Shooting Skeet for the first time...
- Thread starter Phauxtoe
- Start date
Yeah... Don't miss! 
If you've ever shot before, you'll be fine. Just remember to lead the target. After a few clays, you'll get the hang of it.
If you've ever shot before, you'll be fine. Just remember to lead the target. After a few clays, you'll get the hang of it.
Steal2B
.700 Nitro Express
Do not assume I am an expert, I am not. Never can be. One morning a few years ago I had an opportunity for both a world class shooter and an Olympic level coach both to take pity on a frustrated rusty old guy trying to shoot skeet and whisper the same advise thru my ear muffs. See the bird ... shoot the bird.
I'll bet you are comfortable with your gun and you have shot trap, so you likely have basic mechanics covered. I know when I focus on too many things simultaneously (stance, hold points, elevation, breathing, etc.) I figure I have less fun than when I just keep it simple, enjoy what I am doing, and enjoy who I am with. Just remember ... See the bird....shoot the bird.
During lunch on that same day, these same people expanded on their insight. They said our brain knows what to do, so just trust our eye-hand coordination. For our eye-hand muscle interaction to work right, we obviously have to let our brain see the bird as well as it can. Since our brain is wired for our eye to focus and recognize the fastest moving object in view, try moving your barrel with the same lead to the bird. Otherwise, if you swing your barrel thru the bird your eyes will prioritize the faster moving barrel, similarly if you use a pull away method with your barrel your eyes will not prioritize the bird. I know there are good shooters who use the "pull away" or "swing thru" methods but I now think they are not not reaching their potential. That afternoon, all I did is focus on trying to match barrel speed with the bird speed, and have fun. That afternoon, I shot almost as well as much more experienced and accomplished shooters.
I'll bet you are comfortable with your gun and you have shot trap, so you likely have basic mechanics covered. I know when I focus on too many things simultaneously (stance, hold points, elevation, breathing, etc.) I figure I have less fun than when I just keep it simple, enjoy what I am doing, and enjoy who I am with. Just remember ... See the bird....shoot the bird.
During lunch on that same day, these same people expanded on their insight. They said our brain knows what to do, so just trust our eye-hand coordination. For our eye-hand muscle interaction to work right, we obviously have to let our brain see the bird as well as it can. Since our brain is wired for our eye to focus and recognize the fastest moving object in view, try moving your barrel with the same lead to the bird. Otherwise, if you swing your barrel thru the bird your eyes will prioritize the faster moving barrel, similarly if you use a pull away method with your barrel your eyes will not prioritize the bird. I know there are good shooters who use the "pull away" or "swing thru" methods but I now think they are not not reaching their potential. That afternoon, all I did is focus on trying to match barrel speed with the bird speed, and have fun. That afternoon, I shot almost as well as much more experienced and accomplished shooters.
speedkills27
6.5 Creedmoor
just make sure to lead the birds on station 3,4,and 5 and follow through with your swing. They say its easier than trap once you get the hang of it. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!!
General rule for right handers is to enter the box with your belt buckle facing the low house window except on 7 and H8. Then you should be facing the baseline.
Use the 1/3 rule. Hold 1/3 of the way from the house to the center stake (~21ft). Keep your head on the gun look back towards house w/ soft focus in distance. as soon as you see the flash start moving.
DON"T AIM....Eye on the bird. if you look at the barrel you will be behind
If you can try and shoot with both eyes open.
don't stop the gun
See what works best for you. hold and look points are individual...
Use the 1/3 rule. Hold 1/3 of the way from the house to the center stake (~21ft). Keep your head on the gun look back towards house w/ soft focus in distance. as soon as you see the flash start moving.
DON"T AIM....Eye on the bird. if you look at the barrel you will be behind
If you can try and shoot with both eyes open.
don't stop the gun
See what works best for you. hold and look points are individual...
LMS
.357 mag
Nice easy to remember advice!
thegatman
.308 Win
Just remember to pump on doubles.
