Skip to main content Skip to footer content
FREE SHIPPING WITH ORDERS OVER $149  
View Details
For firearm related information, please visit www.remarms.com.

navigation

Remington Remington Remington
Search suggestions
Remington
Check Order Status Remington Ammo Store Locator Remington
Remington
Remington 0
Remington 0
Back
  • Login / Check Order Status
  • Rifle
    • Core-Lokt
    • Core-Lokt Copper
    • Core-Lokt Tipped
    • High Performance Rifle
    • Managed Recoil
    • Premier AccuTip
    • Premier Accutip-V
    • Premier CuT
    • Premier Long Range
    • Premier Match
    • Premier Scirocco
    • Subsonic Rifle
    • Ultimate Defense
    • UMC Rifle
    • Shop By Caliber
      • 360 Buckhammer
      • 7mm Rem Magnum
      • 7mm-08 Rem
      • 223 Rem
      • 6.5 Creedmoor
      • 270 Win
      • 300 Win Magnum
      • 300 Win Short Magnum
      • 30-06 Springfield
      • 308 Win
      • 375 H&H Magnum
      • 243 Win
      • 300 Blackout
      • Shop All Calibers
    Premier AccuTip-V
    hunter in camo holding a rifle

    In varmint calibers, AccuTip-V combines superb flight characteristics and match-grade accuracy with a design optimized for explosive on-game results.

    Shop Now
  • Handgun
    • Core-Lokt Handgun
    • Golden Saber Bonded
    • Golden Saber Defense Compact
    • Golden Saber Defense
    • High Terminal Performance
    • Performance WheelGun
    • Remington Range
    • Remington Range Clean
    • Subsonic Handgun
    • Ultimate Defense Handgun
    • UMC Handgun
    • Shop By Caliber
      • 30 Super Carry
      • 32 H&R Magnum
      • 357 Magnum
      • 380 Auto
      • 45 Auto
      • 9mm Luger
      • 9mm Luger +P
      • 10mm Auto
      • 44 Rem Magnum
      • 38 Special
      • Shop All Calibers
    30 Super Carry
    HTP packaging and pistol on a table

    More than just an all-new cartridge, the compact design represents an entirely new class of ammunition engineered for absolute performance by every measure.

    Shop Now
  • Shotshell
    • AccuTip Sabot Slug
    • Duck Club Steel
    • Express Buckshot
    • Express Extra Long Range
    • Game Load
    • Gun Club
    • Heavy Dove Load
    • Hypersonic Steel
    • Low Decibel
    • Nitro 27
    • Nitro Magnum
    • Nitro Pheasant
    • Nitro Pigeon
    • Nitro-Steel
    • Nitro-Steel Duplex
    • Nitro Turkey
    • Peters Paper
    • Pheasant Load
    • Premier Bismuth
    • Premier Magnum Turkey
    • Premier Nitro Sporting Clays
    • Premier Royal Flush
    • Premier STS
    • Premier TSS
    • Slugger Rifled Slug
    • Sportsman Hi-Speed Steel
    • Ultimate Defense Shotshell
    • Wingmaster HD
    • Shop By Gauge
      • 10 Gauge
      • 12 Gauge
      • 16 Gauge
      • 20 Gauge
      • 28 Gauge
      • 410 Bore
      • Shop All
    Beards, Spurs, and Savings Rebate

    Buy at least two (2) boxes of qualifying* Remington® turkey shotshell ammunition to get a rebate of up to $100.00 back.

    Exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
    Shop Now
  • Rimfire
    • 22 Cyclone
    • 22 Golden Bullet
    • 22 Golden Hunter
    • 22 Target
    • 22 Thunderbolt
    • 22 Viper
    • 22 Yellow Jacket
    • C-Bee 22
    • Magnum Rimfire
    • Subsonic Rimfire
    • Ranch Hand
    • Standard V
    • Shop By Caliber
      • 22 LR
      • 22 Short
      • 17 HMR
      • 22 WMR
      • Shop All Calibers
    Ranch Hand
    Ranch Hand packaging sitting around a cowboy hat and lever action rifle

    Featuring our new and improved rimfire technology, each round offers Premier high performance in your gun and on target.

