Mounts   In observing the top guns shoot, I noticed most of them mount the gun to the kill point, then wind back to the hold point and call for the target. Why do they use this pre-shot routine, which seems like it draws attention to the gun?   This is an interesting observation. Yes, many top shooters mount to the break point during their pre-shot routine, but it is not for the reasons you might imagine. Many students at the novice to intermediate level pre-mount as part of their pre-shot routine in order to visually “check” the alignment of their shooting eye over the rib. … [Read more...]

Consistency   Sometimes I shoot lights-out and other times, not so much. It’s aggravating to know my potential when I fall short of my potential 80 percent of the time. What’s the solution?   Consistency is the Holy Grail for competitive shooters, but it’s elusive for many. Consistency is the number one goal of competitors that come to me for first-time lessons. For students whose goal it is to reach and remain at the top of the leaderboards, I coach them on three pillars of consistency: 1) Commitment to break point, 2) Planning and executing to plan, and 3) Commitment to … [Read more...]

Cutoffs   I’ve been having trouble figuring out a low, incoming, quartering target, the type that is on edge and starts dropping and going right or left before it hits the ground about 30 yards out. Because it is coming mostly straight at me until it loses speed, it feels like I am aiming when acquiring the target. What technique do you suggest?   Cutoff and collapse is the technique I find the most effective on the presentation you describe. The most common reasons for a miss on this type of target are: a lack of commitment to the break point; too much lateral movement at the … [Read more...]

New Guns   I plan to buy a new shotgun soon. Assuming that I’m looking for an over-and-under shotgun, what are the most important factors I should consider?   As a dealer, importer and gun fitter, I often get asked, “What gun should I buy?” I usually respond with “it depends.” Below are the five criteria I use to narrow down my clients’ preferences. I don’t use the answers as a checklist necessarily, but I ask my clients questions around these five areas in order to determine the best solution for their individual needs and wants. Before pulling out your credit card, you might … [Read more...]