I taught trapshooting for many years and found that when my students grasped and instituted this skill, their improvement increased exponentially. And oddly enough, I found getting over this hurdle was easier for the inexperienced over those with years of shooting under their belts. No bad habits to break and no established muscle memory to overcome I’m guessing.
Just went and shot trap this morning, kept my eyes open, imagined I was playing hockey (hand eye sport), and shot better than I have before. Seriously love this channel. Thank you.
I'm pretty green at shotgun sport shooting but I learned exactly this. I really don't even bother aiming. In fact I don't think about it at all. I figure the spread of the shot should cover my margin of error. No one's called me a bad shot. I find people on this side of shooting are extremely friendly and supportive. I've been told by several old timers who are good at it that I'm severely handicapped by using a pump and that I should buy an Over/Under.
Every time I get into the stand for a round of sporting clays I always remind myself to “look at the bird” all the way through the trigger pull. It absolutely helps to pre-condition your thoughts to focus on this only. Your body will instinctively know what to do with the gun to execute the shot. This is why I love wing shooting the most. I do all kinds of recreational shooting, but nothing is a challenging and fun every time you pull the trigger than wing shooting!!
Best explanation of this I've heard. Makes sense. Shooting rifle almost exclusively over the last several decades makes it difficult to break the habit of aiming. I'm thinking practice with this technique will develop the coordination to pull it off.
Another great pointer. I think one of the starting points for shooting both eyes open, has to be,,, gun fit. AND, patterning your shotgun. Patterning with both eyes open starts to give you confidence by knowing where your scatter gun shoots. Guys like Steve, don't seem to have that issue, as he can shoot any shotgun, however, 95% of us need to follow a path and steps to success.
I have never "patterned" my gun. Don't do it. you don't need to "think" about what your pattern is doing. Just focus on the target. Don't look at lead either. Hard focus on the target.
@@tfish7330 Pointing at a spot on the pattern board is extremely important for a new shooter. Then teaching exact leads for fixtargets is also important for new shooters. Some shooters excel quicker with a sustained lead. Others excel quicker with a pass-through. Some excel quicker with a pull ahead or moified pull head which is an excellent technique for precise lead on long targets. Teaching lead to new shooters is one of the most important thing to keep them from wasting time trying to hunt and peck.
I might be late to the party, but that was the clearest and most actionable explanation of "point" vs "aim" I've heard. I've struggled to understand that concept for a long time, and this made it so easy to understand - and practice! Thanks so much.
After taking classes with Chife AJ, I only use sights for long shots with my rifle. I found little difference using a shotgun. With just a little practice, you can see amazing differences.
Here's a neat trick to help master this skill and make you an expert 'snap shot' *Call PULL with your Over/Under shotgun 'broken' i.e OPEN!* Now you have to quickly close your shotgun, shoulder and fire all in a split second. What this does is take your THINKING away and makes you act on instinct. It does not give you time to overthink your shoulder placement, or your cheek weld, or your distance, and certainly doesn't give you time to try and AIM. It basically lets your subconscious reactions take over completely, and your subconscious is a lot better shot than you are! Also it makes you look like a badass showoff once you pull it off :)
I am nearing 85yrs and my grandfather taught me over 80yrs ago to shoot both eys open. He had to shoot from the hip because of a should injury and I have seen him drop two driven partridge out of a covey a number of times. Firstly get your shotgun fitted worth the expense then DO NOT LOOK UP THE BARREL but look at the bird and your shotgun will respond as if you are pointing your finger. You only have to judge lead. I still shoot driven game here in the UK and average 1-3 shots. Put it in the pattern.
I am a quite experienced rifle shooter and recently I bought my first Shotgun, a Winchester Select. I have to state I also made the mistakes with aiming on the clays (Trap shooting). I just hit 2/10 and I have to confirm, it is a complete different kind of shooting than rifle shooting on tragets.