    Shop Now
  • Muzzleloading
  • Handloading
    • Bagged Shot
    • Brass
    • Bullets
    • Primers
    • Wads
  • Gun Care
    • Chemicals
    • Cleaning Accessories
    • Cleaning Kits
    • Cloths
    • Safety & Storage
    • Rods & Cables
    • Mats
    Rem Oil
    Rem Oil bottle on a table

    The same great lubricant since 1913, the advanced formula cleans, lubricates and protects your valuable firearms so they'll keep running smoothly and looking like new.

    Shop Now
  • Merchandise
    • Apparel
    • Gear
    • Lifestyle
    • Cutlery
    • Gun Cases & Bags
    • Remington Licensed Products
    Gun Cases & Bags
    person carrying a Remington Gun Case

    Developed with shooters of every experience level in mind, these in-house designed bags were built for convenience, protection, and accessibility.

    Shop Now
  • Remington Country
    • New Products
    • Discontinued Products
    • Big Green Blog
    • How To
    • About Remington
    • Events
    • Remington Firearms
    • Remington Gun Club
    • Podcast
    • Ambassadors
    • Inside the Remington Factory
  • Rebates
  • Ammo Store Locator
  • Support
Search suggestions
  1. Home
  2. Big Green Blog
  3. Clay Target
  4. How to Shoot Trap
May 30, 2025

How to Shoot Trap

Share on Social Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
Remington Contributor

What is Trapshooting? 

There are a few clay shooting activities you can participate in. Sporting Clays, Skeet, 5-Stand, and Trap are the most popular and what you’ll hear folks talk about. Although they all differ slightly, the end goal is the same. Break as many targets as possible. The best entry point into the world of clay shooting is trapshooting. The shooting mechanics required to bust a trap-style target are relatively the same and differ from those you’ll experience over a round of Sporting, Skeet, or 5-stand. This can make trapshooting more appealing for the beginner. It's a great way to get a feel for busting clays without getting overwhelmed with a difficult pair of targets! Read along and learn how to shoot trap! 

shooter shattering a clay target

Trap House and Trap Stations 

The trap house is a box in the middle of the field. The clays are thrown from a machine within that house. The machine oscillates from left to right. The trick? Shooters won’t know which way the target is heading until they yell “PULL,” which throws the clay target. Once the target is launched, it moves up and away from the shooter. Trapshooting mimics a fleeing bird that gets up in front of you while hunting. The unpredictability is the hard part. Breaking the clay is the fun (and satisfying) part. 

There are 5 stations. Each station allows for 5 shots, for 25 targets per round. You’ll shoot 4 rounds for a total of 100 targets. 

Scoring is out of 100. 

Trap house and stations

Trap Shooting Basics: Field Setup, Rules & Scoring 

Players: Up to 5 People – one at each of the 5 stations 

Each shooter gets one shot, starting with the person at station 1. After breaking or missing the clay, the next shooter has their chance. Progressing from left to right all five will shoot until each participant has shot 5 times. After 5 shots, all shooters will rotate one station to the right.(shooter #5 would move to position #1).  

Beginner’s Gear: What You Need for Trapshooting 

All you’ll need to get started is a few basic items: 

  • A shotgun 
  • Shooting vest or single box pouch (to hold your shells, choke tubes, etc.) 
  • Eye and ear protection 
  • 4 boxes of shotshells 

Pro Tip: You can use a modified to full choke for this game. We recommend going with a modified or trap-specific choke to really shatter those clays.  

Beginner's Gear: What to Wear for Trap Shooting  

  • Closed-Toe Shoes 
  • Closed-toe shoes keep you comfortable, allow for mobility, and prevent your feet from an unpleasant sunburn.  
  • Performance Style Clothes 
  • Wear what you feel comfortable in. If you’re shooting in the summer months, think about a performance-style shirt. This helps you stay cool and wicks sweat from your body. Either shorts or pants work. Consider sunscreen if you’re rocking the short sleeves and shorts.   
  • Ear and Eye Protection 
  • These are two must-haves for trapshooting. Oftentimes, you will not be permitted on the range without these. Use in-ear ear protection rather than over-the-ear to avoid potential discomfort while mounting the gun. A good pair of shooting glasses works great for beginners  
  • Brimmed Hat 
  • A brimmed hat helps reduce the sun's glare, especially if the sun is down range during your shooting time.  
shooter aiming shotgun

Choosing the Right Ammo for Trap Shooting 

Selecting the correct trap shooting ammo is as crucial as developing proper technique. Luckily, Remington offers shotshells designed specifically for trap shooting.   

