Rising Teal

 

There is one target I always struggle with — the steep rising trap target that I have to shoot on the way up. If I wait for the target to get to the top, it is out of range and I’ve missed the second target. Help!

 

What makes this target challenging is that you are forced to occlude the target as you execute the shot. There are three engagement techniques that instructors will teach for this target.

The first is a hybrid sustained lead/intercept move in which you will hold the gun to the outside of the line. When the target emerges, you move your gun upward on a line that is slightly offset from the target line, mount to the lead, match speed with the target, then pull the trigger when you’ve achieved sharp visual focus. The second is a pull-away in which you move and mount to the back edge of the target, match speed, and then pull up and away from the target. The third, and the one I prefer, is a move coined by Steve Shultz called the “two-piece.” Think of this target as a quartering target turned one-quarter turn to 90 degrees. Your hold point will be one-third of the way down from the break point. Your visual pickup point will be one to two inches above the front muzzle bead and out to distance. At “pull,” you will start to move your gun straight back and into your shoulder. The moment you see the target rise above the muzzle, you will focus hard on the dome/top of the target and move the front of the gun up and through the target, executing the shot.

This move has two distinct elements: a move into the shoulder with the back hand and a move up and through the target with the front hand. It’s important that this move be executed smoothly and that the gun be fully in the shoulder when the ascending target reaches the end of your muzzle and before initiating the move through the target.

With sustained/intercept, you will sometimes overswing to the inside of the line. I favor the two-piece over the pull-away because I believe allowing the target to rise above the muzzle promotes better visual focus at the breakpoint.