I agree with everything except only 10% of shooters actually point where they are looking. Eye dominance and cross dominance is a huge problem for shotgun shooters. Vision is also a huge problem, some shooters are seeing blurry flares or aspirins and the top shooters see saucer or plate sized defined targets. Vision also affects balance which is hand I coordination. Love this channel.👍
only if they dont address thier visual probem with correction and correct optometrist thier is no problem. i have stigmatism and horrible vision uncorrected, but corrected i shoot this very method and fortunately enough found it on my own and have won several class championship state level because of it.
I am somewhat new to this kind of shooting, and I agree with what you said. But, my question is, what are you seeing when you pull the trigger? Is the bead/muzzle of the barrel covering the bird or is it leading? At the time you pull the trigger, I'm assuming you are now also aware of the end of the barrel in relation to the bird as part of the overall picture that your eyes are seeing, and not just the bird?
There will always be a lead unless the target is stationary. It may only be a tiny amount on some targets but always a lead. What I see is the target and am just aware of where the gun is pointed. Much like driving a car: you don’t look at the hood of your car to keep it between the lines, you look down the road and your hand-eye coordination does that for you…your aware of where the car is but you’re not looking at it. As long as you know what your target is doing (where it’s going and how fast) your brain will do the math and put the shot where it needs to be as long as you focus on the target. As he said there are other factors in play such as stance and gun fit it will work every time. As your mental catalog of targets you’ve had success with grows the process becomes even easier. …and no I don’t break everything i shoot at but my issues are keeping my head on the stock and stopping the gun…and the targets that I don’t read correctly. Hope that helps some!! Have fun out there!!!
Being left eye dominant (20/15 vs 20/20) and a right handed taught shooter keeping both eyes open has been an interesting endeavour. The one thing that did help for sure was just focusing on the target and not looking at the bead. This has improved greatly, but I’ll still do a quick glance at the bead and back to the bird for stretch shots (50+yards); no guarantee on if both eyes are open or not. All I know is birds do go down at 50-70 often… I try not to think about it. though my 100% preference is decoying them or flushing them and taking the shot at 20-30. This video is really good advice.
Richard Alden Knight's book "Mastering the Shotgun" has a great concept that works very well; act as if the shotgun is a broom and you are sweeping the "bird" out of the sky. As always, don't sweep to it; sweep through it. Especially good technique for teaching newbees for live game.
I have never shot with both eyes open. I have never patterned my shotgun. Having a shotgun that fits correctly is important. Having a gun that is weighted and balanced properly is important. Knowing how to properly mount a gun is important. Using the clay as the sight is important. No matter what shooting ground you go to, the machines are calibrated to throw the clays the same trajectory and at the same speed. Once you learn the routine it becomes quite boring. To improve shooting have a friend use a clay wand and change up the throw with each clay. That way the trajectory and speed are different every time.
Not entirely an accurate comment. In a lot of styles, every target is different, especially in sporting type disciplines and skeet. Not sure what discipline you are shooting.
I took one lesson in trap and then purchased a hundred of clays to practice on my own after. Obviously my experience is literally nonexistent, but I literally missed all the targets I was "pointing at" and reliably hit 8 out of 10 I was "aiming at" or I have no idea what R U talking about. Other than that - I have almost zero firing experience so having 8 out of 10 was pretty satisfying
Went trap shooting yesterday for a work event. First time. I missed every single one, around two dozen. Quit after that in frustration. Went home pissed off and still am. Maybe the aiming thing was the issue. Not sure if I’ll have the motivation to try again at next year’s event, but I’ll remember this video if I do. I’m not clumsy. I have a 15 handicap in golf (respectable), but I was hopelessly pathetic on the shooting thing. 😖
Eyes OVER the barrel, both wide open, see the bird, swing it into the bird, as it passes through the bird pull the trigger. By the time your trigger finger pulls, your barrel is in front of the bird, right where you want it. DO not STOP THE GUN!!! Birds straight away must be covered. Buy a good shotgun for trap. I had all kinds, Win 101, Browning, the best by far was a Model 12 made in 1932 with a shorter barrel, solid rib and a cut down stock. It patterned 7 1/2 and 8 so well that you had to make it miss. The shot pattern is as long as it is wide, if you don't put it in front of the bird you'll miss a lot.
