Course Recon I sometimes see shooters riding around the course and looking at the targets before they actually shoot the course for score. I also see them watch shooters shoot the targets before moving on to spectate at another station. Do you recommend I do a recon of the course before shooting it? I don’t have a strong opinion on this one. I neither recommend nor discourage my students and competitors from reconnoitering a sporting clays course before shooting it in competition. Taking a quick ride through the course can be helpful, as it will give you an idea of the … [Read more...]
Ask the Instructor: Show Birds
Show Birds While my squad is looking at the show birds, where should I stand? Why do the pro shooters all tend to point their arms at the targets? During the show pair, if you are the first shooter at a particular station, the ideal spot for viewing the show pair is obvious. If you are this lucky first shooter, don’t forget that the rules entitle you to at least two pairs. If you are not the first shooter in the station, you should stand in a spot that provides you with the best visual perspective of the target presentation. Stand directly behind the first shooter or in a … [Read more...]
Ask the Instructor: Chokes for Beginners
Chokes for Beginners I am a beginner at sporting clays and love the sport. I’m hooked — but I am so incredibly confused about chokes! What should I use and when? For a newcomer to sporting clays, considerations of bore micrometer measurements, 5/1000ths increments and bead counts within a 30-inch circle at 40 yards can cause the eyes to roll back into the head. I understand that you must get a lot of advice and opinions from your squadmates about the latest technical choke data. So, let me try to untangle the Gordian knot. As a beginner, you should be enjoying the … [Read more...]
Ask the Instructor: Barrel Length
Barrel Length I am considering moving up to 32-inch barrels from 30-inch barrels. Most of the shooters at my club now shoot with 32-inch barrels. What are the pros and cons of moving to a longer barrel? With all other factors being equal (shell, load, etc.), there is no appreciable advantage in shooting a shotgun with a 34-inch or 32-inch barrel length over one with a 30-inch barrel. In recent years, the trend has been toward longer barrel lengths without regard to the size and height of the shooter or balance of the shotgun. This is a mistake, in my opinion. This trend is … [Read more...]
Ask the Instructor: Driven Birds
Driven Birds I live in England and I am primarily a driven bird shooter. Traditional shotgunning techniques don’t seem to work with this target. I’ve read Churchill and Stanbury but I have never seen the 40- to 60-yard driven bird addressed in a video. Any advice? Simply put, the preferred technique for engaging a driven target is pass-through, also known as swing-through. I’m not a big fan of swing-through in most circumstances, but anyone who tells you that sustained lead will work on a driven target hasn’t shot driven targets. First, let’s define a driven bird as an … [Read more...]
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