Target Tips
White Flyer provides tips to follow the storage of your targets, proper speeds and distances of targets for each of the disciplines, and how to correct problems, and we’ll even offer guests renowned in our industry to give you some tips on machine troubleshooting and target setting for Sporting Clays and other disciplines. If you have a target tip you would like to share with us and our readers, please drop us a note or send us an email and we’ll be glad to pass it on to everyone.
Tip
#1
“YOU’LL SHOOT BETTER IF YOUR GUN FITS”
Like a baseball bat or golf club, a shotgun has to “fit” the individual shooter. Stock and gun length should match the shooter’s arm length for proper placement on his/her face, with eyes looking directly down the rib. You’ll find a variety of special pads that are available to adjust the fit of shotguns.
Tip
#2
WHAT KIND OF LEAD DO YOU NEED?
Different kinds of targets require different “leading” techniques. Here are three you’ll want to practice.
Swing Through
Your gun is swung from behind the target and mounted. You’ll pull the trigger as the muzzle swings through the target.
Pull Away
This begins like the Swing Through, except the gun catches up to the target, then pulls ahead to the proper lead before firing.
Sustained Lead
Mount your gun in front of the target and continue to sustain the forward allowance with your muzzle moving at the same speed as the clay.
Tip
#3
HITTING CROSSING SHOTS IN SPORTING CLAYS
Targets may come from right or left, singly or in pairs and will usually be close and quick through trees and vegetation, simulating woodcock. Targets should be taken as quickly as possible.
Eye focal point and gun hold point should be close to the trap. Mounting the gun during tracking and swinging through targets is imperative. Lead: minimal, due to closeness and rapid gun swing. Skeet shells and open chokes are best here.
For Report Pairs, Dismount and remount the gun for each shoot. For Simultaneous Pairs, Shoot rear target first and keep muzzle moving to swing through and break front target.
Tip
#4
“FOR NIGHT SHOOTING ONLY WHITE TARGETS SHOULD BE USED”
Quite the contrary. Most gun clubs that shoot under the lights actually prefer the all orange or all green target for night shooting, and now the pink target is also good for night shooting.
Tip
#5
WHAT THINGS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN IT COMES TO CHOKE SELECTION FOR YOUR SHOOTING?
Basically, choke selection for Sporting Clays should not be determined by distance alone. There are three factors that need to be considered:
Target Presentation
How much surface area is presented to the shooter?
Target Breakability
How easy is that target surface area to break?
Target Distance
At what distance will the target be broken?
Tip
#6
WHAT HAPPENS IF PITCH TARGETS AT MY GUN CLUB BECOME EXPOSED TO MOISTURE SUCH AS RAIN, SNOW, ETC.?
The more exposure that pitch target gets to moisture, the better chances for target breakage.
Should your targets get wet, we suggest you carefully take them out of the wet box and allow them to “breathe.” In most instances, although inconvenient, this will allow you to continue using the targets once they dry.