I have said for a long time that one of the worst things manufacturers ever did was put ventilated ribs on shotguns. I know of so many casual shooters who think the rib is the sighting plain and you "aim" right down it, not focusing on the bird. The best wing shooters I have ever shot with had plain/non vent rib shotguns.
I was about to say that don't aim, use your intuition. For reason or other, I have always been really good in trap shooting. Every time (almost) all the pigeons down. Always peripheral vision in use. Last time 30 years ago in the army, though.
That was an EXCELLENT video! Very well researched and explained. One of your best!!! Focus is for hitting a target - peripheral vision is for reaction - which requires thought.
I’m pretty inexperienced with shotguns, and toward the end of a shoot I realized I was pointing rather than aiming, and hitting way faster and better. Lots of shooting definitely helped, and some guns definitely suited me better than others.
I am great on upland game I usually shoot 80% or better. I played baseball and football so my quick twitch eye hand is good. But on Ducks and Geese I constantly have to battle between aiming and shooting natural like I do with upland game. I stems from quick reaction on jumping birds and the slow wait on decoying or pass shooting birds. I shoot a rifle very good and quite often, which mixes in shotgun shooting.
Definitely would love to see more info on how to pattern your shot gun with chokes or different shot sizes at different yards. Awesome content, keep it coming!
Born and raised outdoors does a lot of pattern testing. Check them out. Also buy a choke you think would be good for your needs after researching and then buy different shells you would practically use and go see what works better at different yardage, 20,30,40etc. That being said, stock chokes work awesome too. Just try different shell types and see what’s most dense and consistent.
Could you do a video comparing ported and non ported chokes for loudness, patterning, recoil, and such? Determine if the ported chokes have advantages over non ported or if they are more of a marketing gimmick.
I have the tiniest beads I could find on my DT11 and only use them during gun mount to verify mount is perfect. This takes about 1/2 second before I call pull. Never referencing them again is key.
Mine seems to change irregularly. I shoot both with rifle and pistol, and sometimes have to remind my brain which eye it's supposed to be focusing on. Like I'll be shooting right/right, and my brain will switch to left eye randomly. It screws me up for a moment, and when I realize what's going on I just close the eye I'm not supposed to be using for a second or two, then I'm good to go for a while again with both eyes open. A few years back when I was doing it every day, I didn't have to readjust which eye I was using. But now that I'm just doing it very occasionally, I've had to start doing it again.
Hi I am new to trap Shooting. But where i shoot i am not allowed shouldering the gun prior to the "pull". Could you do a tutorial on how to do it correctly . So i have to say pull, shoulder the gun and shot. As a newcomer i hit but under 50o/o. Besides i sometimes i don't put the gun into my shoulder correctly which ends with a huge blue shoulder
There are several drills you can do at home that are effective in helping you learn to consistently mount the shotgun. Do a search on "3 bullet drill" and "shotgun flashlight drill".
Does your dominant eyes effect the shooting? I’m right handed but my masters eye is on the left can I still hit the bird shooting on my right with both eyes on the bird? I having hard time hitting my bird
Agree 100%. I have learned from a lifetime of shooting that with both eyes open my aim point has to have a right offset. My technique is to get a quick two eye acquisition, then roughly point with right offset, and then finally close my left eye to fine tune and pull the trigger. If I don't close my left eye to fine tune then my misses go up significantly. If I don't start with two eyes open then my shot is slower. Sounds more complicated than it actually is.
@@MrSmithsUnfortunately that’s what I also do. I’m right handed and extremely left eye dominant and for many years have been using your technique. I’ve always wondered if shooting enough clays, with an experienced instructor observing and commenting, that I could get over the hump and properly point with both eyes open. It’d be a big hump to conquer. I’m strictly a bird hunter and rarely have a chance to shoot clays.
I wouldn’t say “focus on the sight is aiming, stop aiming a shotgun” I would say “you should always be target focused. If your focus is in the sight, you’re aiming wrong”
If you shooting slug do you always aim and close one eye (deer)? What if your shooting buck shot if target is still close eye? If moving open (deer and coyote)?
