O/U Shotgun Instruction LLC - Eric White Instructor

Gun Fit.
I can’t over emphasize the importance of ensuring that your gun fits you correctly. You can hit targets with a gun that fits poorly; you can also hit a golf ball well with kids clubs, but you will never be consistent. I had 2 students last week with newer guns, both were having trouble hitting targets. On one of the guns, I removed to the butt pad to shorten the length of pull (LOP) and I added my Famous “Burrito” to raise the comb. What am I looking for in gun fit? Your eye (iris) should sit on top of the rib like a marble sits on a table top. For LOP, your nose should be no more than 2 fingers from the knuckle of your thumb. The last, but not least, is a good gun mount and stance. Sometimes, your gun fits well, and all you need is an adjustment in your stance.
My students felt like they had a different gun after I made the adjustments. I could tell that there success was much better….They didn’t have to say a word, their big smiles told me so.

Seven years ago today I shot my last tournament in Kenya at the Limuru gun club. I was very surprised when I won the club overall yearly trophy for highest average in s***t, Trap and Sporting clays. I often think about the great times and people that I had the pleasure to shoot with and become good friends with in that short time. It really made my Kenya experience one that I often talk about and one that I will remember forever.

Struggling with trap targets? These targets are speeding away from the shooter, often with a curl to the left or right. The best break point is while the target is underpower or before the apex. Once the target starts to fall, gravity and the wind may change the trajectory. This can make it difficult to read the target line and most likely resulting in a compound lead (under and to the left or right)
Shot planning is critical for this target. Determine if its curling left, right or is straight away. For example, lets shoot a going away target with a slight right curl. Start your hold point slightly to the right of the trap and about half way to the target apex. I like to pre-mount (gun in shoulder and cheek on the comb) my gun for this target. When you call pull, be ready to start moving your barrel vertical and matching the target speed. As your barrel passes the target, take the shot. If you find that you’re behind the target adjust the hold point left or right; don’t be afraid to give these targets a lot of lead. Keep your barrel moving right through the target and let your subconscious determine when to take the shot.
This move is called an intercept. It requires a prefect gun mount, faith and timing. It easy to learn and I teach it to my intermittent and advanced level students. It brings big smiles when the student crushes these targets quickly and effortlessly.

I went out to twisted tree early last weekend to shoot and scout some potential targets for several classes I had that day. The targets get changed often, so I have to stay up with the course setters' new presentations. I usually start on 16 and shoot the course in reverse'; it's nice to have the sun at your back. When I finally got to station 8, I took a minute to enjoy this great view.

Oregon has a special hunt for Veterans this year it was today Feb 5. I hunted the Crooked River and did well on ducks and a bonus goose.

Clay targets verses Live birds and conscious verses the subconscious.
Clay targets are, for the most part, always slowing down; where live birds are accelerating. Clay targets offer the shooter time for pre-shot planning; birds take to the wing and can fly in any direction and speed. Birds offers shooters a unique challenge, but experienced hunters score very high in the field, but not as well on a sporting clay course.
Why? Shooting in the conscious verses the subconscious mind.
I often hear the term “instinctive shooting”. Webster defines instinct as natural; unlearned. I was not born with the ability to shoot clays, I had to learn it through years of practice and 10s of thousands of targets. Your eyes send the target (speed, distance and flight path) information to the brain. You have trained your brain (subconscious) to do a quick analysis and formulate a shot plan to hit this target; this is true for almost all sports. Through practice, your muscle memory allows you the prefect gun mount and swing.
Back to the hunter. The bird flushes, the hunter’s eyes find and track the bird while the gun swings and mounts toward the bird. With the mount complete and the gun swinging along the bird’s trajectory, the subconscious has computed the correct lead and the shot is taken. All of this happens very quickly.
It is the subconscious where all of your athletic abilities, both mental and physical, exist. When conscious thinking blocks access to the subconscious, this may negatively impact your athletic performance.
Clay target shooters have the opportunity to plan their shot or target pair, but to be successful they must visually acquire, move and mount with their subconscious. Successful hunters have the experience and confidence to stay in their subconscious during the shot.
I tell my students often “stop thinking” and explain to them how to stay in your subconscious while shooting. It takes a few targets, but once they feel it there is no turning back!

3 way practice! most people shoot a target in the sweet spot. For example, an incoming target will normally be shot at the peak of its flight path. Practice shooting that target also as a rising target and falling target. This becomes especially important during a true pair. Your only option might be to shoot the target as a rising or falling (for incomers and teal), quickly of later (for crossers and going away targets). To be successful on a pair, have a good shot plan and the ability to take either target in several places thus allowing you a good opportunity for a "dead pair".

South Dakota never disappoints!

I'll be off to South Dakota again Soon. Its been an almost annual trip for almost 22 years. I started going for the later hunt to focus on both archery White Tails and pheasants.

This hunt is the "father/son hunt" Many of the friends that I've been hunting with for years are bringing their sons. Last year I held several shooting classes at our make shift clay course and we set up "simulated pheasant targets". The young guns were much better on live birds and I'm excited to see how they will do this year.

Received a nice note from one of my students; she is currently out pheasant hunting in North Dakota. Really makes me happy to see how far she has come with her shooting in a short time.

Fun Lesson tonight with Katie! She is well on her way to busting a lot more targets.