Shooting School

Obviously a shooting method is deeply personal and should be up to the individual. When I started this makeover three years ago, I vowed not to let ego get in the way. In my mind, I decided it was better to miss 100 clays than one Pheasant or Mallard. To that end I have tried to remain open minded and try new methods. Initially, maintained lead had a bad connotation because I believed that is what trap and skeet shooters used. Only when I saw that it could be used as an extension of the Churchill method did I sit up and take notice. RM
Agree that the best method for one may not be for another. I can shoot maintained lead (and sometimes do), but I find I'm thinking and measuring too much.

Normally, I close my left eye just as the stock hits my shoulder and as my finger begins to contract - this is the only way I can maximize the advantage of 2 eyes for tracking and depth perception but not screw up the actual shot. I don't fight that anymore, and wont try again unless/until I get a gun that is fully fitted.

I also agree totally with SJ about focus. I hit clays when I'm focused on a piece of the clay (ridge, leading/trailing edge, etc) but often miss when I "see" the clay. I hit birds when I see the beak, an eye, or a feather... often not when I just see the bird. "Butt, Belly, Beak, Bam" is my reminder both for rhythm and for focus.
 
The thing that I like most about this instintive/maintained lead or Move Mount Shoot, as Bidwell calls it, is that your mind's eye or subconscious is left with a mental picture of what is successful. With swing through or pull away I was never left with any such image of what I did right or wrong. This method also seems to slow the target down since you are matching gun speed to target speed. Kind of like driving on the interstate vs standing along side the highway. Focusing totally on the leading edge of the target is something that I still struggle with so I have shortened individual sessions from 125 rounds to 100 which also gives me another round of practice every two cases. RM
 
After 20 some years of shooting I seeked help. The guy told me all I had to do was stop lifting my head of the stock when I pull the trigger! A habit I don't think I'll ever be able to stop!
 
The shooting school that I practiced for many years was Pigeon hunting in the Summer, Dove hunting September, 1st to the end of the season, as far from social dove shoots as possible. My hunting partners and I hunted as many days a week as possible. These hunts got us very much into shooting form for the remainder of the Wing Shooting season for all upland birds and waterfowl. The smaller birds really make me focus on the bird itself and in so many different types of shooting. Plus during those seasons I'd go from IMP CY., Mod. and then Full Chokes as those hunting seasons progressed and the birds habits changed. I used the same shotguns in 20ga.. 16ga., and 12ga. with the shot sizes that worked the best. The shotguns I use fit me well, but as one ages that changes. Gun adjustments must be made. Then one realizes what birds to shoot at and what birds to pass on to prevent cripples with which gun. The days of "Takem As They Come" has passed and that is just fine with me. Older hunters can be selective unlike my younger days.

This worked for me as many of the jobs I had I was laid off from early Fall to mid Winter. That meant I could hunt as many days as I choose to, and boy did I ever hunt a Lot.


my 2 cents
 
Vince,
Agreed, there is no substitute for live birds to become a good field shot. Would love to go to Argentina for a dove shoot. I understand the farmers consider them pests but as one gets older I think it would be harder to shoot living critters simply for target practice. Having spoken with people who have done it, they said your barrel gets to hot to hold at times. RM
 
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RM,

In my younger days I wanted to go to Mexico for dove and ducks as I do not like to fly. I have been on hunts where there were lots of birds and shooting lotta days over many weeks. My shoulder can only take so much and yes the gun barrel does get Hot. I despise recoil from lotta shooting cuz then THE FLINCH sets in and man o man does it take awhile to subside. (I had a very good friend that was addicted to trap shooting. He had to go to a Release Trigger to fool his brain not to flinch). A body can only take so much. I have been asked to go to South America to hunt dove, etc. but I have no interest in doing it. My mega shoot days are past, yet I did enjoy them while it lasted.

I doubt that the birds in any South American County are wasted. As long as the birds are not wasted and eaten that I can abide. We did not waste the birds we shot (unless birds so torn up inedible). I went so far as to pluck doves, and roast them whole stuffed with a small piece of Italian sausage like a friend of mine did. We had the time but not the $$$. We pooled our $$ to buy "Bullets & Gas" to hunt everyday that we could.

NY has NO Dove Hunting which is a damn shame. The fastest way to recruit new hunters of all ages Is Dove Hunting. The weather is good and lots of action. Of course NY may not want many new hunters as it seems they do more to Discourage than to Encourage.
 