Great channel! However, (and this is just something I’m interested in) there is not any channels that bridge the gap between clay/ skeet guns, versus home defense shotguns, versus tactical shotguns, versus three gun shotguns. Can somebody please explain the difference, the accessories and why you would need four different shotguns?
interesting point about focusing on the target and not the bead of the shotgun. while this makes sense to me, how is it that when it comes to using a handgun, all the trainers that i've heard stress that you focus on the front site and NOT the target?? these points are diametrically opposed for what i feel is the same process. now, i'm no pro, but i've always felt that even when firing a handgun, one should focus on the target not the site, kind of what you're proposing here only with the shotgun. so my question is, can either you or someone reading this provide me with an answer as to why one would focus on one and not the other when using a shotgun vs. a handgun?
I'd love to answer. When you are shooting a pistol, you are shooting a stationary target, aiming works just find in this scenario. That being said, there are plenty of handgun instructors that teach a focus on the target and pushing to the target. I have done training with handguns that do not have any sights. Whenever we are trying to hit a moving target, like a clay or a bird, our focus needs to be on the target so our hands can move the gun to the right spot.
I really like your channel. Some really good tips notches for beginners but for people that have been shooting for a long time as well. You should call it ‘dare in brocca’ which is the Italian for hit your target made famous by Beretta
Great video! Once you get the eye hand thing going . Its Practice, Practice and more practice until is all muscle memory. The competitive shooters will put up a 1000 clays a day.
Ok- so this is my take- If I look at the target and my hands will go to where my eyes are looking- well I am going to miss most or all crossing birds because the gun has to be out front, not where the bird is. You have to be able to judge the distance between bird and barrel to send the shot correctly.
I agree with not aiming your shotgun (of course) but pointing your Shotgun…. that makes sense. But I think he should’ve started off initially saying that your Shotgun should fit you correctly and when it’s mounted properly your eyes are automatically looking down the rib of the gun. THEN you point the gun…. To shoot the clay. And you will get to the point where you never even see the beads of your shotgun. It’s a crazy concept for new clay shooters… but you have to trust the process
I shoot well. When I'm firing, I find it's best when my eye is on the bird, until the shotgun is mounted, and near target, as this occurs, my focus shifts, to the bead, and I guide the bead to the point of fire.
I practice point shooting with my revolver. I figure that if I ever am confronting a baddy and my life is on the line, I'll be so focused on him, I won't see my gun, much less the sights .
I do. All of my shotguns are right handed. These were originally bought so my right handed son could use my shotguns as needed. It depends if the shotgun manufacturer gives you all casting shims to set up for left handed. That's why I love Beretta because they give you everything to shim your gun properly. Negative is that the chamber opens towards your face. In all the years I have shot a right handed gun left handed, only a few times have I had powder blown in the eyes from firing a shell. I now wear glasses regularly.
What you have here is a definition problem. You fail to define what you believe aiming to be and what it is not. Ppl are shooting at a moving target so they have to see the target, move the gun and pull the trigger at the right time. This requires certain abilities and skills sight, movement and co-ordination. Just because the skills are different to rifle shooting does not mean aiming is absent. The opposite in fact. Seeing the target, moving the shotgun to the appropriate place etc is all part of aiming. The statement that moving a shotgun barrel is the same as hand-eye co-ordination is medically erroneous. Muscle memory tells you where your hands/arms are - it does not tell you where your barrel is in relation to the target. Your description of focal v peripheral vision was also in error. Its all to do with focal length. Seeing the target, the barrel and the firing point is called aiming. Focusing on the target and pointing the shotgun in the wrong direction aint gonna work.
Guess the best way to learn this is by taking your front sight completly off. Force yourself to only watch the target and dont worry where your barrel is pointed at.
I wouldn’t recommend it. To see the red dot, you need to focus on the sight, not the target. We have some upcoming videos about mounting and gun fit. If you have a solid mount and the gun fits you moderately well, not even a front bead is needed. Shooting a shotgun is like pointing your finger l, just point where you are looking. We will also have upcoming videos about lead.
Can you make a video reviewing that Mossberg silver reserve shown in this vid? There’s not many videos on it on UA-cam yet since the new ones came out a year or 2 ago!
