Barrel Angle

 

Is it generally better to keep the barrel angle on the target line throughout the move from the hold point to the break point, or should it start below the target line at the hold point, then move up toward the target line until just before the break point?

 

Muzzle angle, or barrel angle, is a critical element of the ready position. Inappropriate muzzle angle can cause a shooter to occlude the target with the muzzle (if too high), or generate excessive gun movement if the muzzle is too far removed from the target line.

First, let’s differentiate “principles” from “techniques.” Different instructors teach different techniques, but we should all teach basically the same principles. The following is the technique I teach, but it is not the only way to break targets.

Generally, on a flat-trajectory target, like a crossing or quartering target, your muzzle angle should be on or just under the line, and, whether you use a the pull-away or sustained-lead technique to engage this target, the line of gun movement should be on or parallel to the target line. On the other hand, if you are engaging a target that is transitioning or “losing its line” at the break point, your approach will be different. Imagine a target that is crossing left to right but is looping into the break point, descending from the apex of its flight line. With this presentation, you should “shorten your stroke,” meaning that instead of holding your gun about two-thirds of the way back to the trap from the break point as you would on a flat crossing target, you should cut in half the distance between your hold point and your break point and lower your muzzle angle, thus reducing your gun movement to the break point. In so doing, you are less likely to occlude, or block, the target with the muzzle. Given that one of the chief causes of a miss on a transitioning target is occlusion, or a visual disconnection from the target at the break point, this “cutoff” or “intercept” technique works well.

So, the proper muzzle angle for a given target presentation depends on the character of the target.

Don Currie is NSCA’s Chief Instructor, an Orvis Wingshooting School instructor, and Master Class competitor. To get free shooting tips and videos, sign up for his monthly newsletter. You can also see more tips from Currie at www.doncurrie.com.