I said the same about Argentina (no real interest), but a close friend and hunting buddy bought a trip at a fundraiser a few years ago for he and his son (my God-son) and arranged a similarly priced "deal" for any friends who wanted to join. I decided it would make a good college graduation gift for my son and would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a bunch of birds. I was NOT disappointed.

A few pictures from some of our blinds, while taking a break from shooting.

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I never understood the idea of birds being so numerous to be considered pests until seeing Argentina. The flights were endless, literally never stopped for the 2-3 hours we hunted each morning and afternoon. I don't remember if we can upload videos here, but if I can will do so in a following post to give a sense.

Truly the best training one could have. I had no interest in trying to join the 1,000 bird/day club, rather I just decided what I wanted to work on (left-to-right quartering away, for example) for a given session and tried not to take other shots. My shooting percentage went from 43% day one to the mid-60s a couple days later. Not bad (IMO) for doves and with an unknown gun. And nothing will teach you to focus on a feature of a particular bird more than having a dozen or so in range for every shot. Focus, or miss.

I highly recommend such a trip if it has ever been even of remote interest. Not cheap, but worth saving to do. Not just seeing the amazing number of birds, but fantastic people and fabulous food, wine, etc.
 
Are you not allowed to bring your own shotgun? RM
You can, but the bureaucratic red tape and hassle of getting a gun into and out of Argentina dissuade most from trying. Most outfitters have a selection of O/Us and semi-autos in various gauges for a fairly inexpensive daily rental. Ours had Berettas and Faustis. I shot a 28g O/U, and had brought a slip-on pad to add length of pull. My friend shoots the same model Beretta the outfitters had so he actually brought his stock and remitted one of their guns.
 
Found this podcast on Duck Hunting Somewhere. No idea what type of shooting system he advocates as I have not had time (ie. Road trip) to listen to it yet. RM

 
Per SJ Fairbanks, I've switched to an improved modified choke for all around practice. Initially I thought that if I practiced with full choke and shot a more open choke during hunting, field shots would seem easy by comparison. What I failed to realize was by using a tight choke for practice I was sabatoging my subconscious because of the need to be precise. As Gil Ash states, "Be precise with focus and sloppy with lead".
As a result, unexplained misses were reduced by half and my tendency to ride the target before pulling the trigger has gotten better. The goal of course is to squeeze the trigger the instant you shoulder the shotgun (within a second or so on longer shots). My goal this year is to hit 90% from various positions including incoming shots from a sitting or reclined position to simulate a layout blind. My Atlas thrower is mounted to a hitch receiver and so far, my rear window is intact! RM
 
Per SJ Fairbanks, I've switched to an improved modified choke for all around practice. Initially I thought that if I practiced with full choke and shot a more open choke during hunting, field shots would seem easy by comparison. What I failed to realize was by using a tight choke for practice I was sabatoging my subconscious because of the need to be precise. As Gil Ash states, "Be precise with focus and sloppy with lead".
As a result, unexplained misses were reduced by half and my tendency to ride the target before pulling the trigger has gotten better. The goal of course is to squeeze the trigger the instant you shoulder the shotgun (within a second or so on longer shots). My goal this year is to hit 90% from various positions including incoming shots from a sitting or reclined position to simulate a layout blind. My Atlas thrower is mounted to a hitch receiver and so far, my rear window is intact! RM
In total agreement.

The best advice I can give is to take the time to pattern various ammo (including your preferred) with multiple chokes at various distances. I've frequently been surprised with the variation between similar loads across manufacturers and even loads within manufacturers (given different fps, pellet types and hardness etc.).

Find choke/ammo combinations that work at certain differences and then stick with them the best you can.
 
Per SJ Fairbanks, I've switched to an improved modified choke for all around practice. Initially I thought that if I practiced with full choke and shot a more open choke during hunting, field shots would seem easy by comparison. What I failed to realize was by using a tight choke for practice I was sabatoging my subconscious because of the need to be precise. As Gil Ash states, "Be precise with focus and sloppy with lead".
As a result, unexplained misses were reduced by half and my tendency to ride the target before pulling the trigger has gotten better. The goal of course is to squeeze the trigger the instant you shoulder the shotgun (within a second or so on longer shots). My goal this year is to hit 90% from various positions including incoming shots from a sitting or reclined position to simulate a layout blind. My Atlas thrower is mounted to a hitch receiver and so far, my rear window is intact! RM
See for me its a condrum.

I use anywhere from LM,M,IM for clay target practice.