I taught trapshooting for many years and found that when my students grasped and instituted this skill, their improvement increased exponentially. And oddly enough, I found getting over this hurdle was easier for the inexperienced over those with years of shooting under their belts. No bad habits to break and no established muscle memory to overcome I’m guessing.
Definitely as someone that’s shot with one eye open since 9 to trying to switch it to both eyes at 21 Is a challenge
As an older (bad habits-shooter ) I absolutely agree
Of course you did
Just went and shot trap this morning, kept my eyes open, imagined I was playing hockey (hand eye sport), and shot better than I have before. Seriously love this channel. Thank you.
That is so awesome to hear! Thanks for sharing 👊
I'm pretty green at shotgun sport shooting but I learned exactly this. I really don't even bother aiming. In fact I don't think about it at all. I figure the spread of the shot should cover my margin of error. No one's called me a bad shot. I find people on this side of shooting are extremely friendly and supportive. I've been told by several old timers who are good at it that I'm severely handicapped by using a pump and that I should buy an Over/Under.
Every time I get into the stand for a round of sporting clays I always remind myself to “look at the bird” all the way through the trigger pull.
It absolutely helps to pre-condition your thoughts to focus on this only.
Your body will instinctively know what to do with the gun to execute the shot.
This is why I love wing shooting the most. I do all kinds of recreational shooting, but nothing is a challenging and fun every time you pull the trigger than wing shooting!!
Best explanation of this I've heard. Makes sense. Shooting rifle almost exclusively over the last several decades makes it difficult to break the habit of aiming. I'm thinking practice with this technique will develop the coordination to pull it off.
best explanation for pointing vs aiming that ive heard.
Another great pointer. I think one of the starting points for shooting both eyes open, has to be,,, gun fit. AND, patterning your shotgun. Patterning with both eyes open starts to give you confidence by knowing where your scatter gun shoots. Guys like Steve, don't seem to have that issue, as he can shoot any shotgun, however, 95% of us need to follow a path and steps to success.
I have never "patterned" my gun. Don't do it. you don't need to "think" about what your pattern is doing. Just focus on the target. Don't look at lead either. Hard focus on the target.
@@tfish7330 Pointing at a spot on the pattern board is extremely important for a new shooter. Then teaching exact leads for fixtargets is also important for new shooters. Some shooters excel quicker with a sustained lead. Others excel quicker with a pass-through. Some excel quicker with a pull ahead or
moified pull head which is an excellent technique for precise lead on long targets. Teaching lead to new shooters is one of the most important thing to keep them from wasting time trying to hunt and peck.
I might be late to the party, but that was the clearest and most actionable explanation of "point" vs "aim" I've heard. I've struggled to understand that concept for a long time, and this made it so easy to understand - and practice! Thanks so much.
After taking classes with Chife AJ, I only use sights for long shots with my rifle. I found little difference using a shotgun. With just a little practice, you can see amazing differences.
Here's a neat trick to help master this skill and make you an expert 'snap shot'
*Call PULL with your Over/Under shotgun 'broken' i.e OPEN!*
Now you have to quickly close your shotgun, shoulder and fire all in a split second. What this does is take your THINKING away and makes you act on instinct.
It does not give you time to overthink your shoulder placement, or your cheek weld, or your distance, and certainly doesn't give you time to try and AIM.
It basically lets your subconscious reactions take over completely, and your subconscious is a lot better shot than you are!
Also it makes you look like a badass showoff once you pull it off :)
I used to shoot clays with an open hammer coach gun. My friends used to look at me crazy as I would say pull with the gun open and the hammers down.
@@alwaysdriveing Nice! It really works and it looks so cool as a bonus haha
@@blacknapalm2131 I won't lie. Those hammers did cause me to miss every once in a while. But it was fun and generally went smoothly.
I am nearing 85yrs and my grandfather taught me over 80yrs ago to shoot both eys open. He had to shoot from the hip because of a should injury and I have seen him drop two driven partridge out of a covey a number of times. Firstly get your shotgun fitted worth the expense then DO NOT LOOK UP THE BARREL but look at the bird and your shotgun will respond as if you are pointing your finger. You only have to judge lead. I still shoot driven game here in the UK and average 1-3 shots. Put it in the pattern.
