[Spinner]

I just don't know how y'all do it.

I had a crack at skeet this weekend and I was struggling to see the targets, let alone hit them.

I'd previously only shot trap but when I met my friend at the club he suggested I might like to try skeet, so we wandered down to the skeet field to shoot a round. We were joined by two other guys. Sandy (one of the guys that joined us) had a trick looking Beretta with an adjustable stock .... had all manner of springs and hydraulic rams and bits of anodised aluminium with a couple of bits of plastic on the top as a cheek piece ..... looked like part of the Terminator with half its skin on. The other two guys had regular looking Remington semi-autos (1100s I think).

My friend told me that Sandy was a good coach so I asked if he could give me some advice. He told me where and how to stand, where to hold the gun, where to look, how much lead to give birds, all sorts of stuff. Problem was he had me all twisted up in wierd positions, I felt like one of them bend and pose toys.

Station 1 and I'm all twisted up like a pipe cleaner man, I yell "pull" and this little black target comes whizzing out of the trap house at about a million miles an hour. I briefly saw it leave the trap house and disappear against the dark green background provided by the dense row of pine trees. The next thing I know, its over there somewhere and dropping fast. I poked a bunch of lead out there somewhere hoping for a miracle and of course missed it. Next time I yell "pull" a kamikaze target heads towards me at warp speed. Missed that one too. The next time I yelled "pull" I stalked that high house bird and managed to smash it only to see the second target whizz past me at warp 10 and land safely on the ground to my left. What the #*@%!!! .... they're launching them two at a time now!!

The rest of the round went much the same, with me traipsing after these other guys, being all bent into odd positions and mostly not seeing the targets till they'd just about landed. I think I broke about 4 or 5 in total, but if I'd had a bayonet I would have been able to run up and nail a couple extra once they'd landed. I was waving the gun around and making noise, but that's about all I was doing. I can't explain the broken clays other than even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in a while.

Sandy broke 25 that first round (with the Terminator gun). The others broke about 21 or 22.

I stuck around for the second round and released birds for the three other guys. Sandy broke another 25 the other two broke around 22 or 23.

By the end of the second round, I still wasn't seeing the targets and I still can't work out how Sandy was able to smoke 'em.

Whoever invented skeet was just a sadist. Its really, really hard!!

Spinner

[kudu]

If your'e not comfortable when you call for the bird, you probably won't hit it. Stand facing the low house generally, and wind back to the high house when you call for the target., both eyes open!!! Go after the bird and swing that gun!! For low birds, let them come to you and keep the gun swinging. Be comfortable, left foot slightly ahead of right with a bit more of your weight forward so you are leaning into the gun. " this is for right handed people" BOTH EYES OPEN

Look at several rounds of targets before shooting again to get afeel for the speed, here registered targets are about 55mph for skeet. International is much faster.

[Spinner]

I think the biggest problem is I really didn't know what to expect. I got told where to stand, where to hold the gun, etc. but I didn't know what the target presentation was going to be like, where it was going .... and the idea of doubles was just a joke.

I think to have any chance of breaking birds I need to be able to stay at one station and get 10, 15, 20 birds of the same presentation. After about 10 or 20 High 1s I'll know what a High 1 looks like, where its going, and how to break it (hopefully). Same with a Low 1.

I got the distinct impression that I'd be better able to see the targets and get onto them early if I shot gun down. Sandy had me holding the gun way high and way out there and then peering at the trap house out of the corner of my eye, under my left arm, etc without moving my face off the stock.

This skeet thing is not good for the ego.

Spinner

[kudu]

If you have huntd a lot of birds drop gun position may help you out initially. Over time you will be better served with mounted gun. You are correct about taking several of each target presentation, untill you get the hang of each station and can put them together.

[sm]

:D
Yes folks make of fun us Skeet Shooters. Then they get on the pad and "Wherediditgo?" :p

Spinner - You need to order Fred Misseldine's Score Better At Skeet Or His book Score Better At Trap .

Not only does he remind one of Brister - in reference to guns, gun fit and mental prepardness , he goes through each station and explains how to hit them. Later on he explains why you miss them.

