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8.2K views 44 replies 30 participants last post by  thorpe47  
R
#1 · (Edited)
I'm a new shooter. I find it easier to break the extreme left and right targets - and I have a much harder time with the ones that go straight up. I'm guessing this may be simply because I have more time to get on the angled shots. Does anyone here have suggestions for those straight-away shots?

FWI, I'm using a Remington 1100 field gun, which by all accounts is a pretty flat shooting gun. As an experiment, I added a pad to raise the comb of the field stock. I haven't shot enough to know if that makes much difference.

In any case, I can't figure out if I'm shooting under or over those straight-aways.

Thanks for any help.
 
#2 ·
With many field guns when you shoot Trap you may have to cover the targets to hit them. If you can see the climbing Trap target when you shoot with most field guns you will be shooting under the targets.

If you have been seeing the straight away targets when you have missed them with a flat shooting field gun, I would bet you are shooting under them.
 
#3 ·
You're going to get a lot of comments about lifting your head. And I guess its possible. I have a little different theory about straightaways....
2 problems with these targets, I think:
1. They encourage aiming. Since there isn't a lot of right or left movement (there's always some), newer shooters try to line up the bead on the target (especially if they're missing).
DON'T. Just look at the target. Bead-checking doesn't work. Ignore the barrel.

2. Jabbing/ lunging. This can affect any of us. We jab/ lunge at the straightaway and that pushes our shot high. We're swinging on the angles and its harder to jab at those targets.
Your milage may vary, but I find a bit of a forward lean makes it harder to jab. Don't over-do it.

Don't sweat using an 1100 field gun. If you get serious about trap, you'll want a dedicated trap gun. But take a look around your local league and you'll see numerous field guns. Some used by some pretty good shooters. Adding the pad might be a good move....It should raise your pattern just a tad.

Good luck and let us know how you do!
Trail
 
P
#6 ·
As a new shooter, you will go through a couple of issues. Its normal to have issues with strait-a-way targets. Then you will have issues with hard angle targets. Then you will have issues with the strait a way targets again. You will work though each of them.

I suggest you learn to move the shotgun left and right with your legs and waist. You need to learn to use your back to raise your shotgun. You must learn to do both of these if you want to become a consistent shooter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I assume, your not bead checking your strait a way targets. If you are STOP IT!!!

Next the two biggest problems are, using your arms to raise the gun barrel up to the target. Which will result in your head staying in one place at times, and not moving with the gun. Which will cause you missed targets.

Or, Lifting your head off the stock to follow the bird rising. It does not take much eye movement to cause you to miss a strait a way target. Most folks can just roll their head upward, while still keeping their cheek on the stock. So its almost impossible to tell your eye has moved. The best way to check if your lifting your head. Is to keep your head on the stock until after you see the target break. Or see the target fall to the ground in one piece. Now look down your barrel and see if your two beads are still lined up. If your beads were lined up before you called for the bird. Then your beads are not lined up after you see your missed bird. You know you moved your eye during the shot. This is caused by using your arms to move the shotgun upward, or side to side as well!!!
I must confess its hard to tell if your lifting your head, or moving the shotgun with your arms. Unless you have someone next to you, watch you shoot. To see which problem you have. Because your eye will not be lined up after your miss. No matter which problem you have. But, its good to see if your moving your eye. Before you have another shooter watch you shoot. Good Luck to Ya. and keep us informed as to how your doing. Good Luck to Ya. and don't forget to break em all jeff
 
T
#7 ·
Take your time and confirm you have a solid visual lock on the target. Then shoot it. Most misses I see on straightaway targets are high because the shooter rushed the move, generated too much gun speed, and blew over the top of the bird. Once you slow down just a little and start hammering them, your confidence will increase and you’ll relish the opportunity to smoke one.
 
#9 ·
IMO... straightaway presentations are deceptive looking... they appear easy, but the approach requires a straight shot... in addition to height, one can't be off much to either side... I think angles also have a small advantage of flying through the tail of shot string if off a bit...
 