To start, you need to shoot a target load whose shot size is no larger than 7.5. Simply put, the larger the shot number on the box, the smaller the shot pellet, yielding more pellets in your shell. The ideal shot size for trap shooting shells is 7.5 or 8.  

Either a 12-gauge or a 20-gauge will work for trap shooting. It is all about personal preference. If you prefer the lighter weight of the 20-gauge and feel that you can get on target more easily, use the 20-gauge! Check out Remington’s 20-gauge trapshooting shells here. If you like the feel of the 12-gauge and the better customization you can get with 12-gauge shells, use the 12-gauge! 

Last, the velocity of your shell is vital for trap, too. A higher velocity shell allows you to reach a distant target more effectively. So, if you get on the target late, a high velocity shell can offer greater forgiveness. Remington’s Premier Nitro 27 is Remington’s best trap shooting shells. Nitro 27s are engineered specially for those longer shots on the trap field and are trusted by trapshooters across the globe. 

Even though considering these factors is essential, your choice should come down to what feels right to you. If you shoot better with 7.5s and 1-1/8 oz, shoot that! The only way to find out what works best for you is to go out and shoot. 

Remington ammunition boxes in a bag

How to Shoot Trap: Step – by – Step for Beginners 

Here’s where the rubber meets the pavement. You know the basic rules, what gear to equip yourself with, and what to wear. This is where the fun begins. Keep in mind, trapshooting isn’t easy. Before walking up to the line, set some realistic expectations for yourself. Start with the bar set low. Strive to bust a single target out of your 5 at the first station. Setting the bar lower allows you to smash your goal and grow your confidence so you can carry momentum to your next objective. You never know, busting clays comes naturally to some. You could end up breaking a surprising number of targets! Now, read along and get tips from the pro, team Remington Shooter, Logan Henry.  Logan gives us a play-by-play on the basics of trapshooting. 

shooter next to his trophy

Proper Stance 

The proper stance in trapshooting starts with the shooter’s feet shoulder-width apart. This gives you a strong base to pivot on and endure the recoil from the shotgun. Each of the five stations requires a slightly different stance that varies for right- and left-handed shooters. A good starting point is to stand square to the trap house and alter your stance to accommodate the angle of targets you will encounter. The shooter wants to ensure that they have free range of motion across every angle possible by the targets at that station. A little trick I use is to position yourself square to the house, then hold out your thumb and act as if you are pointing the shotgun at both the most right- and left-hand targets. You are looking to feel your back muscles. If you feel your back muscles strain at a particular angle, you know that you must open your stance more in that direction. I’ve been using this trick for the 14 years I have been shooting. Additionally, one of the crucial elements to proper stance is having your front knee slightly bent with a weight distribution of 60% on your front leg and 40% on your back leg. This allows for better recoil management and control of your gun. When teaching new shooters, I often encourage them to walk up to the trap line and practice their stance at each of the five posts before even firing their first shot. 

Mounting the Shotgun 

Try to mount the shotgun firmly in the pocket of your shoulder. After placing the shotgun in the pocket of your shoulder, bring your face to the comb of the gun. When putting the gun to your shoulder, it is ideal to mount the gun in a manner where your head makes the least movement to the comb. Many trapshooters opt for a gun fitment in which their head stays upright. This fitment creates a repeatable mount as well and allows the shooter to have the greatest field of vision. Remember, one of the keys to trapshooting is mounting your gun the same way every time! A slight variation can significantly alter your point of impact. A good tip is to go home and complete one-hundred-gun mounts per night in a large mirror. This allows shooters to ensure that their gun mount is natural and repeatable every time. You don’t need to go to the range and spend money on targets and ammunition just to practice mounting your gun!  

Gun Placement 

Once you have mounted the gun properly, the next step is gun placement. This refers to where the shooter points the “bead” or barrel. This is different for every shooter.  

The placement of the gun horizontally will differ at each of the five trap stations. I recommend that at post one, the shooter places the gun horizontally equivalent to the top left-hand side of the trap house. This will be the opposite at the other end, post five. At post five, the shooter will place the gun equivalent to the top right-hand corner of the trap house.  

At stations two and four, the shooter should place the gun between the far corner and the middle of the house. At station two, I am directly between the far left-hand corner and the center of the house, and vice versa for station five. 