Skeet was invented by a few folks to improve skills for hunting. Originally "Round the Clock". They cut the "clock" in half later on and 'tis the reason the skeet field is a semi circle.

Now what many Skeet and Trap folks get tickled at [ when we are not ribbing one another about respective clay games] are the fellows that give us a hard time.

Funny - when a fellow pays hard earned monies to attend a "Tactical" Training School - He is going to learn some of the same lessons the clay shooter uses.

100 rds is standard for a tourney , the stamina has to be there. Plus any practice beforehand, or shoot offs. Not to mention one shoots two gauges in on day , the other two gauges the next....Then the doubles only for any gauges....the special shoots for pump guns only....

So it is not hard to shoot an Easy 500 rds in two days time.

See why this "dumb old skeet shooter" makes mention of mounting and dryfiring 25 times a day to start out, work up to 100 rds and I was doing as much a 500 in day to keep in shape in my tourney days.

I also have made mention of Eye Excercises ....I got that from Brister, Isleng and Misseldine too.

You do actually get to a point where the 55 mph seems slow, you can tell if the trap is throwing slow or fast. If you ever see Int'l Skeet, watch for a bit, yes they are faster, and must be shot from low gun. The Human brain can and does adjust to the speed.

One tip is to simply sit and watch the birds before actually shooting a round.

Same reason a seasoned hunter will watch birds in flight, before stepping into a field, or the defensive shooter will watch the sceniro before he shoots that stage himself.

:)

[sm]

This skeet thing is not good for the ego.
Oh yes it is my friend...just wait until you run 25/25 with a 12 ga. and they shoot your hat , your next goal is 50, then 75 ...finally at 100 - you wouldn't fit in the hat anyway. :D

The epitiome is running a 100 straight with a .410. :cool:

I was excited when I ran 100 straight with a 32 gauge. I had the opportunity and well...the challenge was there. "Just Because" factor one might say. :cool:

[Spinner]

Believe me, I ain't never gonna make fun of a skeet shooter!! Apart from it not being a wise idea to make fun of anyone with a gun in their hand, I have the greatest respect for someone who can break those little black clays with monotonous regularity.

It is a pretty social game though .... there's heaps of opportunity to rag each other about the breaks or lack thereof. I can see why folks might enjoy the game .... if'n they could break some of the targets that is.

I think the next time I'm shooting on the skeet field I'll be shooting multiples at each station to try to get myself into the game. I think I'll be leaving the middle stations till last though.

Sounds like Misseldine's books are a must (see SM, I'm starting to listen to ya!) ;)

In the meantime I'll stick to the bright orange clays that all run away from me ...... I don't like those kamikaze clays that come towards you. I also learned that if you don't absolutely smoke those incomers, the larger bits will try and get ya! :what:

Spinner

[sm]

MY "Defensive Shotgun Tip OF The Day".

We all know what a Tueller drill is. Folks practice this with handguns all the time - right?. [ everyone nod your head up and down]

What if you have to use a Long gun...that shotgun for instance.

A skeet field is great practice. Station 8 high house, start with low gun and break it....then start walking in toward the House House, how close can you get and still break it. Low Gun, or with buttstock on shoulder , muzzle down....
Repeat with Station 8 low house.

With range permisssion and clear fields , observing all safety....pick anywhere on the field , walk toward a house. We adjusted the trap to throw different than regulation. We wanted more "flat" .

Like a Tuller drill , where a fellow can travel 21 ft in 1.5 seconds ...
That clay is coming at you at 55 mph - can you break it before it reaches you? It might be a BG with a knife, or a rabid dog after your daughter....whatcha gonna do?

There is a reason I prefer a stock shotgun that fits me a certain way. There is a reason I want gun fit and balance. There is a reason why for a defensive only shotgun mine does not match the ideas of many folks here.

Me , I may be a bit rusty, last time out I made it 2/3 in to H and 1/2in to L .

I cannot do 5/5 with a 11 # gun I can and have 15 /15 one thirdway into L8. My best was going 34 straight one right after another on Low 8 as one is supposed to. Gotta have stamina ....I can do this with a 7 - 7.5 # gun.

