margun Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Hi all, My shooting has been awful this season. I've averaged about 1 bird per 20 cartridges, whereas I normally average 1 in 3. No idea what's going on, but I'm getting so frustrated!!!! I used to find my shooting improved after a rest of a couple of weeks or so, however this hasn't happened this year. To make matters worse, I went out on the clays for a lesson in September, as I noticed that my pigeon shooting over the summer was not up to scratch, but hit 85% and the instructor said "what's wrong with that then?" Has anyone else had their shooting go downhill for no apparant reason? Think I might hang the guns up for 6 months. Thanks, margun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Yep, had a day on swathed rape, shot first four birds with single barrel kills and then went over 70, yes seventy, shots without hitting a feather. I took time out, drank a litre of cold water and gave myself a talking to and concentrated on getting the sight picture right and keeping my cheek firmly on the stock, ended with nearly 40 birds Remember that clays aren`t like incoming woodpigeon, as the clay is slowing and a pigeon will be on level flight and slowing slightly or if you miss it first barrel it will be motoring. I try to miss in front if I have a few misses as well as concentrating on keeping my cheek on the stock and thats what works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakin stevens Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Same as henry d says, settle down and think about what you are doing, ive even took one cartridge out the gun till im back on track with one shot, everybody has bad spells, but i dont let the good spells go to my head and start taking silly shots either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 As well as the other things mentioned, I find that dry mounting the gun in the house, at a spot on the wall or a 'favorite' potograph, allows you to relax about stock position etc - after practice it comes up much better (said the vicar). Make sure your sighting stays dead-on as you swing at an imaginary target. Its then just a matter of varying your lead until you connect again and remember the sight picture as mentioned above. I bet you are visually trying to sight at each target to ensure your lead is right, dont is my advice. Get the 1/8 " of rib showing every time you mount the gun and practice the swing from a stable base, keeping a steady smooth swing initially . Its confidence thing too so go for your favourite gun and favourite cartridges and start with some confidence building shots. It always comes back, stop worrying too !!! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Get yourself down to your local clay ground and have a couple of lessons, a good coach will soon spot the problem and have you sorted in an hour. I find the more I think about it the worse I get, these days I just relax and shoot. I find a fast swing very helpful on a crossing/driven shot. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustem Dave Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Get your instructer to check your eye dominance it could have changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 I find that dry mounting the gun in the house, at a spot on the wall I call my wife "the gun" as well. Must try the wall trick. :whistling: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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