SAN DIEGO -- Pull, bang – click click – pull, bang are the only audible sounds that penetrate through foam hearing protection as shotguns fire in a flurry at the San Diego Shotgun Sports range.

San Diego Shotgun Sports is located just south of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar’s flight line and offers service members and civilians the opportunity to enjoy shotgun sports in a safe and friendly atmosphere.

“This is my first time here, and I’m really surprised with how helpful and friendly everyone is,” said Ricky Herrera, who brought his son, Jordan, to practice with a 20-gauge shotgun. “Safety is a big issue, but the staff is right there to help familiarize us with the gun.”

The facility was constructed in 1977 and has 12 fields that can support approximately 150 shooters in many different types of scenarios and games like American Trap and Skeet, Olympic/International Trap and Skeet, and 5-Stand Sporting Clays.

Trap shooting is literally “one shot, one kill.” Shooters are given the opportunity to take down one clay pigeon thrown from machine at varying speeds and degrees. The shooter can’t see the machine and don’t know how the pigeon will fly until it appears in plain sight.

Skeet challenges shooters with 25 shots at clay pigeons, moving high and low at varying speeds from eight different positions.

According to the San Diego Shotgun Sports Association, 5-Stand Sporting Clays has become the fastest growing shotgun sport in the country and attracts shooters from beginner to the most discriminating expert. Miramar is fortunate to have two, 5-Stand fields, each set up for a different degree of difficulty. Five targets are thrown at each of the stations for a total of twenty-five targets. The targets are thrown in a mixture of singles and doubles.

Open tournaments, as well as scheduled practices help the association to reach its goal of developing amateur athletes for national or international sports competitions.

Instructional courses like the Hunter Safety Program and Introduction to Shotgun Sports are available for beginners in the range’s center building/club house.

The facility offers substantial discounts to members of the active-duty military, explained Layne Kuhlman, general manager and director of range safety.

“We definitely try to treat our active-duty (members) well,” Kuhlman said. “We offer them the same prices as members.”

Large groups and unit functions are easily accommodated and welcomed, Kuhlman added.

“We’ve had lots of different commanding officers bring out their units to learn how to fire shotguns, or just have a good time together,” Kuhlman explained. “We usually can make arrangements to fit everybody in.”

For more information on the San Diego Shotgun Sports Association or facility please call: (858) 278-3173 or visit their Web site, http://www.sandiegoshotgunsports.com.