I've been wondering whether or not I should hire a coach for a few sessions in an effort to improve my shotgunning. I'm a fair shot in sporting clays with very little practice. Recently though I am thinking I'd like to spend more time with my shotguns and improve my average. i also find that no matter the shotgun, I shoot about the same. Depending on the day I may shoot 25/50 or 40/50 on the sporting clay range. I have a Win Model 12, Rem 870 Wingmaster, two Benellis--12 and 20ga, Browning Superposed 12ga, and a Win Model 17 20ga. Shoot about the same with all of them. Last yearI had the worst year on doves and would like to avoid a repeat of that performance. Your suggestions?
Shooting coach?
- Thread starter Sniper66
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I would say concentrate on skeet targets if you have a skeet range. My Buddy shot about 50 percent on sporting until I talked him into learning how to break skeet targets. 90 percent of most sporting clays targets is some form of a skeet target. He will average 75-80 percent on sporting now. Add in some trap targets about all you have left is rabbits and springing teal.
Try a coach, if you can find a reputable one. Money may be better spent on more shells.
Try a coach, if you can find a reputable one. Money may be better spent on more shells.
I would also add you might choose one gun to shoot with initially and concentrate on learning to shoot it. Almost all guns handle, weigh in, mount and feel a little bit different from each other. Pick one, preferably one that fits you and learn how it shoots. If you can pick one up with your eyes closed and mount it to your shoulder with your face down on the stock and then open your eyes and you are looking right down the center of the barrel, it's a good fit. If you see a bit of rib, that's not a bad thing, it will shoot a bit high and you won't need to cover the birds to break them. If you cover the birds up, you can't see the bird if it does an erratic bounce, that usually equals a miss.
Sistema1927
Member
Oh, that kind of coach.
I envisioned you wondering if you should shoot an old Wells Fargo coach shotgun that you inherited from your great-grandfather who kept the payroll safe for the Colorado mines.
I envisioned you wondering if you should shoot an old Wells Fargo coach shotgun that you inherited from your great-grandfather who kept the payroll safe for the Colorado mines.
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Armored farmer
Member
A case of shells on the clays/trap range will improve your shooting wirhout a doubt.
If your goal is to increase your clays score, $500 on s coach would be money well spent.
Imho.
" ...a fool can learn from his mistakes. A wise man can learn from others mistakes"
If your goal is to increase your clays score, $500 on s coach would be money well spent.
Imho.
" ...a fool can learn from his mistakes. A wise man can learn from others mistakes"
Varminterror
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It’s very expensive, but I try to do at least one rifle or carbine and one handgun course every year. I have taken lessons a handful of times from shotgunners over the years as well - not including 2 tac shotgun courses I took. The dad and brothers of a girl from way back on my college rodeo team have a sporting clays range near where I live now, they have a few guys there who are national level competitors, so that’s where I have gone the last two times. Not really an established course, but I paid them for their time.
I should probably invest in another wingshooting/clays session or two this fall. Been a while, and I know I’m rusty!
I should probably invest in another wingshooting/clays session or two this fall. Been a while, and I know I’m rusty!
entropy
Member
You Tube is free. You can get the fundamentals there. I like this guy: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClayCoachOnline
, if you can get past his accent. He does vids for Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays.
Ask one of your club's top shooters to critique your shooting. Usually free, or costs a bubbly beverage at the clubhouse afterwards, and worth much more.
, if you can get past his accent. He does vids for Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays.
Ask one of your club's top shooters to critique your shooting. Usually free, or costs a bubbly beverage at the clubhouse afterwards, and worth much more.
Mn Fats
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Same here.
troy fairweather
Member
yes there are some good guys on youtube to watch. maybe talk to some of the old timers at the range they can give u some pointers to.
cdb1
Member
I paid for a couple of lessons with a Skeet instructor around nine years ago. My shooting improved dramatically. For me it was well worth it.
243winxb
Member
The shotgun butt must come to the shoulder the same every firing. The shape of the pad and shooting vest is important.
Load and choke- 12 ga. I/C with magnum #8 shot. 1oz for in close. 1 1/8 oz for long shot. Try to match velocity with both.
The rule book is available online.