#10 ·
With the straightaway target with a field gun, the two questions that are always there are

Did I cover the target

Did I raise my head

OK three questions

Did I swing to fast and though /past

I can qoute a AA shooter on his missed straightaway targets

"I peaked (lifted my head) to see the bird break"

For myself and it is why I have to hold the house. If my gun blocks the bird my head is coming off the stock. Lifting my head.

Not covering the bird is missing below.

Lifting your head is about 90% certain you shot over the bird. Because one can lift their head and never move the gun at all is why it is Not 100%.

I see knees and hips for side to side movement and lower back for height.

I find it is the full package for any swing.

All swings start from the toes and end just below the shoulders.
If your shoulder are loose you are going to arm swing.

So make sure your hips and knees are relaxed.

Almost all can swing through their body much further than swinging away from it. Foot position therefore aides in keeping your head on the stock. To open a foot position will make easier to lift your head.

Al
 
A
#14 ·
The one thing that I have learned over the years, in which I have been shooting , is that this is one of the easiest targets to miss. Although it looks like it is a simple shot , It is not.

What I have learned is that this shot takes more focus and discipline than most people give it credit for , because it requires the most discipline . If you are your arms to raise the barrel, lifting your head, your stopping your swing, just one of these will result in a lost target. Also most people can easily draw a curved line , but can not draw a perfect straight line.
 
R
#15 ·
"I suggest you learn to move the shotgun left and right with your legs and waist. You need to learn to use your back to raise your shotgun. You must learn to do both of these if you want to become a consistent shooter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

This is good advice and I need to be more conscious of moving everything together. I had never heard it put like this before.
 
R
#17 ·
"Ask the club if they can set the machine on straight aways just so you can practice covering the bird for practice."

As a newbie and non-member, my only option is to show up and sign in for the next round. Membership here is expensive, although as I get more and more obsessed with this game I will undoubtedly bite that bullet.
 
A
#19 ·
One of the reason that you are having a harder time with straight targets over angled, is that it is easier for you to see the target when you are coming from it from the side and moving through it . This is because your gun Poi is 50/50 . When you are having to shoot a straight target, you are now shooting at something you can no longer see when it is time to pull the trigger. In order for you to make the shot on a rising target you must cover the bird or shoot above it. You should not see the break until you lower your gun if you have done it right. Make sure you stay in the gun and follow through the target. Do not be anxious to drop the barrel immediately after the shot , to see the break. Stay in the gun. You have plenty of time to see that smoked target. Hope this all makes sense to you and helps you break more targets. Good luck and keep your eyes on the bird , and off of that front sight. (No aiming, just pointing).
 
R
#25 ·
This makes a great deal of sense and is so clearly explained even I can understand it! So - if I understand correctly - point up and through the target and pull the trigger the moment I can no longer see it. And follow through. And stay in the gun. I'm anxious to get back to the range and try these suggestions.
 
P
#26 ·
I wish I had your problem. I'm a beginner too and struggle with stations 1 and 5 with hard left or right targets. Even when I get hits it always seems to be because I match the trajectory and feel like I'm throwing the shot stream at the target without looking and following through on the correct trajectory. Sometimes I do the same thing, but I miss because the curve of my swing is off. Whereas the only straight fives or tens I've gotten were with 2+3 or 3+4. I set my gun to shoot high and I just feel like on 3 I simply lift the gun up and swing under, pull the trigger as the gun is almost to the target and continue the upswing. I only seem to have troubles with 3 if I got to shooting 1 and 2 well, but then find it hard to adjust my mindset for 3.
 
#27 ·
People forget that a "straight away" is a quickly moving target that's moving upward and away from the shooter at 42mph. It's a quickly rising target that when looked at over a gun barrel, gives the illusion of shooting at a bullseye, causing the shooter to aim at the bullseye with a stopped gun...... and miss. Set the gun up the right way; set it so that you can touch the bottom of the target edge with the bead and the gun will place all of it's hot core where that target is going to be. Keep the eyes on that leading edge.
 
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