Skeet question

dm1333 · May 31, 2005, 04:48 PM

Any one have any good guides or references for shooting clay pigeons? Especially with using clay pigeons to improve your wingshooting skills. I started to shoot clay pigeons to practice for upland bird season and I want to work on my technique. With my pump I don't seem to have any problem shooting some doubles, and with my 20 gauge single shot I probably smoke 20 out of 25 on a consistent basis now. The problem is that I just started shooting without looking into the "fundamentals" of shotgunning, and I don't want to pick up any bad habits. After 21 years in the military I do have a really good grasp of the pistol and rifle. Any help would be appreciated.

kudu · May 31, 2005, 05:38 PM

I would suggest finding a good trap and skeet shooting club that has either an instructor or someone that would be willing to work with you that others recommend. Also look up in the search function Dave McCracken and 101 threads. He has very good advice in regard to fitting and technique. He is also on www.thehighroad.org

Welcome to the wonderful world of shotguns.

HunterTRW · May 31, 2005, 07:10 PM

A comprehensive, basic primer on the shotgun shooting games is The Gun Digest Book of Trap & Skeet Shooting by Chris Christian (the ISBN is 0-87349-163-7). This book also includes complete coverage of sporting clays, and should provide you with the fundamentals.

Kudu's point about seeking out a competent shooting instructor is well-advised. He/she can help you develop a consistent shooting form that will help result in more birds in your game bag. The instructor can also make corrections in the key components of stance, gun-mount, grip on the fore-end, looking at the target and ignoring the barrel, etc., before they become bad habits.

Congratulations on joining the ranks of the scatter-gunners. Ours is a hobby that can literally provide a lifetime of enjoyment.

Good luck, and good shooting!

dm1333 · May 31, 2005, 07:31 PM

I've been bird hunting for quite a few years with a shotgun, I just recently started shooting clay pigeons for fun and practice. The nearest skeet club is over 1.5 hours away over very windy mountain roads, so an instructor is out. But I will check out what you guys have given me so far. Thanks for your help.

K80Geoff · June 1, 2005, 04:42 AM

The Clay Target Handbook by Jerry Meyer. Best source of information. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...06328?v=glance

Skeetin'870 · June 6, 2005, 07:39 PM

The distance to your range shouldnt affect if you shoot or not at your club there are people who know what they are doing and can help you.

Nnobby45 · June 6, 2005, 08:20 PM

Get your head down where you want it and ALWYS bring the gun to the face, not the face to the gun. Do your practice with your shotgun down, safety on, just like bird hunting. Or International Skeet style, with butt below the elbow. For informal practice with your own thrower, don't call for the bird---let the thrower surprise you.

sm · June 6, 2005, 09:02 PM

Dave McC, yeah I heard of him, read some of his stuff. Seems to be a right nice fellow.

Fred Misseldine wrote two books : Score Better at Skeet and Score Better at Trap

Misseldine writes about gun fit, how to shoot the various stations, and why you miss- among other things. Try www.abebooks.com

Some folks say Misseldine and Brister are "old school" - I disagree. I learned and still shoot skeet low gun, am a pass thru shooter, worked for them, works for me.

Correct Basic Fundamentals, you never stop learning them, never stop practicing them.

May 31, 2005, 04:48 PM	#1
dm1333 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2005 Posts: 401	Skeet question Any one have any good guides or references for shooting clay pigeons? Especially with using clay pigeons to improve your wingshooting skills. I started to shoot clay pigeons to practice for upland bird season and I want to work on my technique. With my pump I don't seem to have any problem shooting some doubles, and with my 20 gauge single shot I probably smoke 20 out of 25 on a consistent basis now. The problem is that I just started shooting without looking into the "fundamentals" of shotgunning, and I don't want to pick up any bad habits. After 21 years in the military I do have a really good grasp of the pistol and rifle. Any help would be appreciated.

May 31, 2005, 05:38 PM	#2
kudu Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 273	I would suggest finding a good trap and skeet shooting club that has either an instructor or someone that would be willing to work with you that others recommend. Also look up in the search function Dave McCracken and 101 threads. He has very good advice in regard to fitting and technique. He is also on www.thehighroad.org Welcome to the wonderful world of shotguns. __________________ "a shootin' we will go"

May 31, 2005, 07:10 PM	#3
HunterTRW Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2004 Location: The Lower Forty of Hill Country Posts: 177	A comprehensive, basic primer on the shotgun shooting games is The Gun Digest Book of Trap & Skeet Shooting by Chris Christian (the ISBN is 0-87349-163-7). This book also includes complete coverage of sporting clays, and should provide you with the fundamentals. Kudu's point about seeking out a competent shooting instructor is well-advised. He/she can help you develop a consistent shooting form that will help result in more birds in your game bag. The instructor can also make corrections in the key components of stance, gun-mount, grip on the fore-end, looking at the target and ignoring the barrel, etc., before they become bad habits. Congratulations on joining the ranks of the scatter-gunners. Ours is a hobby that can literally provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Good luck, and good shooting! __________________ "If we're all thinking alike, somebody isn't thinking." General George S. Patton, Jr.

May 31, 2005, 07:31 PM	#4
dm1333 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2005 Posts: 401	let me throw a few more things into the mix I've been bird hunting for quite a few years with a shotgun, I just recently started shooting clay pigeons for fun and practice. The nearest skeet club is over 1.5 hours away over very windy mountain roads, so an instructor is out. But I will check out what you guys have given me so far. Thanks for your help.

June 1, 2005, 04:42 AM	#5
K80Geoff Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 1998 Location: NE Pennsylvania Posts: 3,639	The Clay Target Handbook by Jerry Meyer. Best source of information. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...06328?v=glance __________________ I am no longer a member of this forum. Bye!

June 6, 2005, 07:39 PM	#6
Skeetin'870 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2005 Location: Tulsa,Ok. Posts: 288	The distance to your range shouldnt affect if you shoot or not at your club there are people who know what they are doing and can help you. __________________ Mental prep for skeet 1 Look for the Bird 2 Gun speed to target speed 3 Head on the gun 4 Follow Through

June 6, 2005, 08:20 PM	#7
Nnobby45 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2004 Posts: 3,150	Get your head down where you want it and ALWYS bring the gun to the face, not the face to the gun. Do your practice with your shotgun down, safety on, just like bird hunting. Or International Skeet style, with butt below the elbow. For informal practice with your own thrower, don't call for the bird---let the thrower surprise you.

June 6, 2005, 09:02 PM	#8
sm Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2002 Posts: 1,819	Dave McC, yeah I heard of him, read some of his stuff. Seems to be a right nice fellow. Fred Misseldine wrote two books : Score Better at Skeet and Score Better at Trap Misseldine writes about gun fit, how to shoot the various stations, and why you miss- among other things. Try www.abebooks.com Some folks say Misseldine and Brister are "old school" - I disagree. I learned and still shoot skeet low gun, am a pass thru shooter, worked for them, works for me. Correct Basic Fundamentals, you never stop learning them, never stop practicing them. __________________ Use Enough Gun TFL Alumni