Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
As much as I like and advocate using a pattern board to get shotguns shooting where we're looking,I have to admit patterning boards have one drawback.
They're stationary. We mostly shoot at moving stuff with shotguns, and the moves are subtly different.
Anyway, Ed Clapper, who writes as AverageEd, wrote about a technique for dialing in a shotgun. His example had an adjustable comb, but the technique is usable for any repeater. It's also inexpensive and fast. Here it is...
Using a standard trap on a standard trap range, lock it down to throw only straightaways and stand at Post 3. Use a tight choke and a typical box of shells.. Shoot a few targets and read the breaks.
Reading the breaks is simple. Observe how the clay breaks. If the big piece flies up,you're hitting the bottom of the target. If it flies off to the right, you're hitting on the left and so on. Repeat until a pattern of breaks emerges, then move the stock in the direction you want the shot to move. Shims can do some of this, adding or removing wood also. Do this until all the targets are busting into itty bitty pieces or smoked.
Then, shoot some from Posts 1 and 5 and compare the results. If the same results happen, you're done. Otherwise, tweak the fit until it's shooting like a machine.
Now, a couple drills that can be used to fine tune your move to the target.
First, although it's been covered here before, is practice mounts at home. Besides getting consistent mounts, it works the very muscles you need to shoot with.
Second, using a technique cribbed from Gil Ash and company, try this.
Any clay trajectory has a sweet spot, a place where the clay can best be shattered. This varies with the shot, the shooter, the conditions, etc.
Shoot a clay shot op three ways. Too close, too far and in the sweet spot. This enables us to identify the sweet spot, and with repetition we end up doing it unconsciously.
As an example, that trap locked into straightaways serves. Stand on post 3, shoot some as soon as you can track them, then some out there where the clay starts to drop, then where the clay slows but before it drops. Change loads and chokes if you need to.
Next, if you've shot that premounted, do it from low gun. If you did it low gun, go for premounted.
Once these hits are coming like clockwork, do it from other posts, and do it from none. Shoot from a place you haven't shot from before for different angles and views.
Do a speed round, or the other variants we've talked about. Mix things up, and remember to have fun.
Questions, comments, donations?....
They're stationary. We mostly shoot at moving stuff with shotguns, and the moves are subtly different.
Anyway, Ed Clapper, who writes as AverageEd, wrote about a technique for dialing in a shotgun. His example had an adjustable comb, but the technique is usable for any repeater. It's also inexpensive and fast. Here it is...
Using a standard trap on a standard trap range, lock it down to throw only straightaways and stand at Post 3. Use a tight choke and a typical box of shells.. Shoot a few targets and read the breaks.
Reading the breaks is simple. Observe how the clay breaks. If the big piece flies up,you're hitting the bottom of the target. If it flies off to the right, you're hitting on the left and so on. Repeat until a pattern of breaks emerges, then move the stock in the direction you want the shot to move. Shims can do some of this, adding or removing wood also. Do this until all the targets are busting into itty bitty pieces or smoked.
Then, shoot some from Posts 1 and 5 and compare the results. If the same results happen, you're done. Otherwise, tweak the fit until it's shooting like a machine.
Now, a couple drills that can be used to fine tune your move to the target.
First, although it's been covered here before, is practice mounts at home. Besides getting consistent mounts, it works the very muscles you need to shoot with.
Second, using a technique cribbed from Gil Ash and company, try this.
Any clay trajectory has a sweet spot, a place where the clay can best be shattered. This varies with the shot, the shooter, the conditions, etc.
Shoot a clay shot op three ways. Too close, too far and in the sweet spot. This enables us to identify the sweet spot, and with repetition we end up doing it unconsciously.
As an example, that trap locked into straightaways serves. Stand on post 3, shoot some as soon as you can track them, then some out there where the clay starts to drop, then where the clay slows but before it drops. Change loads and chokes if you need to.
Next, if you've shot that premounted, do it from low gun. If you did it low gun, go for premounted.
Once these hits are coming like clockwork, do it from other posts, and do it from none. Shoot from a place you haven't shot from before for different angles and views.
Do a speed round, or the other variants we've talked about. Mix things up, and remember to have fun.
Questions, comments, donations?....
