Thread: Tips for beginners in trap and skeet

I've only been using a shotgun for the last year or so (despite having been a rifle shooter/hunter for the last 35 years), and I've decided to give skeet and trap a go (after attending a couple of sports clay events).

I'm using a semi-auto (I know, it's a clumsy substitute for a UO) but I really want to get better with it for the benefit of field hunting, and I really like the fit, feel and balance of it. I've got two of the same gun - M2 Benelli.

So I started DTL with CL choke (because I'd been led to believe you shoot clays with a CL) and of the 100 birds, got 10, 8, 2 and 10.

Someone suggested that because it's a straight shooting gun, to put lead on the rising birds, I'm covering the birds with the barrel. I shimmed one to shoot a little higher, and changed to a M choke, and on the second outing, improved to 20, 22, 23 & 23.

My question(s): As a newbie, what else don't I know?
How much rib should I see (I saw the 50c trick in another post, so will try that).
Is M the best "all round" choke for DTL with a semi? Most of my hits on the second outing were first shots. I got a few seconds and obviously missed some too.
What's the best choke for skeet?
I'm presuming the "shooting high" adjustment I made for DTL isn't necessary for skeet. True?
How much lead do you need for the skeet birds given they're quite close, but quite fast?

Any other useful tips?

Any and all advice gratefully accepted.

PS, biggest downside for me using a semi, is that everyone else expects me to pick up all the spent casings, including those that spit out the back of their UOs when they don't catch them. LOL.