George P
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Practice does not make perfect; PERFECT practice makes perfect. If you just keep shooting while doing things improperly, you will only ingrain bad habits that then have to be unlearned. Go to the NSCA website and look for coaches in your area, or ask at your local clubs. I think you might really want an instructor, not a coach. Semantics maybe, but instructors are the ones who teach you what you do not know; whereas a coach takes a very good shooter to the next level. Even Tiger Woods has a coach.
You might also try here for contacts:
https://www.kssca.org/
You might also try here for contacts:
https://www.kssca.org/
Time spent with a good coach is time well spent. Like Varminterror said, spend the time periodically with a coach or a class.
You Tube and video courses can be good for brushing up on techniques but you do not get the one on one feed back.
You Tube and video courses can be good for brushing up on techniques but you do not get the one on one feed back.
Kingcreek
Member
There is no substitute for a personal session with a good coach. They can spot and help you correct faults you don't know you have.
desidog
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- Nov 21, 2008
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- 2,595
It can't hurt to try...
The one thing that got me from shooting 15-20/25 to shooting 20-25/25 was having my Superposed's stock custom fit. As a lefty, the ergonomics of shooting with a cast-off stock (intended for righties) instead of a cast-on stock was hurting my game.
The one thing that got me from shooting 15-20/25 to shooting 20-25/25 was having my Superposed's stock custom fit. As a lefty, the ergonomics of shooting with a cast-off stock (intended for righties) instead of a cast-on stock was hurting my game.
expat_alaska
Member
Just my $.02 worth.
I am 66 and when I was 16-17 I worked at Roberts' Shooting Park in Elkhorn NE, pulling/setting trap and skeet for 2 years ('68-'70). I don't pretend to be a coach but I learned many things from the older shooters that helped me immensely for clays, pheasant, quail, and grouse.
Don't stop moving the gun. That is the one thing that causes the gunner to shoot behind or lower than the bird. I learned, as a skeet puller, to stand directly behind the shooter, watch the barrel swing, and see the shot "cloud" when the trigger was pulled, and then suggest not to stop moving the gun. Most did not believe they were stopping the gun.
Gun fit is very important. My 870 12 gauge VR IC choke 26" barrel had a very minimal drop at the heel which allowed me to see the entire top of the rib with an entire cheek weld. That was very important to me at skeet and also at live game birds. A lot of guns have an excessive drop at the heel that will not allow full view of the bird, causing the shooter to "blot" out the bird when pulling the trigger. That is not an optimum situation.
I was on leave from the USAF in the fall of 1972 at home in Omaha and my Dad invited me to a pheasant hunt the next day around David City NE, which I gladly accepted. My 870 was in USAF lockup in Kansas so he offered me to use his Win Model 12 16 gauge FC which had a very good aftermarket stock. I took the only 2 pheasants that day, and one was paced out at 65. I am not bragging, but just keep the gun moving!
This will do more for your shooting scores than anything else.
Jim
I am 66 and when I was 16-17 I worked at Roberts' Shooting Park in Elkhorn NE, pulling/setting trap and skeet for 2 years ('68-'70). I don't pretend to be a coach but I learned many things from the older shooters that helped me immensely for clays, pheasant, quail, and grouse.
Don't stop moving the gun. That is the one thing that causes the gunner to shoot behind or lower than the bird. I learned, as a skeet puller, to stand directly behind the shooter, watch the barrel swing, and see the shot "cloud" when the trigger was pulled, and then suggest not to stop moving the gun. Most did not believe they were stopping the gun.
Gun fit is very important. My 870 12 gauge VR IC choke 26" barrel had a very minimal drop at the heel which allowed me to see the entire top of the rib with an entire cheek weld. That was very important to me at skeet and also at live game birds. A lot of guns have an excessive drop at the heel that will not allow full view of the bird, causing the shooter to "blot" out the bird when pulling the trigger. That is not an optimum situation.
I was on leave from the USAF in the fall of 1972 at home in Omaha and my Dad invited me to a pheasant hunt the next day around David City NE, which I gladly accepted. My 870 was in USAF lockup in Kansas so he offered me to use his Win Model 12 16 gauge FC which had a very good aftermarket stock. I took the only 2 pheasants that day, and one was paced out at 65. I am not bragging, but just keep the gun moving!
This will do more for your shooting scores than anything else.
Jim
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