Shotgunning 101?

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BILLSGAME59

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Does anyone have any suggestions about getting some quality instruction with shotgunning?
I've been slowly getting back to wing-shooting after not having shot a shotgun for 30 years. After shooting perhaps a few hundred rounds on invitations at various clubs and the odd time shooting clay with a launcher Im realizing I could likely save myself some aggravation and time if I take things a little more seriously. So I've been thinking about joining a club to get some more trigger time in, but perhaps the most efficient method would be to invest in some quality coaching. Honestly Im most interested in Wing Shooting, because I like being in the field or out in the marsh. Shooting Skeet, Trap or Sporting Clay isn't really appealing to me right now, but I do see it as an excellent way to get some practice in and get in the game.
I've been searching around on the internet and there seems to be a few places in the USA that provide shotgunning instruction but I haven't really found anything in Ontario. Does anyone have any advise? Im thinking I should find an instructor before I apply to a club.

Thanks in advance.

Bill
 
I think your best bet would be to join a club that has an active scattergunner community, either skeet or sporting clays and become involved in the club. I picked up most of what I know from constant practice and the advice I received from more experienced shooters. The best shooters were always willing to provide helpful suggestions, in my experience. I took a lesson one time when I was in the UK, and it was fine, but it would get a tad expensive to become proficient that way. Most clubs have leagues of shooters you can get involved in.
 
Go out to Galt Sportsmens Club, talk to them. They will more than likely be able to either provide quality instruction on the spot or refer you to qualified instructors.

Alternatively the NSCA posts a list of all it's certified instructors by state/country. There are 2 level 2 in Alberta, and Ontario has a large NSCA base, so it it's a safe bet there will be a number of instructors listed there.
 
Something a lot of people figure out until it's too late, is that everyone has their own style. If you shoot swing through, and your instructor is a pull away shooter, it may not be the best fit. It's easier if you are starting for scratch, but if you have some experience under your belt, it can be tougher to find the right instructor.

Every instructor you are directed to will be able to break targets; but you need to find the instructor that gets you breaking targets, and that may very well mean sampling a few teaching styles before settling on one that meshes with you.
 
Redbike said:
I took a lesson one time when I was in the UK, and it was fine, but it would get a tad expensive to become proficient that way.
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hehe - depends on how you look at it. It would take a lot less of the more expensive shooting under the tutelage of a good instructor to become good. It will take a LOT more of the less expensive shooting that comes from untrained practice to get good. You can't measure the cost of getting proficient without the benefit of hindsight.
 
Skeet, Trap & Sporting Clays are all "target disciplines" if you will, and have certain techniques ( stance, foot positions, gun mounts, hold points etc. ) adapted to each ... basically to ensure a shooters consistency and provide the greatest opportunity for a high score. Top shooters all seem to have adopted a "gun up" position, which has little to do with wingshooting.

Doug Baker and Rick Sheridan both have long histories at their respective Clubs as well-regarded and effective coaches.

The nearest "Wingshooting" coaches that come to mind are Brian Bilinski at Fieldsport and the various Orvis Instructors at their Wingshooting Schools . The Fieldsport Wingshooting School is run out of Traverse City, Michigan and the Orvis School out of both Manchester, Vermont and Millbrook, New York. You should be able to find both on their web-sites.

Chris Batha is a very well respected coach who runs a number of clinics throughout the US each year. Try him at ... chrisbatha.com
 
In my experience coaches are like doctors, you go the the specialist for a specific area.

First pick the discipline that you want to shoot or will be most likely to help you in whatever you're hoping to be proficient in.

Then find a well regarded coach in that specific area, don't look for a jack of all trades master of none, a good coach will should know themselves that they specialize in a particular method and will tell you if what you want is beyond their area of expertise.

If you really want to improve you're wingshooting, there are many coaches and schools that focus specifically on that, they may not be in canada, but you have to do what is necessary to achieve your goals. Wingshooting is very big in England and there are many coaches there and from there, probably a good place to start.
 
Don't overlook U Tube. There are lots and lots of very good videos on there about a variety of shooting disciplines. It may not be perfect but its handy and its inexpensive.
 
For the record, I do the stats for the CNSCA. At the last shoot there were two shooters that shot so well they did not move up a class - they moved up 2 classes. In the two years I have been doing the stats I have only seen this one other time I also know both of these shooters and I also know that they have both been taking an extensive amount of Professional instruction from more than one instructor. Of course with that instruction came thousands of rounds of practice. But you can't argue with the results.
 
fwow said:
....at the last shoot there were two shooters that shot so well they did not move up a class - they moved up 2 classes....
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Congratulations to both ! If they moved from "D" to "B" or even "C" to "A" , very well done. If they moved up two classes to "Master", exceptional !!!

The thousands of rounds of practice certainly helps ... if it's "focused practice", not just banging away at clays to count targets.

I think it was Gil Ash who put forth the analogy about focused practice ... golf pros generally don't just go out and shoot a few rounds of golf or drive a bucket of balls for practice. What they may do for part of their "focused practice" however, is to hit say 50 shots with an 9 iron from 75 yards to have 75% come within 4 feet of the pin.

I'm a firm believer that lots of Skeet and Sporting Clays practice will help with your wingshooting. Trap to a lesser extent. But neither will be as good as actual wingshooting experience.
A couple of good coaching sessions for proper technique & consistent gun mount, foot position, swing and methods to acquire forward allowance, followed by gun fitting is a good start.
Come back from a few days of wingshooting at doves in Argentina ... where 2000 or more shots per day are the norm ... and you'll have a pretty good idea of how to hit birds on the wing.
 
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