I am a quite experienced rifle shooter and recently I bought my first Shotgun, a Winchester Select. I have to state I also made the mistakes with aiming on the clays (Trap shooting). I just hit 2/10 and I have to confirm, it is a complete different kind of shooting than rifle shooting on tragets.
I agree with everything except only 10% of shooters actually point where they are looking. Eye dominance and cross dominance is a huge problem for shotgun shooters. Vision is also a huge problem, some shooters are seeing blurry flares or aspirins and the top shooters see saucer or plate sized defined targets. Vision also affects balance which is hand I coordination. Love this channel.👍
only if they dont address thier visual probem with correction and correct optometrist thier is no problem. i have stigmatism and horrible vision uncorrected, but corrected i shoot this very method and fortunately enough found it on my own and have won several class championship state level because of it.
I am somewhat new to this kind of shooting, and I agree with what you said. But, my question is, what are you seeing when you pull the trigger? Is the bead/muzzle of the barrel covering the bird or is it leading? At the time you pull the trigger, I'm assuming you are now also aware of the end of the barrel in relation to the bird as part of the overall picture that your eyes are seeing, and not just the bird?
There will always be a lead unless the target is stationary. It may only be a tiny amount on some targets but always a lead. What I see is the target and am just aware of where the gun is pointed. Much like driving a car: you don’t look at the hood of your car to keep it between the lines, you look down the road and your hand-eye coordination does that for you…your aware of where the car is but you’re not looking at it. As long as you know what your target is doing (where it’s going and how fast) your brain will do the math and put the shot where it needs to be as long as you focus on the target. As he said there are other factors in play such as stance and gun fit it will work every time. As your mental catalog of targets you’ve had success with grows the process becomes even easier. …and no I don’t break everything i shoot at but my issues are keeping my head on the stock and stopping the gun…and the targets that I don’t read correctly. Hope that helps some!! Have fun out there!!!
@@MrJohneeutah Thank you for the guidance. Much appreciated!
Just the target
Being left eye dominant (20/15 vs 20/20) and a right handed taught shooter keeping both eyes open has been an interesting endeavour. The one thing that did help for sure was just focusing on the target and not looking at the bead. This has improved greatly, but I’ll still do a quick glance at the bead and back to the bird for stretch shots (50+yards); no guarantee on if both eyes are open or not. All I know is birds do go down at 50-70 often… I try not to think about it. though my 100% preference is decoying them or flushing them and taking the shot at 20-30.
This video is really good advice.
Dude this is my issue I’m left eye dominant but right handed shooter and keeping both eyes open is tough how do you do it
The best shotgun 101 video I've seen in a while!
Both eyes open & correct stock position on the shoulder so when you look down the barrel your eye is level with the barrel rib & aim bead.
Hands down the best explanation I have ever heard. Well done
Richard Alden Knight's book "Mastering the Shotgun" has a great concept that works very well; act as if the shotgun is a broom and you are sweeping the "bird" out of the sky. As always, don't sweep to it; sweep through it. Especially good technique for teaching newbees for live game.
I have never shot with both eyes open. I have never patterned my shotgun. Having a shotgun that fits correctly is important. Having a gun that is weighted and balanced properly is important. Knowing how to properly mount a gun is important. Using the clay as the sight is important. No matter what shooting ground you go to, the machines are calibrated to throw the clays the same trajectory and at the same speed. Once you learn the routine it becomes quite boring. To improve shooting have a friend use a clay wand and change up the throw with each clay. That way the trajectory and speed are different every time.
Not entirely an accurate comment. In a lot of styles, every target is different, especially in sporting type disciplines and skeet. Not sure what discipline you are shooting.
I wish I could shoot well enough for it to become boring. I experience more frustration than boredom.
Pattering is real important. Did mine and was surprised at the results.
I disagree with the Beomat Wobbler it can still be a good challenge
Skeet or Trap maybe. Utterly wrong on regard to Sporting targets
This is one of the first things that I was told when I went skeet shooting for the first time (so my first time shooting moving targets).
