Longer range targets

[redcloud]

Although I have a background in shooting sports I've only been shooting clays since mid December and only got my own gun a month ago so all this moving target thing is pretty new to me. I have been shooting once a week at my local sporting ground and hitting 32-33's consistently since I got my own gun, so very happy with my progress so far. The targets I struggle with most are the longer range ones (doesn't seem to matter which direction they're going), can any of our more advanced shooters offer any advice on practice for the longer targets? 

I know I'm new to this and have much to learn and good practice goes a long way so having an idea what the best practice methods are will hopefully stop any guesswork. I'm looking to get to a skeet range with a coach when we can both sort a day around work commitments but until then I'm kinda on my own.

Just for info I'm shooting Fiocchi top 1, 67mm 28g 7 1/2 cartridges and am happy with the gun fit (I had good advice when buying and took time to get the right fit). Gun is a Browning 525 sporter with 30" barrels, choked 1/2 and 3/4 (I think that was what is fitted as standard) although I don't know enough and am not talented enough to be messing with chokes so have just shot with what was fitted from the shop. 

Thanks in advance

Dave

 

[Will Hewland]

The further away and the faster it is, the further you need to be ahead of it. A background in rifles is a real handicap, as you will need to get your head happy with shooting a piece of empty sky which will eventually contain the clay, once your shot has arrived. It's standard beginner stuff to under lead. You can't coach on a forum, but if practicing, start 'stupidly far' ahead of the clay and work backwards. You will need to be moving away from the clay when you shoot. Take care not to judge the gap (lead) and then stop and fire. Think of it as a racket sport; keep the swing going.

As a rough guide, on a medium speed crossing target, I see about a foot of lead for every 10 yards away that the clay is. So 30 yards away, 3 feet of lead. But watch to see if the clay is not directly crossing you (quartering as it is known) as this will reduce the perceived lead of course. And lastly, very few clays fly in a straight line. Gravity takes them in a loop, so err on the side of low.

You can't teach on a forum, but that's a starting point if you are practicing alone.

 

[chippy]

if you can find a ground that will let you do it.a good way is to start close to a crossing clay, shoot so your hitting it 10 out of 10 then move back 10 yards and try again.

 

[redcloud]

Thanks Clever I'll keep those tips in mind.

chippy I'm not so sure the club will be able to let me do that but might be worth an ask at least. 

Think I'll just carry on until I can get to the skeet range with the coach and take it from there.

 

[Peteri]

I can only echo coaching - proper coaching, not 'try a bit more lead' style!

I've had some sessions with Ed Solomons (other coaches are available) and the improvement was well worth the money, I come from a target shooting background too - and it's a bloody liability, I have to approach some targets in a different way to stop triggering 'aiming' behaviour.

Without a coach the amount of lead needed for (say) a 40 yard crosser will just feel insane, but it does depend on your chosen discipline, if you're going to concentrate on DTL for example it'll be less of a problem.

Skeet is a great way to understand lead, since the lead will effectively never change - but the perceived lead will considerably, and that (for me at least) is a bit of a mind trip

Enjoy!

Pete

 

[AW13]

reading the above I think i have been way under estimating the lead for some of mine...

 

[ehb102]

Don't worry about the gun. Mine is a 425 with quarter chokes and on Friday it broke clay at 55 yards using 21g cartridges. Just a shame it wasn't me holding it.

Coach says if you can do everything inside 40 yards you'll be A class so don't worry about long birds right now.

 

[Docterduck]

Establish a point beyond your comfort zone and when you are confident there back up further.