Tracking and sighting the clay

Good advice all. I watched a few competitions on YouTube and see that each person has their own style and pre shooting "ritual." It's interesting that pretty much to the man, they all go through the exact unique ritual unto themselves before and after they shoot.

I enjoy target shooting but agree that the dynamic aspect of the clay sports is great fun! That is when my brother and I had the most fun and laughs.
 
I have shot 1000s of clays the last 10 years. when I first started I could hit maybe one in a dozen. now I go over 90 percent. some days 48 or 49 out of 50. keep both eyes open. don't stop the swing. don't rush the shot. what I find works for me is both eyes open focus on the clay. but I am aware of where the bead is. it takes the bead some time to get up to and start following the target. I don't shoot till then. and yes the gun has to fit.
 
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prairie lover said:
I have shot 1000s of clays the last 10 years. when I first started I could hit maybe one in a dozen. now I go over 90 percent. some days 48 or 49 out of 500. keep both eyes open. don't stop the swing. don't rush the shot. what I find works for me is both eyes open focus on the clay. but I am aware of where the bead is. it takes the bead some time to get up to and start following the target. I don't shoot till then. and yes the gun has to fit.
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You mean out of 50? I am terrible and can usually go 40 out of 50 at skeet and 44 at trap,
 
Hovenator said:
A very newbie question I'm sure, but why even have a bead on the barrel then? If you have a purpose built trap gun or skeet gun why bother?
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Why indeed? I added an extra rib to my 3200 and never did install the beads. I can shoot it just fine. Some people need or want them, others take them off on purpose. In the clay shooting games its whatever works for the individual. Check out Shiek Saeed and his H & H double. Works for him.
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Brobee said:
I shoot a mix of pre-mounted gun-up and gun-down (why is whole other subject so I will save that for a different time). When I shoot gun-up, I make sure the gun is properly in the pocket of my shoulder, that my cheek is pressed properly onto the stock, and then I use my dominant eye to check proper alignment by looking down the rib at the bead. After that though, I have a conscious and very purposeful step just before I call for the bird where I force my eyes off the bead to focus on something way out there, then I move my eyes (BOTH of them, OPEN) to the point where I think I will first see the bird, but leaving the gun far enough ahead of this point that the bird will not get infront of the gun as I start my move.

After checking alignment, the bead is almost as much of a liability as it is an asset, for if my eyes come back to focus on the bead I will almost certainly miss.

Cheers, and good luck! I have never had as much fun with a gun as I do now that I've "discovered" sporting clays & skeet.

Brobee
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Once I have established my mount is correct and I have set the gun on my preferred hold point I focus my vision out front (for trap) to where the target turns from an orange streak to a solid identifiable object. I hold still, not moving after the streak but waiting for the solid target before starting my swing.
 
Shot best ever yesterday on Skeet. Maybe the wind helped but 18 for this novice is a world record. Usually 10 is good. Hope things are starting to click finally. Was afraid I'd spoil my day by trying again so went over and shot Trap which I find less demanding and managed a 21 which again was good for me. Awesome day. Even beat my buddy who usually kicks my butt pretty bad. He was having a bad day though. Really want to get better at Skeet so I can shoot 5 Stand at our other Club which I find super difficult.
 
Finally shot a 21 today on Skeet. I'm pumped. Took me a year and a half. Old guys take longer to learn. Loving my Beretta 686 Sporting. Even shot a 15 on 5 Stand last week. Another world record for me. Can you tell I'm stoked.
 
I broke my front bead off by accident a couple of years ago. I have never missed it. Mount the gun properly and the sights serve no useful purpose.
 
After reading this post I had to stop and think for a min what I do, It has been so many thousand targets over the years. I don't even think about it anymore. I just look at the target and the gun goes along for the ride.
 
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