Breaking DTL target 3 feet of the ground?

[tiffy]

Breaking DTL target 3 feet off the ground?

Any tricks to this?

Firer is 15m off the trap, and a single rise target goes 45m approx, so looking at about 60m shot to break them just off the ground.

Was trying it today (as a bit of sporting practice) and I didn't have much luck at all.
Gun is 32" Browning Invector plus, had a full choke in, ammo was Rio 7 1/2. (which i have never been totally happy with even in ordianry DTL)
Tried all sorts of leads.
Picked up some targets at the end of the prac that has up to six shot strikes, but can't say that they were mine.

My thoughts are that, perhaps the shot is a bit soft, maybe needs a bigger size.

Next step is to pattern at 60m and see what it looks like, and put some static targets up and see if they break.

Anyone break targets at this range easily? interested to hear.
Cheers

 

[ben hunchak]

At 60 yds. I would think that you're pattern has too many holes in it and/or the pellet does not have enough energy to break clays at that range consistantly. To break clays you need more than 1 or 2 pellets and i don't believe that you will get that at 60 yds. I also doubt that 6 or so pellets would strike bird at that range...IMHO

 

[GAFFER1949]

When I Was Just A Kid In Prince George B.c. (1960s) There Was A Fellow George Kortvelesi That Stood Off To The Side Of Trap Line And Would Shoot All Missed Clays Exactly 3 Ft Off Ground! To Me It Was Amazing,and Has Stayed With Me 40 Years. I Have Tried To Do It Several Times And Only Wish I Could Figure It Out! He Got Almost Every-one He Shot At. Anybody Else See It? Anyone Know George?anyone Remeber When Shotgun Range Was By Graveyard On Hwy 16 West At Bottom Of Peden Hill?

 

[doubleman]

tiffy
Your choke and load should do the job, I can do it about 75% of the time with a 34'' citori plus and a full, #6 work good also. The problem is most likely your poi at the 60+ yards, my gun is set to shoot about 80-20 at 35 yards and I have to shoot about 3 feet below the target to consistantly break them out there. You will have to try some static targets to see where your point of impact is and then work on how much hold under lead on the moving ones.
Have fun!

 

[Covey Ridge]

To answer your question. I do not think that it is easy to do. Two things that make it difficult is range and dropping target. Not many sporting shooters have that much experience with that much range on a regular basis. fitasc shooters probably see it a bit more. At 60 yards the target is dropping and probably dropping faster than you think. Depending on your shooting style (swing through, maintained or pullaway or whatever) you may have to see a lot more than three feet of lead and in any event actual lead will have to be more. Now that really makes it difficult when you are trying to break it 3 feet off the ground. I know I would have a mental block directing my focus to ground on a target that is still in the air.

You did not say how much of the target's flight you were able to see. If you are able to see the entire flight and just want to break it at this distance, this is what I would do. Plan your break closer. Let's say 20 yards into the flight. This would make it a 35 yard target. Once you are grinding each and every one, change you foot position and your start position on the target and shoot them another lets say five yards further. When you have success at this new distance change your foot position and gun start position and shoot em a little further. Along the way you will notice that the target is changing from a riser to a dropper or maybe it was always a droper. In that case your swing might become more like a high house 1 skeet target. In any event keep working on your lead picture both in front and down and keep adding distance. Keep doing this and you may surprise yourself to realize how much forward and down lead your may need and how far away from 3 feet off the ground you may have to take your shot, to actually break it 3 ft. off the ground.

If I were presented with this target on a sporting range I would shoot it closer if I could see it closer. If I was presented with this target only through a long range window I would stand for the best break and remind myself that the target is dropping and take care not to overswing. If I were to practice shooting this target on a range where I could see its entire flight I would pretend there was a window and take care not to mount the gun before the target got to this window. Otherwise I would not shoulder my gun and ride the bird for much of its flight.

I might also want to delete this thread before on of those saddest course designers gets any ideas.