Hints on shooting clays

[Richard Flanders]

The only valid advice I can give you Jack is based on why I think I miss so many skeet targets. I think my problem is that I jerk the trigger, pulling the gun down, and close my eyes momentarily and shoot under many. Classic flinching that becomes painfully obvious when I have a shell not go off for some reason. Last time out in the woods I decided to work on that issue. I made it a goal to see the clay at the microsecond that it broke and for some reason, having that as a goal, I did notice a big difference. I never closed my eyes and broke 61/63 clays that I threw. These were easy straightaway climbing clays from a step thrower, but still that's far better than I usually do. The ones I missed were ones that I intentionally let get out to 50+ yds. Anyway it worked for me and I intend to work on that further. This is the same advice found in any good shooting book really when they tell you to concentrate not on the pheasant but on the pheasants eye. I also highly recommend the books by Bob Brister, either edition of Robert Churchill's shotgun book and the DVD mentioned earlier, which is very good. I loan mine out to friends who are teaching their kids to shoot.

[Harry Collins]

Calvin,

The left barrel is most often the tighter barrel fired with the rear trigger. The front trigger most often fires the right barrel and it has less choke and a more open pattern. If I'm shooting at a going away target or a long target I will shoot the left barrel at it. Often you will have a crosser as first target and a going away or quartering taget as the second. In this case I will shoot front trigger (right barrel) rear trigger (left barrel). If the first bird is a long one or going away and the second is a crosser I will pull the rear trigger first. One of the main points of shooting a SXS is you have an option in what pattern you want to send up to hopfully meet with a target.

This I've picked this up over a lifetime of shootins SXS's and is second nature to me. It's best not to confuse the issue and "Just Pull The Trigger"!

You don't look at your hands when you are catching a ball. Look at the ball.

Don't look at the gun. Look at the target.

Don't measure or second guess yourself on a target. Be smooth, keep swinging and just pull the trigger!

Harry

[todd allen]

Sporting Clays will prepare you for shooting rabbits and birds. If nothing else, the structured safety discipline is a huge plus for field shooters. I wish everyone would spend a year at an organized gun club, before venturing forth in the field. There would be a lot less accidents, and an overall better shooting experience for all.

[ch]

Thanks Harry I understand. Makes good sense.

[VH20]

Jack,

One of the most important thing championship SC shooters share in common is the ability to "read" the targets. They are good at analyzing the target's path and determining the best point to break the bird. Trap setters can be sneaky and know how to make the path of the bird look deceiving. Each group of shooters will be given two "show birds" at each stand so they will know the targets' paths before they attempt to shoot. If you are the first gun on the stand PAY ATTENTION to the show birds because you only get one look. If someone is shooting ahead of you, continue to study the target paths as they shoot.

Most targets on most SC courses can be broken with IC chokes, but some are a little farther out. If you are shooting a double gun, of course you will often have different chokes in each barrel. Once you determine where you will break each target, do as Harry suggested and let that be your guide as to which barrel to use on which target. I always shoot the closer target with the more open-choked barrel, even if that means firing the left barrel first (sometimes the first target is farther than the second). Also, determining where you will break the target allows you to pre-position your stance so that as you swing to the firing point you will be optimally positioned when it comes time to fire. Once you position your feet to be optimal for the breaking point, if the target is a hard crosser from the extreme left or right, you can "pre-wind" your swing a little by rotating at the waist towards the point where the target will first appear without disturbing the positioning of your feet.

Most (but not all) targets are missed behind. This may be because of not enough lead, but more common is a stopped swing with no follow-through. If you are used to snap-shooting roosters this may be a habit that you have unknowingly developed (not saying you have, but just to watch out for it). Keep the barrels swinging after the shot. I try to remind myself to continue the swing on the pieces of a broken bird, or the remaining path of a missed bird. This may not be possible on the first bird of a pair because of the need to get on the second one quickly.

Rabbits are ??? just different every time. The only tip I have for them is a personal thing I picked up on my own. If they are thrown briskly over rough ground there will often be a point where they tend to make a big hop. I always look for the big hop and take them in the air (even if it isn't at the point I planned for). The reason is that when they make a big hop, for a brief moment their path becomes predictable as long as they are airborne. When they are on the ground they are completely unpredictable and always seem to know how to hop over your pattern just as you pull the trigger. One good thing is that you can usually see your shot and tell if your lead was right or wrong.

Battues are the thin flat targets. They will eventually curve and roll over on their side as they fly. Usually you should wait for that to happen before taking them because they present a much bigger target at that point. They are razor thin and difficult to break from the side, so wait till they show you at least some of their top or bottom as they roll over.

Minis are the ones that look like little orange nickels shot out of a cannon. They are usually not as fast as they appear because 1) they appear faster because they are small, and 2) they lose velocity quickly because of their lack of mass. It's just an illusion to be aware of.

You're going to have a ball, by the way, whether you shoot well or not. Good luck!

Jim

[TARNATION !!!]

Jim: Thanks for the essay. I will be studying all the responses. I think "snap shooting" does describe the rooster hunts. I will have fun and hope to learn a bit more at my tender age. I intend to shoot only a couple Parkers out of the recent accumulations so that I get my eye back for the SxS. I'll be doing the mirror trick for a while to, among other things, find the gun I feel is best fit. I found after several years of hunting "Parkerless" that when I finally did get another, I had a heck of a time connecting again, so I hope to overcome that with these inedible birds.

Cheers
Jack

[Autumn Daze]

"Tender age" Jack? Come on your among friends here....

[TARNATION !!!]

Aww shucks Dave

[Autumn Daze]

Thanks for the morning belly laugh Jack. There are some great sugestions here. And now for the final lesson.....Don,t over think...Let your instincts take over and above all have fun.Something I have to keep telling myself at times....

[ch]

Dave, u like grits make some thick grits put em in somthing let them set up in fridge slice off an 1/4 inch fry up in hot bacon grease serve with bacon eggs little butter and suryp. I'm suddenly hungry. ch