malamus Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 I'm having trouble shooting on target with a new shotgun. and like many people here, start coming up with ideas. I've searched the interweb, but nothing has come up. 1. If I could see where the shots went when I miss, I could compensate next time soloution, some kind of powdered paint in the cartridge that traces the shot 2. A scope, not a zoom like a rifle but a scope with the hair cross that allows plenty of vision 3. My fave. A laser sight. Not the silly red ones that create a dot, but one of those green lasers that are used for star pointing, you can clearly see the beam so know you've shot 1-2 foot ahead etc. I believe i'm left eye dominant (right handed & left footed) which is causing problems, what solutions have you come up with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveT Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 An easyhit fibre optic bead - look it up Or Check gun fit, you won't believe the difference this will make. Or Obscure vision on your left eye, if clay shooting put a small sticker on your left eye lens to obscure the vision a little, but ensure it's not too large that it effects your peripheral vision. Or wink your left eye when putting the gun to shoulder, this will switch your dominance briefly Or Partly whince your left eye when sighting up (but not too much that you look retarded! Or too much that it effects your peripheral). .................I'm also a left eye dominant right handed shooter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magus69 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Sorry mate but some more questions for you. Firstly you say new gun but you don't say whether you've ever shot shotgun before and how you did with a different gun. So have you shot before and how'd you get on?. To check eye dominance point at a distant object with right forefinger(if right handed) and close each eye in turn, your master eye (dominant eye) is the one that has the sight picture fixed and steady and does not jump across when you switch eyes. There are countless reasons any of which would consistently cause you to miss such as the fit of the gun,how you mount the gun,how you swing the gun,how you address the target,amount of lead,etc,etc,etc,. The best advice anyone can give you is to arrange a session with a qualified shooting instructor as no one can give you cures/remedies unless they can actually see the problem(s) for themselves. Mike.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 teach your self to close your left eye before taking the shot that is what i had to do when i first started out shooting ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHOOTANDFISH Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Partly whince your left eye when sighting up (but not too much that you look retarded! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malamus Posted March 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 only been shooting 6 months, I was using an old single shot. it took a bit of time to get used to but after a few weeks i was missing probably 1 out of 5 which i was very happy with, with this new gun however, my accruacy is so bad I could drop the gun and miss the ground! (same choke). my gun smith put forward a valid idea that because I was on a single shot, I took my time over the shot, rather than rushing on the new semi auto subconciously thinking ive 3 shots, that said It would realy be useful to tell wether im shooting above, below etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 (edited) one thing i didnt know existed (but they do, cos i had fun with them one dark night ) is shotgun tracer shells; they have a small amount of lead shot and a large flammable wadding (or something) which shows up well, would give you an idea of how youre shooting maybe?? as for scopes, quite alot of shotguns can have them fitted, either a specially made bracket with a weaver rail that fits over the receiver, or some guns have screws in the receiver that allow a rail to be attached. if you can fit one then look for whats called a reflex sight, get them on ebay, they have a small red dot that shows up on a screen - you find this mostly on semi's and pumps but ive seen a few russian o/u's with smallscopes fitted what type of semi have you got? forgot the obvious question (sorry if its been asked) but have you checked the gun fit yet? i had the same problem with my mossberg recently (could hit sweet fa) and put a laser shell in it, it was far lower than on my benelli so i needed the stock raised. Edited March 16, 2009 by babbyc1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 (edited) If you are not "seeing" where your shot is being placed, its because your technique involves too much swing. There are three variables in taking a shot. Speed Direction and lead. Using a correct technique means brining the gun up to the shooting line slowly under control - pointing the gun directly at the clay and moving briefly with it. Then add lead ie, the sight picture. Using this "method" ( CPSA Method, or Pull away) means that the first two variables are eliminated, and all you have to do is try more or less lead. If you are not seeing the sight picture and controlling lead, its usually because you are "smoke trailing" or moving the gun faster than the clay along the flight line. While this achieves a reasonable success rate early, because it depends on trigger timing and exact speed of swing being replicated, it can appear two shots are identical but one works and the next doesn't. Many people who are self taught learn this way and get to 50-60% but can't progress. Starting with the gun hold further out for a slower swing where the gun addresses the clay from the moment it hits the shoulder, and just adding controlled forward allowance will give you the control you are seeking. Slow down, use economy of movement, and controlled sight pictures - once you have mastered this technique, all others can be built on it as variables of pull away - but in every case the secret is in starting further out on the flight line and moving the gun at the same rate as the target, dont chase it from behind. If you are struggling to see your sight pictures, dont blame the equipment, get some good lessons from a good coach - money better sent than adding gizmos you probably don't need to the gun. Edited March 16, 2009 by clayman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malamus Posted March 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Babbyc1000, the gun is a franchi 612vs, how do I know if the gun fits correctly laser shell? and where do you get hold of shotgun tracer shells Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3xspringer Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Pm sent, give me a ring. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveT Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I have heard a lot about these laser shells, I too, am curious with this one. Any info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Babbyc1000, the gun is a franchi 612vs, how do I know if the gun fits correctly Cheers Book a lesson with a decent instructor or even just use a pattern plate first to check that the gun is actually shooting where you point it, that would eliminate doubt or concerns over eye dominance etc, then all you'd have to do was work on technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Ask any coach - tracer shells are a waste of money, they tell you what you know already , that you are missing. They do zilch to correct this, and they are expensive at £1-00 a shot. Don't waste any time or money on tracer shells, spend the money on lessons in sound technique. Get the CPSA publication the Clay Target Shooter's Handbook - under a tenner on EBay and the web, or £12-95 from CPSA. Has all th good written advice you need, and tells you what you will be taught by any competent coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llanshooter Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I've got the same problem with eye dominance (left eye, right handed), and am also relatively new to shooting. I tried a fibre optic bead - helped a bit I tried patches on my glasses - helped a bit, but a bit frustrating. as your vision is obscured when not actually aiming. Then I read about this trick in a letter to the shooting times. Basically, you position your left hand on the fore-end such that ,if you raise your thumb tip, it obscures the bead from your left eye. This way you keep binocular vision and the bead is always showing where the gun is pointing, (doesn't guarantee that he gun is aiming at the bird though). This works a treat for me and costs nothing. It just means that you have to think a little bit and practice until it becomes automatic. This is tha hard part as when the birds are coming fast and furious its a bit too easy to get excited and forget the tip. Try it though, it really works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaikalsRule90 Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) you are exactly the same as me... left eye, right handed left footed. just learn to shut your left eye, the first time i picked up a shotgun i realised instantly that my sight picture was going off to the left so i simply shut my left eye and the problem went away, granted the sight picture was wierd but your only supposed to see the rib in your periferal vision anyway. and now i track the bird with both eyes, raise the gun and shut my eye just before the rib reaches my eyeline and do all that without thinking about it and most importantly keep my concentration firmly on the target. Edited March 31, 2009 by BaikalsRule90 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy Bully Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I have the same problem, right handed but left eye dominance, I booked a couple of coaching lessons and on the first one I was told to try shooting off the left sholder, so after years of shooting right handed I now shoot left handed. It's acctually not as strange as you would expect and I'm certainly hitting more. EB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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