Went from rifle to trap shooting with 12 gauge and this is one of my biggest issues.
That is very common.
Very hard to break the habit had the same trouble myself
I took one lesson in trap and then purchased a hundred of clays to practice on my own after. Obviously my experience is literally nonexistent, but I literally missed all the targets I was "pointing at" and reliably hit 8 out of 10 I was "aiming at" or I have no idea what R U talking about. Other than that - I have almost zero firing experience so having 8 out of 10 was pretty satisfying
Went trap shooting yesterday for a work event. First time. I missed every single one, around two dozen. Quit after that in frustration. Went home pissed off and still am. Maybe the aiming thing was the issue. Not sure if I’ll have the motivation to try again at next year’s event, but I’ll remember this video if I do. I’m not clumsy. I have a 15 handicap in golf (respectable), but I was hopelessly pathetic on the shooting thing. 😖
Eyes OVER the barrel, both wide open, see the bird, swing it into the bird, as it passes through the bird pull the trigger. By the time your trigger finger pulls, your barrel is in front of the bird, right where you want it. DO not STOP THE GUN!!! Birds straight away must be covered. Buy a good shotgun for trap. I had all kinds, Win 101, Browning, the best by far was a Model 12 made in 1932 with a shorter barrel, solid rib and a cut down stock. It patterned 7 1/2 and 8 so well that you had to make it miss. The shot pattern is as long as it is wide, if you don't put it in front of the bird you'll miss a lot.
I have said for a long time that one of the worst things manufacturers ever did was put ventilated ribs on shotguns. I know of so many casual shooters who think the rib is the sighting plain and you "aim" right down it, not focusing on the bird. The best wing shooters I have ever shot with had plain/non vent rib shotguns.
I was about to say that don't aim, use your intuition. For reason or other, I have always been really good in trap shooting. Every time (almost) all the pigeons down. Always peripheral vision in use. Last time 30 years ago in the army, though.
Great advice👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
That was an EXCELLENT video! Very well researched and explained. One of your best!!! Focus is for hitting a target - peripheral vision is for reaction - which requires thought.
Could you cover shooting trap with an over-under, which barrel and how do you cover the bird?
Great video. Just makes me want to head to the range and give it a try.
I’m pretty inexperienced with shotguns, and toward the end of a shoot I realized I was pointing rather than aiming, and hitting way faster and better. Lots of shooting definitely helped, and some guns definitely suited me better than others.
I am great on upland game I usually shoot 80% or better. I played baseball and football so my quick twitch eye hand is good. But on Ducks and Geese I constantly have to battle between aiming and shooting natural like I do with upland game. I stems from quick reaction on jumping birds and the slow wait on decoying or pass shooting birds. I shoot a rifle very good and quite often, which mixes in shotgun shooting.
Loving this series
Look at the bird. I see guys with all sorts of gismos attached to there barrels and they still miss. Spot on coment from this guy.
Well explained. Thanks
Definitely would love to see more info on how to pattern your shot gun with chokes or different shot sizes at different yards. Awesome content, keep it coming!
Born and raised outdoors does a lot of pattern testing. Check them out. Also buy a choke you think would be good for your needs after researching and then buy different shells you would practically use and go see what works better at different yardage, 20,30,40etc.
That being said, stock chokes work awesome too. Just try different shell types and see what’s most dense and consistent.
EXCELLENT VIDEO-THANKS VERY MUCH!!!!
That's exactly what my buddy John Sobalak tought me. He was once a name in the sport.
I used to tune up my shotguns so that mounting and firing, done w/ both eyes open gives a hit every time...what you look at, you will hit.
I struggle so much with this when a target is going across and away.
damn linus tech tips went to another level
Your explanation of point vs aim is excellent.
Could you do a video comparing ported and non ported chokes for loudness, patterning, recoil, and such? Determine if the ported chokes have advantages over non ported or if they are more of a marketing gimmick.
AlwYs wondered why manufacturers put bead or fiberoptic sights on trap shotguns..
