5 Great Clay Pigeon Shooting Tips
Great clay pigeon shooting tips will not only make you better at this unique sport but also a better shot in general. Clay pigeon shooting is ideal for people who love to shoot guns and hit targets, but don't love to kill animals. At the same time it's also a great sport for avid hunters in the off season so they can hone their skills for when actual hunting season rolls around. Much like archery or golf, among other sports that require a lot of concentration and timing, clay pigeon shooting has specific things you should do before each shot. 5 of these great clay pigeon shooting tips are listed below.
Use Both Barrels or Kill Spread
If you are using a double barrel shotgun for shooting clay pigeons, be sure to use both barrels when you fire. This will shoot two shells worth of buckshot at the clay pigeon, covering a wider area and giving you a better chance at hitting the clay pigeon as it flies through the air. If you are only using a single barrel shotgun, use killspread ammunition that goes as wide as possible so you have a better chance at hitting the pigeon when you fire. Using killspread on the double barrel shotguns is also incredibly effective, though it might not really challenge you too much.
Remember Where the Pigeons Are Coming From
Clay pigeon shooting tests a number of different things, but one of the most important ones is your memory. If you are firing first in your group and have no idea where the pigeons are coming from, you have an obvious disadvantage. However, if you aren't going first, make sure to watch where the pigeons are coming from closely and at what trajectory they are flying, so you know exactly where to shoot at them. This is as important as any aspect of actually firing the gun.
Exhale When you Fire
Much like shooting a picture while holding the camera in your hands, you will want to exhale while you are firing the shotgun at each clay pigeon. So take a deep breath before they pull and exhale slowly and steadily as you track the pigeon's flight and fire. Then breathe in and exhale again slowly for the next shot, if there is going to be one. This will take some training and timing to get right, but once you do it will make your shot much steadier.
Leave Certain Pigeons
On some clay pigeon layouts, pigeons will fly that are almost unhittable unless you are using buckshot that doesn't spread that much or you are an incredible shot. You may want to leave these impossible shots and concentrate on hitting the closer clay pigeons, as not firing doesn't hurt your score as much as firing and missing, especially if firing at the impossible shot causes you to miss the easy shot.
Move before you Call the Birds
If you missed a clay pigeon on a layout that has two or more discs flying through it, you are allowed to move and adjust your body before calling your shots. Do this to give yourself a better chance at hitting the target next time, namely moving your feet to steady yourself better and allow you to hold the shotgun closer to your body. Much like golf, there is no rush to this sport.
