Crossing Targets   Yesterday at my club, I was practicing on a 30-yard left-to-right crosser. I tried to break the target at various spots along the flight path. My best breaks were shots where I hit the bird just before it started to fade and fall off the target line. When I tried to break the target a bit later, I had a lot of trouble. Why did I have so much trouble breaking this target as it was starting to slow down and fall?   Let’s eliminate eye dominance and gun fit and assume that the issue here is technique. Identifying a specific terrain feature to mark your break … [Read more...]

Custom Perazzi   I am in the process of ordering a new Perazzi and would like to know the pros and cons of a flat rib compared to a mid-height rib for sporting clays.   I really like Perazzi’s 4mm raised, ramped and ventilated rib. I call this an “elevated rib” because it is slightly higher than a flat rib yet much lower than most high-rib and even mid-rib shotguns on the market. I ordered my MX2000S with the 4mm, 11x7 tapered, ramped and ventilated rib, and I love it. The advantage of this rib over the standard flat rib is improved visibility over the barrel, particularly for … [Read more...]

Flinching   I have a flinch — a bad one. I used to flinch every once in a while, but since I changed guns about three months ago, I flinch constantly. What do I do?   Ah, the dreaded flinch. It is perhaps the most misunderstood affliction in shotgunning. Contrary to popular mythology, the flinch is almost never caused by anticipation of recoil. That’s right — if you have a flinch, you can switch to a lighter shell or even install sub-gauge tubes in your shotgun and shoot .410, and you will still have a flinch. The cause of a flinch is “visual interruption.” It occurs when … [Read more...]

Recoil Sensitivity   I am very sensitive to recoil. I want to continue to shoot a 12 gauge so I can compete in NSCA registered tournaments and don’t want to switch to a smaller gauge. I also prefer over-and-under shotguns compared to semi-autos. What do you suggest?   First, let’s understand the difference between “actual” recoil and “felt” recoil. The former is determined by physics. The latter is the shooter’s perception. There are two ways to reduce actual recoil: 1) increase the weight of the gun, or 2) decrease the energy produced by the projectile. To decrease energy, … [Read more...]

Gun Fittings   I am a beginning shooter. How do I know if I need a gun fitting? How will I know if I need a custom stock or just an adjustable comb?   The fit of your shotgun is only as precise as the consistency of your mount and the quality of your stance. Most beginners tend to have an inconsistent mount, improper stance or both. As you gain experience, your mount and stance will evolve and become more consistent. As a newcomer to the sport in search of a well-fitting shotgun, you should focus primarily on comfort and visibility. There are two elements to comfort: length … [Read more...]