Would I be crazy to shoot clays with ghost ring sights?

[Van Blamm]

I'm not a terrible shot, but I can attribute most, if not all of my skeet/trap shooting problems to my inability to effectively use bead sights. Would I be a laughing stock if I showed up with a set of ghost ring sights? I have always found lining them up perfectly to be much more natural than with a bead front sight.

 

[3pairs12]

That seems like it would be a tough task to me. I don't think I have ever seen anybody on the trap range with ghost rings, so you might some attention. OTOH I have never tried to shoot a moving object with ghost rings so I say give it a shot and you may find that it is the set up for you.

 

[jakemccoy]

I don't see how ghost ring sights would help you. If you had a clay perfectly in the sight right as you pulled the trigger, then you would miss. That's theory though. Try it out and let me know how it goes. You shouldn't care if people laugh.

 

[Virginian]

You say you can't use beads, well if you are looking at the beads we have found your problem. When shooting (at) flying objects, the idea is to look at the target. Concentrate on the target. Use your peripheral vision to point the gun. Your brain will learn what sight picture breaks targets, drops doves, etc.

 

[Girodin]

If you were hitting clays no one would be laughing. I am not sure how much of your problem is the bead versus general shooting technique though. Put another way, I am not sure that the GR sights would cure the problem. It couldn't hurt to give it a try though.

 

[oneounceload]

You only use your beads to assure proper alignment of your hold. Your focus should be on the target, NOT the sight. If you're looking at the beads, you'll be missing the targets. Many instructors I know will remove the beads from a student's gun so they can't look at them.

GR's are fine for static targets, not dynamic targets. Keep both eyes open, focus on the flight line of the target, know your hold, insertion and break points......pull the trigger

Are you seeing the rib? If so, your stock isn't fitted to you properly - your eyes should focus straight down the rib, past the bead to the target

 

[dom1104]

yes you would

 

[waterhouse]

I've done it. I find practicing with my HD setup on small moving targets to be a useful and fun exercise.

Some places will frown on it, sometimes there is a minimum allowed barrel length and most ghost rings are on 18" barrels.

The sights work well for straight away shots. Other than that you'll still need to lead on crossing shots, and with these the ghost rings can be more of a problem than solution.

For practicing with your HD setup, I think it is worthwhile. For practicing wing shooting I'd recommend finding a gun that fits you and getting some practice.

 

[natman]

I've found that most of my shotgunning difficulties come from trying to shoot a shotgun like it was a rifle. I suspect that having a ghost ring would only reinforce rifle shooting behavior. It's a shotgun, you have to shoot it like one, and if you keep your cheek on the stock you should be OK for that facet. Now all you need to do is lead, swing and follow through.....

 

[oneounceload]

I've found that most of my shotgunning difficulties come from trying to shoot a shotgun like it was a rifle. I suspect that having a ghost ring would only reinforce rifle shooting behavior. It's a shotgun, you have to shoot it like one, and if you keep your cheek on the stock you should be OK for that facet. Now all you need to do is lead, swing and follow through.....

Excellent observation - too many folks try to AIM a shotgun.....shotguns are pointed (for moving targets), not aimed

 

[Van Blamm]

Interesting feedback, thank you.

 

[ArmedBear]

If your bead is giving you trouble, try taking it off.

Some really good shooters use that technique. The bead can act as a distraction that makes it harder to hit the target, especially if it's big, fiberoptic, and/or backlit when shooting at night.

It might even be possible that someone who is really used to ghost rings might ignore them better than a bead. i.e. point with them. Still, a little training should clear up the problem better than messing with sights that you don't ultimately need.

 

[RSVP2RIP]

I think you would be reinforcing a bad habit. If you use the ghost ring on clays you might start ignoring it to get the hits. Then when you have to use it you will ignore it. Train like you intend to use the gun. You might not have proper fit on the guns you have fitted with beads. Having a gun fitted to you is always worth the investment. I have a Winchester 1500xtr that cost more to fit than the price I paid for the gun itself. I wouldn't sell it if I had to.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

If you can consistantly hit clays with ghost ring sights(or any other) I say that is what you should use. If it ain't broke.....

 

[ArmedBear]

I think there's validity in "do what works for you" within bounds of reason.

However, when 100% of successful participants in a sport use equipment that falls in a particular class, and you want to use something different, you'd have to be REALLY sure that "your way" is really better, even for you.

 

[52grain]

Assuming that your gun doesn't already have ghost rings, your money is better spent on a few trap/skeet lessons, ask at the range, they probably have a list of instructors.

If you already have a gun with ghost rings, there's no harm in trying it, though people probably will laugh (don't worry about that)

Like others have said, if you are aiming the shotgun like a rifle, that is your problem.

 

[john44402]

Just for kicks I took my Mossberg 590 to the trap range.

I was able to hit pretty good when I learned to keep both eyes open.

Even hit a double or two with it.

 

[TomADC]

I see the two beads on my shotguns as a ref point to help me maintain the proper lead and angles meaning it tells me I have my cheek i& head in tthe correct position. I can't see myself doing that with a ghost ring sight, to me it would be a major handicap.

 

[Tim the student]

If you can do it, sure. I can't see for the life of me how it would help you however. I think many other things might help you more than those would.