ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a world-class competitor, Robins Trap and Skeet Range has all you need to enjoy the sport.
Robins Trap and Skeet Club, located at the south end of the base near the south end of Scout Lake, offers all equipment on-site for individuals and families to enjoy clay target shooting.
Shotgun rentals are $5. Ammunition is available for $7 per box (25 rounds). Eye protection, hearing protection, and shell carriers are available at no additional charge.
Rich Korbas, Robins Trap and Skeet Club president, said the club features some of the best in the business traps (target throwers) for each discipline.
“Most of the traps are nearly new, but we also have some that are older than 30 years, and they require a lot more attention,” he said. “The club also uses state of the art voice call/release systems where shooters attach a pendant the size of a credit card to the upper area of their shirt and call, ‘Pull.’ The target immediately releases from the trap, the shooter acquires and shoots the target or targets.”
In the fall, the club plans to start Five-Stand Fridays, which will run for six Fridays.
“It will consist of two person teams,” Korbas said. “Singles will be paired.”
The club hosts fun shoots on all federal holidays beginning at noon, as well as single airman events multiple times throughout the year.
“This is where we get the airman out of the dorms and onto the fields,” Korbas said. “We teach them gun safety, gun operation, target acquisition and shot execution. Then they try out their new skills busting clays. Everything is provided at no expense to the airman. It’s a great time for all.”
Members are afforded reduced rates and the extended hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
Members pay an annual membership fee of $125.00 beginning in January and ending in December. Members cost per round (25 targets) is $3.00. Membership is pro-rated for the months remaining of the year. Archery targets are made available to members. Archery only members pay $50.00 annually. Archery non-members pay $2.00 per day.
The Club is normally open to non-members on Thursdays from 4:00 to 8:00 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6:00 pm. Non-members cost per round (25 targets) is $6.00.
Korbas said the club has the best members and non-member patrons alike.
“There are no strangers here,” he said. “Anyone at any time is willing to share information on how to best shoot a target to ensure all levels of shooters do their best and enjoy their experience at the club. The biggest reward of an experienced shooter is to see the huge smile on a new shooter, especially younger shooter when they break their first target.
“Knowing they have just passed on their knowledge of shooting to them and they have breaking targets in minimal time is the reward,” Korbas said. “Youth are the future of shooting sports.”
You don’t have to participate to enjoy the sport.
“Come enjoy the park like setting and watch the shooters,” Korbas said. “We have plenty picnic tables and sheltered seating.”
Skeet shooting was invented in the 1920’s as a sport called Clock Shooting. The event is in part meant to simulate the action of bird hunting and set out to become a national sport a few years later. The International Shooting Sport Federation recognizes shotgun events as an Olympic discipline since 1968.
During WWII, skeet was used in the American military to teach gunners the principle of leading and timing on a flying object. Almost every flight training station and base had skeet fields.
Skeet is only one discipline of clay target shooting where clay targets or also known as clay pigeons are broken using shotshells fired from a shotgun. Three different disciplines of clay target shooting are available at the club.
For more information on Robins’ Trap and Skeet Club and all it has to offer, call (478) 926-3461.