[Dave McCracken]

Skeet's different, Spinner, and it's superb practice for improving one's skills overall. The middle stations are great for working on your pass shooting. A few more rounds and you'll see major improvement, probably starting off on the end stations with the middle stations getting better last.

High 8 will get easier fast.

The Robostock on Sandy's Beretta is probably a Precision Fit stock. These are made here, are infinitely adjustable in all dimensions, and cost about $1200 US new.

[PJR]

Spinner:

I note you're in New Zealand. Is it possible that you are shooting International or Olympic skeet? Was there up to a three second delay after the bird was called, were there doubles at the center stations and did you shoot gun down? If so, don't confuse this game with American skeet which is much easier than International. In addition to the above differences, International uses a bird this is somewhat smaller, harder to break and flies much faster.

When you here North Americans talk about skeet and their scores, understand it is a much easier game to play with slower birds, pre-mounted gun and no center doubles.

Paul

[Spinner]

Oh no, this wasn't International skeet (unfortunately). No it was shot "gun up" and there was no delay in launching of the birds. No centre doubles. I just found it a significant step up in difficulty from trap (and I ain't starting a trap vs skeet flame war!! ;) )

I don't think the best introduction to skeet is to jump in to a round first up without knowing what's going on ..... it felt like I was a learner driver strapped into a Nascar and told to go for it.

I'll definitely have another go at skeet, but I'll be doing plenty of practice first and working my way around the stations with multiple presentations.

Spinner

[PJR]

Don't be too worried about a rough start. Skeet is like any other shooting game. Once you get your foot positions, hold points and eye positioning right then it's not all that difficult. The biggest failing is not having your eyes and gun in the right place. A little instruction in the game isn't a bad idea and when all else fails try to miss in front. Hitting a skeet target isn't hard. The hard part is hitting ALL of them, one right after another.

Paul

[Spinner]

Pssst, what's a Tueller drill? Something you use to make holes in concrete?? :confused:

Spinner

[kudu]

My friend told me that Sandy was a good coach so I asked if he could give me some advice.

An expert shooter is not always an expert coach. Some tend to over complicate things and want you to shoot just like them. Each shooter needs to find his or her own style, but you do have to start out with the basics.

Problem was he had me all twisted up in wierd positions, I felt like one of them bend and pose toys.

As I said before get comfortable in your stance and kinda wind up so when you go after the targets your body unwinds and gives you some speed. Watch other shooters and see how different people stand and hold the stance and guns. Skeet is a repetitive game but it never lets you lose your concentration. Have fun with it and go with the flow. :scrutiny:

[Gearhead Jim]

A Tueller drill, named after the officer who invented it, involves simulated draw and shoot on a person who is charging at you, as with a knife. If you can draw and fire an aimed shot in 1.5 seconds (lots of people can not), an average person, from a standing start, can cover about 7 yds in that time.

It gives you a great appreciation for the danger of a person armed with a knife or club. The very first time, it may cause you to need new underwear.
:what:

[djl4570]

I had the same experience shooting skeet. I shoot trap with a Winchester 97 32" full and I do OK with it. I usually break 20 and I've hit 23 at least twice now. The same shotgun for skeet felt as quick and as heavy as a 105mm when I was trying to track the birds that came out of the high and low houses, especially when you're right under the house. I broke four, out of sheer dumb luck. Those birds are moving when they come out, about 80mph I'm told.

The skeet shooters at my range all prefer 16 and 20ga over unders because they're lighter and quicker for leading the bird.

[9mmMike]

Skeet is for girls. :D

[kudu]

Skeet is for girls.

That's what all the shooters say that can't hit a moving target. :neener:

[Spinner]

I didn't see no girls on the skeet field! If I had I might be spending more time watching things moving on the skeet field :what:




....... targets of course!!! :D

Spinner

[Skirmisher]

Skeet can be a humbling experience, but when you get the "hang" of it, it is really fun. It's surprising how much slower those birds get when you know how to track them and get a lead.:D