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...]

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...]

Trigger-to-Grip Length   I have a problem with the gun going off before I want it to. An instructor told me I “choke up” on the gun. He said I tend to grip the shotgun too far up toward the receiver. I’m shorter than average and have a small hand. What should I do?   It sounds like you are shooting with a gun that has a “reach” or trigger-to-grip length that is too large for your hand. Trigger-to-grip length is the distance between the trigger and the end of the pistol grip of your stock. When this dimension is appropriate for you, your trigger finger easily reaches the trigger … [Read more...]