets on Capital City Clays’ red course are close enough for skeet chokes, but IC works fine.
• You’ll need to bring at least two boxes of target, game?, or field loads (at least four boxes for the FCS Opens).  A few extra shells are recommended in case you have any misfires or need to reshoot a station because a second clay broke in flight before you had a chance to shoot it (in such cases we shoot both targets again, but the result of the first shot counts).  Capital City Clays sells shotgun shells if you need them (but you can get them cheaper at Academy, Walmart, etc.).  We recommend Winchester Upland Game Loads, Remington Gun Club Target Loads, Federal Top Gun Loads, Estate Super Sport Competition Loads, Rio Target Loads, Estate Game and Target Loads, Remington Sure Shot Heavy Dove Loads, Winchester Heavy Game Loads, and Federal Game Loads.  They are usually available at Academy, Bass Pro Shops, Walmart, etc.  1-1/8 oz. or 1 oz. loads (for 12 gauge), 1200-1325 FPS, and 7-1/2 shot are preferred (8 shot works almost as well).  They sell for $11 – $13.00/box.  All are good dove/quail/clay target loads.  If you’re a dove/quail hunter, we recommend that you shoot sporting clays with the same load that you use to hunt dove/quail.  This enables you to develop consistent leads for similarly sized targets.
• You’ll need a shooting vest, shell pouch, or bag (preferably a shooting bag) to hold your shells.
• Capital City Clays requires eyes and ears protection.  Shooting glasses or sunglasses and earmuffs or ear plugs are recommended.  You can bring your own or foam ear plugs and clear safety glasses are available at no charge at their clubhouse.  Please return borrowed safety glasses.
• A cap and sunscreen are recommended.
• Capital City Clays has small water bottles, usually cold, at most stations.

Location and phone number: 8707 Lindell Lane (near the Travis County Exposition Center and Lake Decker).  If you get lost, their phone number is 512-272-4707.

In the event of rain: Light rain – we’ll shoot; heavy rain – we’ll stay home, and I’ll send out a cancellation email.

Questions:  Contact Brad Versteegh if you have any questions.