Funny old day!!

[Gunnut]

Only been out 6 times this year, owing too ill health and the distance I have to travel too my club permission, But has the weather report was fair, decided to go Monday for a couple of hours. Arrived at farm parked up where the farm machinery is kept, has I was unloading my gear, spotted 2 rats, got the Beretta out of it's case loaded up and managed to get 1 has it showed itself. Thought I would have a go at the corvids this time, been using FUD decoys without much success recently, they just don't look right when set out, or maybe it's just me. So tried my old flock covered ones instead, which seemed to work better for me, Managed too get 2 crows and 1 pigeon but not clean hits, some flying for quite a distance before coming down. Missed some easy shots and should have shot a lot more has the crows kept coming in too the decoys and I was using quarter choke so couldn't understand why.

I'm in my 70s now, the old reactions are not so good, I must admit, so I thought I would do a check for my dominant eye, just to make sure. Always been right eye dominant since I have been shooting since the age of 14, looked on the net, did the simple test and it now looks like I am left eye dominant, so is this the reason for the poor shooting, or could it be something else, has I seem to have lost the swing through and now seem to poke at the birds instead.

The advice on the net was either shoot from the other shoulder, which wouldn't be an option, has I shoot an auto, get some sort of gizmo to attach too the end of the barrel, so not sure what to do. I have a O/U I rarely use so I might try the left shoulder, but I have a feeling it's going to be a struggle.

The drillings have just gone in, so after some practice swings in the lounge at the weekend. I might give it another go next week sometime, from the left shoulder and see how it goes, watch this space.....

[oowee]

At least you made the effort and got out. Sounds to me like you may need to blow off the cobwebs and shake out the rust before doing anything drastic?

[HIDENSEEK]

Only been out 6 times this year, owing too ill health and the distance I have to travel too my club permission, But has the weather report was fair, decided to go Monday for a couple of hours. Arrived at farm parked up where the farm machinery is kept, has I was unloading my gear, spotted 2 rats, got the Beretta out of it's case loaded up and managed to get 1 has it showed itself. Thought I would have a go at the corvids this time, been using FUD decoys without much success recently, they just don't look right when set out, or maybe it's just me. So tried my old flock covered ones instead, which seemed to work better for me, Managed too get 2 crows and 1 pigeon but not clean hits, some flying for quite a distance before coming down. Missed some easy shots and should have shot a lot more has the crows kept coming in too the decoys and I was using quarter choke so couldn't understand why.

I'm in my 70s now, the old reactions are not so good, I must admit, so I thought I would do a check for my dominant eye, just to make sure. Always been right eye dominant since I have been shooting since the age of 14, looked on the net, did the simple test and it now looks like I am left eye dominant, so is this the reason for the poor shooting, or could it be something else, has I seem to have lost the swing through and now seem to poke at the birds instead.

The advice on the net was either shoot from the other shoulder, which wouldn't be an option, has I shoot an auto, get some sort of gizmo to attach too the end of the barrel, so not sure what to do. I have a O/U I rarely use so I might try the left shoulder, but I have a feeling it's going to be a struggle.

The drillings have just gone in, so after some practice swings in the lounge at the weekend. I might give it another go next week sometime, from the left shoulder and see how it goes, watch this space

Edited March 28, 2017 by HIDENSEEK

[HIDENSEEK]

 

Only been out 6 times this year, owing too ill health and the distance I have to travel too my club permission, But has the weather report was fair, decided to go Monday for a couple of hours. Arrived at farm parked up where the farm machinery is kept, has I was unloading my gear, spotted 2 rats, got the Beretta out of it's case loaded up and managed to get 1 has it showed itself. Thought I would have a go at the corvids this time, been using FUD decoys without much success recently, they just don't look right when set out, or maybe it's just me. So tried my old flock covered ones instead, which seemed to work better for me, Managed too get 2 crows and 1 pigeon but not clean hits, some flying for quite a distance before coming down. Missed some easy shots and should have shot a lot more has the crows kept coming in too the decoys and I was using quarter choke so couldn't understand why.

I'm in my 70s now, the old reactions are not so good, I must admit, so I thought I would do a check for my dominant eye, just to make sure. Always been right eye dominant since I have been shooting since the age of 14, looked on the net, did the simple test and it now looks like I am left eye dominant, so is this the reason for the poor shooting, or could it be something else, has I seem to have lost the swing through and now seem to poke at the birds instead.

The advice on the net was either shoot from the other shoulder, which wouldn't be an option, has I shoot an auto, get some sort of gizmo to attach too the end of the barrel, so not sure what to do. I have a O/U I rarely use so I might try the left shoulder, but I have a feeling it's going to be a struggle.

The drillings have just gone in, so after some practice swings in the lounge at the weekend. I might give it another go next week sometime, from the left shoulder and see how it goes, watch this space

 

Hi Gunnut. Have you tried closing your left eye? Might be an easy fix. Try on some clays first. Good Luck

[Old Boggy]

Hi Gunnut,

 

I shoot from my left shoulder and originally was left eye dominant. Over the years, my eye dominance changed from left to right and I too suffered a bout of poor shooting without realising the cause. Should have gone to a decent shooting coach immediately but didn't.

As I am quickly approaching my seven score years and ten and having shot LH for 60 years, like you, shooting from the other shoulder was not an option as it seemed too alien.

My solution as previously suggested is to close my right eye just prior to taking the shot. This seems to work for me any only being no more than an average shot, I am reasonably pleased with this method.

 

I hope that if you try it, it works for you.

Good luck,

OB

[oldypigeonpopper]

hello Gunnut , i am sure a young man who i sometimes shoot with has the same problem or might be able to help, he put a sticky pad on his shooting glasses and can see straight along barrel instead of ? give Andy a pm goes by name of Squished on here. cheers

Edited March 29, 2017 by oldypigeonpopper

[Wingman]

How about a round or two on on the clays to get back into it?

 

When I havent been out shooting live quarry I find that getting back onto the clays helps, as said to blow out the cobwebs.

[ShropshireSam]

I'm RH and left eye dominant. I close my left eye as I mount the gun. By doing this I judge distance with both eyes open but as look down the barrel I close the left eye ..... it soon becomes second nature and I'm not aware of doing it now. Best to have a go on some clays. Skeet is good practice as it gives you a range of angles.