I used to shoot competitive skeet at a pretty good level. The guys who taught me the sport on Okinawa included some legends of the game like Al Buntrock and Dick Rowden. I got away from the competitive aspect because I just couldn't afford it and my wife and kids. There are two aspects of skeet I found frustrating. First is the rules which includes so many alibis you need an attorney along to get the correct ruling. I think if the bird is thrown and there is no safety issue the shooter accepts the results period. If you gun is broke, your reloads don't go off or you let yourself be distracted - tough. Everyone would be on the same rules and run the same risk. Be a lot fewer perfect scores and shoot offs settled with a coin toss. The second aspect is why 4 guns? Settle on two guns with one of them being the .410. The other gun could be any gauge but limited to the 24gram shot load. Many shooters don't use the 12ga at all, shooting the 20 in that event and there is little difference between 20 and 28ga scores anyway. With two guns the new shooters will be more able to afford the guns needed to compete. The lighter recoiling load in the larger guns will enable more lightly built women and kids to compete head to head with the testosterone types. If you don't think so check and see who started winning in service rifle matches when the 5.56mm rifle became the gun at Camp Perry.
