doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Most difficult sporting target

I'm speechless, at the depth of your thinking.

thanks Stan.

That's the kind of target I was trying to describe, but the particularly troublesome ones like this can be when it is not apparent from the stand. It is so subtle you miss to the side of the track.

With all these curling targets, there is not way to use a swing through approach. It has to be ambush. A swing through requires a swing across the flight to a point.

In this thread, we have gotten instruction and hints on how to hit nine different presentations without addressing the OP's original question. I tried, but am a poor teacher on this particular presentation. My opinion, sustained lead, muzzle never behind the bird, hard pressure cheek to gun.

Bill, in my post I addressed Jeff's presentation.

I take a somewhat different approach to the OP’s original question and it somewhat mirrors 8B’s comment.
I primarily shoot low gun. At the release of the bird I mount the gun at what I see as the lead based on the bird speed. As the bird travels I adjust that lead as required and fire. I want to shoot the bird under power, so consequently I shoot a bit faster than most of my companions. I’m firm on the line and the bird is never behind my barrel.
I do have a shooting buddy that will ride the bird for eternity and make the kill using a type of diminishing lead. He’s good at it. Not so for myself.

Long slow crossers tend to make me measure lead, thereby checking the bead and stoping the gun. Holding the gun out and waiting for the bird is how I shoot rabbits; let it come to you and make a quick move to it and shoot at the front edge. I guess it would work for crossers, but I’ll intercept those to avoid tracking the target.

I shot rabbits well when I started shooting SC. Wasn’t long before I got in a slump and couldn’t touch one. A good friend said to try coming from behind the target . When the barrel touch’s the back of target fire. It got me back on track in no time. It’s very easy to shoot in front of a rabbit.

Slow crossers can lull you into shooting deliberately which kills your swing. You can not measure and maintain lead on a crosser if it is at the same time going slightly in or out or dropping and slowing down as it goes. Your lead may look right but will be wrong by the time your shoot and your shot reaches where the target is. Think of it as a bird with three or four different leads, in, out, right/left, slowing down and dropping down all at the same time. The longer you wait the worse it is for me. Pick a window to eliminate the speed changes and dropping changes as much as you can. That only leaves you with two variables instead of four. Peice of cake.

I shoot a bit more aggressively with a shorter swing. And I never let a crossing target get past my barrels if possible. Sometimes, in heavy woods, targets just seem to only have a couple clear windows. I take the first window. I find a short, quicker swing, with a hold point near where I want to break the bird. Where trap layout can get tricky is a slightly canted target which gives you a visual presentation which mask its real flight path. On those who are moving away from me I tend to shoot in front and those who are moving slightly closer I tend to shoot behind.

On real problem targets I go back to basics and start with very short leads and increase then a foot at a time until I start hitting the birds. Few fellow shooters can tell you where you are but that won’t stop them from trying.

I tried to explain what I do to hit those long crossers despite what boring Eightbore has to say. The best advice I can give is to be absolutely proficient at 20 yard crossers, then 25 yd, then 30 yd, then 35 yd and then go practice, practice and practice the 40-60 yard crossers. Good luck.