do you want to see the clay above your barrels? Would you have your field gun shoot to the same point of impact? I think on birds I instinctively cover the bird but have been told on clays you should always see the target.

A lot of it depends on the presentation of the target and where your barrels are regulated to pattern. The first thing I would do is go pattern your gun. Many dedicated trap type guns are regulated to shoot high so you never lose sight of the bird. It's called, "floating the bird." Each gun is different and each shooter sees the target a little differently. My advice is to go to the pattern board and then go from there.

My question was more about preferences. I know one of my guns patterns high because I see all of the rib compared to others where I see some rib but it is more like looking down the rib. I am guessing dedicated clay shooters
see the target whereas I often, especially with field guns, cover the target.

Different presentations require shooting different techniques.

Different techniques are made easier or harder by whether or not you can see the bird.

When I see people at shoots that have restocked a model 21 or BSS for pure competition purposes, I can’t help but notice the high combs.

I don't like a gun that shoots higher than 60/40 for sporting clays. CZ is right that different presentations require different techniques, but they don't require a gun that shoots to a different place, in relation to the muzzle. Floating a bird too much is a recipe for poor shooting in sporting clays. I want the bird to be just visible above the muzzle on most presentations, but how often are you shooting at a target that requires no lead?. That's why I like 60/40.

Yes, I want my field gun to shoot to the same point of impact as my sporting clays gun. That will help not only your clays shooting but your field shooting as well. Consistency is hugely important in clays shooting.

On clays, and on birds, you should always see the target/bird. Lead makes that possible. The only exceptions to seeing this lead is a direct incomer where you must cover the bird to kill it, an overhead incomer that will go past you overhead, where you must pull through the bird, cover it with your muzzle(s) and kill it, or a springing teal where you must kill it under power by pulling through it and killing it as you lose sight of it.

gee stan, in the last paragraph above, you used the word "kill" four times...kill. kill, kill,KILL!

bet you were salivatin after you wrote dat...

Much as I hate to admit it, I have always shot just about any design of shotgun better in clays games than my SXS doubles.

I like carrying and hunting with the doubles better.

Best,
Ted

Blood makes the grass grow!

Let me ketch erm cuttin’ through the center of the ice with his head down. (Jim and Ted too)


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Dead meat.

Bet you have a tough time catching your breath shuffling from the commode to the coffee maker in the morning.

Don’t get me started on that queer little moped.



Best,
Ted

__________________________________________________________
Smokin, smokin, momma I’m not joking.

Yer aboot half a fayg.


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Hey!….That’s right!

Returning to the discussion in question . . . Several years ago, I bought an SKB 385 with a high rib. Figured it would make a good sxs target gun. Shooting skeet, I couldn't hit low 7, which is usually an easy target for me. I was floating the bird over the rib. Discovered that I had to cover the bird to hit it. I don't do that with any of my sxs. Might've been someone's idea of a sxs target gun, but not mine.

That's what doubleguns were devised to do. Everyone else here understands what "killing" a clay means. The term is used by thousands of clay shooters who don't even hunt game.

Look back now and notice how your off-topic drivel runs a thread off course. Congratulations............. you absolutely bring out the worst in people.

WOW! Arlo Guthrie imitating Eightbore at his Army physical. Army doctor, "You're deaf as a stone. You can go home now." Eightbore, "Turn that thing up a bit and let me try again. I think I can hear it now." Army doctor, "Congratulations. See you in VEET NAM"

well stan, ifn ah brings out the wurst in youse, den suck hit up palie...ah jes playin wid ja...

lets say we have ah truce...as in lets ignore each udder...startin now...

yeah eight, an you most likely served in mila tary intelligence (a contra diction in terms),
where you listened in on russian radio transmissions from and to hanoi...wid out goin to russian language school...

just a shot in the dark, did you happen to meet a kid from nh, named scott, who had that mos?

"You van get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant" Arlo Gutherie--RWTF

"ceptin alice"...

A well regulated pair of barrels being necessary to hit anything consistently; I've found a 50/50 ~ 60/40 pattern distribution is desirable for most purposes involving games and game.

Changes in load(s) and ejecta weight can affect outcomes, so use the grease plate as suggested earlier to know w/certainty where your gun and load is shooting, but start w/checking the regulation.

Amen, and Amen.

I am amazed how many shotgunners don't know that. Ammo manufacturers appreciate that they don't, though.