Help skeet shooting...

[Lone_Gunman]

I need help skeet shooting.

I am shooting a 20 gauge Remington 1100 with an IC barrel, and was also shooting a friend's Benelli Ultra light which is also a 20 gauge with an IC barrell.

I can hit skeet about 90-95% of the time when they are launched straight away or at up to a 45 degree angle away from me. However, if they are launched directly across my line of sight, ie, perpendicular to the way I am facing, my percentage drops down to about 60%.

Any ideas where to start?

 

[mgkdrgn]

I need help skeet shooting.

I am shooting a 20 gauge Remington 1100 with an IC barrel, and was also shooting a friend's Benelli Ultra light which is also a 20 gauge with an IC barrell.

I can hit skeet about 90-95% of the time when they are launched straight away or at up to a 45 degree angle away from me. However, if they are launched directly across my line of sight, ie, perpendicular to the way I am facing, my percentage drops down to about 60%.

Any ideas where to start?

Same way you get to Carnige Hall ... practice, practice, practice. IMHO, those straight crosses are the hardest shots to hit. Proper follow through becomes mucho importante!

 

[SDC]

The leads take a big jump when you're perpendicular to the line of flight (it might seem as much as 5 feet); I would take a box of shells and shoot nothing but your problem station until you get the leads programmed into your swing.

 

[sm]

Score Better At Skeet - Fred Misseldine
Shotgunning: The Art & Science - Bob Brister

While these are older publications, I highly recommend these as they answer most questions folks ask in regard to shotguns and skeet.
Not only does Fred take each station and share how to hit, he also goes back to share why you miss, and how to correct.

Score Better At Trap, is the book for Trap Shooters by Misseldine.

Without seeing you shoot...

Gun fit. If the gun does not fit, one cannot shoot where one is looking.
If the LOP is too long, one can "bind" and not be able to swing the gun as they should.
etc.

Foot position, allowing you to pick up, follow , bust and follow through the bird.

Hold Position. again allowing one to pick up the bird - but NOT being beat by the bird or having to wait on the bird coming out of the house.

Move the body This ain't precision rifle shooting, this is get on it like you mean it!
MOVE! You got a whole body, by golly use it!
Swing it like you mean it, slap that trigger and keep on swinging!

Concentrate. Nothing exists except the most leading edge of that bird.

It is Evil, The IRS, Ex Spouse, Nosy Busy Body down the street ...
It is most awfullest , vilest creature in the universe and it needs KILLIN' !!

FUN Never forget to have fun.




Steve

 

[Virginian]

Skeet is a game, like Trap. Sounds like you are talking about shooting clay pigeons, period.
As noted, practice. On those crossers; keep your head down, keep swinging, and add more lead.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

add more lead.

What does that mean?

 

[cdrt]

When the birds are passing directly in front of you (station 4), you'll need to lead them by about 8 feet if you're shooting a standard skeet range setup. Sounds like a lot but that's what an old time skeet shooter told me and it works. You also need to follow through and not stop your swing when the shot breaks, or you'll shoot behind the bird every time.

The following is from http://www.skeetshootingtips.com/skeet-shooting-fundamentals.html

Leading Targets Fundamentals

Lead refers to the time compensation required in order to hit a moving target. The skill lies in anticipating how far ahead of the moving target to aim and shoot while tracking its trajectory. There are three ways to get your lead.

In a swing-through lead, you start with the bead behind the target, you overtake it and then fire as you swing through and out ahead of it.
In a pull-ahead lead, you start with the bead on the target, pull out in front of it, obtain your lead and fire.
In a sustained lead, you start ahead of the target to begin with, adjust your lead and fire.
Follow-through Fundamentals

Regardless of what lead style you develop, moving the gun to a point ahead of the target and stopping as you fire would probably mean a lost target. Your gun must be kept swinging smoothly and follow through after the trigger is pulled on every target. Follow-through contributes to good shooting fundamentals by maintaining your lead. Stopping the gun abruptly causes the shot to pattern behind the fleeing target.

 

[swampshooter]

Skeet

Lone gunman, if you miss shoot the same target again, but increase your lead by 1 foot. If you then hit repeat that target a few times to implant the sight picture in your mind. If you miss, increase the lead another 1 foot. A ballpark figure for skeet targets is Station 1-lead 1 foot, Station 2 - lead 2 feet, Station 3 - lead 3 Feet, Station4- lead 4 feet. then start decreasing Station 5-lead 3 feet, Station6-lead 2 feet, Station 7- lead 1 foot. At station 8 blot the target out with your barrel and pull the trigger. You'll hit it every time.

 

[distra]

Listen to SM, he will not steer you wrong. Crossing shots are that difficult (keep telling youself this because it really does help) watch the bird and only the bird, hold point is important 1/3 between house and center stake for me, follow through, follow through, follow through, don't stop the gun. The closer to the center stake you can break the target the easier it is. Once you get used to it, there is really not that much movement needed to break 3,4 & 5 crossing shoots. Good luck and keep practicing. Did I mention listen to SM??

 

[Jeff F]

Whenever I am shooting clays, I always think, Mother in law and I seem to break a lot more birds.

 

[single stack]

Virginian, your response is the most likely scenerio.
Lone Gunman is trying to shoot clay targets in a pasture.

He also asked "What is lead?"
The short answer is that the gun must "lead" the target (be pointed in front of the target).
The amount of lead is determined by experiance or proper instruction.

Lone Gunman is likely "rifle shooting" (putting the bead on the bird).
That's why the targets he hits are going directly away and crossers are missed.

Keep trying, there is a lot of fun to be had shooting clay targets anywhere you find them.

Go to a nearby gun club that offers skeet or trap target games.
Bring your gun and a couple boxes of cartridges.
The locals will be more than happy to help you better understand shotgunning.

The books previously mentioned, especially Misseldine on Skeet, are excellent.


Oscar Unicorn Tango


SS

 

[Milkmaster]

In addition to all that has been said so far and assuming your gun fits you well....

1. Pattern your gun to find out if it shoots high or low.

2. Make sure your eyes keep looking over the barrel! I had to work with my son until he understood this. His eyes would move to the left or right following the bird before his barrel would swing into position. He was missing quite a few until I could make him understand to keep his eyes looking straight over the barrel pointing at or ahead of the bird. Now he regularly hits above 20 in a trap round. More practice will get those last 5 for him eventually.

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Cuzzin]

Check your eye dominance - that will mess up your crossing shots. Also, open up your pattern a little with a skeet I choke or even Cylinder.

 

[Subsonic]

Get a copy of Todd Benders DVD, "Winning with the Fundamentals of Skeet", and watch it again, and again, and again, and again...............watch it until you get it!

Shoot safe, John

 

[chrisgo]

I was going to say the same thing Subsonic did....Watch Todd Benders DVD, it will help you more than anything.
I shoot all the subgauge skeet classes also, and as you drop down to the .410 it becomes very humbling compared to the larger gauges. If you are not dead on, there just is not much pattern to make up for mistakes.
Practice, practice, practice!!
c.g.