LMS
.357 mag
Don't ask me, I tried at one of the nyf campouts. Ask @NirvanaFan, that's something I found I really suck at lol.
Funny thing is the last deer I took was running full bore, and I dropped it in its tracks.
Funny thing is the last deer I took was running full bore, and I dropped it in its tracks.
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Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
follow thru .. don't stop the gun ... both eyes open ... when i use my moss 500AT pump , i swear its a good 7 foot lead on station 4 ... best so far with the pump is 24/25 cyl bore on the old girl ...
speedkills27
6.5 Creedmoor
you guys are shooting skeet with a pump? and shooting 24's?! wow
RandallOfLegend
.40 S&W
I've wanted to get into clays shooting, but I don't want to spend $1000 on a shotgun. In the Rochester area I can do Trap or Sporting Clays (easily). Are those friendly for cheaper shotguns (e.g. pump). I am not competing obviously. Funsies only.
DO IT! skeet, trap, or sporting can be shot with a "cheap" gun. my friend shoots better with his mossberg 500 than guys with 20 thousand dollar over unders. Anyone who gives you an attitude isn't worth talking to in the first place. Besides its how many X's on the score card not the amount your gun costs... That said... "cheap" guns might not be made to stand up to the amount of shooting you will do if you get into the sport. A pump in skeet will be a bit more challenging because of the doubles but with practice you can get the hang of it fairly quickly
Blimey
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I haven't shot skeet. I know it is much harder than trap, but i shoot trap semi regularly with my mossberg 500. Normally I get 22ish, but one day this year I got 25 followed immediately by 24. Good guys with the right guns get 24-25 all day but I like my cheap gun
yup didn't get even one double!
and the anxiety of the double made me miss the pair!
Pump isn't the way to go.
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4excal
.338 Win Mag
Awesome post from @Phibes .."General rule for right handers is to enter the box with your belt buckle facing the low house window except on 7 and H8. Then you should be facing the baseline.
Use the 1/3 rule. Hold 1/3 of the way from the house to the center stake (~21ft). Keep your head on the gun look back towards house w/ soft focus in distance. as soon as you see the flash start moving"
I had to chuckle out loud for that..
Use the 1/3 rule. Hold 1/3 of the way from the house to the center stake (~21ft). Keep your head on the gun look back towards house w/ soft focus in distance. as soon as you see the flash start moving"
I had to chuckle out loud for that..
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Shadow2
6.5 Creedmoor
Your not shooting in a competition, take it slow, you pay for those clays, ask the puller to only release singles your first time out, no reason to chase a double until you get a feel for it.
Its good to go with friends to fill up the shoot, this way no one gets annoyed your slowing them down. I personally don't care if someone is learning guys act like its something they where born doing when they had to learn at one point.
3,4,5 are a pain in the arse for me, I have never hit 8
Its good to go with friends to fill up the shoot, this way no one gets annoyed your slowing them down. I personally don't care if someone is learning guys act like its something they where born doing when they had to learn at one point.
3,4,5 are a pain in the arse for me, I have never hit 8
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You'll Get there! @Shadow2 is right. take it slow and do singles until you build the confidence... if you can hit them as singles then you can hit them as a double you just need to be faster and that comes with confidence..
I screwed up a 50 straight this weekend (would have been my first) 44 till I blew the low 7 single! I was so pissed ... finished the round for 49/50
Old timer told me once: "They aren't hard to hit. Just easy to miss!"
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
5 is my trouble spot ... 8 was for a bit but i figured out my nitch .. i bring the barrel down to the window and yell pull while its still moving .. then its just a flash up swing looking for the bird . i dont even see the end of my barrel .. BOOM dusted it ,.. some times i have to ask did it get it .. i dont see the the actual hit . .. station 8 is more like a trick shot .. u know where it gunna be .. just have to be fast fast fast .. LOL .. no thinking eyes and brain will kick in ..