I need work on sporting clays

D

Dave R

New member
Shot sporting clays for the 2nd time today. Using my old SXS.

First time I went, I used a borrowed O/U. Felt great. I shot a 26, after going 0 for my first 8.

Today, I did 2 rounds. 18 and 17. I made some of the tough shots--distant mini's and fast falling crossers, but I was inconsistent. Can the gun make that much difference? I know O/U's rule the Sclay courses. I hear that semi's are the only reasonable alternative. "They say" that SXS is tough because of the wider rib/sighting plane. Also, "they say"my Mod/Full chokes are too tight. They were using imp over imp, or cyl/cyl (on 40 yard shots!)

The guy who took me said that his buddy got a well-fitted O/U and his scored went up 50%.

Again, can the gun make that much difference?
 
Two rounds of a new game are not conclusive, Dave. I see lots of folks using SXSs and having a great time.Some shoot very well, too.

If you're out to become the best SC shooter in the world, get a new shotgun.

If you're out to have fun and get better with your hunting SXS, stick with yours.

I would recommend a bit of load selection to broaden your options.You may want to use soft shot 9s on the close shots to open the pattern, trap loads of 7 1/2s for the long ones.

Of all the clay games I've tried, SC is the one where glitches in form and fit will become obvious fastest. But it's fun and can change Joe Average into a death ray wielding supershooter.

HTH....
 
If you want to improve your scores, a well-fitted over/under with choke-tubed barrels 30" or longer is the most popular choice. Semi autos similarly adorned are in second place and rapidly gaining. More open chokes are advisable. I have yet to shoot a sporting course that couldn't be managed with a light modified choke or looser.

Don't get down on yourself for your scores. Keep practicing and understand that a 40 yard crosser and minis under most circumstances are among the harder birds you'll see. Consistency comes with time and practice. You might consider hiring a professional instructor who can offer some useful tips such as how to stand, where to hold the gun, where to look and how to break the bird consistently.

But it comes back to Dave's point. What are you trying to accomplish? Are you tuning up for bird season or trying to improve scores? If you're like me you do both. I shoot my game gun at clay targets almost exclusively during bird season and an over/under the rest of the time. I disagree with those who decry the sxs for a "wider sighting plane." If you are doing it right you barely see the gun in your peripheral vision. That said I generally shoot my over/under better than my sxs which has double triggers.

Either way and score notwithstanding I always have a lot of fun.

Paul
 
You might want to consider taking a lesson from a recognized professional coach. It might cost a few bucks but will make the game more enjoyable.

Few people would take up golf (:barf: ) or Skiing without lessons. Sporting Clays is the same. A coach will teach you how to shoot and work with you and your gun to make you a better shooter.

American men think we automatically know how to shoot, believe me, we don't. A coach will teach you the proper way and correct mistakes before they become habit.

Be sure to get a coach who will help you to shoot the gun you have now. If he tells you you must buy a certain gun get another coach. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a SXS for sporting. In fact, the game was originally devised so that British SXS shooters could get practice for bird hunting. At least two organizations shoot SXS only. The vintagers and another group out of California limit their competitions to SXS shooters.

As Dave said, look at different loads for your gun. As it has tight chokes you may want to look into special "Spreader" loads that will open up patterns for you. You might want to think about reloading to get the proper loads for your gun.

Check this out: www.vintagers.org
 
You might want to consider taking a lesson from a recognized professional coach. It might cost a few bucks but will make the game more enjoyable.

Few people would take up golf (:barf: ) or Skiing without lessons. Sporting Clays is the same. A coach will teach you how to shoot and work with you and your gun to make you a better shooter.

American men think they automatically know how to shoot, believe me, we don't. A coach will teach you the proper wayand correct mistakes before they become habit.

Be sure to get a coach who will help you to shoot the gun you have now. If he tells you you must buy a certain gun get another coach. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a SXS for sporting. In fact, the game was originally devised so that British SXS shooters could get practice for bird hunting. At least two organizations shoot SXS only. The vintagers and another group out of California limit their competitions to SXS shooters.

As Dave said, look at different loads for your gun. As it has tight chokes you may want to look into special "Spreader" loads that will open up patterns for you. You might want to think about reloading to get the proper loads for your gun.
 
One thing you should remember is that shotguns are not created equal. Some side by sides are definately easier to shoot than others due to stock fit, rib design or lack if it, and your own personal shooting style.

I have an old LC Smith that I like but I don't shoot it as good as my Winchester model 23's due to stock fit, plus the model 23's have a nice rib on them. This is very important to me because I do see my barrel when I shoot, However the double barrels do not distract me at all as long as I have a good rib to look down. AS a matter of fact I have shot double barrels for so long that I do not like to shoot anything else because a single barrel seems too skinny to me now.