At station three, place your gun directly in the middle of the house. This is the truest spot on the field.  

After aligning yourself horizontally, you need to determine your vertical alignment, also known as hold height. This depends upon whether a shooter shoots with both eyes or one eye open. For one-eyed shooters, I recommend they place their bead where the top of the house meets the grass or sky, all the way to six inches above the top of the house. Hold height is something you must try to alter as the round progresses. When the shooter is determining the appropriate height, they need to note the point at which the targets visually appear to slow down. You know you have found the right spot when the 42-mph target seems to be moving much slower. For two-eyed shooters, height can vary from the top of the trap house to a point at which the shooter is holding a gun parallel to the ground. I encourage new shooters to experiment with various heights of hold. Some shooters prefer a “low gun” hold and have more movement towards the target. Others prefer a “high gun” hold and have very little movement to the target. Stick to whatever feels best for you. Determining placement is one aspect of the sport that takes time to develop. 

Calling Pull 

Don’t underestimate this part. The slight facial movement from a verbal “Pull” can deteriorate your form, making it more difficult to stay consistent. Get the word “Pull” out the easiest way possible and do it the same every time. You want to ensure that as you say pull your body makes no sudden movements. This movement can cause eye movement as well as alter your point of impact.   

Tracking and Following Through 

Following through the target is one of the most important parts of trapshooting as a beginner. Think of your gun barrel as a paint brush and make sure you make a smooth thorough movement through the clay. A good tip for beginners is to follow a piece of the broken target to the ground even after you break the target.    

shooter with bag container remington shotshells

Common Mistakes in Trap Shooting (and How to Fix Them) 

Aiming to Literally 

Shotguns are meant to be pointed, not aimed precisely. In clay shooting, you just try to break the target, you are not scored on precision. This misconception can result in tail chasing the perfect shot. Use your bead as a reference when shooting, don’t try to match it up perfectly. Remember you have 100s of tiny pellets moving towards the target, not just one projectile 

Rushing the Shot 

You shouldn’t take all day to pull the trigger, but don’t just snap off loosely placed shots with a snappy trigger pull. Yell pull, track the target briefly, squeeze the trigger, don’t pull it.  

Not Following Through 

The job isn’t finished after you squeeze the trigger. Follow through! Let your momentum take you through the target and don’t come off the gun or take your eyes off that clay till it breaks. Following through keeps your shot pattern – the string of pellets exiting the wad – headed downrange in the right direction.  

How To Get Better at Trapshooting 

As with anything, no secret formula enables you to become the best trapshooter at the range. To improve at trapshooting, master your form and shoot targets. That’s it. Don’t think, just point and squeeze. Aim to surround yourself with a group of shooters who support you and from whom you can learn. Having the discipline to develop your skills as a trapshooter and a representative of the sport is just as fulfilling as breaking your first 25 out of 25 targets.  

“Trapshooting has allowed me to make such an amazing extended family from various people across the nation. It's a competitive sport with some amazing, friendly people involved. I encourage everyone to go out to your local gun club and try it out and when in doubt ask someone there that knows what they are doing. Odds are, everyone will be more than happy to help you get started!” - Logan Henry 

shooters
Featured Products

Gun Club, 12 Gauge, 8 Shot, 2-3/4 in, 1 1/8 oz, 1200 fps

Buy Now

Nitro 27, 12 Gauge, 8 Shot, 2-3/4 in, 1 1/8 oz, 1235 fps

Buy Now

Premier STS, 12 Gauge, 7.5 Shot, 2-3/4 in, 1 1/8 oz, 1145 fps

Buy Now
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • tiktok
Remington Country Logo
Federal Amabassadors
Company
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • News
  • Remington Gun Club
  • How-To
International
  • Distributors
  • Deutsche
  • English
  • Español
  • Francais
  • Italian
Partners
  • Advocacy
  • Conservation
  • Education
Resources
  • Catalog
  • Law Enforcement
  • Industrial
  • Where To Buy
  • Ballistic AE App
  • Remington Firearms Website
Support
  • AccuTip Recall
  • Orders
  • Contact Us
  • Customer Support
  • FAQ
  • Safety Information
  • Warranty
  • Site Map
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • tiktok
Remington Country Logo
Federal Amabassadors
© Remington Ammunition. All Rights Reserved
  • Privacy Policy
  • Supply Chain Disclosure
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Accessibility