UKJay Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 I have been shooting a few months now and am settling into the targets but I have developed two bogey targets that I cannot get my head around: 1. Rabbits - HATE them - I can't get into the speed of them and always shoot behind 2. Away pairs - again, seem dead easy but miss them 99% of the time, mainly due to not being able to move the gun to suit the close pairs Any suggestions? I can nail most of the others because I understand lead and can calculate it on the others. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillmouse Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 Yup, get your head sorted. It's a clay, it goes from A to B and if you put the shot in the right place you WILL break it. Same as all the rest. A good coach will teach you the techniques but you must not think of them as bogey birds, simply ones you have yet to master. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry31 Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 Good advice it is a mind game to be sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevorevans Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 How do you shoot? I had the same type of issues when I first started a couple of months ago and was following a mates technique who shoots 'gun up', I watched an instructional DVD, strangely enough lent to me by the same friend that showed to shoot 'gun down', I now shoot like this and it seems better/more natural for me as I'm pointing the gun where I'm looking instead of looking where I'm pointing the gun if that makes sense. Only suggesting this as you mentioned about moving the gun to suit the target. And yes it is a mind game and the more frustrated you get the worse you shoot and then you end up walking to the stand expecting to miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 Are you sure you're behind the rabbits? It can sometimes look that way, but a lot of people miss in front. They generally don't need much lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 I have been shooting a few months now and am settling into the targets but I have developed two bogey targets that I cannot get my head around: 1. Rabbits - HATE them - I can't get into the speed of them and always shoot behind 2. Away pairs - again, seem dead easy but miss them 99% of the time, mainly due to not being able to move the gun to suit the close pairs Any suggestions? I can nail most of the others because I understand lead and can calculate it on the others. Jay I would say with the rabbit you already know the answer , if you struggle with the speed and are shooting behind swing faster or try maintained lead , with the rabbit you need to keep the barrel low so you can see it easy and your not blocking it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 Rabbits used to my downfall but not so now, I was stopping the gun before pulling the trigger nice and smooth and they break the ski jump ones are best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
100milesaway Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) As Paulos says, Rabbits in general are slowed down by the ground contact, when your shot hits the deck and the rabbit floats on unscathed the dust makes you think you are behind making you increase your lead even more.I would say less lead and watch the clay not your barrels. Also go for the bottom of the clay, as the debris can often get you a kill. from Auntie. Edited July 28, 2012 by 100milesaway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillmouse Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Ooooh Auntie !!!! Trick shots and shenanigans to get a kill, Ooops, sorry "break" don't want the Politically Corect Police on my case. You are correct though. Shoot its front feet off and definitely a target where maintained lead/spot shooting seems to work well for the majority. I find it is a target best shot with the minumum of tracking due to its tendency to bounce, skip and generally take evasive action. On it, shoot it. Especially when it turns in to a Bolting Kangaroo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canthitathing Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Go on youtube and search clay coach online. There are loads of videos by Chris Barha, who has a nice way of explaining the methods required to hit targets. There is a 3 minute video on rabbits that worked perfectly for me, and there are loads of others that may just help you approach the problem from another angle. What Paulos and Auntie have said is exactly what I used to do, which now isn't an issue, although I still tend to overlead stuff if the brain isn't in gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKJay Posted July 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Thanks for all the tips everyone, especially the YouTube videos :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Tuesday is practice nite Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKJay Posted July 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Where? Am probably going to Yeadon on Tuesday :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted July 30, 2012 Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 As others have said regarding rabbits I would be amazed if you are actually behind. Reduced, controlled gun movement is usualkly the key, and for most presentations start off shooting at the bottom edge if you are missing, if you still miss move to bottom front edge, if you miss again bottom back. Only then start opening the lead up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted July 30, 2012 Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 rabbits are slowest clays,decelerating the most.....who says you are missing behind?If that is your thought due to dirt/dust kicking up I would think you are wrong.Alot of rabbits need next to no lead at all....only when distance involved ie 3o yard + rabbits is need usually needed or perceived.I often tell folk to shoot the back edge....rabbits are easy targets,it is just most people think they are difficult which is self-fulfilling! Tell yourself you love rabbits and just shoot them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 I've missed in front ten times for every time I've missed behind. Very annoying and easy to do when you don't read the target right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delbert Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 I think the shot that gave me the most problems was a rare one of shooting down into a valley at a low R2L crosser there is something so foreign shooting downwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 I think the shot that gave me the most problems was a rare one of shooting down into a valley at a low R2L crosser there is something so foreign shooting downwards. Incomer that hits a bank 3' below the stand is tricky it comes straight from the other side of the a lake and it' report pair does the revrse both quarter slightly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 I have been shooting a few months now and am settling into the targets but I have developed two bogey targets that I cannot get my head around: 1. Rabbits - HATE them - I can't get into the speed of them and always shoot behind 2. Away pairs - again, seem dead easy but miss them 99% of the time, mainly due to not being able to move the gun to suit the close pairs Any suggestions? I can nail most of the others because I understand lead and can calculate it on the others. Jay You have to apply your "understanding of lead" to these targets. Look upon a rabbit as a low crosser/quatering target depnding how it is set up, and the going away pairs? maybe your stance is wrong if you are having trouble moving the gun. The only real way would be to spend some time with a coach, no one can really tell you how to correct what you are doing without seeing you shoot the target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 I think the shot that gave me the most problems was a rare one of shooting down into a valley at a low R2L crosser there is something so foreign shooting downwards. There's a fast one of those at Ian Coley's and I hate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) I have been shooting a few months now and am settling into the targets but I have developed two bogey targets that I cannot get my head around: 1. Rabbits - HATE them - I can't get into the speed of them and always shoot behind 2. Away pairs - again, seem dead easy but miss them 99% of the time, mainly due to not being able to move the gun to suit the close pairs Any suggestions? I can nail most of the others because I understand lead and can calculate it on the others. Jay As others have said you're in front with rabbits, the solution rests with adapting your technique. Away pairs, pre mount the gun or very nearly so, give the first one 1/4 choke and the second bird 3/4 , hold point is absolutely critical, you need to be just behind where they're in clear focus, not blurs, being a tiny bit too far in front while addressing is why many miss these as they keep missing in front learn not to lift your head (cause of many misses), don't hold gun too tightly, don't tense up, neither needs massive amounts of gun movement or lead, recoil management is key for straights. Recoil management means being aware that the recoil will unsettle your eye down the rib sight picture more than you think, so a rapid second shot can be way off target so make sure you're aware/compensate or better still re-mount for the second bird. Edited August 2, 2012 by Hamster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beeredup Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 you might also want to move your hold point further away from the trap when shooting rabbits i know this helped me a lot and i now approach a stand with a rabbit with confidence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 you might also want to move your hold point further away from the trap when shooting rabbits i know this helped me a lot and i now approach a stand with a rabbit with confidence Another interesting fact is that rabbits are the only stand where holding too far below the line of flight is rarely if ever a hinderance, quite the reverse in fact. John Bidwell was the first to advise this and I have to agree it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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