Catamong Posted April 8, 2007 Report Share Posted April 8, 2007 There's been some debate on other threads about this subject, but let's get things into perspective, having shot many times alongside the likes of messrs Faulds & Digweed, they will ALWAYS shoot gun up on the majority of Sporting targets. In fact, I don't know why anybody bothers to shoot gun down, as many birds are missed by a faulty mount, and if you can eliminate that potential source of error, you WILL shoot better. All that matters in Clay shooting is the number of kills you get on that card, don't forget, the scorers DON'T give points for style, so why handicap yourself..?? Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted April 8, 2007 Report Share Posted April 8, 2007 Totally agree, first time I shot with you, you mentioned this and since I have shot 99% of birds gun-up and my scores have improved. I still see, to my mind, some advantage (to me anyway) to shooting long crossers and rabbits gun-down. I end up waving the gun at crossers, so when I have plenty of time I wait and then pretty much "move mount shoot". Rabbits were never a problem for me, I used to kill them all, but at monday madness last year I blanked, I was shown a method for forcing me to keep the mussel down and it works for me. Quicker closer rabbits I pre-mount, as there is no advantage to be had. If there is one thing I have learned, as you say, why disadvantage yourself if you don't have to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted April 8, 2007 Report Share Posted April 8, 2007 The way i see it some people use clays as practice for rough/pigeon shooting and prefer gun down, whereas others shoot clays only, thus preferring gun up for the reasons mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted April 8, 2007 Report Share Posted April 8, 2007 Markio has a fair point on that one, but surely what it comes down to it, more than anything is that if you are comfortable with doing it one way or another then stick with it. Personally I alter as i have already stated depending on how confident I am at the time. Its no good trying to model yourself on George or Richard if you aren't comfortable doing it, likewise no good trying to emulate John Bidwell if you're not comfortable doing move, mount, shoot! Comes down to personal preference. No one way is better or worse than the other, but one may suit a particular type of bird more so than the other, as Pin said for a quick close rabbit he prefers gun up, but for longer crossers he finds the snap shooting or move, mount shoot technique to work. I have to say on that score we both agree. To much time looking at the bird causes me more problems than anything else. So reduce the time, call for it, close gun and then mount and shoot it. SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonsey Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 I shoot gun up most of the time. I have the gun in my pick up place and I look back for the clay then when the clay is level with my gun I put my head on the stock and fire. I'll only shoot gun down if the clay is a long slow crosser and it's likely I'll get tired with the gun pre-mounted. I do practice gun down though as I enjoy the odd FITASC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 I must say that I am not a competition clay shooter, I just use them for practiose and social reasons. My gun up, gun down approach varies, depending on the stand. For very quick (snap shooting) clays, I premount the gun, but for most sporting stands, I shoot gun down. I think most of it, is what you are use to. Although I don't premount my gun when shooting live quarry, I have seen other guns standing in narrow woodland rides, with a premounted gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 Personally I shoot gun down for everything, apart from DTL or very fast going away birds. This is another subject that we will never agree on or decide what is best, it is all personal preference. Just because Faulds or Digweed shoot gun up doesn't make it right or the best method likewise because John Bidwell shoots MMS or maintained lead that doesn't make that right either. I fell that gun up restricts movement and vision of the clay but if it works for you then use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 I fell that gun up restricts movement and vision of the clay but if it works for you then use it. Me too, but I shoot gun up at fast going away birds or rocketing teal types I don't have the gun down by my waist, just very slightly out of the shoulder and then 'move, mount, shoot' as the man says.. I don't think there is any one method that works for all birds, same goes for maintained lead etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter-peter Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 Personally I shoot gun down for everything, apart from DTL or very fast going away birds. This is another subject that we will never agree on or decide what is best, it is all personal preference. Just because Faulds or Digweed shoot gun up doesn't make it right or the best method likewise because John Bidwell shoots MMS or maintained lead that doesn't make that right either. I fell that gun up restricts movement and vision of the clay but if it works for you then use it. I shoot all stands including dtl gun down. if I shoot gun up i tend to tense up and track the birds too far on skeet I keep the but on my hip until i call pull, on dtl i call and start to mount gun. if shooting fast crossers i shoot gun down and demount after hitting first bird, this gives me a total new view on bird 2 if I shoot gun up I miss the bloody pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 I watched Digweed shot 4 stands at Greenfields Sunday morning and he wasn't practising the gun up method. BTW he smoked 40 LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Was that not FITASC he was shooting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 I have seen him and Faulds shoot at Horne/Caterham/Four Counties many times and they shot gun down. Maybe they only shoot gun up in the heat of real competiton? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted April 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 I have seen him and Faulds shoot at Horne/Caterham/Four Counties many times and they shot gun down.Maybe they only shoot gun up in the heat of real competiton? Well, all I can say is that I've shot off against these guys for money, and on every occasion, their cheeks were literally welded to their stock combs as they called "Pull"..!! Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Was that not FITASC he was shooting? I have no idea what FITASC is Pin B) People I have shot with will confirm that PIN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 LB, Dad says did he smoke 40 benson and hedges or roll ups. I swear we are not related. FM B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Brown Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Was that not FITASC he was shooting? I have no idea what FITASC is Pin People I have shot with will confirm that B) PIN sorry Charlie I wasn’t paying attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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