Please do not laugh! I am still pretty new to shooting sporting clays, but I really enjoy it. I saw a YouTube video where the instructor said not to look down the top of the barrel when shooting sporting clays. He said to look down the side of the barrel, depending on which direction the clay is flying. If the clay is flying from right to left, you should look down the right side of the barrel and see the clay, and vise-versa if the clay is flying from the left. The only time you look down the top is if the clay is coming right at you, or going away. Has anyone tried that? I have not tried it yet, but it seemed like an interesting approach. Kind of a natural lead. I am interested in your opinions.
Do not look down the top of the barrel?
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Please do not laugh! I am still pretty new to shooting sporting clays, but I really enjoy it. I saw a YouTube video where the instructor said not to look down the top of the barrel when shooting sporting clays. He said to look down the side of the barrel, depending on which direction the clay is flying. If the clay is flying from right to left, you should look down the right side of the barrel and see the clay, and vise-versa if the clay is flying from the left. The only time you look down the top is if the clay is coming right at you, or going away. Has anyone tried that? I have not tried it yet, but it seemed like an interesting approach. Kind of a natural lead. I am interested in your opinions.
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I look down the top of the barrel for all presentations and find that 90 - 95% of the time this works 100% of the time. If the clay is coming right at me, I move from the front of the house to the back of the house and that generally takes care of that issue. Although I am not familiar with sporting clays, this is my proven approach for shooting trap.
That is correct.
You have your gun hold point, your target break point and your eye hold point.
So, on a crosser, you figure out where you want to break the target, then set your gun hold, then look back to where the target is coming from, the rest is all magic.
You have your gun hold point, your target break point and your eye hold point.
So, on a crosser, you figure out where you want to break the target, then set your gun hold, then look back to where the target is coming from, the rest is all magic.
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Please share the link to the video! I'm dying to watch it
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I'll have whatever shotshell99 is drinking.
I tried to copy the kink. You can go into YouTube and do a search for “Don’t look down the barrel.” The instructor is Gil Ash.
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Interesting . I saw this video when I first started shooting . I thought it was a crock . A lot of Gil Ash advice seemed like that to me at the time .
I took lessons. The instructor explained things differently . But when I look back at the Ash videos now, I do what he says, it just seems Gil uses a lot of words to describe looking for the bird and hard focus. Maybe it’s just a lot easier to understand when someone is explaining stuff while being next to you on the range.
I took lessons. The instructor explained things differently . But when I look back at the Ash videos now, I do what he says, it just seems Gil uses a lot of words to describe looking for the bird and hard focus. Maybe it’s just a lot easier to understand when someone is explaining stuff while being next to you on the range.
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Bob K is correct. If your looking at your barrel your missing birds!
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Shotshell99, if the clay is coming at you, you're on the Skeet field.....
Assuming you're not trolling, OP, I suggest trying to hold the the stock right on the middle of your throat; you will have the best view down both sides of the barrel-hope you're not shooting a side-by-side.
Assuming you're not trolling, OP, I suggest trying to hold the the stock right on the middle of your throat; you will have the best view down both sides of the barrel-hope you're not shooting a side-by-side.
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I bet he wears Sex Panther cologne...
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That must really help for all the trap targets that are coming right at you.
I love it!
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Bob, I award you the "Best Response Award" for this post and any I have seen lately! It is honest, intuitive, and accurate! Congrats!
I have heard this from a number of shooters who shoot adjustable rib guns. I always tell anyone who believes this to take the rib completely off your gun and tell me how this theory works then. I don't focus on my barrel or beads but there is a bird to bead relationship, if not why would we even need ribs on shotguns. I also know people who don't look at beads but talk about leading targets. How would they know they are leading targets without a reference point? There are people that will say they have beads on guns to check gun fit and thats all, if the gun fits you don't need to check it.
I mean why even shoulder the gun, just look at the bird and point from the hip or wherever. There is no need to look down the barrel if you don't use it. I love this crazy stuff.
I mean why even shoulder the gun, just look at the bird and point from the hip or wherever. There is no need to look down the barrel if you don't use it. I love this crazy stuff.
As a trap shooter I've always found any advice like Touch & go and pass through, or floating the target to be various descriptions of aiming, and the worse possible advice for shooting, in any shotgunning game. When you played ball & snagged a grounder did you aim your throw to 1st base, or wing it? Aimed throws usually ended up in the bleachers.
I guess I did not explain it well enough For you, Bob! You are looking at the clay, but you are looking at it from the side of the barrel rather than the top. Check out the video.
Boy, it did not take long for the “elitism” to raise its ugly head. When I first looked at this forum I noted how many members talk down to each other. Perhaps I should just look elsewhere for advise on this sport. I really do not need the snide remarks!
I disagree with the content of Bob’s response. It was condescending. He may as well have said, “Ever catch a flyball by looking at your glove, stupid!”
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