Friends:

Went to the skeet range Sunday afternoon. Nothing fancy intended, just wanted to burn a couple of 100 rounds and have fun, do some informal practice , particularly crossing shots. Wanted to stand at Station 4 and shoot high house until I got tired, then low house, then some doubles. I had done the same last weekend with my Ithaca NID clays gun with its current "try-gun" stock extension ( 15-1/8" LOP to front trigger,1-5/16" DAC, 2-1/8" DAH ). That was a frustrating experience. Broke about 30 % . Figured I was having an off day.

Ok, so this weekend, I head to the range with my LC Smith 00 E, 30" barrels choked full/full. I figured Id give up a few birds for the joy of shooting the gun, and giving it an outing. That gun has a 15" LOP to front trigger, 1-5/8 DAC, 2-5/8" DAH.

I could hit almost nothing. At station 1 I missed 10 low house birds in a row. Broke one. Gave up, moved to Station 2. I missed 14 birds in a row. Moved to Station 4. Then missed 9 in a row. Broke three or four, almost by accident, shot the remainder of the second box, with about 3 more hits. I had lost count. The trapper was embarassed for me. My shooting partner, who I helped teach to shoot clays years ago, was cringing. I was not, to say the least, a happy camper.

Then I went back to the gun rack and got out my Ithaca Model 37 Skeet Deluxe with ugly Poly-Choke. That gun was special ordered by my grandfather for my use as a duck gun, and the stock is a tad short 13-3/4" LOP, 1-1/2" DAC, 2-1/2" DAH. I cranked the Poly- Choke to cylinder and returned to Station 4. Broke 18 straight birds, high house and low house. Went to station 5, broke 10 birds, as true-pair doubles. Walked back to Station 1, missed one out of about 10 birds. Walked to 7 and broke about 8 birds as pairs. These were not "visible chips". These birds were being broken to smithereens. I certainly felt better.

Now I am confused to say the least.

I know it is impossible to diagnose by internet, but some thoughts on this from you really smart and experienced folks would help me a good deal. I think that the LC and the NID both have stocks which may be too long by a bit, and since they are significantly straighter than the Model 37, the extra length exacerbates their tendency to shoot high. I have shot well with the NID with its current stock configuration, but perhaps I was in some way compensating for a poor gun fit, and the last few outings I have lost my ability to compensate. I do know it seems I can always hit with that Model 37 - even took it to a sporting competition several years ago ( as you may know I compete casually ) and shot about 72%, better than a whole host of folks with the "correct " equipment.

Ok, enough of my sad tale. Wisdom from the assembled gun sages?

Thanks

Regards

GKT

Texas Declaration of Independence 1836 -The Indictment against the dictatorship, Para.16:"It has demanded us to deliver up our arms, which are essential to our defence, the rightful property of freemen, and formidable only to tyrannical governments."