Boofy999 Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Hi guys, I've been lucky enough to have some really good shooting over the past few weeks and I've been putting a good few pigeons on the ground at the 30-50 yard range! I do however have a problem I'm missing what I would deem to be really easy "killable" birds, ones coming really close and others flying straight at the hide. On one occasion a bird flew directly over my head going away from me and as I fired I watched the wad hit the bird up the bum but no shot found the mark and the bird flew off none the worse for wear! What's going wrong??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 More lead if your hitting them up the behind , possibly stopping the gun rather than swinging through as the bird comes by Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boofy999 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 When you say lead, if the birds coming or going directly at me or away do I go above or below the bird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 (edited) By lead I mean the distance in front of the bird ... If it's flying over your head as you discribed you give lead in front at the same speed as the bird , but also important to keep your gun swinging.. Some people don't see lead they just shoot instinctively Edited July 21, 2015 by fruity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Hi guys, I've been lucky enough to have some really good shooting over the past few weeks and I've been putting a good few pigeons on the ground at the 30-50 yard range! I do however have a problem I'm missing what I would deem to be really easy "killable" birds, ones coming really close and others flying straight at the hide. On one occasion a bird flew directly over my head going away from me and as I fired I watched the wad hit the bird up the bum but no shot found the mark and the bird flew off none the worse for wear! What's going wrong??? Where are you based? There is a Pigeon shooting course on September 5th at Wrexham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boofy999 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 I'm based in Somerset. I understand the concept of lead for a crossing bird but when they are flying straight into your face at eye level or directly away from you, you can't shoot in front of the bird, can you? ....... Am I being daft? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 A common problem. It's simply down to complacency , you see them coming a mile off normally , they head straight to you , easy you think , up goes the gun , you point straight at it and pull the trigger. What you forget is despite being so easy it's still moving so you miss , you are simply subconsciously forgetting to give the correct lead , get the gun moving ! I'm based in Somerset.I understand the concept of lead for a crossing bird but when they are flying straight into your face at eye level or directly away from you, you can't shoot in front of the bird, can you? ....... Am I being daft? Even a bird coming straight at you is likely to be either rising or dropping . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boofy999 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 What about the one where the wad hit the bird? Was I above or below it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 What about the one where the wad hit the bird? Was I above or below it? Have you got bionic eyes? One problem may be that the birds are too close when you pull the trigger. The pellet pattern is actually quite condensed at up to 15m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 As JDog says the spread is very tight close in even with open chokes . I do not know if it helps but I shoot the wing out on a bird close in to preserve the breast meat but you still have to determine if the bird is falling or rising to give a fraction of lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 What about the one where the wad hit the bird? Was I above or below it? Wads do not fly very straight so it could have been anywhere but I would guess you shot over the top of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boofy999 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 (edited) Ha! I do have quite good eyesight actually. What I thought was that I was underneath the bird so shooting low. When the shot is dispersed from the wad it begins travelling faster than the wad itself.... Correct? So when the wad hit the bird up the bum the shot was obviously already past the bird. My question was do you guys think I went above or below the bird as the wad and the shot obviously go in the same direction? This forum is fantastic, when I talk to none shooters they just look at me like I'm mental and boring! They don't understand the excitement! Edited July 21, 2015 by Boofy999 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Ha! I do have quite good eyesight actually. What I thought was that I was underneath the bird so shooting low. When the shot is dispersed from the wad it begins travelling faster than the wad itself.... Correct? So when the wad hit the bird up the bum the shot was obviously already past the bird. My question was do you guys think I went above or below the bird as the wad and the shot obviously go in the same direction? This forum is fantastic, when I talk to none shooters they just look at me like I'm mental and boring! They don't understand the excitement! Be careful with your posts then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 What The ALL are Trying to say is,,, None are EASY, still have to lead The Bird. And more Importantly READ the SHot before you take it, instinct shooting, up and Bang,, As said is it dropping or Climbing or level, as you would on the clay ground.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Ha! I do have quite good eyesight actually. What I thought was that I was underneath the bird so shooting low. When the shot is dispersed from the wad it begins travelling faster than the wad itself.... Correct? So when the wad hit the bird up the bum the shot was obviously already past the bird. My question was do you guys think I went above or below the bird as the wad and the shot obviously go in the same direction? This forum is fantastic, when I talk to none shooters they just look at me like I'm mental and boring! They don't understand the excitement! If the bird is coming from behind directly overhead you need to be swinging through under the bird, so your angle is in front , if you are shooting straight at it as it comes over your head and out in front then chances are you will miss over the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boofy999 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Be careful with your posts then. What did I post that was out of line? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 What did I post that was out of line? Nothing. It was my attempt at humour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boofy999 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Ah ok I thought I'd caused offence! The field I'm shooting on is standing barley I'm hoping to get out on it once it's cut, its quite a big field do you think I'd benefit from a bale hide in the middle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redditch Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 If it's coming at you, blot out the birds head with the barrel and pull the trigger, it will fly into the shot. If it's going away from you, put the bird on top of the barrel and pull the trigger, again, it will fly into the shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boofy999 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 If it's coming at you, blot out the birds head with the barrel and pull the trigger, it will fly into the shot. If it's going away from you, put the bird on top of the barrel and pull the trigger, again, it will fly into the shot Thanks that's brilliant info! I'll try that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dad Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 im with fenboy over the top. i have shot a lot like that you must shoot underneath and the wad would be under too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 apparently the easy ones are not always so easy, happens to us all speeds are different, spread is less and angles more acute. I fell about in fits of laughter last season as me and a mate let 3 shots a piece go at an easy widgeon, yet I think we finished on about the usual 33-50% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 have a bash at your local clay ground going away and incomers just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireSam Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Remember that all pigeons in flight are moving and rarely fly straight down your barrel, so always need some swing/lead. Recently I missed what looked an easy pigeon as it that looked stationary, fluttering above the decoys as I just pointed the gun and fired....and missed. You need to observe the movement then swing the gun accordingly. On skeet I have been routinely missing the first bird (high trap overhead). Looks an easy shot but I routinely stop my swing once I pass through the bird as appears to be little movement.....and keep missing. Best thing you can do is identify shots you struggle with and practice on clays. I had 40 shots on the skeet first stand the other week...scary how long it took me to hit them consistently as I tried different methods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Remember that all pigeons in flight are moving and rarely fly straight down your barrel, so always need some swing/lead. Recently I missed what looked an easy pigeon as it that looked stationary, fluttering above the decoys as I just pointed the gun and fired....and missed. You need to observe the movement then swing the gun accordingly. On skeet I have been routinely missing the first bird (high trap overhead). Looks an easy shot but I routinely stop my swing once I pass through the bird as appears to be little movement.....and keep missing. Best thing you can do is identify shots you struggle with and practice on clays. I had 40 shots on the skeet first stand the other week...scary how long it took me to hit them consistently as I tried different methods. Really? I thought you would have had that one sorted a bit sooner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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