FIVE STAND
Five Stand is a type of shotgun sport shooting similar to sporting clay, trap and skeet in that a wide variety of targets are thrown. No two five-stands are exactly alike. There are five stations, or “stands” and six to eight strategically placed clay target throwers (called traps). Participants shoot in turn at each of the 5 stands and various combinations of targets are thrown from the traps. Five Stand is a great way to get a Sporting Clay like experience in a small amount of space, with very little walking.
Each station will have a menu card that lets the shooter know the sequence of clay birds he or she will be shooting at (i.e., which trap the clay bird will be coming from). Typical five stand targets are a rabbit, chandelier, overhead, standard skeet high house and low house shots, teal (launched straight up into the air), and an incoming bird.
Common accessories -includes wearing a vest or pouch that will hold at least 25-50 cartridges or “shells” for singles and/or doubles events. Most ranges and clubs require eye and ear protection, as FSC does. Typically using lead shot ammunition, with shot sizes (for lead shot) ranging between #7 ½ and #9.
Typically shot with a 12-gauge shotgun. Smaller gauge firearms (e.g., 20 gauge) can be used, but no allowance is given. Shotguns can be specialized being adjustable to better fit the shooter or can be of a factory hunting configuration. Stocks may have a “Monte Carlo” (fixed, raised “comb”) configuration and/or include a comb height adjustment, a butt plate adjustment for length, angle or both, with typically having longer barrels (30-34 inches), possibly with porting and the majority feature interchangeable choke tubes as opposed chokes of a “fixed” constriction to allow for compensation of shot size / distance and shooting style of the competitor in order to break the most targets.
Additional information about Five Stand/Sporting Clays and about the competitions, history, and services/equipment please see their website http://www.nssa-nsca.org/index.php/nsca-sporting-clays-shooting/ and rule book for qualifying arms and ammunition.