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Do you lead the targets in Trap shooting?

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OldTrapBum

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
A previous post regarding seeing a "bird-bead" picture vs shooting aggressively and not seeing that image was very interesting and helpful to me.

In my prime (27 yard) I would shoot very quickly/aggressively and never had to lead a bird ... not even a hard right from station 5 (I suppose the speed of my swing was giving me an automatic lead). Now, much older (and because I was unable to shoot for 10 years due to horrible health issues), I find myself "rusty" and shooting much slower and having have to lead targets if I want to break them but shooting much lower scores. Maybe I just need to shoot 500-1,000 practice targets per week for a while and get my confidence back so I shoot faster again.

Those of you who see the bird-bead relationship, as well as those who do not see that picture, do you lead your targets or shoot "right at them"?

I really appreciate any help/guidance you can provide.
 
#3 ·
You stopping the swing when you pull the trigger? Focusing on the front of the target (if your gun shoots where you're looking) and keeping the swing going works for me.
 
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#6 ·
I think the laws of physics make leading necessary. But, do I consciously lead the target? No. In fact, if I try to think about how much to lead and try to calculate the lead, I'll miss every time. I'm sure there are trap shooters who can deliberately lead a target and break it, but that doesn't work for me. Somehow my brain tells my finger when to pull the trigger.
 
#9 ·
Simple math tells you that you have to lead a forward moving target unless it is going absolutely straight away from the shooter.

The real question is how much the shooter is consciously aware of his lead. After I get set up, clear my mind and call for the bird, I try not to have any conscious thought involved in the act of making the shot.

I try to let my conscious mind be occupied with hard target focus, nothing else.

I'm sure others will disagree.

Good Luck and Good Shooting!
 
#10 ·
OldTrapBum said:
Those of you who see the bird-bead relationship, as well as those who do not see that picture, do you lead your targets or shoot "right at them"?

I really appreciate any help/guidance you can provide.
Click to expand...
Just curious, how will anyone's advice or guidance on this help you? If everyone here says they establish a purposeful lead, will you begin doing that? Consequently, if everyone here says they do not lead the target, will you then begin doing that? By how much??

Do what works for you; only you will know

By the way, it's impossible to hit a moving target with another moving object without leading it..... from footballs to rifles.
 
#11 ·
I've always heard of leading the target, but I never have. I just get on target and keep my swing, have always done this 16-27. I just don't understand how someone can be a foot in front and 6 inches under
 
#12 · (Edited)
Not Consciously. There are many solutions to forward allowance. Some do it with some consciousness and their peripheral vision others feel it and barrel movement or speed builds in lead. Most but not all good shooters are aware but just let it happen. The more you shoot to a point the more automatic you will shoot.

I don't think the thousands of targets are needed for most however frequent trips to the range are necessary 5 days of 50 targets a day will do more for you than 500 in a day or two.
 
#14 ·
EuroJoe said:
When you are "leading the target", you are thinking, not seeing! You cannot think and see at the same time. All the shooting instruction in the world can be broken down to 3 words! SEE THE TARGET
Click to expand...
Yup. And the eye is a pretty incredible organ. It can see other things besides what you are focused on. And that other stuff, in the peripheral vision, is where you just happen to see the bead. And that is also how you see the lead!!
 
#15 ·
Setterman are these actual leads or recommendations. I think if my calculations are correct a target moving around 35 mph average travels about 4 feet during the time it takes for the shot to get there so to have a 4 feet lead the target would have to be moving at a 90 degree angle to the shooter.

I wonder the source of the diagram and its originator? The heights seem to correspond with the actual POI of patterns shot at stationary objects and I wonder if they are not deceptive of what might be going on.
 
#16 ·
EuroJoe said:
You cannot think and see at the same time.
Click to expand...
I gotta disagree with that statement. The other day I thought I noticed a lovely fat gal sneaking up behind me. I was still thinking bout her when I seen 'er, and long after I had seen 'er too. You ever hear the statement "think about what you are looking at?"
 
#17 ·
Skeet targets from station 4 are about 22 yards away and they require a 3 to 4 ft lead.

When you shoot at hard left or right hand targets from the 27 yard line on station 1 and 5 if you don't lead the target you won't hit it.
When you figure the speed of the shot you have to figure in how fast it is slowing down.

A 1250 fps #7-1/2 load is only going 613 fps at 40 yards. If you don't lead the hard angle 27 yard targets you won't break them no matter how good you can see the targets.

I use the swing through method of leading targets and I do see a small lead on the hard angles from the 16 yard line.
 
#19 ·
Just like if you are throwing a football at someone running on the field. If you throw it directly at that person, they will run past it and your pass will fall behind them. So you naturally have to "lead them" with your throw. Same thing applies when you are shooting at the flying bird.
Good luck,
Steve
 
#20 ·
gun fitter said:
Setterman are these actual leads or recommendations. I think if my calculations are correct a target moving around 35 mph average travels about 4 feet during the time it takes for the shot to get there so to have a 4 feet lead the target would have to be moving at a 90 degree angle to the shooter.

I wonder the source of the diagram and its originator? The heights seem to correspond with the actual POI of patterns shot at stationary objects and I wonder if they are not deceptive of what might be going on.
Click to expand...
They appear to be the same diagrams out of the book "Trapshooting With the Remington Pros", published in 1969.

Scott Hanes
 
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