nicklowe Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 hey im 16 and just got my shotgun, but when i go out and call pigeons they come but i dont seem to be hitting them. im verry good with clays and rabbits and pheasents, can any one help , and solve my problem not being able to shoot the pigeon? thanks nic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apbuild Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Don't treat a pigeon in the same way as you would a clay. 1. Pigeon do not normally follow a straight, true path in the sky. 2. Maintained lead on a pigeon does not normally work. Think of Bum, Belly, Beak and then shoot.( That is, come from behind the bird and allow lead before shooting.) 3. Pigeon are easier to shoot if you are able to refrain from shooting until the appropriate moment. Wait for them to commit to the pattern. This way, They will give more time for you to shoot. Hope this helps. Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX Sniper Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 a pheasent say on average is going about 35mph and a pigeon 55mph so you might just need to give more lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicklowe Posted February 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 thanks for all youre help i will be sure to remember all these things when i go shoting sunday thankyou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 2. Maintained lead on a pigeon does not normally work. Think of Bum, Belly, Beak and then shoot.( That is, come from behind the bird and allow lead before shooting.) It isn't all about lead, if you are swinging the gun at the same speed as the pigeon is going then you don't need to give that much lead. It is also important that you keep on swinging as your squeezing the trigger and don't stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apbuild Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Ollie, My remark about maintained lead is a bit misleading, for which I apologise. The point I was trying to put forward, and this has happened to me, is that there is every chance that as you pull with the bird using maintained lead, the bird will jink, dive or even climb at the time of shooting, thus resulting in a miss. As I shoot a hell of a lot of clays and, blowing my own trumpet, am very good at it, it took me a while to alter my style of shooting to hit pigeons. I realised that my style of shooting maintained lead did not work as effectively as the pull through from behind style. I feel that I am slowly getting there though. Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicklowe Posted February 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 cheers for all youre advice it has really helpd, i went pigeon shooting on sunday and i shot 17 all together , well chuffed thanks again nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill billy Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 I don't know about you lot but i don't think about shooting the bird i just kind of do it naturally because i find if i think about it and calculate leed then i will miss but if i just raise the gun then do what feel right then it will normally come down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon-Boy Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 (edited) I agree with hill billy, the more you think about the more you are likely to miss. The times you knocked birds down, could you remember what you did.... NO! Otherwise you wouldnt be asking. The same for everyone, if we all knew what exactly to do we would never miss. Cos you did not think about it, maintained lead is ok for clay shooting because you know the rough speed and flight line, with a real target instinct shooting is best. If you can "snap shoot" you will find alot more birds in the back. Just spot the bird bring ya gun up and shoot, you'll be surprised what comes down! Jon Edited February 14, 2005 by Jon-Boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Its just a learning Curve Like all things, 'practice makes perfect' as variable and diverse as pigeons shooting certainly is..... over time you will formulate your own style that works for you. and recognise the different senarios from previous forays. Again theres no easy shortcuts. Apply the basic principles, and once you've executed a good shot, allow the brain to absorbe what its just seen, try and learn from the hits.....and indeed the misses, read and gauge the environment and your surroundings; 'try' to stay calm...(not always that easy I know) and in time your bags will start to increase. Paul in North Lincs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 If you do it a lot it comes naturally as they say. I find if i'm not thinking about it i'm dropping birds. After a bad spell a few years back when I couldn't hit a barn door at 20 yards I learnt the wisdom of increasing the lead as personally when I miss it is usually behind. Also I'm pointing the gun rather than swinging it. Another key thing is to think about the distance you are away from the target and adjust your lead accordingly. I hope you've got the hang of it by now, practice makes peerfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 It is also worth having a few sporting clay sessions. Whilst the clays may not accurately duplicate the varied flights of a pigeon, they do give you "follow through" practise and confidence. However, I always have problems with the battue clay (fast dropping), but I kill pigeons dropping into the decoys quite well. Just one of life's little mysteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Dont get too hung up on it nick, its like golf the more you practice the worse you get Ive been using a shotty for over 30 years and some days I could shoot the pants off Wyatt Erp, some days I would be better trying to bayonent the bloody things. If you dont get too good at it it makes it all the more enjoyable when you actually hit one. FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mallinson Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 I don't know about you lot but i don't think about shooting the bird i just kind of do it naturally because i find if i think about it and calculate leed then i will miss but if i just raise the gun then do what feel right then it will normally come down totaly agree, i find i end up concentrating that hard on the shot, by the time i've decided to pull the trigger the little ******* are either flying away or have seen me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted February 22, 2005 Report Share Posted February 22, 2005 hey im 16 and just got my shotgun, but when i go out and call pigeons they come but i dont seem to be hitting them. im verry good with clays and rabbits and pheasents, can any one help , and solve my problem not being able to shoot the pigeon? thanks nic I'm more intrigued to know how you "call" pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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