Speed Kills (especially clays and birds)

[TrapperReady]

The following took place near the end of a round of sporting clays recently. I was shooting with my wife and a good friend of ours, neither of whom have shot as much or as regularly as I have. In any event, the last station was a left to right crosser with a lot of trees in the background – three report pair, for a total of six targets. My wife was first up and missed the first pair. She broke one of the second pair, and one of the last. Our friend was next, and he missed the first four targets, got his bearings and broke both of the last pair. I got into the box and crushed the first pair, then the second, then the third. I heard my wife comment “He doesn’t shoot like us, does he?†Our friend responded “No, he shoots a lot faster.â€

I’ve paid more attention to this lately, and have reached the conclusion that shooting faster (or at least having the ability to do so) is a distinct advantage. For example, on the station described above, my wife and friend were taking their time and shooting farther out. By that time, the target was 45-50 yards away, slowing down and starting to curl to one side. I was breaking them around 25-30 yards, where they were flying in a straight line.

Earlier that round, they’d both had significant trouble with a wildly bouncing, longish rabbit target. I missed my first shot, shooting it around where they had been, and then adjusted to shooting quickly… as soon as the rabbit had hit the ground coming out of the house. That adjustment helped me break the rest with no problem.

Think about trap shooters. If you watch the really good ones, by the time you can see the bird, it’s vaporized. If someone is shooting slowly, the birds quickly get out of easy range and begin to drop – a much harder shot. The same applies with skeet, especially on the doubles. If you take the first target quickly, then you have longer to pick up (visually) the second bird, and swing on it. Stand at station #7 and let the low-house bird get out there a bit, and you’ll get whiplash coming back for the second one.

There are other benefits of fast shooting as well. More swing speed will generally translate into less perceived lead. It also keeps the gun moving. Watch a new shooter (or even a lot of veterans) take a shot at a long crosser with nothing but blue sky in the background. Often, they will follow the target, precisely measuring their lead… while the target continues to slow down. And then, right as they pull the trigger… they stop swinging the gun. And then miss behind.

When it comes to hunting, faster swings can be the difference between a bird in the vest or a whole lot of nothing, especially with grouse and woodcock. On “social†birds, like quail, a quick shot can give you a much better chance at a double.

So, how can you get faster? BA/UU/R… a lot. Play games. On a sporting clays course, pick a landmark very shortly after where the target becomes visible, and try to take your shot before the target passes that spot. When shooting trap, try to shoot almost immediately after you see the bird. If you’ve got the chance, shoot on a trap field with a friend (or two) and see who can break the bird first. Invent your own games.

Train yourself to shoot faster, and you’ll shoot better.

 

[EghtySx]

Think about trap shooters. If you watch the really good ones, by the time you can see the bird, it’s vaporized. If someone is shooting slowly, the birds quickly get out of easy range and begin to drop – a much harder shot. The same applies with skeet, especially on the doubles. If you take the first target quickly, then you have longer to pick up (visually) the second bird, and swing on it.

I have shot trap all my life. A good doubles shooter doesn't even see the first bird. You gotta get it broke asap.

 

[TrapperReady]

A good doubles shooter doesn't even see the first bird.

One of my biggest problems at trap right now is "anticipating" the bird and starting my swing before the bird has left the house. I do it maybe once every couple rounds or so, but it leads to some pretty messed up "corrections".

 

[PJR]

There is a very fine line between shooting fast and rushing. Finding just where that is for is the challenge.

I don't like to shoot too fast because you rush the bird and start slashing at the target. Before you get fast, get smooth. If I'm struggling with a target, my manta is "slow and smoooooth." Fast comes later and it has its place but if you're not smooth it doesn't matter how fast you swing IMHO.

Paul

 

[sm]

Trapper,
Great Post!

You just described - again what Misseldine, Brister, Isleng- and others taught. Learn the CORRECT basic fundamentals, with a gun that fits. Dryfire, mounting and plenty of BA/UU/R. Speed will come, then "turn it up a notch".

To practice Skeet we would take one step in front of the station, then one step toward the house, and then continue to shoot furter in front of stations , between the stations - amazing how far one can walk toward station and break birds.

Same thing done with other clay games. With range permission of course.

I agree - less percieved lead, especially with 28" or longer bbl. Even from low gun one can get on target just as fast as a short tube. the long tube actually "smooths" the mount and swing.

Reminds as a kid caoch would have us take batting practice with heavier bats, then he would close the distance from pitching mound to batter.

Now if we could only figure out to get "Semi Worthless Dog" onto birds quicker...

