Shooting AT clays

[Gnasher]

I had a problem on Sunday shooting an incoming low blaze. The type of target you need to shoot "at"
I know you had to shoot at it as my husband was breaking them and he is really good at breaking targets you have to shot at ie not a little bit to the right or left, no lead needed, just shoot at it and it breaks. However I couldn't break it. The obvious break point was about 20 yards out, it was dropping in and I thought park the clay just above my bead, that'll do it..... Nope......ok, drop down a bit more...... Nope..... Try and cover the clay a bit?....nope.......At this point I decided I had no idea where the lead was coming out of my gun in relation to the clay.........did I have to block it out to shot at it or, if I saw the clay on the bead would that be in the pattern?
I'm right eye dominant and right handed. Maybe I suddenly got a bit left eye dominant and should have shut an eye and rifled it (like what husband does)?
However, if I think about it the clays I'm good at need a moving gun or a bit of lead. I don't like crows or going aways....or incomers apparently. Is this because I don't actually know where the lead is going when I'm shooting?
I've never pattern plated my gun. Should I do this, where do I go, and what should I being doing to figure out where my gun shoots? (And does anything I've said make sense?)

 

[Will Hewland]

I could tell you where you were in 10 seconds if I saw you do this. Otherwise, lots of possibilities to guess at..

I guess that the most likely culprits are either eye dominance (so you shoot across your AT point) or shooting high, either due to gun fit or lifting your head.

 

[Jim Wheeler]

as Clever says, maybe lifting your head?,,, if you find out what it is , please share!, I hate 'going away' type trap shots,,(Mexican head shots up the @r5e!) you basically rifle shooting, and a clay needs 'lead',,,if I wanted to shoot dtl,,,,, I would,,,,but  I don't,,,

 

[Crocket81]

I had the same problem with an incoming target practicing the other day, I never normally struggle at all on them so thought I'd keep trying till I could consistently hit it, it turns out I wasn't watching the target 100% to see what it was doing and kept shooting down the side of it, I don't like tracking targets too long but it was such a slow target that I was almost getting bored waiting for it and not giving it 100% it deserved, once I'd worked out what the problem was it was wait for it mount the gun and shoot it just as easy as that!!! . remember "Read the target properly"

 

[DoubleBarrelledDon]

if you want to experience this a lot go and shoot in the states.... i really struggled with the slow targets.... resorting to back edge on some..... i would rather shoot 60 yard edge on crossers than super slow stuff.....

 

[FloodDefence]

Been having this same trouble of late. Fast crossers, distant loopers, battues no problems (straighted stand 9 on the blue course at the classic and felt it was the easiest stand I'd shot all day) but can't hit 'dustbin lid' type targets and some rabbits unless I close my left eye. I don't like rifling targets but it seems my only option at the moment. This has suddenly just happend out of the blue. Am currently working with an optician to find out what my options are but during a very thorough eye exam it appears that I'm right eye dominant at distance but left up close. Maybe a visit to the opticians is called for? Hope you get it sorted as I know how frustrating it is.

 

[westley]

There are all sorts of possiblities for this one, especially as has already been said, not seeing you shoot it.  As a quick fix you could try closing your left eye immediately prior to pulling the trigger (it may be a case of Hubby knows best). If that fails, you have at least eliminated the master eye switch theory. I would go back and practice on that target, if you know who the club Instructor is, smile nicely and ask him to "Just watch me shooting this one, will you" ? It could work wonders.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

uuuuurgh...i will pm 

 

[Finners]

I would go back and practice on that target, if you know who the club Instructor is, smile nicely and ask him to "Just watch me shooting this one, will you" ? It could work wonders.

+ 1

I have done this a few times at my local shoot. The owner is also a registered coach/instructor and is a very helpful guy. He's always happy to get people hitting more clays. Provided it doesn't turn into a full blown lesson I just offer to pay a few quid for the clays.

 

[Gnasher]

Thank you for all the replies. I would like to think I'm not lifting my head - it's not usually the type of mistake I make and my gun is a good fit.
My left eye coming into play on closer targets rings true - I've always closed an eye on really close rabbits to make me shoot at them.....Maybe I need to expand my definition of close....
What others have said above about slow targets is so true. Definitely my bogey target... The other target I couldn't find on Sunday was a slow crosser. I must have been in front?Maybe I need to go to USA!
Now I know what I need to consult Gebben about!

 

[Will Hewland]

Eye dominance will have a massively worse effect on a distant target. Approx 6 feet at 40 yards for fully wrong eye dominant.

 

[Gnasher]

I'm not wrong eye dominant! When checked it's always always strongly right eye..... But for close targets I'm not so sure. Or maybe, if I have to stare at a target for too long, my left eye wakes up and gets involved? I definitely have an issue with any targets you have some time on

 

[Aspire]

Are you sure it was coming directly at you? Not quartering in slightly?

 

[Gnasher]

Are you sure it was coming directly at you? Not quartering in slightly?

Pretty much straight at me. I'm pretty good at reading targets. I never get them this wrong. It should've be breaking with me shooting just underneath it - shooting its legs off. That's how my husband saw it and he had no issue with the target

 

[Shaun Hopkins]

Looking forward to the answers on this one Gnasher as its also my biggest problem and its not uncommon for me to almost blank these stands. Its so bloody annoying when everyone else finds them so easy :fie:

 

[Hamster]

Pretty much straight at me. I'm pretty good at reading targets. I never get them this wrong. It should've be breaking with me shooting just underneath it - shooting its legs off. That's how my husband saw it and he had no issue with the target

POI seems a logical area to investigate but that would cause you problems everywhere, if these were really coming straight in then misses have to be either high or low, my guess is they were dropping faster than you thought so you went high ? 

 

[westley]

And therein lays the problem,  we are ALL guessing My GUESS is that you are either over the top, under the bottom, down the left or off to the right.  Can I again suggest that you get someone who is ABLE to tell you WITHOUT guessing where you ARE missing that target. It would help if they were WITH you when you shoot at it though.   :fie:

 

[no.1topdog]

+1 To what WesTley said.

It's the only way. Any clay might appear to be stationary for a nanosecond, but by the time you have thought to shoot it, and your shot has arrived, it will have moved on.

If you cant hit it at that point, then just shoot it slightly earlier or slightly later when it is doing something recognisable. Shoot to your strengths, don't examine your weaknesses. Just because everyone else shoots it there doesn't make it right for you.

 

[dashman1]

Totally agree