But with my handloads for ducks I have to use a cylinder. Anything tighter and I'm basically shooting a rifle at them until they get past 30 yards. Because of my tss handloads, tss just naturally patterns super super tight.

I usually get the miss's out during teal season and by big duck I'm on my game.
 
But with my handloads for ducks I have to use a cylinder.
Clinton, I would have to say we are the minority on this one. Cylinder choke is indeed very useful and even moreso with the advanced shotshells of today. Some of the most beautiful patterns I've ever shot is with cylinder choke and will use it early in the season on upland game. RM
 
Clinton, I would have to say we are the minority on this one. Cylinder choke is indeed very useful and even moreso with the advanced shotshells of today. Some of the most beautiful patterns I've ever shot is with cylinder choke and will use it early in the season on upland game. RM
It definitely wasn't my first choice.

I grew up shooting fixed full choked barrels. First shotgun I ever had that took screw in chokes was my Beretta 390. And still for years all I ever used was full choke for lead shells and IM for steel shot.

But when I started getting into loading tss. I found only two things helped get the pattern opened up to be useable at normal waterfowl hunting ranges.

Speed and cylinder choke. At 1500 fps cylinder choke is a bit to tight for say 10 to 20 yards. But at 1600fps, cylinder choke turned on the magic. I can effectively kill from point blank too 55 yards on any sized duck.

If I'm not careful I can still turn one into hamburger up close. But with the combination I'm using now, it's not a rifle inside your typical 15 to 25 yard shots.

I still remember the first shot I tested on paper with the 1500 fps load and a skeet choke. 90% pattern density at 40 yards in a 20 inch circle. That 1 oz load has 256 pellets in it. I was floored to say the least.

Same load but instead of number 8 tss. I put 12 count of number 4 buck tss and with a LM choke, it's 100% pattern density in a 20 inch circle at 100 yards.

But with the two different shot types lead vs tss. No matter how much practice I do in the off season with lead shot and clay birds. I still have a few days of miss's during teal season when I change over to tss.
 
It definitely wasn't my first choice.

I grew up shooting fixed full choked barrels. First shotgun I ever had that took screw in chokes was my Beretta 390. And still for years all I ever used was full choke for lead shells and IM for steel shot.

But when I started getting into loading tss. I found only two things helped get the pattern opened up to be useable at normal waterfowl hunting ranges.

Speed and cylinder choke. At 1500 fps cylinder choke is a bit to tight for say 10 to 20 yards. But at 1600fps, cylinder choke turned on the magic. I can effectively kill from point blank too 55 yards on any sized duck.

If I'm not careful I can still turn one into hamburger up close. But with the combination I'm using now, it's not a rifle inside your typical 15 to 25 yard shots.

I still remember the first shot I tested on paper with the 1500 fps load and a skeet choke. 90% pattern density at 40 yards in a 20 inch circle. That 1 oz load has 256 pellets in it. I was floored to say the least.

Same load but instead of number 8 tss. I put 12 count of number 4 buck tss and with a LM choke, it's 100% pattern density in a 20 inch circle at 100 yards.

But with the two different shot types lead vs tss. No matter how much practice I do in the off season with lead shot and clay birds. I still have a few days of miss's during teal season when I change over to tss.
3"?
 
Tss is pretty cool stuff. I use turkey hunting in South Dakota when getting close to those far ranging gobblers can be difficult. We wanted to try turkey bratwurst so we took several turkey breasts to our local butcher. Had a difficult time convincing him it wouldn't ruin his grinding equipment. He finally relented but only because turkeys are shot in the head. Apparently he had taken in some geese with either tss or steel shot and it wrecked his equipment. Good reason to chew and eat slowly. RM
 
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Tss is pretty cool stuff. I use turkey hunting in South Dakota when getting close to those far ranging gobblers can be difficult. We wanted to try turkey bratwurst so we took several turkey breasts to our local butcher. Had a difficult time convincing him it wouldn't ruin his grinding equipment. He finally relented but only because turkeys are shot in the head. Apparently he had taken in some geese with either tss or steel shot and it wrecked his equipment. Good reason to chew and eat slowly. RM
I have been hunting waterfowl, deer,hogs with tss for 6 years now. This season will be number 7.

I have yet to find a single tss pellet in any duck/goose/deer or hog I have killed with it.

I use number 8's on waterfowl mostly, sometimes some number 7's.

Number 4 buck tss at 1600 fps will go clean through two deer stacked side by side at 100 yards before I reaches it's min penetration distance.
 
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