Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
The mount is the basis for all shotgunning, and the shot is only as good as the mount. I first ran across this drill in Gil and Vicki Ash's book, "If It ain't Broke, Fix It". I recommend the whole book.
The drill also turned up in a segment on Wingshooting by Sunrise Productions, the guys who brought us Shotgun Journal. Chris Batha, wingshot, guru and fitter, suggests it also.
So here it is, a great drill to smooth up your form to do at home.
First, you need an open choked 12 or 20 gauge shotgun, which you check several times to ensure it's empty.
If you have a 12 gauge, use a Mini Mag Lite that takes two AA batteries or similar. For a 20 gauge, use one that takes AAA batteries. A little tape will remove the slop in the fit so it doesn't move around. Turn it on, tighten the focus down to the smallest beam possible, and place it in the muzzle of your shotgun. Again, check to ensure it's still unloaded.
Now, stand in a darkened room that still has enough light to see the ceiling and walls. Make sure you've enough room to move a bit and use good stance. From a low ready position,place the beam of the light in the corner where two walls and the ceiling meet. Mount the gun without the light moving from the spot. You may note some see sawing up and down. Repeat until the light stays put. Add a few more reps and relax a minute.
This, as you've figured out by now, is the mount for a quartering shot. Instead of a big swing, the quartering move is mostly a push up and to the target.
Now for crossers. Use the light to trace along the line between a wall and the ceiling. Remember the swing starts at the feet. Keep the spot of light on the line and mount as you sweep the light from a starting point to the finish. Go both ways on this and note any more problems going one way then the other.
If you have probs on the crosser, replant your feet so your front foot points at the imaginary breakpoint. This may help clear up a prob when actually shooting also.
If the spot keeps going off the line or off the corner, you may have fit probs as well as an undisciplined mount. Better to know than to guess.
The more you do this, the better your mount and the more toned your shooting muscles get. All this is good, with no downside but the cost of some batteries...
The drill also turned up in a segment on Wingshooting by Sunrise Productions, the guys who brought us Shotgun Journal. Chris Batha, wingshot, guru and fitter, suggests it also.
So here it is, a great drill to smooth up your form to do at home.
First, you need an open choked 12 or 20 gauge shotgun, which you check several times to ensure it's empty.
If you have a 12 gauge, use a Mini Mag Lite that takes two AA batteries or similar. For a 20 gauge, use one that takes AAA batteries. A little tape will remove the slop in the fit so it doesn't move around. Turn it on, tighten the focus down to the smallest beam possible, and place it in the muzzle of your shotgun. Again, check to ensure it's still unloaded.
Now, stand in a darkened room that still has enough light to see the ceiling and walls. Make sure you've enough room to move a bit and use good stance. From a low ready position,place the beam of the light in the corner where two walls and the ceiling meet. Mount the gun without the light moving from the spot. You may note some see sawing up and down. Repeat until the light stays put. Add a few more reps and relax a minute.
This, as you've figured out by now, is the mount for a quartering shot. Instead of a big swing, the quartering move is mostly a push up and to the target.
Now for crossers. Use the light to trace along the line between a wall and the ceiling. Remember the swing starts at the feet. Keep the spot of light on the line and mount as you sweep the light from a starting point to the finish. Go both ways on this and note any more problems going one way then the other.
If you have probs on the crosser, replant your feet so your front foot points at the imaginary breakpoint. This may help clear up a prob when actually shooting also.
If the spot keeps going off the line or off the corner, you may have fit probs as well as an undisciplined mount. Better to know than to guess.
The more you do this, the better your mount and the more toned your shooting muscles get. All this is good, with no downside but the cost of some batteries...