 

[TrapperReady]

PJR - You bring up a good point. However, when I've worked with new(er) shooters over the past few years, it seems like they will often be too cautious, and let the targets get away from them. There's a particular presentation on a clays course I shoot... a crosser with a fairly narrow window created by some trees. Of course, the second tree is located exactly where most people want to break the target.

Anyway, every single time I've taken a new shooter there, they wait until it's past both trees to shoot. By that time, the target is dropping, curling and nearly 50 yards away. I'll tell them to shoot it before it gets to the second tree. Almost universally, they'll say "I can't shoot that fast", but when they try it, they start breaking the clays.

Also, especially at trap, guys who take their time and let the targets get out there will end up with pretty abysmal scores. A little clubhouse coaching on shooting faster will generally produce some smiles by the end of the next round or two.

Smooth and fast is what we all strive for... but it seems to me that lots of folks could stand to add a little speed.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Good thread. A couple points...

Fast shooting works in part because we don't have time to think ourselves into a miss.

The live version of Shotgun 101 as done with various folks includes shooting flurries for that reason.When we have enough time to just shoot the thing, we all tend to shoot a bit better.

Everyone has their own rythym. We can speed up the sequence if we have it grooved in. We can slow it down also. The swing is tailored to the shot opp.

I was taking trap birds early and late to improve my pacing before reading about it in Gil and Vicki Ash's book. Taking them late gives good practice on dropping birds. Taking them early is good practice for those really narrow windowed opps.

Get smooth first. Speed shows up on its own not much later.

 

[TrapperReady]

Get smooth first. Speed shows up on its own not much later.

I guess I would say "work on both". Speed is relative for each shooter. What my wife considers shooting "early" is around where I would shoot normally. I've also shot with people who are routinely breaking targets in the area where I would feel rushed. I'm not suggesting that my wife should try to shoot exactly when I do... just a bit sooner than she might otherwise.

Dave brings up a good point about games like flurries and the lack of time to think ourselves into a miss. Shooting shotguns is a matter of pointing, and we all point naturally. Assuming good shotgun fit, our brains and bodies are remarkable fire-control systems.

If you're having trouble with a particular shot, especially one going away from you, just try to take the shot a bit sooner. I'd bet a malt beverage or soda that it'll work better.

 

[anapex]

I know I definitely do better if I get a jump on the pigeon earlier. If I don't I tend to sit there and think about it way too much. Flurries do wonders to help this.

 

[kudu]

Good thread TR


A lot of this type of 'speed' is also how fast a person's reflexs are. Some people are wired for the fast shot and break it before some people even register that the target is in the air. I used to practice skeet on how fast I could get on target with the addition of the puller doing delayed pulls so I would not anticipate the shot.

I could get it down in many cases to within 10-12 feet of the house it was coming from. Doing it this way will also make you build more lead into oncoming house shots. Some long skeet shots taken in this manner require up to 6 feet of lead. This is a great primer for sporting clays. I have also done as sm suggested and walked a step at a time past the stations to get different timing and speed of targets, and it works both ways.

Working on speed with a known target is the first step, taking a flushing bird in a hunting situation takes muscle memory built in by countless shells fired down range. As always BA,UU,R.

 

[TrapperReady]

long skeet shots

Oxymoron?

 

[PJR]

Key to shooting faster particularly in sporting clays is to have your eyes and gun in the right place to make the shot. While shooting a little faster can help with an outgoing or quartering away target if shooting faster means you don't have your eyes locked on the target then it's a lost bird.

For those hidden or short window sporting shots here is my secret. Electronic hearing protectors. You can hear the trap release and count the seconds until the target appears. You can be faster and smoother if the target appearance doesn't come as a surprise. When the bird appears you swing directly through it and break it more instead of being suprised when it arrives.

Paul

 

[sm]

kudu,

Don't mind them "trap' boys' - they are afraid to stand out in the middle and "face" their targets. Just envious we Skeeters can do it 25 times in row using 8 different positions.

Word is - one fellow has 'semi worthless dog' - dog figures the shooter if any good would shoot game that falls closer - out of the brush. Dog don't want momma to fuss at him getting dirty and briared up.

Hey - I used a weighted gun and / or wrist weights to build my stamina...dry mount and fire as much as 250 times a day. Accused of being "plum crazy" - or was I being sly as a fox?

Don't answer that.

 

[kudu]

long skeet shots

We used to stand 10-20 yards behind the skeet stations where we were able to and shoot skeet, it took a mod or full choke, and as much as 10feet of lead, but it was interesting.
It was funny, them trap boys had a hard time with them long, or should I say skeet crossers..

Now I have shot trap games back at the fence (35 yards at our club), and done fairly well*, and behind the fence(up to 40 yards)and done fairly well*. It's all in the BA,UU,R.





*= usually take home the money 25% of the time