All I am saying is if you like shooting the side by sides than stay with them. They can be shot very well, but don't handicap yourself by staying with a shotgun with a poor fitting stock, or lack of a rib if it matter to you, etc.

Pattern your gun and see if it is shooting where you are looking. Some guns do not shoot where you think they do. You may still scratch down a few targets with the edge of your pattern but you just don't know for sure until you pattern it on paper.

I love side by sides and I won't hunt with or target shoot with anything else for the most part. However I own two Winchester 23's, one modified and full with 28 inch barrels and the other improved cylinder and improved modified with 25 1/2 barrels and I shoot them better than anything else I have ever owned, so naturally they are my favorites.
 
Thanks for suggestions. I really like "carrying" this particular SXS because it is light and balances well. Its my designated upland gun.

I did pattern it and found that the barrels were well regulated. However, it has a wide ramp. I had a windage problem, shooting to the side. So I had the stock worked on and put on a rear sight--errrr, bead.

Now it shoots right on when I aim it. But I think I'd better pattern it with "snap shots", to see whether it shoots where "I am aiming it", if you see the difference.

I may have a form problem, or an inconsistent hold. Or I may just be shooting to the side. Not sure I know how to diagnose that without some help, professional or otherwise.
 
Agreed, Dave. I think middle beads make sense on trap guns and other shotguns used premounted, but are counterproductive on hunting and low gun shotguns. Others differ and some of them shoot rings around me.

A middle bead can be a rough guide to how your stock fits. If you have to move your cheek off the stock or compress it hard to get the beads lined up, obviously you need a bit of stock work.

Aiming for patterns can be deceptive. What you describe is more pertinent.Shoot the pattern board lie it was an escaping quail going straightaway, and seeing where the pattern hits then. Repeat a few times, discarding any shots that felt wrong.

Use a small dot in the middle of the paper to focus on,not an "Aiming" point.

HTH...
 
Some other things to consider;

Is your master eye on the right side. Do you shoot with both eyes open. If your master eye is on the wrong side you will find it difficult to shoot with both eyes open under speed.

Also, there are other ways to shoot besides the Churchill method of not seeing the barrel. My master eye is on the wrong side. I have a right dominate eye but I shoot lefthanded, so I must close my master eye to be lined up over the barrel properly. A good man using the Churchill method is usually very fast but if he is having an off day he does not do very good. I do not pretend to be an expert shotgunner but I believe I am better than average at least in the circle of friends and shooters I know, however I struggled for years trying to find the best method for me and I am convinced that I shoot better by looking down the barrel or rib and actually consiously pointing out the target. The feel and balance of a shotgun is very important to me but I donot shoot by feel alone, I aim my shotgun. On a hard crossing bird I usually swing through my target and fire when the lead looks right and I follow through. I can also take a quick poke at a target if I have to and just gap shoot in front of it but I only do that under certain conditions, but I still close one eye and look down the barrel, normaly.

All I am saying is the old never see the barrel method might not work for you as well as other methods.
 
I am "regular dominant", not cross-dominant. I shoot right, and my primary eye is right. I shoot with both eyes open. You have to with upland and clays, right?

Could still be a form issue, too. The owner of the place was our trapper for the first 4 stations (we were first up, and his trappers had not yet arrived). On one miss he told me I stopped my swing. "Do what the bird does". Sometimes I "swing through", and sometimes I shoot at a "convergent point". Maybe I should stop the latter.
 
Another thing to consider...

I just started shooting skeet and I've shot SC once, can't say which I perfer yet, but at my local range I MUST collect my hulls, now I shoot a 391 Sporting Gold and its a pain in the a$$. I am gonna get a 687 SP II as soon as I can afford it so I can eject the hulls into my hand. Plus I get to buy anohter gun this way too..

;)

Also, if you find shells you like on sale, STOCK UP!!! If you have time you'll want to shoot as much as you can.
 
Dave,

So your master eye is on the same side as your shooting side. This is good. I wish mine was. You should be able to shoot with both eyes open, However to answer your question, no you do not have to shoot with both eyes open to do good shooting on upland game or clays. But to my way of thinking it is an advantage to shoot with both eyes open if you can. Unfortunately, I can't shoot that way myself, I have to alway close one eye.

Stopping your swing is one of the main reasons people miss with the shotgun, in my opinion.
 
The two major methods of missing a targetare stopping the swing and lifting the head off of the stock.

I am well versed in both methods:o
 
Well, I've never been accused of lifting my head, but I have been accused of stopping my swing. Guess I have something to work on. That and patterning in a more 'real world' way, as Dave McC suggested. Thanks for all the help. Any other suggestions welcome.
 
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