Gun Mount You can read a lot of articles about gun mount. Gun mount is one of the most important aspects of shotgun shooting. An inconsistent gun mount leads to many misses. A poor gun mount, as well as poor execution of several other aspects of shotgun shooting, can lower your opportunities to hit the targets. I have found that many new or less experienced students lose their mount as they follow the target across the field. Their bodies continue to turn with the gun while they're following the target, but their turn slows down even while their eyes stay with the target. This is where … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hints #81: Patterning Your Shotgun
Patterning your shotgun I have thought of writing this hint for a couple of years, but because there are so many great articles about patterning written by great shooter/coaches, I've waited. Now three of my students have recently purchased used or new shotguns, and all of them want to pattern their shotguns. Patterning gives the shooter confidence in where their shotgun and any sub-gauge tubes, as well as their shot shells, shoot. I personally like to pattern my shotgun when I'm evaluating new loads just to see if they perform as well or better than my previous loads. I also pattern any … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hint #76: Cell Phones on the Field
Etiquette #29 A few weeks ago I was creating a pamphlet for instructors that they might want to give their students, something in writing to help reinforce what they were teaching. I consider it a supplement to what the instructors are teaching. One of the items that I included was a page with skeet shooting etiquette. After I had written as much as I thought should be in the pamphlet, I consulted with Chief Instructor Ralph Aaron on the pamphlet and its content. Ralph made several comments and one of those is what this hint is about: Etiquette item number 29. Several hints ago I … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hint #75: COVID-19 and The Mental Game
COVID-19 and the Mental Game While my wife and I have been staying home and away from people that may have COVID-19 and be contagious, we've fortunately been able to keep in touch with friends and family electronically. We're able to deal with this self-imposed social distancing better than some of our friends because we enjoy each other's company, and we have a large enough area where we can do many things. My wife has her arts room, and I have my shop. We also have our Labrador retrievers that I spend time with. They love swimming in our pond. The hint I have is for those skeet shooters … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hints: Skeet Instructors
Skeet Instructors During the last several years I've had the honor and privilege of being one of the NSSA Zone Instructors. I was able to work with and learn many of the finer nuances of coaching shooters from the NSSA Chief Instructor, Ralph Aaron, as well as from the many other instructors of all levels that I met and worked with in San Antonio and in the classes I taught here in the NSSA Zone 6. I've lost count of how many Level 1 instructors I helped certify, but the total number is close to 75. I recently resigned from being the Zone 6 Chief Instructor, due primarily to my age and … [Read more...]
