Clay Pigeon Shooting - tips for a novice
Discussion
Lead the target and tuck the gun in hard. Obvious I guess but it's all I can offer - I'm no marksman but I tend to get about 15/20 when I shoot at my neighbours trap.
It's great fun though!
Phil
Edited to add: Oh yes and stay hydrated! I once took a funny turn just before the second barrel due to sunstroke. Could have been nasty!
>> Edited by Mannginger on Thursday 5th May 17:26
It's great fun though!
Phil
Edited to add: Oh yes and stay hydrated! I once took a funny turn just before the second barrel due to sunstroke. Could have been nasty!
>> Edited by Mannginger on Thursday 5th May 17:26
Dont hold the gun away from your shoulder, really and I do mean REALLY hold it tight in to the meat of your shoulder.
Track the clay with the barrels just infront and squeeze, pull the trigger without stopping the swing of the gun. If you stop then pull you will miss.
A wonderful pursuit, have a lot of fun.
>> Edited by Plotloss on Thursday 5th May 17:28
Track the clay with the barrels just infront and squeeze, pull the trigger without stopping the swing of the gun. If you stop then pull you will miss.
A wonderful pursuit, have a lot of fun.
>> Edited by Plotloss on Thursday 5th May 17:28
Firstly, your shoulder, if it's your first time, you're going to bruise, I have a shooting jacket which has small shoulder pads, it just helps, a t-shirt and jumper should cut down the bruising a bit.
As for hitting the things are you left or right handed?
If you're right handed your right to left swing is your natural one and as such means it's easier to swing that way.
If you're left handed, obviously it's the other way.
I'll take it as you're right handed. For a right to left crossing bird start from behind the clay and smoothly (don't rush) follow the path of it, as this is your natural swing you'll need less lead (to allow for the shot to get to the clay) than if it was your unnatural one. It all depends on the bird but if it's a reasonably close crosser, you can pull the trigger as you pass the clay but still keep swinging the gun smoothly past it - DON'T STOP ONCE YOU'VE PULLED THE TRIGGER.
If it's a left to right (unnatural) you'll need to judge how far in front of the clay you are before you pull the trigger but make sure you still keep the smooth, not rushed swing going.
Depending on how you see lead (at the end of the barrel in inches, or where the clay is flying in yards etc) it'll vary from bird to bird.
If the clay is coming directly towards you you can pretty much aim straight at it and pull the trigger. If it's going away, depending on how quickly it's moving, you can either fire straight at it or slightly above it - to let the shot get there.
For 'rabbit' shoot below the clay (seems odd but it works) and still keep the nice smooth swing going
Get a nice amount of weight over the front foot so you're nicely balanced and you should be ok.
Shooting 'rabbit' clays.
Just remember to keep the gun planted in your shoulder nice and tightly, but be comfy.
Hope this helps, have fun
As for hitting the things are you left or right handed?
If you're right handed your right to left swing is your natural one and as such means it's easier to swing that way.
If you're left handed, obviously it's the other way.
I'll take it as you're right handed. For a right to left crossing bird start from behind the clay and smoothly (don't rush) follow the path of it, as this is your natural swing you'll need less lead (to allow for the shot to get to the clay) than if it was your unnatural one. It all depends on the bird but if it's a reasonably close crosser, you can pull the trigger as you pass the clay but still keep swinging the gun smoothly past it - DON'T STOP ONCE YOU'VE PULLED THE TRIGGER.
If it's a left to right (unnatural) you'll need to judge how far in front of the clay you are before you pull the trigger but make sure you still keep the smooth, not rushed swing going.
Depending on how you see lead (at the end of the barrel in inches, or where the clay is flying in yards etc) it'll vary from bird to bird.
If the clay is coming directly towards you you can pretty much aim straight at it and pull the trigger. If it's going away, depending on how quickly it's moving, you can either fire straight at it or slightly above it - to let the shot get there.
For 'rabbit' shoot below the clay (seems odd but it works) and still keep the nice smooth swing going
Get a nice amount of weight over the front foot so you're nicely balanced and you should be ok.
Shooting 'rabbit' clays.
