shotgun trials

[Alex Arrigone 24]

hey all,

 

i am new to shotgun shooting and have recently been trying out different shotguns at clay pigeon clubs. i have been a few times now and im still learning the basics of it however have had a few lessons and have been applying what i was taught.

 

the first time i went i hit 7 out of 25 clays, i didnt expect anything more as it was a first go. i used a over and under.

then i had a lesson with a semi auto and pretty much hit every clay apart from a few that got away, i was happy with the results.

a week later i went again but this time wanted to try an over/under again (as this is the type i want to purchase) however found that it was a lot harder to hit the target.

i think i got 8 out of 25 clays.

 

this may sound like a silly question but here it goes-

 

is there a perticular reason there is so much difference in clay hits with a semi and o/u?

are they supposed to be shot differently?

 

any help would be great

 

oh, i also know there is a very good chance the problem is me and not the difference in shotguns

 

atb

 

alex

[markha 99]

Could well just be down to 'gun fit' as this is The Most Important Thing with shotguns, also getting used to and practicing mounting the gun or dry mounting helps a lot.

At the end of the day, if you mount your gun and it doesnt point to where your looking then your pretty much on to a loser right away.

Rifles are aimed, Shotguns are Pointed

 

Unless you were shooting exactly the same layout of clays on the same ground, but getting different results with 2 different guns I would say one gun fitted better than the other, however if it was 2 different clay grounds or traps with a big difference in the speed of the clays then it coulsd just be lack of 'lead and follow through', always keep the gun moving even as you pull the trigger and even after you have pulled the trigger.

 

I was out onj a very windy day the other week, I was pointing the barrels about 12 feet in front and 6 feet below the clay to hit it.

 

Always shoot at where the clay is going, not shooting at where it iss as you will constantly miss from behind, you have to get in front fo the clay and get the shot to meet the path of the clay.

 

Keep practicing and stick to one gun.

[Alex Arrigone 24]

thanks for your help mate that was really good advice.

[matt_hooks 188]

The other thing to consider is the context. You struggled when shooting the layout, but hit loads during the lessons. Now up to a point you learn nothing by hitting easy clays, but often what's needed is a confidence boost to allow you to flow properly, so the instructor may well have selected easier to hit clays for that lesson.

[The Duncan 802]

Good advice above.

 

I must reiterate gun fit is absolutely key. I struggled with various guns that fitted very badly and now I have one that fits pretty close, my scores have improved no end.

Which course did you do well in and which badly in?

I myself get on very well with a sporting layout, but struggle on skeet. Pigeons from the hide I rarely miss, fortunate as I am a quarry shotgunner rather than clay shooter - I only used clays to get competent to hunt.

Have you tried a side by side?

I did and it heloed me realise that the O/U was the gun I did best with and they tend to fit me better too.

 

I wish you look, and hope you keep smiling even on the inevitable 'bad days' we all get!

 

ATB

 

Duncan.