Thread: Top tips for switching from rifle shooting to Shotgunning

Hi Guys

need some help

I have discovered I can hit the side of a barn with a shotgun, but hitting clays is proving a bit of a problem which means my chances of knocking a quail out of the sky are not looking good.

I have missed a shitload of clays yesterday and off to do another shoot tonight and hopefully receive a bit of instruction.

Just wondering what your top tips are for someone in my situation.

By the way I realise I am not going to fix this by the weekend but anything I can do before then would be good. Just hope the dog performs well and makes up for her useless Dad!

Cheers

Dino

Buy a mag extension?


Disclaimer: That hasn't help me....

Shoot with your eyes open... works for me

Rifles shooters when they get on a shotgun tend not to be that great at swinging the shotgun through the target, its all about timing of pulling the trigger at the right point in the swing from behind the target to in front of it, and make sure you keep swinging the gun after you've pulled the trigger, otherwise you'll end up shooting behind it.

I'm talking from experience here , if your shooting is poos on the day don't let your dog down by getting frustrated . Concentrate on the dog working , at least you can take that away from the day .
My tips for shotguning . Relax , cheek on the stock and swing in fluid motion . Also quails are quite often flying away from you . Blot bird out! as most often you will be under them . I think eebees said this pick out one bird . Also depending on the country don't be too caught up on the first flush , as they will probably flush all in one go . It's the second or third time is when the fun starts . So real important to watch where they go down . Get there quickly to stop them running , then slowly move in hopefully they flush in ones and twos . Also important to flush them away from heavy cover, pines ,and manuka . We hunt them quite a bit and it's rare for it all to come together .
Good luck to both you and your pooch .

Originally Posted by Wildman

Buy a mag extension?


Disclaimer: That hasn't help me....

Firstly I'm not a shotgunning expert or anything ....... I usually hit about half of what I pull the trigger on.

But I was always told to follow the bird from behind, wipe the feathers off the bird with your front sight, pull the trigger as you pass by and follow through.

Also give the swan and geese plenty of lead because they are going faster than they look.

Cheers
Pete

Bring the gun up to your head, don't drop your head to the gun. Practice in a mirror until you are bringing the gun up consistently. Swing fast. If you are right eye dominant then shoot both eyes open.

Thanks guys

Just got a wee bit of coaching and turns out I am left eye dominant so shooting with both eyes open was causing a problem.

After shutting left eye managed to shoot 50%, another lesson on Wednesday should help again.

Thanks for the tips, and I will certainly be having fun, about half as much as Max the pooch, she will friggin love it..cant wait.

Cheers

Dino

Practice and listening, went to Loaded, half way between Rotorua and Tauranga, the instructor had most on the board very quickly, even on guy who had never handled a gun before. If you sight your not doing it right, and as above swing thru?

The best thing I did for my shooting was to buy a clay pigeon thrower a slab of #7 and a box of clays. Start with them going away. Once you are getting them consistently then move around to the left so that the clays are going right to left. Move further around until they are crossing at 90 degrees. Then do the other side. Take a mate and shoot 10 clays at a time. Makes for a good afternoon.

Where abouts are u Dino?

Big part of it is where your feet are and how u shoulder it . It's not a rifle so you need to face openly to the target instead of side on.
Then point it, not aim like a rifle.

The secret I've found, still being absolutely hopeless with a shotgun, is to tag along with a good shooter and halve the booty.

I tried duck shooting once and never again, as much as I enjoyed it I could not hit a bloody thing and some poor possum up a tree wore a 3 inch shell of #4 steel out of frustration after it grunted at me on the way out it didn't do that again afterwards. Since then sold the shotgun and never thought of duck shooting again I can't hit moving targets for shit

Gadgetman you are on to it, first and last feed of duck I got was after I relief milked for a cockie who wanted to shoot opening day so I milked his cows while he went shooting and he sent me home with some cash in pocket and a couple of ducks to breast out.