28, 30 or 32?

[gwagen]

I shoot a 32" gun for skeet from the low gun position (issf) and have no issues breaking doubles from any station. In fact I break doubles at station 4 faster than most people that shoot premounted. Low gun allows me to aquire the target quickly and as long as I make a smooth controlled mount I can easily break the first target 3/4 of the way to the stake. I used to shoot a 28" citori and switched to a 32" Beretta 682. Honestly I couldn't tell the difference but my performance did improve, however I believe this to be a function of much better fit due to the adjustable comb. I personally like the 32 inch barrels and would be hard pressed to go back.

I never said impossible

I must admit when I made the post, I had american skeet firmly in mind and sustained lead as well. If you want to win in NSSA events especially the big ones perfection is a prerequisite it would seem.

Though perfect scores are run in ISSF skeet, winning scores are often not perfect.

I shoot low gun now and then purely for fun, and I can break the first target on a double well before the stake, but I wouldn't do it in competition.

American Skeet and ISSF skeet are two very different beasts and employ different methods for breaking targets.

 

[gttsc]

I never said impossible

I must admit when I made the post, I had american skeet firmly in mind and sustained lead as well. If you want to win in NSSA events especially the big ones perfection is a prerequisite it would seem.

Though perfect scores are run in ISSF skeet, winning scores are often not perfect.

I shoot low gun now and then purely for fun, and I can break the first target on a double well before the stake, but I wouldn't do it in competition.

American Skeet and ISSF skeet are two very different beasts and employ different methods for breaking targets.

I shoot American skeet in competition gun down and have run them, but it is a game of perfection where little is left to chance, and now with audible releases being more widely used, even that variable is being eliminated. In my opinion, as someone who has shot both, the low gun is the least of the variables that contributes to the challenge of Olympic skeet. The more challenging course of fire is the first. The second for me would be the added speed. Thirdly would be the delay, which once adjusted to is not an issue, and I might argue actually a benefit as it is certainly a cure for leaving early! The least factor is the low gun position. I think people are intimidated by that and are afraid to try. For me the targets are broken the same way :bellybutton at the low house window, hold point 1/3 of the way out, maintained lead, match gun speed to target speed. Look at Todd Bender and Vincent Hancock when they are over the gun and their form is virtually identical. There is still a school of thought in international skeet that teaches an upright stance with feet together and gun movement generated by the arms, but this method is no longer in fashion and rightfully so. There is a perception that the games are vastly different and not compatible. I strongly disagree as the fundamentals are basically the same. Shot still needs to be in front of the target! The common mistake I see is a bad starting position (butt too high and muzzle too low) and a rushed mount. I tell people "slower is faster".

 

[beretta boy]

From my perspective, in International Skeet the "gun down" position is the big variable. Both target speed and release delay are
quickly adapted to, however a consistent mount from the gun down position and swing is much more difficult to adapt quickly to. Your technique must be impeccable, absolutely repeatable ... with gun fit & balance crucial to success. Start & hold points, not moving the gun until you see the target, and the faster speed of the targets are all factors to be considered, but there is really no recovery from sloppy technique and/or a poor mount.

 

[gttsc]

I don't disagree, but from my own perspective, the low gun came easily... However, that being said, you do need a gun that fits perfectly and absolutely must shoot where you look. For me, when I am shooting well, the gun is going off almost the moment it hits my cheek. The most common barriers I see to a good mount is bad gun fit (stock too long or too short /comb is too high or more often too low) or an improper recoil pad, either the wrong material or wrong shape or a vest with a too bulky a pad. A good gun mount just takes practice and consistency. If the gun doesn't fit, there is no time to adjust to compensate. I use the stock recoil pad on my 682, and it's worn smooth and I occasionally put a little armour all or wipe it with a silicone cloth. I used to use pachmayr sporting clays pads with the hard plastic insert and they were very satisfactory. I also regularly check the poi of my patterns to be sure it hasn't changed due to variations in my technique.

 

[adamg]

That's the part that leaves me in awe when I watch good int skeet shooters. How they seem to fire before the gun is even mounted. That's what it looks like, atleast.

 

[gttsc]

it looks that way because the lead is being obtained as the gun is mounted...the proper order is move, mount, shoot (credit to John Bidwell). What you see a lot of is mount, move, shoot where the gun is rushed to the shoulder, then lead is obtained. The lead has to be obtained as the gun is being mounted, so when the gun hits your cheek, you have already established the lead and can take the shot.