Choose Wisely……

November 2008 Shooting Tip

As you would expect, I field a lot of questions about shooting methods. Which is best, where and why. 30 years of sporting and watching literally millions of targets from behind the trigger has taught me this.

No one shooting method is best for all targets. The wide diversity of target presentations in sporting clays strongly suggests we have more than one shooting method in our skill inventory.

For instance, what method would you use on a fast, left to right, 40 yard crossing target off a tower? Well for starters, what breakpoint have you chosen on this bird? An early breakpoint will likely mean the speed of the bird is up, requiring a suitable lead. Midway through the flight the bird speed has slowed, changing the lead. Eventually running out of speed the bird is still a crosser, but the lead has again changed. Finally, the bird begins its descent creating another new lead picture altogether. And that picture might change 2 or 3 more times depending upon how far the bird has to fall. 1 target, 6 possible breakpoints. The odds are high the shooting method you used on the first two breakpoints won’t be the same method you would use on the last two breakpoints.

At Paragon, we primarily teach the pull away shooting method. Pull away creates excellent muzzle control and handles lead issues nicely for the majority of the presentations we face. It is a superb foundation method. But pull away is definitely not for all targets. When a particular target presentation calls for it, we also teach Churchill, swing-through and maintained lead because these methods have their advantages as well. And then there are methods for chandelles, those targets that curl, roll, slide and dive.

The key is having these shooting methods in your repertoire and knowing precisely what to use and where. Because the advantages go to those who are prepared.

“Choose Wisely” is Part 1 of an ongoing series of tips on shooting methods. Over the next few months, the monthly shooting tips will focus on one method – why and where you might want to use it – and the strengths and weaknesses of each method

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Sporting Clays Tips, Clay Target Techniques, Wing Shooting Preparation
Time proven tips to make you a better Sporting Clays, Clay Target, Wingshooting, Skeet, Trap, or recreational shotgun shooter.

Most all Clay & Wing shooters desire to shoot better. But for many, shooting mistakes create frustration during competition, in the field, and even during practice sessions. Dan Schindler teaches shooters, from all skill levels, a shooting process that creates more consistency and proficiency by eliminating mistakes both before and during the shot.
Each month, Dan provides a new shooting tip to help you be more consistent in the shooting box and on your scoresheet.

Gun UP vs Gun DOWN
March 2008 Shooting Tip

Full Article

The fastest way to take random gun movement (RGM) out of your swing is to pre-mount your gun. As sporting clays shooters – when shooting gun up – it’s important that we not forget to raise our head and relax the shoulders. Head up allows us to see – and shoulders down keeps much needed body movement in the swing. Gun up works in sporting clays.

However, the modified gun up position proposed above does not entirely compensate for the advantages of gun down. The gun down position offers advantages gun up can’t. First, gun down – partially or all the way to the F.I.T.A.S.C. line – does a better job of clearing the gun out of your vision. You might not think it would, but it does. Secondly, gun down in all ways creates a more natural, instinctive swing. Underestimating the importance of that is to handicap yourself on the sporting clays range as targets dive and dodge on irregular lines of flight. It is here when gun down really earns its keep.

Don’t forget, gun up or gun down, reducing RGM in your swing is always a high priority. With all the advantages of gun down, it also opens the door for more RGM. Taking your for-end hand To The Target (move first,…then mount and shoot) will greatly reduce RGM in your swing.

Both gun up and gun down have advantages. Learning which one to use on various target presentations will definitely put the odds in your favor.