Help needed which shooting pigeons

[jas88 0]

Iv had my shotgun for about 2 months now and have claimed pkenty of rabbits with it but cant seam to hit any pigeons. Is there anyone in somerset that i could go out with one weekend to see how to do it?

[JonathanKent 16]

The best thing you can do is get down to your nearest Clay ground and buy yourself a coaching session, its amazing how much your shooting can improve in a very short space of time with a good instructor.

 

ATB

Jonno

[jas88 0]

I did go to 2 have a go type session were you get a gun and an instructor and 25 clays before i bought my shotgun and only missed 2 clays each time so i think my problem is working out the lead i give the bird. Would the lead you give a clay be the same as what you would give a pigeon?

[pipcock 21]

I think you will hit more pigeons shooting with your natural instinct ,

wait, wait, wait , gun up = bang = dead pigeon .....if you start trying to work speed / lead etc by the time you've worked it all out worrying where to put the shot its gone.

atb pipcock ....................keep practicing

[mjr88 50]

I think you will hit more pigeons shooting with your natural instinct ,

wait, wait, wait , gun up = bang = dead pigeon .....if you start trying to work speed / lead etc by the time you've worked it all out worrying where to put the shot its gone.

atb pipcock ....................keep practicing

 

As above.

 

Even now , if i think too much before i take a shot i usually miss, Where as , if i just shoot on instinct and point the gun , i usually hit the target , Usually that is ,

 

John

[JonathanKent 16]

I would agree with the aove, over thinking it will ruin any chance you have of shooting the bird.

 

However in order to get that instinct you need to go and practise the best place to do that is the clay ground.

 

Jonno

[The Duncan 802]

Shoot instinctively; I always hit more when I shoot without thinking.

Are you a rifleman too? One thing I (ond countless others) have struggled with is being a rifleman for a long while before taking up shotgunning because the tendency to stop the swing once the trigger is pulled is hard to overcome.

[Axe1 0]

Hi Jas88

My first post on this forum;

 

Your problem with pigeon shooting sounds similar to problems I used to get.

The key to success is to wait, as long as you can for the birds to set and drop into decoys, or to come closer to the hide.

It's tempting to break cover and start shooting earlier than you should if you want to be successful.

 

For sure you may be "pricking" the birds at the ranges your shooting at now, but unlike a fragile clay that will break quite easily with 1 or 2 bits of shot, the humble woodie will take quite a bit and still fly on.

 

If you are dusting clays then you're shooting is spot on and you shouldn't have a problem, but over the years i have found the two respective sports to be very different in deed.

 

The best thing as has ben said is to practice down the clay ground - you're quarry deserves as much, but don't forget the two disciplines are worlds apart.

The clay is predictable and breaks readily, the pigeon is a wild bird with a brain and will test even the most experience clay shooter.

 

i was shooting in an A classification at CPSA registered events, but i could fire 100 shells and only bring home 15 birds out pigeon shooting for a long time.

 

Practice makes perfect mate

The secret is to WAIT! until the bird is well within range.

[jackinbox99 41]

Shoot instinctively; I always hit more when I shoot without thinking.

Are you a rifleman too? One thing I (ond countless others) have struggled with is being a rifleman for a long while before taking up shotgunning because the tendency to stop the swing once the trigger is pulled is hard to overcome.

 

Im pretty sure i still do this! I tend to follow the bird, then instinctively shoot in front of it. I dont keep the gun swinging as I pull the trigger. Works for me!

 

As others have said, the more you think about lead etc then you end up missing!

[jas88 0]

thanks for all your help. i will get on the clays and see if i can get some practice on them. yes duncan i have been shooting air rifles for the past 5 years and find it hard to remember to keep swinging but hopefully i will get there in the end. thanks axe1 if i get on the clays then just need to resist the urge to jump up too early (think i go get a bit too excited)

[The Duncan 802]

thanks for all your help. i will get on the clays and see if i can get some practice on them. yes duncan i have been shooting air rifles for the past 5 years and find it hard to remember to keep swinging but hopefully i will get there in the end. thanks axe1 if i get on the clays then just need to resist the urge to jump up too early (think i go get a bit too excited)

 

I know what you mean! It's hard to hang fire sometimes.

When I go decoying, I hold off til they are close and easy for the first couple of shots, while i get my 'eye in' and then go for more ambitious shots.

Unless I'm really on form that is