If you are a fan of shooting games, particularly duck hunting, you must know just how hard it is to shoot a moving target than a stationary one. And just because you were a champ on the NES game does not make shooting down flying clay targets any easier. While aiming you have to keep track of the moving object and the recoil from the gun. Other factors like body positions also play some role in your accuracy. But this difficulty is what makes going to skeet shooting near you with your friends so exciting. And by following the tips below beginners can turn into clay busting pros soon enough:
Gun Safety
Guns, especially powerful ones like shotguns, are always a safety hazard and must be handled with care. At the shooting range, you must always wear protective gear for the eyes and the ears and follow all the safety guidelines given by your instructor. Make sure that your gun is always unloaded with safety turned on except during the shooting. Also, keep it pointed downwards at all times when not shooting targets. Do not point it anywhere else, even jokingly, this is the most common cause of gun injuries.
Point & Shoot
Unlike pistols and rifles that come with a scope, trapshooting shotguns don’t, the best you get is a bead above the muzzle. This is because with a flying target there isn’t much room for taking aim and firing. You will need to point and shoot and hope it hits, just like the game. Also, don’t stop moving the muzzle until you fire. You should take the shot once the muzzle covers the target.
Dominant Eye
Not everyone has an even sight in both their eyes. Just like with hands, one of your eyes is probably stronger than the other. If you aren’t sure which eye is dominant, you can check it by first looking at a distance with one eye and then the other. The eye with a clearer vision is your dominant eye and will help you focus on the moving targets. Being right-handed does not mean your right eye is dominant. If your left eye is dominant, shoot left-handed and vice versa.
Right Body Stance
You will need to stand with your rear leg straight and the front one slightly bent like a boxer. Also, bend your waist slightly towards the shotgun you’re holding. This will let you move the muzzle as you keep track of the skeet and handle the recoil.
Holding Shotgun Correctly
Any pro will tell you that shooting a shotgun isn’t as easy as pulling the trigger. First, hold the butt of the gun against your shoulder between your trigger arm and your collarbone tightly. Make sure that the entire butt is held against the shoulder. Bring your elbows up so that your arms are parallel to the ground for a tight fit. Call the skeet only when you have secured the shotgun.
Cheek To The Stock
For more accuracy, it is important to align your line of sight with the barrel. To do this you need to press your cheek firmly to the top of the gun’s stock with your head forward at all times, such that when you look down at the shotgun you can only see the gun’s receiver and the bead at the end of the barrel. Do not look up after the first shot, keep the cheek stuck to the stock until you have finished shooting.
Plan Your Shooting Path
During a shooting streak, you have to deal with multiple targets without break, but fortunately, the paths are more or less pre-planned and after a few rounds you will get the pattern. It’s easier to move from lower to higher targets because of the recoil from the gun. You should definitely deal with the targets that disappear first.
Practice
This is the most obvious one. Other than the target range for skeet shooting near you, it’s possible to do some dry-fire practice at home. First, try tracking the targets with your finger and then with an unloaded and locked shotgun. You can have someone else use a laser pointer to simulate the skeets.
By following these guidelines, you can get the hang of trapshooting soon enough and be a pro like you were in the duck hunting video game.
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