Figure 8

You are right they put them on there for a reason. when I shoulder a new gun I put the beads in a fig 8 it is exactly as it says the front and mid bead form an 8 .Then take your eyes off the beads when i call pull a look at clay, try and do this with both eyes open After a while you won't look a the beads any more, youll just know when you shoulder the gun that its right There a guy I know that shots with one eye closed looking at the beads all the time and no one says anything when he keeps running 100'S
 
Noob_ said:
Then why are there middle beads?
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Because some people think that they need them,even if they don't. They actually are handy for checking the fit of a shotgun, but you don't need them for wing shooting. For wingshooting, beads of any kind are more of a distraction, than they are useful.
 
1) I use the middle bead and look at them while I line up each and every shot. In a pre-mounted game I think you are disadvantaging yourself to not. Consistency is your friend.

2) I try to not look at the beads while the target is in the air. If I have lined up properly I am much more likely to hit the target. Some days I look at both the bead and the target

3) I don't believe there is a 'proper' figure 8 alignment. What works for me may not work for you. I _THINK_ I put my middle bead in the middle of my front bead. Depending on the POI of your gun, a different bead alignment will do different things. There is no one magic solution... other than being consistent.

4) Find something that you are comfortable with and then do it that way _EVERY_ time. Consistency is your friend.

Brad.
 
To the original request... here's a picture of what I would consider close to a figure 8.

ph_vbce3_correct_lg.jpg

http://www.meadowindustries.com/images/ph_vbce3_correct_lg.jpg
 
As mentioned, double beads are good to check gun fit...that's it! If your gun fits you, everything will naturally line up each and every time you shoulder your gun. If you find yourself having to re-adjust to get everything lined up every time you shoulder your gun then it doesn't fit you and you'll never achieve your best scores possible. For wingshooting, it's all about gun fit and hand/eye coordination. You focus 100% on the target from the moment you see it to the moment you see it break or fold up! Naturally, the barrel, rib and beads are going to be in your peripheral vision but if you make the mistake of focusing on them you are going to miss every single time!
 
bmcrae said:
1) I use the middle bead and look at them while I line up each and every shot. In a pre-mounted game I think you are disadvantaging yourself to not. Consistency is your friend.

2) I try to not look at the beads while the target is in the air. If I have lined up properly I am much more likely to hit the target. Some days I look at both the bead and the target

3) I don't believe there is a 'proper' figure 8 alignment. What works for me may not work for you. I _THINK_ I put my middle bead in the middle of my front bead. Depending on the POI of your gun, a different bead alignment will do different things. There is no one magic solution... other than being consistent.

4) Find something that you are comfortable with and then do it that way _EVERY_ time. Consistency is your friend.

Brad.
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We are definitely following the same principles in our game. I do the exact same things.

VLT79 said:
As mentioned, double beads are good to check gun fit...that's it! If your gun fits you, everything will naturally line up each and every time you shoulder your gun. If you find yourself having to re-adjust to get everything lined up every time you shoulder your gun then it doesn't fit you and you'll never achieve your best scores possible. For wingshooting, it's all about gun fit and hand/eye coordination. You focus 100% on the target from the moment you see it to the moment you see it break or fold up! Naturally, the barrel, rib and beads are going to be in your peripheral vision but if you make the mistake of focusing on them you are going to miss every single time!
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I have to disagree with some of what you are saying in that we do not always place the gun in the shoulder in the same spot each time we mount it. Sometimes we place high. sometimes low, a little left or right etc. Those beads are an instant indicator if something is amiss and they tell me to drop my gun from my shoulder and start over again at least where I have the luxury to as say in clay target games.However, you don't always have that luxury in wingshooting at a target that is quickly trying to put distance between itself and yourself. I have had many days afield where I threw my gun up, only to have it in the wrong spot on my shoulder and due in part to some of the funky angles we get in shooting waterfowl from a seated or half laying, half seated version of the twist from a layout blind trying to get on birds at some god awful angle to keep within safe shooting zones with our buddies. I have done some awful stretching and readjusting and thankfully had those beads as indicators my eye/head were in the right position for the shot enabling me to dump a fast fleeing duck or goose or even two....
 
One theme seems to be shared by most experienced shooters, that being that once the target is in the air, you concentrate on the target, not the beads.
 
I have helped multiple people to improve their skeet scores, by simply removing the silly add on hi viz beads that they had stuck on the ribs of their guns. Removing the distraction helped them to concentrate on the target.
 
I agree with using the beads to practice mounting the gun and getting the fit and alignment right... once you are comfortable, you would be better served to remove them altogether... your attention should be on "feel" & the target.
 
stubblejumper said:
I have helped multiple people to improve their skeet scores, by simply removing the silly add on hi viz beads that they had stuck on the ribs of their guns. Removing the distraction helped them to concentrate on the target.
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Back in the day when I was learning the game I remember mentioning the beads and returned to the club house rack to find someone removed them from my gun. After this happened a second time I got the message and never said it again
I agree for gun fit not for shooting at least for me and most good shots I knew .When I am on I don't even see the barrel let alone the bead Someone who does or say they use them and runs the 100 with one eye closed ;) That is a rare dude IMO and not the norm. It was something I could never acheive which is why I went to lefty for my dominant eye and to keep both eyes open. Big difference in scores for me with two eyes vs one. I did that over 30 years ago now and it took 4 years after the change to be comfortable but the scores sure improved
To each their own
Cheers
 
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stubblejumper said:
I have helped multiple people to improve their skeet scores, by simply removing the silly add on hi viz beads that they had stuck on the ribs of their guns. Removing the distraction helped them to concentrate on the target.
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Hi-Vis sights for shotguns!! The best marketing ploy ever in the history of the shotgun to sucker someone into parting with their cash!!
 
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