I’ve been reading some sections from the James Russell book, “Trapshooting Secrets”. He talks about “back sighting”. This seems very contrary to the concept of focusing hard on the target...which is what I’ve always been taught and taught to others.

Basically he talks about a precise awareness of the where the bead is....but he doesn’t call it aiming. Sounds a bit like aiming to me. Can anyone familiar with this help me understand this idea....and share your thoughts on the subject?

thanks Trail

I read both of Russell's book before the heavens intervened and I met my coach. I wouldn't recommend any of his books, least of all to a beginner. Throw it in the trash and get "insight to Sports Featuring Trapshooting and Golf" by Dr. Wayne F. Martin. That is a book all trapshooters should read.

Try his methods and see if they work. HMB

I recall a Steve Martin movie about backsighting and its adverse effects...

I have read both the Russell books. I have also heard them panned over and over again on this site.I agree that there is some very debateable material in there. (The stuff about canting the gun comes to mind.) But about backsighting...instinct shooters think that you MUST not be aware of the bead!...I believe that they are subconsciencely seeing a sight picture of the bead (or the end of the barrel) and the target. Otherwise the shooter would have no concept of lead or when to pull the trigger. Frank Little's book is very highly respected and he talks about the proper "sight picture" and "bead/bird relationship" numerous times. Focus very hard on the target and let your subconscience put the bead on the bird. Jack

Remember, people have widely varied visual abilities. Terminology such as "backsighting", "shooting off the barrel", "soft focus", etc. are all ways of saying you have to use peripheral vision to your best ability.

The human eye can't focus on two distances at the same time, nor can it change focus fast enough to jump from target to bead and back, especially as the shooter ages.

Russell's book is OK, though you'll need to read between the lines and extract the stuff that'll work for you.

You don't need to focus on the target with some extreme force, just look at it normally AND keep your eyes on it. GAP

Russels books are a lot like Wal Mart. You can probably find a few things that are useful, but there is also a lot of "other" stuff.

Be assured, reading them will not hurt you! And if it gets you thinking about a few things, all the better.

Shooter R

I disagree completly with you Russels books can hurt you. Most of what he claims is pure crap.

The Russell books were covered in a series of posts a number of years ago - perhaps 5-10 years. I bought both at the same time, read them, then gave them away to someone I didn't like. The supermajority opinion was that they sucked.

The books are poorly organized, the grammar is about 5th grade level (as in "are you smarter than a 5th grader") and the content is at best suspect.

There are a number of good books out there to read. Someone mentioned Dr. Martin's book - it should be read and re-read and re-read - if you want to get better. One of my favorites is an oldie, a compilation of columns written by Frank Little back in the 90's.

If you are going to build a foundation in Trap, get your info from someone who has "been there, done that". It doesn't cost any more to get what teh big boys write, and their stuff is proven to work.

Shoot well,

1 at a time

Those Russell books are pretty awful. I've read tens of books on trap including the Wayne Martin book, but I sold the Russell books to somebody on here about 10-12 years ago. That being said, I have always shot my best scores by knowing where the bead is. For me (not for most) the gun is primary and the target is secondary. That goes against tradition, but I do what works for me. Do whatever works for you. Jennifer

if you dont backsight why do you have a bead or why do people have colored beads why even have a rib?

For some it's because their guns don't fit and they have to aim them like a rifle. HMB

whats wrong with that i put my sights right in front of a running coyote and pull the trigger never mind i miss them to!

so you guys that dont backsight or see your sights can you go out in the dark assuming there is just light on the targets and none on your gun and break the same scores?

Of course we can, we use brain waves to control the flight of the shot. We hit the target every time. HMB

I like Phil Kiner's video where he waves the end of a shell around in a scrambled pattern and says to try to hit this. The only way to do it is to keep your eye on the target and shoot when your gun gets there.

When James Russell was at his peak he was a Class B 22 yard shooter who had a few interviews with good shooters. One time years ago he actually came on trapshooters.com and tried to defend his explanation of canting the gun. He left in disgust after posting something to the effect that we were too stupid to understand, yeah right. On the topic of this thread using the front bead in peripheral vision while focusing your eyes on the target is OK but the term "backsighting" gives a false connotation that you are supposed to look "back" at the gun which is dead wrong.

To cant, or not to cant the gun, that is the question. If you are a right handed shooter and cant the gun to the left it allows you to keep your eyes level while bringing the rib and beads in line with your right eye. I think this is a good thing to happen. HMB

To cant, or not to cant the gun, that is the question. If you are a right handed shooter and cant the gun to the left it allows you to keep your eyes level while bringing the rib and beads in line with your right eye. I think this is a good thing to happen. HMB

Russell has a book in which he tells shooters they can write off their shooting expenses, and increase the take home pay from their job by claiming additional exemptions for those expenses. That's tax fraud, pure and simple. One company that made similar claims was Renaissance-The Tax People in Kansas City. The company was shut down and several of the principals went to prison. Yet Trap and Field is still accepting advertising for Russell's book.

I'm not saying that I think Russell should go to prison. On the other hand, I'm not saying he shouldn't...

For some people shooting expenses are tax deductable. For example a law enforcement officer, guns are small hand tools, and shooting the guns is necessary to maintain skills needed in employment as an LEO. HMB

Now with the guns being made with adjustable combs and adjustable ribs, you the shooter can fit your gun to you, it takes some time and a few trips to the pattern board or pattern paper in my case.

Each of us has their own sight picture, mine is different than most, I shoot flat down the rib with middle sight buried into the front sight.

I shoot the gun at my pattern paper at 35 yards, I draw a heavy dark horizontal line, in the center of this line I put a Dot about the size of a quarter, My rib is on the horizontal line and my bead is in the circle.

I shoot off a rest, my porch railing, gun on a folded towel so it does not get scratched. I shoot one shot, go get the paper, and circle my pattern, I draw a line across at the center and verticle in the center.

Where these lines intersect I measure up from the dot to this line, I want it to be approx 20-24 inches for starters, I dial it in at 22 inches and it takes several shots to do this.

I have to adjust the rib and comb to get my sight picture after each adjustment of the rib. I want it precise that is why I heve several thicknesses of shim washers made of Nylon.

I check my sight picture everytime I mount the gun to be sure I have it mounted properly. Then I hold the gun parallell to the ground or up slightly above parallell like 10:00 O Clock High if you look at the lefdt side nof a standard clock.

Call for the target, go to the target touch the bottom of it and keep the gun moving and release the trigger, VOILA SMOKE, I don't care if it is 16yards or 27 yards or any where in between.

That is my procedure and I shoot full choke tubes all the time on choke tube guns.

But My Silver Seitz is a fixed full w/Bbl Work by Tom Wilkinson .036 restriction, long forcing cones, Bbl has Tom's Magic Done On It.

I have the #3 Seitz high shooting rib on my gun w/Soft Touch Stock, and the rib is set at it's maximum height shooting position, lowest notch on the front and Highest notch on the rear. My Barrell is a 35" inch Bbl.

Gary Bryant Dr.longshot

Someone here sent me the Russell book "Trapshooting Secrets".

While there is some useful info in it, I found most of it to have nothing to do with any actual technique or any real help with the mechanics of trapshooting. Maybe someone a lot more advanced than myself might find it useful.

If I could remember who sent it to me I'd send it back.