why can,t I hit a barn door with a frying pan?

[nimrod49 0]

Does anyone have any advice after many years of rifle shooting (i,m not a bad shot sub 2" 3 shot grouping at 30 meters air rifle sub 2 1/2 inch at 100 with .22 rmf) but ill be buggered if I can hit the easyest of pheasants with a 12 bore I have managed to clean kill a few high fast ones and a left and right on a pair of mallard that I still cant belive I hit but the average every day bird or ground game as my 12 year old said after a days beating "well dad why dontyou shout bang and throw the bloody gun at them? thanks

Mark

[spanj 11]

Does anyone have any advice after many years of rifle shooting (i,m not a bad shot sub 2" 3 shot grouping at 30 meters air rifle sub 2 1/2 inch at 100 with .22 rmf) but ill be buggered if I can hit the easyest of pheasants with a 12 bore I have managed to clean kill a few high fast ones and a left and right on a pair of mallard that I still cant belive I hit but the average every day bird or ground game as my 12 year old said after a days beating "well dad why dontyou shout bang and throw the bloody gun at them? thanks

Mark

 

 

Lead........... shotgun cartridges have a much lower velocity than most bullets, so you need to estimate how far in front of the bird you need to be when you pull the trigger. Anywhere between 3 & 12 feet is the answer !!!!

[jackinbox99 41]

You tried the 12g out down the clay range? You`d be amazed at how far in front you have to shoot the birds. Seems very strange initially until you get used to it.

[macberran 2]

If your shooting at them......................they've gone!

[Sterry 0]

In my experience, whose who have to think about how many feet of lead, tend to miss as they are over calculating and this doesnt help the game shot, no doubt lead is the problem but measuring lead (imo) is impossible. the only way to get better at this is to do a few clay but only a few, and dont get into the habit of ambushing the clay as is the case. you have to swing through the clay so its as similar to a game shot as possible. I must stress that only a few clays, as i find pigeon shooting is far better for "getting your eye in" than any clay. so get your self pigeon shooting and if you can take the shots so its as similar situation as game shooting i.e head on, high crossers and diagonal crossers.

 

I know some will disregard what i say on the pretence that "im only 17" but i have been shooting for 14 years now and driven days for 9 years.

[andyfr1968 772]

Sterry's spot on. Lead is something that needs to be instinctive, practice is the only answer.

 

Clays are a good way but it needs to be remembered that birds don't fly in a nice parabolic arc like clays do.

 

I know a few decent clay shots that struggle with live targets 'cos of this.

 

Try as many different angles and speeds with clays as you can. That's how game breaks....

 

Good luck!

 

Cheers.

[macberran 2]

Sterry what gun did you use at 3 yrs !! All in all, game (birds) gain speed and clays slow down. Have a good couple off unpressured sporting clay days too get the feel of the gun and become familiar and indiffrent too what it does(the gun). recoil swing etc enjoy and then. Get comfortable, and take it slow. Like I said if your aiming at them........they've gone.

If you don't "play" a gun how can you learn how too give " MORE LEAD" as is the common cry, practice, practice, and more practice. Some are naturals some take practice to beat the "naturals".ATB

[danebrewer10 6]

Does anyone have any advice after many years of rifle shooting (i,m not a bad shot sub 2" 3 shot grouping at 30 meters air rifle sub 2 1/2 inch at 100 with .22 rmf) but ill be buggered if I can hit the easyest of pheasants with a 12 bore I have managed to clean kill a few high fast ones and a left and right on a pair of mallard that I still cant belive I hit but the average every day bird or ground game as my 12 year old said after a days beating "well dad why dontyou shout bang and throw the bloody gun at them? thanks

Mark

 

Clays, clays and more clays! also a great way to escape from the house on a sunday morning!

[JPTfellterrier 65]

no use on the gun part but think your sons comment was great haha

[DoaS 0]

I'm betting that besides what's already been said about lead being critical, if you are a rifle shooter you may well also do one other thing that is a no-no with shotguns - you will 'stop' the gun when you pull the trigger - you've got to keep swinging the gun ahead of the target and keep the gun moving as you pull the trigger - don't stop the gun swing until well AFTER you have shot

[SMOGGY 34]

Nimrod, i have the same problem, but what i've found is that when using a rifle - and your looking through scopes all the time, the natural locatation for your eyes is a inch or so above the barrells, no good for shotguns, try to remember to look down the barrells (easier said than done), but practice makes perfect.

 

atb smoggy

[sako243 0]

All of the above advice is good.

And remember to open your left eye(assuming you're right handed).

A lot of rifle shooters have made this mistake at first use

of the shotgun.

 

Simples!!!!

 

Enjoy yourself.

[bignoel 14]

B.bum B.belly B. beak B.bang works for me

[cyclonebri1 8]

B.bum B.belly B. beak B.bang works for me

 

 

Not sure I understand that Noel

However, as others have said shoot some clays, OR, and better in my opinion get out with a good real pigeon shooter. They don't all fly true from the trap if you understand?

[Sterry 0]

Sterry what gun did you use at 3 yrs !! All in all, game (birds) gain speed and clays slow down. Have a good couple off unpressured sporting clay days too get the feel of the gun and become familiar and indiffrent too what it does(the gun). recoil swing etc enjoy and then. Get comfortable, and take it slow. Like I said if your aiming at them........they've gone.

If you don't "play" a gun how can you learn how too give " MORE LEAD" as is the common cry, practice, practice, and more practice. Some are naturals some take practice to beat the "naturals".ATB

 

 

A 9mm "garden gun" with a stock my grandad made up and i used it in the pens and around barns on my unlcles shoot (nothing too challenging) . only used it for a few years then used a .410 with 2" cartridges. then progressed the same route as eveyone else. but im loving my 20bore at the moment although its proberly too small for me, im used to it and as a result have more good days than bad days, n.b this only happens after an awful lot of bad days.

 

Now for the other posts:

 

Pigeons are (in my veiw) one of the most challenging birds to shoot, especially if you flight them, but even decoyed they are good sport. If you find yourself dragging them down consistently, no doubt you will have a good day on the shoot.

 

And i Bignoel i believe is refering to: bird bum, bird belly, bird beak, bang or Tail, belly, beak, BANG! (as i know it) basically means as your swinging the gun THROUGH the bird i.e with your swing, over take the bird the pull the trigger.

 

but nothing in my veiw is as good as a regular days under pigeons.