How to shoot this…

[PeeJay]

Can anyone advise me on the ‘best’ approach for the following please.

You’re stood in a grouse butt. The trap is to your right, about 3-4 metres away. It fires the clay out low and very fast, at an angle of about 20 degrees, moving across the front of the butt and to your left. Very fast and low.

Is there a good method for this type of shot. PA, ST, ML etc. Lead.

Apologies if this isn’t the right place to ask, but it’s frustrating not knowing what I should be doing.

 

[vmax1010]

Don't try to shoot it to quick and don't give it to much lead, my problem is I would lift my head slightly to see it and miss over the top

 

[SpanielLover]

just bring the gun to the clay and shoot, dont hesitate or overthink, just attack it smoothly

 

[PeeJay]

just bring the gun to the clay and shoot, dont hesitate or overthink, just attack it smoothly

While I appreciate that, it doesn’t give me much to work on when I’m missing.

 

[SpanielLover]

cant help there I'm not a coach sorry, but to my mind what you describe is a fairly shallow angle trap target, I'd line up on chosen break point, wind back to hold point, let the clay pass the gun, bring the gun to it and shoot. As you describe it's going away at a shallow angle, coming from behind it you likely wont see any lead, or very little at least..if i was missing I'd check hold point, or when I start to move, find what works and try to repeat it.

PS edit: when a trap is right beside you, it can give you the illusion of speed

 

[PeeJay]

cant help there I'm not a coach sorry, but to my mind what you describe is a fairly shallow angle trap target, I'd line up on chosen break point, wind back to hold point, let the clay pass the gun, bring the gun to it and shoot. As you describe it's going away at a shallow angle, coming from behind it you likely wont see any lead, or very little at least..if i was missing I'd check hold point, or when I start to move, find what works and try to repeat it.

PS edit: when a trap is right beside you, it can give you the illusion of speed

Thank you, much appreciated. I’ll be going soon (snow permitting) so I’ll give that a go.

 

[Freddypip]

Spaniel is correct.

Assuming I understand what you describe the clay is not traveling fast.

Ask yourself where it is at 25/30 yards - optimum for a 1/4 choke and then what movement there has been for the previous 10 yards or so. I would not be surprised if you see a slow quartering target which you can wait for, briefly follow and then shot consistently with minimal pull away.

It is all to easy to see a clay leave the trap 'fast' yet by the time it reaches the kill point (and once you are setup quickly hold point) it is 'slow'. If you look at the traps (or at the clay too early in the flight line) you will set off with too much gun movement which is very hard to control with consistency.