Pointing vs. Aiming I was a rifle shooter before I started shooting a shotgun, and I struggle with ‘pointing’ vs. ‘aiming.’ How can I get out of the habit of aiming? Having grown up shooting and competing in small-bore rifle, I can sympathize. Most shooters, with a little practice, will progress to a point where applying sharp visual focus to the target is natural. There are two techniques I would recommend you employ to avoiding aiming. First, increase the intensity of your focus. Just as a batter tries to “see the threads” on a 90 mph fastball, the sporting clays … [Read more...]
Final Shots: Harry Michelson
We were saddened to learn that Harry Michelson of Bolivar, Ohio, passed away on December 29 at the age of 98. Harry was a Master Referee and was named 2008 NSSA Referee of the Year. He was very devoted to skeet and refereed shoots into his 90s. Harry was instrumental in the success of St. Joe Valley Conservation Club and has been honored by the club with the Harry Michelson Open Skeet Shoot for the past five years. He was a true American hero, having had a distinguished military career that began during World War II with the Army Air Corps. He retired in 1964 from the U.S. Air Force with … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hint #62: Thinking
Thinking I recently went to a 5x50 shoot at the Oklahoma City Gun Club. The club is a great place to shoot with some great people attending the shoot. I was assigned to a squad that was made up of people I know from Kansas. One of them, Mr. Cloyce Spradling, mentioned that I should write a hint about thinking, so here it is. During the shoot, as I raised my shotgun to call for high 2, a fly landed on my hand. I had to lower the gun so I could blow it off, and then I proceeded to call for the target while I was still thinking about that ##$^%&$ fly, so I missed the … [Read more...]
Ask the Instructor: Cutoffs
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...]
Ask the Instructor: New Guns
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...]
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