Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions that I'm most often asked by people interested in the shooting sports

WHAT SHOTGUN DO YOU SHOOT?

I'm currently shooting a Beretta 694 Vittoria. I shoot many different disciplines that require the gun to be setup slightly different for each of them. With a lot of trial and error, I've found that I've been able to setup the gun in a manner that allows me to leave it setup one way and use it for all of the different disciplines.

WHAT IS SCTP?

The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) provides kids from elementary through high school and college with the opportunity to participate in the fun and challenging sports of Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays, as well as the Olympic disciplines of Bunker Trap, Trap Doubles and International Skeet.

SCTP is the official feeder program to USA Shooting and a path to the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team. You can learn more by visiting www.mysctp.com

WHAT IS ATA?

Per the ATA website, "The Amateur Trapshooting Association serves as the faithful protector of the sport of trapshooting. As the largest clay target shooting organization in the world, the ATA governs the sport's rules and regulations and seeks ways to further enhance the sport and increase participation. Annually, ATA members participate in 6,000 plus registered tournaments and shoot at more then 60 million targets. With more than 900 gun clubs affiliated with the ATA you can find registered shooting just about anywhere." You can learn more by visiting www.shootata.com

WHAT IS NSCA/NSSA?

The NSCA and NSSA are the governing bodies of the National Sporting Clays and Skeet Shooting Associations. Per the NSCA/NSSA website, "NSCA is the largest Sporting Clays association in the world and the governing body for the sport in the U.S. The NSCA is dedicated to the development of the sport at all levels of participation and vows to create an atmosphere of healthy competition and meaningful fellowship within its membership. Shooters who wish to compete can enter sporting clays tournaments and be competitive immediately. The NSCA also offers the hunter a recreational target shooting sport that will strengthen hunting and gun safety skills and extend 'hunting' seasons." "Founded in 1928 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the National Skeet Shooting Association is a non-profit organization owned and operated by its members. With approximately 15,000 members and 700 affiliated member clubs, it is the largest organization in the world dedicated solely to the sport of skeet shooting."

WHAT IS USA SHOOTING?

Per USAShooting.org, "Spurred by Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the National Rifle Association of America became the National Governing Body for the shooting sports, and established the National Team, National Development Team, a coaching staff, and full-time staff to manage team operations. In the mid-eighties the Olympic Shooting Center and the Olympic Shooting Park were established in Colorado Springs to serve as the primary training sites and headquarters for the U.S. Shooting Team."

WHAT IS SASP?

The Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) is proud to offer a sporting world in which young participants from grade school through college can compete and grow in pistol and rifle competitions that offers a true level playing field with no such thing as being “benched,” while developing skills and friendships that will last a lifetime.

WHAT IS SSSF?

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) manages clay target and action shooting youth development programs in which adult coaches and other volunteers use shooting sports to teach and demonstrate sportsmanship, responsibility, honesty, ethics, integrity, teamwork, and other positive life skills. Athletes compete in team-based shooting sports where there is no such thing as being “benched”, offering a truly level playing field to all.

ARE THERE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE IN SHOOTING SPORTS?

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF), offers a scholarship program to reward deserving, graduating seniors in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) with needed college assistance. The main objective is to award as many scholarships as possible to qualifying SCTP / SASP graduating seniors. There are also many other scholarships available from colleges ,other industry related associations, manufacturers, and educational establishments.

DOES A KID NEED TO OWN A FIREARM TO PARTICIPATE IN SCTP OR SASP?

No, most SCTP and SASP teams have club guns available to shooters without access to equipment. If you do have your own firearm, it should be in good, safe, working condition and be capable of taking the abuse that we are going to expose it to. We shoot a LOT.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AT A SHOOTING COMPETITION?

SSSF and ATA events are very organized and fun will be had by participants and spectators alike. If you are unfamiliar with the event, coaches and other team members will help you understand how everything works. It's truly an exciting time for everyone involved.

WHY SHOOTING SPORTS VERSUS OTHER SPORTS?

Shooting sports provide student athletes aged elementary through college with a supportive environment while serving as a catalyst for teaching life lessons and skills that emphasize positive character traits and citizenship values.

Shooting sports allow young athletes to participate on a team level, competing around the nation to represent their school or region. They can also continuously track their own performance improvements on many levels.

While training with a team and competing at various matches with a team, young shooters will develop life lessons like winning, failing, and problem solving, all while allowing them to become a better team player and eventually a mentor themselves.

Team shooting sports enable young shooters to develop friendships and long-lasting bonds with coaches and mentors, who genuinely care about their accomplishments and successes. These relationships will last a lifetime!

AT WHAT LOCATIONS DO YOU SHOOT COMPETITIONS IN THE STATE OF OHIO?

Ohio has many sporting clay, trap, and skeet venues. I compete at many different locations in the State of Ohio, but it somewhat depends on the discipline that I'm shooting. The main locations that I compete at are:

Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, OH - American Trap, Bunker Trap (AKA International or Olympic Trap), Sporting Clays, and Skeet. The home of the Ohio State Trapshooting Association, the Ohio State Trap Shoot, and the epicenter of Ohio shooting sports. The Cardinal Center is considered one of the premier shooting sports facilities in Ohio and rapidly becoming one of the largest nationwide.

Black Wing Shooting Center in Delaware, OH - American Trap, Sporting Clays, and one of the premier locations for Skeet shooting in Ohio

Eagle's Nest Sporting Grounds located in Mt. Gilead, OH - Sporting Clays. My favorite place to shoot sporting clays near Columbus OH. It's the pinnacle of Ohio Sporting Clays.

Marietta Gun Club near Wipple, OH - American Trap

Middletown Sportsmen's Club in Middletown, OH - American Trap

Fairfield Sportsmen's Association in Fairfield, OH - Bunker Trap

Centerburg Conservation Club in Centerburg, OH is where I practice American Trap

Morgan County Gun Club in McConnelsville, Ohio

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