I Stink At Skeet... HELP!

[Dirty Dawg]

Ok, I'll admit, I haven't shot skeet in years and years. In fact I probably wasn't shaving last time I shot a round. Back then, I think I was intimidated by the "Old Guys" that ruled the roost so I'd slink off and shoot trap instead. Well, time flies.

Next thing you know it's today and I'm an "Old Guy" out at the range with my 12 year-old son who decides he's wants to shoot skeet instead of our usual trap. Ok, I sez, let's give it a go. Needless to say, after two rounds, I was about as flustered as I could be with a high of 13.

Now that I've confessed my sins and bared my sorry shooting soul, I'm hoping some you 100%ers can give me a pointer or two to set me straight.

For the record, I was shooting a 20 ga. Weatherby Orion (SKB) with improved and modified chokes. I left the skeet choke at home cuz I NEVER shoot skeet! :banghead: My ammo was Winchester XPERT, 2 3/4, 3/4 oz., 7. I nearly picked up 1 oz, 8 but I expect to spend a day or two more at my dove lease and decided to go with the lighter load.

So, what can you tell me that I don't already know???

 

[Floppy_D]

Skeet, I get worse scores than you do with a 12g and a skeet choke. I run 'em at trap most of the time. I imagine practicing would make perfect, but I don't really practice it. I'm okay to suck alongside you.

 

[cliffy]

Practice vs Procrastination

A shotgun is merely a tool to do a job. You must do your part. When I fired five hundred rounds a weekend, I was quite decent. Now-a-days I care more about my rifle shooting, so my skeet/trap skills flew away and whole birds hit the ground causing a blush my cheeks. cliffy

 

[Ringtail]

I started shooting skeet about a year ago. I'm using a 12 ga. Miroku o/u bored skeet over skeet fixed chokes. I havent shot 25 straight but I am shooting in the 20s now. The old timers at the range I go to have been very helpful and have provided some good coaching and I will pass on what they've told me. Use smaller shot, 8s or 9s have a higher pellet count per oz. than do 7.5s so your pattern is denser - more shot flying around = more hits. the birds at stations 3 & 5 need about 3 feet of lead and the station 4 birds need about 4'. I found I was stopping my swing and raising my head - and missing. When I keep my head down on the stock and keep the gun moving the birds break. One old timer was more to the point when he told me if I wanted to imporve my score I should'nt miss so much. Good Luck with your game, it can become addictive.

 

[Virginian]

I was high league average and had the most straights - about 46 years ago.
I think last time I shot real skeet I went 19 and 23. Took me a little bit to relax, keep my head down, and lead the stupid thing, and follow thru. Skeet choke does make it a bit easier. Relax. It's not like clay pigeons are endangered.

 

[Yo Mama]

Get a pal and a thrower.

Also, wait till you go bird hunting the first time, thinking you got ok at skeet and would think you would hit a bird. A few boxes of shells later you'll get one!

 

[GeezerwithGuns]

Open chokes, small shot, and proper gun fit are important, but most of what skeet is about is technique and consistency.....Like a golf swing. The more you do it the better you get. Eliminating variables is what it is all about and the most variability is in the shooter's form and technique.

I started shooting skeet about three years ago and although I regularly shoot between 21 and 23, I've still not shot a perfect round (). I have a standard mental checklist that I try to go over when I step into each box. It makes me use the same stance, body position and gun mount - at least as much as possible.

You also have to decide what aiming technique you use. Either you are a "swing through" or a "sustained lead" shooter. Either technique provides the brain (with practice, of course) the correct instant to pull the trigger. Pick the most comfortable (for you) and stick with it. I use the swing through method and start moving my gun as soon as I call for a bird.

With all of this said, there are two basic errors that usually make me miss a shot: Taking my cheek off the stock and "becoming a spectator" or "chasing the bird" where I hesitate and don't take the shot my brain has just told me to take. Most of the misses I make myself and see others make are behind the bird. Lead on crossing shots is almost always greater than you think.

The game should be easier, since the birds always are thrown in the same place right? Yeah right...........

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think you touched on some important points. I'm sure I was lifting my head, not following through and not firing smoothly. It's also clear that I wasn't leading enough as I was very accurate on either end but woeful in the middle. I also had a lot of trouble getting into a comfortable shooting position in the middle as well. Seemed like I was turning too far one way or the other so I guess my feet weren't placed right.

I'm definitely a swing through shooter but I think I was not swinging through the shot and not leading enough.

Any other suggestions?

 

[single stack]

Most shooters find the targets at the end stations easier.
If bird shooting is more important to you than skeet shooting,
stay with your swing through style.
At the middle stations swing through works but you must see
enough daylight to have enough lead. If you pull the trigger
at the moment that you pass the target your shot will be behind.
Remember that the middle stations need a truckload of lead
compared to the end stations. Sustained lead shooters percieve
3 to 4 feet of lead in the middle.

People that are comfortable at trap will need a little time to become
accustomed to skeet. Skeet shooters will also have trouble making the
transition to trap.
A shooter would be very fortunate to belong to a club that offers
as many shotgun disciplines as possible.

SS

 

[Subsonic]

Invest $50 and buy Todd Benders' "Winning with the fundamentals in Skeet" and watch it about 100 times and then watch it again.

Shoot safe, John

 

[Snarlingiron]

Subsonic nailed it. I also got some additional and very valuable help from
"Successful Shotgunning: How to Build Skill in the Field and Take More Birds in Competition" by Peter Blakely.

I started shooting skeet last December, and am now shooting consistently in the 20's. Still looking for that elusive 25 though.

One of the most helpful things I have done is to book a skeet field alone, and shoot 75 or 100 rounds at only one or two stations until you get it "dialed in".

Have fun.