Just remember to keep the gun planted in your shoulder nice and tightly, but be comfy.
Hope this helps, have fun
mybrainhurts said:
CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING - TIPS FOR A NOVICE
Tip number 1.....
Don't shoot your foot.
Tip number 2......
Don't shoot the instructor.
There are several techniques that people use in the way they move the gun with the target, if you have an instructor he will probably try you on each technique until you click with one. If at first you don't succeed, don't give up!
Once you get going you'll have a great time. A group of us did it a while back and all were novices, we all managed to get into the late teens of hits out of 25. He must have been a VERY good instructor
Squeeze the trigger - don't pull or jerk it. Ditto re holding the butt firmly into the meat of your shoulder (definitely avoid the boney bits! - if it gets sore try duck tape and a folded sock). Keep your head still and watch for the impact of your first thumb joint on your cheek bone on the recoil.
Try to squeeze the trigger, not snatch at it. The smoother your movements the more accurate you'll be.
With the hand you use to hold the fore hand (the wooden piece beneath the barrels) point your index finger along the length. It's surprising how much quicker and accurate your shot will be as your eye/hand co-ordination works better.
With the hand you use to hold the fore hand (the wooden piece beneath the barrels) point your index finger along the length. It's surprising how much quicker and accurate your shot will be as your eye/hand co-ordination works better.
AC79xxx said:
With the hand you use to hold the fore hand (the wooden piece beneath the barrels) point your index finger along the length. It's surprising how much quicker and accurate your shot will be as your eye/hand co-ordination works better.
*see picture above* if that doesn't make sense
>> Edited by Graham.J on Thursday 5th May 17:55
Listen to what the instructor says carefully.
Whilst Safety is of course paramount, you will probably only be firing under VERY direct supervision and one cart at a time so don't tense up too much (but don't go off the boil either).
You may well start on a "driven" stand as this leads to the most "natural" form of deflection shooting. Here the target flies out from in front of you and overhead (all advice is based on this but basics hold true for all stands)
Once you have got as used to the weight, feel and swing of the weapon don't worry about missing and don't expect to hit them first time round as there is a lot going on in a very short time. You may be using 28g or lighter "training" loads to remove percieved recoil problems (no one likes being banged about).
Listen to your instructor, try and get a picture in your mind of the target and what he/she is trying to tell you.
Shoot with both eyes open (unless told otherwise) the aim is discharge the weapon with the barrels pointing to where the target is going to be a fraction of a second later. So you pick (spot) the target up, bring the barreles to bear BEHIND/BELOW and swing through and ahead before letting the shot off. The trick is learning how far ahead etc to discharge the weapon.
But most of all have FUN!!.
cheers
MoJo.
Whilst Safety is of course paramount, you will probably only be firing under VERY direct supervision and one cart at a time so don't tense up too much (but don't go off the boil either).
You may well start on a "driven" stand as this leads to the most "natural" form of deflection shooting. Here the target flies out from in front of you and overhead (all advice is based on this but basics hold true for all stands)
Once you have got as used to the weight, feel and swing of the weapon don't worry about missing and don't expect to hit them first time round as there is a lot going on in a very short time. You may be using 28g or lighter "training" loads to remove percieved recoil problems (no one likes being banged about).
Listen to your instructor, try and get a picture in your mind of the target and what he/she is trying to tell you.
Shoot with both eyes open (unless told otherwise) the aim is discharge the weapon with the barrels pointing to where the target is going to be a fraction of a second later. So you pick (spot) the target up, bring the barreles to bear BEHIND/BELOW and swing through and ahead before letting the shot off. The trick is learning how far ahead etc to discharge the weapon.
But most of all have FUN!!.
cheers
MoJo.
Mrs Cuchillo said:
I'm right handed, but the sight in my right eye is crap, so I have to shoot left handed - seems to work fine. You might need to take this into account if you have better sight in one eye than the other!
I am also right handed, left master eye.
I tried various glasses to help, but in the end just chose to close the left eye and still shoot right handed.
If you rifle shot with a scope, a good thing to learn to do is shoot with both eyes. ie One looking down the scope and the other looking on the subject normally. This takes mastering but is worth it.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff