Range Officer
Member
Just a question, how many people here are in to competitive skeet shooting? I shoot for a league team and looking for a couple pointers.
Skeet Shooting
- Thread starter Range Officer
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mlw332
Member
Practice Practice Practice
Shot alot of comp. in high school but its been forever since i have been to skeet shoot
Shot alot of comp. in high school but its been forever since i have been to skeet shoot
DJW
Member
skeet
Fred Missledine wrote a great book detailing the fundamentals as well as the "typical" leeds required to break birds at each station. Sure made good reading.
Another thing that helped me was to sign up on squads of really good shooters. It seemed to rub off on me over time. Don't be afraid to ask for help from those who regularly smoke targets. Skeet shooters are the most friendly folks you will ever meet.
Keep the gun moving!
DJW
Fred Missledine wrote a great book detailing the fundamentals as well as the "typical" leeds required to break birds at each station. Sure made good reading.
Another thing that helped me was to sign up on squads of really good shooters. It seemed to rub off on me over time. Don't be afraid to ask for help from those who regularly smoke targets. Skeet shooters are the most friendly folks you will ever meet.
Keep the gun moving!
DJW
Gary G23
Member
I was ten years ago. I credit the Todd Bender video for helping me break 100 straight in registered competition.
sm
member
Score Better at Skeet - Fred Misseldine
Score Better at Trap - Fred Misseldine.
I mentioned his trap book for the benefit of trap shooters.
In both works, Fred not shows one how to hit each station, he also shares why you missed, and how to correct.
An absolute gentleman, I had the honor to not only receive lessons from him, also shoot with him in the field.
My signed copies of his works, and other notes burned up in a fire.
-
Shotgunning: The Art & Science by Bob Brister, is recommended.
I had the honor to meet him and shoot with him as well.
And again, signed copies of his works I had burned up.
-Grant Isleng is another if you can find any works of his such as in a magazine, or works of another author that shares his wisdom.
Another true gentleman.
---
Breaking the first 25 straight is the hard part, then 50, then 75, then 100.
The shooter has the gun that fits, the loads that work, it is the Mental game that makes these straights so difficult.
Shooting 100 straight is not difficult after a time, as the mental game matures.
Anyone can shoot 100 /100 ,the real competition is the shoot off.
Skeet is easy to learn, difficult to master because of the Mental Game.
Correct basic fundamentals are the key.
Go watch some folks shoot, attend a tournament and just watch.
One does not even have to look at the tote board to know whom is a class E and whom is a class A shooter.
The Mental Game is that obvious.
Oh they have the skills, like poetry in motion.
It is not the gun, nor any of the physical equipment, it is skill sets and mental game.
Shooting is 10% Physical, 90% Mental - Misseldine.
Focus on the bird, not the equipment - Will Fennell
Watch a tourney, pay attention as to whom makes the shoot-off.
Then get one of the folks that made the shoot off to take you under his/her wing.
Start with gun fit to you, patterning the gun, correct basics of mounting gun to face and actually shooting each station.
Shoot with folks better than you.
Shoot with folks better than you.
Shoot with folks better than you.
This Mentor(s) and his/her kind will invite you to shoot with them.
Do it.
They are going to shoot stations faster, not dilly -dally, and be so smooth still so fast and break birds faster than you.
This is what you want, you want to be around these kind of folks, as the more you are with these kind of shooters, the more little things you will pick up, and these things are not in books, nor can they tell you as they might not realize they do it, and if they do, can't really explain it.
About the gun, get it fitted with LOP , cast on/cast off, pitch...etc, and put a Pachmyer Decelerator on it.
Once that gun is "you" get a second gun exactly like it.
Beads - I and mine took them off on purpose, just something not needed, actually a distraction.
Foot wear, very important. You want shoes that fit, you want some forward tilt, as this assists in form and stance, and allows one to move!
Vest or pouch, I use pouch, glasses, and I use plugs..
Once the Physical is figured out for you - Leave. It.Alone.
You are there to shoot, not mess with physical things.
Never, never ever steal from the 90% Mental , not even 1%, and use toward the Physical.
Me and Mine stepped it a notch, 5% Physical and 95% Mental.
Start with 25 correct mounting gun to face and dry fire each night, shooting through targets representing each of the stations.
Work up to 200 a night.
Then reload every chance you get.
In serious times, I was known to do 500 dry fire and shoot thru a day.
Reload 500 shells min a day.
Shoot live fire 200 a day.
Just like the ISPC buddies of mine got to shooting 500 a day, I was doing the same with a shotgun.
Unwritten Rule: Never show up to shoot a serious competition with a clean gun.
I and mine concerned ourselves with chamber, extraction and feeding.
Fixed Choke guns, alleviate one more pain in the butt physical thing to mess with - screw in chokes.
We did not have time to clean a gun, we were too busy shooting, reloading, or heading somewhere to shoot.
If we shot 2000 rds that week, hit the areas that make a gun run, who cares if the bore is dirty, it is going to again anyway.
If it was time for inspect and maintain or <gasp> clean, do it, but run at least 50 rounds , and my rule was 100 rds before I would shoot serious with that gun.
The dry fire builds up stamina.
There are simple tricks , exercises one can do with out a shotgun.
One will shoot 12 ga that morning, 20 ga in the afternoon.
200 rds right there.
Then the shoot off, and I have been in shoot offs we went 6 boxes, so there is another 150 rds.
350 rds in one day.
Repeat the next day, plus double events, or pump gun only events, or pump gun double events and it is not hard to shoot 1000 rds in 3 days.
The gun has to fit, all the physical stuff has to fit as fatigue, will get one sloppy, and then one messes up mounting a gun and felt recoil will be felt.
That one time will beat you and cause you to lose.
This is why I never ever assist a student with a recoil reducing stock.
They have to learn correct basics with a gun that fits.
Always shoot when the weather is bad, I actually preferred to shoot in rain, wind, and anything else.
Nice sunny days are one thing...everyone comes out.
It is the folks in 117* F, or 20* F , in rain, wind, sleet, snow...that run 'em you want to learn from.
Find that damned old fool, in the shoot off and you find out she/he shot "that tourney that time" shoot off in sleet, snow, or rain and other bad climate.
That is whom you want to be mentored by.
Missedine got older, his body would not do what it once could, and he was blind in one eye.
Poetry in motion as he could still run a straight, or fell ducks, or quail.
Score Better at Trap - Fred Misseldine.
I mentioned his trap book for the benefit of trap shooters.
In both works, Fred not shows one how to hit each station, he also shares why you missed, and how to correct.
An absolute gentleman, I had the honor to not only receive lessons from him, also shoot with him in the field.
My signed copies of his works, and other notes burned up in a fire.
-
Shotgunning: The Art & Science by Bob Brister, is recommended.
I had the honor to meet him and shoot with him as well.
And again, signed copies of his works I had burned up.
-Grant Isleng is another if you can find any works of his such as in a magazine, or works of another author that shares his wisdom.
Another true gentleman.
---
Breaking the first 25 straight is the hard part, then 50, then 75, then 100.
The shooter has the gun that fits, the loads that work, it is the Mental game that makes these straights so difficult.
Shooting 100 straight is not difficult after a time, as the mental game matures.
Anyone can shoot 100 /100 ,the real competition is the shoot off.
Skeet is easy to learn, difficult to master because of the Mental Game.
Correct basic fundamentals are the key.
Go watch some folks shoot, attend a tournament and just watch.
One does not even have to look at the tote board to know whom is a class E and whom is a class A shooter.
The Mental Game is that obvious.
Oh they have the skills, like poetry in motion.
It is not the gun, nor any of the physical equipment, it is skill sets and mental game.
Shooting is 10% Physical, 90% Mental - Misseldine.
Focus on the bird, not the equipment - Will Fennell
Watch a tourney, pay attention as to whom makes the shoot-off.
Then get one of the folks that made the shoot off to take you under his/her wing.
Start with gun fit to you, patterning the gun, correct basics of mounting gun to face and actually shooting each station.
Shoot with folks better than you.
Shoot with folks better than you.
Shoot with folks better than you.
This Mentor(s) and his/her kind will invite you to shoot with them.
Do it.
They are going to shoot stations faster, not dilly -dally, and be so smooth still so fast and break birds faster than you.
This is what you want, you want to be around these kind of folks, as the more you are with these kind of shooters, the more little things you will pick up, and these things are not in books, nor can they tell you as they might not realize they do it, and if they do, can't really explain it.
About the gun, get it fitted with LOP , cast on/cast off, pitch...etc, and put a Pachmyer Decelerator on it.
Once that gun is "you" get a second gun exactly like it.
Beads - I and mine took them off on purpose, just something not needed, actually a distraction.
Foot wear, very important. You want shoes that fit, you want some forward tilt, as this assists in form and stance, and allows one to move!
Vest or pouch, I use pouch, glasses, and I use plugs..
Once the Physical is figured out for you - Leave. It.Alone.
You are there to shoot, not mess with physical things.
Never, never ever steal from the 90% Mental , not even 1%, and use toward the Physical.
Me and Mine stepped it a notch, 5% Physical and 95% Mental.
Start with 25 correct mounting gun to face and dry fire each night, shooting through targets representing each of the stations.
Work up to 200 a night.
Then reload every chance you get.
In serious times, I was known to do 500 dry fire and shoot thru a day.
Reload 500 shells min a day.
Shoot live fire 200 a day.
Just like the ISPC buddies of mine got to shooting 500 a day, I was doing the same with a shotgun.
Unwritten Rule: Never show up to shoot a serious competition with a clean gun.
I and mine concerned ourselves with chamber, extraction and feeding.
Fixed Choke guns, alleviate one more pain in the butt physical thing to mess with - screw in chokes.
We did not have time to clean a gun, we were too busy shooting, reloading, or heading somewhere to shoot.
If we shot 2000 rds that week, hit the areas that make a gun run, who cares if the bore is dirty, it is going to again anyway.
If it was time for inspect and maintain or <gasp> clean, do it, but run at least 50 rounds , and my rule was 100 rds before I would shoot serious with that gun.
The dry fire builds up stamina.
There are simple tricks , exercises one can do with out a shotgun.
One will shoot 12 ga that morning, 20 ga in the afternoon.
200 rds right there.
Then the shoot off, and I have been in shoot offs we went 6 boxes, so there is another 150 rds.
350 rds in one day.
Repeat the next day, plus double events, or pump gun only events, or pump gun double events and it is not hard to shoot 1000 rds in 3 days.
The gun has to fit, all the physical stuff has to fit as fatigue, will get one sloppy, and then one messes up mounting a gun and felt recoil will be felt.
That one time will beat you and cause you to lose.
This is why I never ever assist a student with a recoil reducing stock.
They have to learn correct basics with a gun that fits.
Always shoot when the weather is bad, I actually preferred to shoot in rain, wind, and anything else.
Nice sunny days are one thing...everyone comes out.
It is the folks in 117* F, or 20* F , in rain, wind, sleet, snow...that run 'em you want to learn from.
Find that damned old fool, in the shoot off and you find out she/he shot "that tourney that time" shoot off in sleet, snow, or rain and other bad climate.
That is whom you want to be mentored by.
Missedine got older, his body would not do what it once could, and he was blind in one eye.
Poetry in motion as he could still run a straight, or fell ducks, or quail.
Range Officer
Member
Thanks for the input i will definatly look in to it
eflatminor
Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2006
- Messages
- 421
Get fitted
I shot upland game as a kid and took up skeet about a year ago and now shoot it once a week and sporting clays twice a week. Addicting.
The best thing I ever did to take my shooting to an entirely new level was to get fitted. A proper fitting with try guns and your own guns, on the range, shooting birds and pattern boards. Knowing all the dimensions, which you'll get spelled out on a form is nice if you're going to have a custom gun built but making your current guns fit is more important. Have you guns modified as much as possible to your proper fit. In some cases, a completely new stock would be required for a perfect fit; don't be afraid to try 'cheek ease' type pads. They really work well if you don't have the bread for custom stocks. I went to Dale Tate in Northern California. Fantastic experience.
I shot upland game as a kid and took up skeet about a year ago and now shoot it once a week and sporting clays twice a week. Addicting.
The best thing I ever did to take my shooting to an entirely new level was to get fitted. A proper fitting with try guns and your own guns, on the range, shooting birds and pattern boards. Knowing all the dimensions, which you'll get spelled out on a form is nice if you're going to have a custom gun built but making your current guns fit is more important. Have you guns modified as much as possible to your proper fit. In some cases, a completely new stock would be required for a perfect fit; don't be afraid to try 'cheek ease' type pads. They really work well if you don't have the bread for custom stocks. I went to Dale Tate in Northern California. Fantastic experience.
Never stop swinging the gun. Follow the biggest peice or unbroken bird to the ground.
Dont check your sights/beads. You will shoot behind.
Now for the zen...
You can miss a bird three feet in front of it and still break it, but if you miss three inches behind you will always miss.
Dont check your sights/beads. You will shoot behind.
Now for the zen...
You can miss a bird three feet in front of it and still break it, but if you miss three inches behind you will always miss.
last round of skeet i shot was with a wilson scattergun 1187 
best thing about skeet is the smell of burning gunpowder (so much better than that ammonia smell from rifles)
worst thing is that the course of fire puts me to sleep. i'd like to just stand out there betwixt the houses and tell the guy on the buttons to just start slinging birds randomly from hi and lo until my gun's dry.
best thing about skeet is the smell of burning gunpowder (so much better than that ammonia smell from rifles)
worst thing is that the course of fire puts me to sleep. i'd like to just stand out there betwixt the houses and tell the guy on the buttons to just start slinging birds randomly from hi and lo until my gun's dry.
sm
member
One cannot hit, what they cannot see - Misseldine
Never let the bird get below the muzzle, you can't see the bird.
It is easier to come up to a bird, than it is to come down fast enough to get the muzzle below the bird.
Focus on the target - not the equipment - Will Fennell
One bird at a time.
If you drop a bird, forget it, don't think about it, it is history, and you cannot bring it back - Focus on the next bird instead.
Do not think about the second bird in a pair, you have to break the first bird first.
If on a squad with some shooters missing - do not watch them shoot!
If you want to play with the Big Dawgs -
-they are out on field in 115* F temps with a heat index of 120*
-they are out shooting in freezing temps with wind chill factors
-shooting in wind
-shooting in rain, sleet, and snow.
Little dawgs are on the porch - Big Dawgs are on the field.
You want to play the game?
Then invest in time, spent hulls, range fees reloaders , reloading components, lessons, repetitions each night, dry fire practice, "wooden-dowel exercises" ...
Not buying skill and targets through the false hopes of buying a gun.
Have a backup gun - exactly like the one you shoot.
If your gun ain't dirty, you ain't shooting enough.
If ain't worn out a part and had to replace a part, you ain't shooting enough.
Never take yourself or the game too serious, - if you are not having fun, you are taking yourself and the game too serious.
Lighten up - the scores will improve.
He whom has themselves for a Doctor - has a Fool for a patient.
If a station is giving you fits, then stop, quit thinking, swallow your pride and ego and ask your seasoned , trusting shooting pard, or get some lessons as to why you are having fits.
Cougfan2
Member
Foot position is important particularly on singles from stations 2 thru 6. For High house birds make sure your feet are pointed in the direction where you expect to break the bird, usually towards the Low house. On Low house birds do the opposite and position your feet towards the High house. Your posture will be more balanced this way and the end of your swing more natural.
If you want to have some fun, try doubles on station 8.
As others have said here, keep swinging. I personally have always had a problem with stopping my swing when I wasn't mentally focused. This is why I prefer a shotgun that is a little muzzle heavy and I start my swing closer to the house where the bird is coming from. It makes me swing a little faster to catch up to the bird and less likely to stop my swing. Also, have an experienced skeet shooter just watch you for a round and critique. They will often see things that you don't. You may not agree with them, but it will give you something to think about.
Anyways, that's some things that have helped me.
If you want to have some fun, try doubles on station 8.
As others have said here, keep swinging. I personally have always had a problem with stopping my swing when I wasn't mentally focused. This is why I prefer a shotgun that is a little muzzle heavy and I start my swing closer to the house where the bird is coming from. It makes me swing a little faster to catch up to the bird and less likely to stop my swing. Also, have an experienced skeet shooter just watch you for a round and critique. They will often see things that you don't. You may not agree with them, but it will give you something to think about.
Anyways, that's some things that have helped me.
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