starting Skeet shooting
- Thread starter danyboy
- Start date
I started off shooting skeet with a premounted gun and had problems picking up the bird out of the house. When I switched over to low gun, my score improved. When I shoot sporting clays or 5 stand it is always with a low gun.
maynard
You had problems picking up the bird when premounting the gun because of where you were holding the barrel and where you were looking when you called for the bird, period. These are some of the finer points of the game the same as foot positioning, and where you break the bird on the field etc. The difference between shooters who consistently run straight 25's and those that don't is learning the finer points of the game, tying them all together, plus thousands and thousands of practice rounds. Then there is the mental aspect, which is huge in the higher levels of any sport. Natural shooting talent doesn't hurt either, as some folks just have natural great hand eye co-ordination. This is all separate from a good quality gun built for the game that "fits you".
Skeet and trap in Ontario is shot with a premounted gun, sporting clays with the gun butt visible below the arm pit. But things could be different across the border in south western Ontario.
You had problems picking up the bird when premounting the gun because of where you were holding the barrel and where you were looking when you called for the bird, period. These are some of the finer points of the game the same as foot positioning, and where you break the bird on the field etc. The difference between shooters who consistently run straight 25's and those that don't is learning the finer points of the game, tying them all together, plus thousands and thousands of practice rounds. Then there is the mental aspect, which is huge in the higher levels of any sport. Natural shooting talent doesn't hurt either, as some folks just have natural great hand eye co-ordination. This is all separate from a good quality gun built for the game that "fits you".
Skeet and trap in Ontario is shot with a premounted gun, sporting clays with the gun butt visible below the arm pit. But things could be different across the border in south western Ontario.
Hunters tend to shoot skeet and trap "gun down" as it better simulates hunting conditions.... Which is also why even more spoting clays shooters shoot "gun down" as it is afterall a game designed to approximate hunting conditions... I am primarily a hunter and shoot all games gun down... For me the practice comes before the score.
The benefit of a pre-mounted gun is that you don't risk missing the shot due to a poor mount. The draw back of a pre-mounted gun is that it focuses your eyes down the barrel and reduces your field of vision. Low gun allows you to have more flexibility in your barrel and eye hold. You see the target sooner and yet have your barrel nearer your break point. Another variation is the gun in your shoulder but with your head off the stock looking for the target to emerge. Try them all and see which one works best for you. Learn them all because they can all come in handy at some point.
Agreed, and good points. I prefer to have an unobstructed view of the target as it presents and then move mount and shoot. The gun is down but not too far down.
Out of the 15 or so regular skeets shooters at our club, about 12 of us shoot low gun. A few of the older gentlemen and newer shooters shoot premounted. I found when shooting premounted that I was always chasing the bird once I picked it up. With low gun I pick it up faster and can get out in front of it easier. I am a little slow and usually don't break station 4 birds until they are past the stake. But still fast enough to break the birds on station 1, 7 and 8 before the stake even with a low gun. As I do this mainly for fun running 25 straight doesn't happen too often, but I am happy with 22-24 most of the time.
I shoot in the same club as Maynard. I'm a low gun shooter and I break most before the stake. Pre mounted gun for me is a waste of shells. Shooting low gun I can use my ou or sxs or semis or pumps equally well. My guns fit and I've shot enough to know how my guns come up. Whether its a 30" barrelled sxs or a dual pistol gripped mossberg with a 27" overall length I break targets low gun. I've shot enough 50 straights to know it works. The regular guys I shoot with mostly shoot low gun except for 1 shooter who is over 80 and a few new shooters. I shoot trap skeet 5 stand sporting and international skeet as well as bird hunt all low gun. Shotgunning is about fit and feel not about preconceived notions of pre mounted or low gun
To the op. A rear sighted bolt action may not be the best suited for trap but it can work if you practice enough. No matter what anyone tells you a shotgun is a tube that directs a group of shot toward a target. The rest is cosmetic. However a gun that fits and feels right allows you to direct that group of shot more accurately and consistently without absorbing as much felt recoil. Ask around and I'm sure most shooters will let you pick up and try their guns. Best of luck and happy shooting
To the op. A rear sighted bolt action may not be the best suited for trap but it can work if you practice enough. No matter what anyone tells you a shotgun is a tube that directs a group of shot toward a target. The rest is cosmetic. However a gun that fits and feels right allows you to direct that group of shot more accurately and consistently without absorbing as much felt recoil. Ask around and I'm sure most shooters will let you pick up and try their guns. Best of luck and happy shooting
