How to be a better shooter?

[jeff t.]

By no means am I a great shot. But one thing that i do occasionally is take my shotgun either outside or in the house (gun is empty) and with the gun mounted try and follow either the crown molding inside or maybe even the edge of a distance roof outside. I try and run my bead down the edge of either without pulling off and staying as level as possible.

Another good drill is to place a mag light in the barrel...and practice the move and mount of the gun so that the beam of the flashlight stays on the crown molding...I find that using the flashlight helps keep eyes on the target rather than the barrel.

[RookieTrainer]

This helps a lot, although your spouse might think you are a little crazy. It keeps your eyes on the target as well as letting you see where your barrel is pointing at all times. You can work on smoothing out your mount so that your barrel doesn't dip under the target as you bring the butt to your shoulder.

Might want to tape around the Mag Lite to keep it from damaging the choke threads, but I am overly cautious.

Another good drill is to place a mag light in the barrel...and practice the move and mount of the gun so that the beam of the flashlight stays on the crown molding...I find that using the flashlight helps keep eyes on the target rather than the barrel.

[jd6400]

Some great advice here!I deal with your problem day in and day out with clients here.GET A GUN THAT YOU CAN ADJUST!!!!!!Shooting will dramatically get better with a properly fitted gun.Shoot it on paper to see where your hitting then make adjustments asneeded to length of pull<drop of comb<cant left or right>jGood luck,Jim

[gdgnyc]

Some great advice here!I deal with your problem day in and day out with clients here.GET A GUN THAT YOU CAN ADJUST!!!!!!Shooting will dramatically get better with a properly fitted gun.Shoot it on paper to see where your hitting then make adjustments asneeded to length of pull<drop of comb<cant left or right>jGood luck,Jim

One of the best things I did was to have an adjustable comb put in my Model 3200. I now want to put one in to my 870 Wingmaster. It makes quite a difference. My Mossberg has a homemade "Moleskin" comb adjustment on it in an attempt to get it to shoot like my trap gun.

[KwickLabs]

And then when you finally think you've got this shooting "thing" down really well, go on a duck hunt when there's a fifteen mph cross "breeze", the temperature is almost freezing and the sun is in your eyes. In addition, you're wearing chest waders, layered clothing, a heavy coat and "supposedly warm" gloves (always containing less than warm fingers).

Final practice sessions "on the job" are required and silent expletives allowed.

For example, this layout hunt (see photo) required throwing back an overhead cover, mounting a gun from my lap while "lurching" to a sitting position after lying on my backside (for sometimes long periods of time) so as to shoot ducks (maybe) that I might not see until the last moment coming from all kinds of unpredictable directions.

The coolest instant of the morning was trying to pick out a single greenwing teal from a tight "wad" of over fifty that buzzed in from the left and did a full speed, "breath taking" 180° reverse right over my decoys.

You just can't practice that. What a rush!

Gunny picked up two.

Gunny's layout hunt on the Mississippi (yesterday morning)


Gunny's retrieves

[MooseGooser]

Many Sporting Clays courses have very realistic Hunting senarios you can practice on.

[MooseGooser]

[gdgnyc]

From where did you get that smiley?

[MooseGooser]

From where did you get that smiley?

I think from one of the shotgunning forums.. I think..


Its NOT really very realistic.. If Ya notice,, the little guy does just what most the rest of us do ,, and he shoots about 4 feet behind the target!

On days I dont have anything to do,, I will sit for Hours and watch to see if he ever misses it..


Gooser

[rookie]

Gooser
You have way to much time on your hands! )

I think from one of the shotgunning forums.. I think..


Its NOT really very realistic.. If Ya notice,, the little guy does just what most the rest of us do ,, and he shoots about 4 feet behind the target!

On days I dont have anything to do,, I will sit for Hours and watch to see if he ever misses it..


Gooser