I have the tiniest beads I could find on my DT11 and only use them during gun mount to verify mount is perfect. This takes about 1/2 second before I call pull. Never referencing them again is key.
Seeing how you dust the birds. What choke are you using ?
Absolutely awesome. Thank you.
Mine seems to change irregularly. I shoot both with rifle and pistol, and sometimes have to remind my brain which eye it's supposed to be focusing on. Like I'll be shooting right/right, and my brain will switch to left eye randomly. It screws me up for a moment, and when I realize what's going on I just close the eye I'm not supposed to be using for a second or two, then I'm good to go for a while again with both eyes open. A few years back when I was doing it every day, I didn't have to readjust which eye I was using. But now that I'm just doing it very occasionally, I've had to start doing it again.
I always keep both eyes open and look down the side of the barrel. It’s always worked for me.
I always find myself left eye close and aim, thats probably why moving target is hard for me, gotta go shoot more, more 8 shot federal shell heck yeah
Absolutely awesome,l learn alot from you man thanks for sharing😳😳👍
Great information but the camera switches were out of control.
Proper stance for left handed shooters?
Hi
I am new to trap Shooting. But where i shoot i am not allowed shouldering the gun prior to the "pull".
Could you do a tutorial on how to do it correctly .
So i have to say pull, shoulder the gun and shot. As a newcomer i hit but under 50o/o. Besides i sometimes i don't put the gun into my shoulder correctly which ends with a huge blue shoulder
There are several drills you can do at home that are effective in helping you learn to consistently mount the shotgun. Do a search on "3 bullet drill" and "shotgun flashlight drill".
Many thanks, i will take a look at this
Great song bro. Can I get it on iTunes?
I have an eye dominance issue, I have to "aim" when shooting because I basically go cross eyed if I keep both eyes open.
Saw you & your bro at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody WY!
Does your dominant eyes effect the shooting? I’m right handed but my masters eye is on the left can I still hit the bird shooting on my right with both eyes on the bird? I having hard time hitting my bird
Agree 100%. I have learned from a lifetime of shooting that with both eyes open my aim point has to have a right offset. My technique is to get a quick two eye acquisition, then roughly point with right offset, and then finally close my left eye to fine tune and pull the trigger. If I don't close my left eye to fine tune then my misses go up significantly. If I don't start with two eyes open then my shot is slower. Sounds more complicated than it actually is.
@@MrSmithsUnfortunately that’s what I also do. I’m right handed and extremely left eye dominant and for many years have been using your technique. I’ve always wondered if shooting enough clays, with an experienced instructor observing and commenting, that I could get over the hump and properly point with both eyes open. It’d be a big hump to conquer. I’m strictly a bird hunter and rarely have a chance to shoot clays.
I wouldn’t say “focus on the sight is aiming, stop aiming a shotgun”
I would say “you should always be target focused. If your focus is in the sight, you’re aiming wrong”
If you shooting slug do you always aim and close one eye (deer)? What if your shooting buck shot if target is still close eye? If moving open (deer and coyote)?
any help for a lefty?
Great channel! However, (and this is just something I’m interested in) there is not any channels that bridge the gap between clay/ skeet guns, versus home defense shotguns, versus tactical shotguns, versus three gun shotguns. Can somebody please explain the difference, the accessories and why you would need four different shotguns?
Some shoot people, some shoot clays, some shoot animals, the 4th is to look cool
interesting point about focusing on the target and not the bead of the shotgun. while this makes sense to me, how is it that when it comes to using a handgun, all the trainers that i've heard stress that you focus on the front site and NOT the target?? these points are diametrically opposed for what i feel is the same process. now, i'm no pro, but i've always felt that even when firing a handgun, one should focus on the target not the site, kind of what you're proposing here only with the shotgun.
so my question is, can either you or someone reading this provide me with an answer as to why one would focus on one and not the other when using a shotgun vs. a handgun?
I'd love to answer. When you are shooting a pistol, you are shooting a stationary target, aiming works just find in this scenario. That being said, there are plenty of handgun instructors that teach a focus on the target and pushing to the target. I have done training with handguns that do not have any sights. Whenever we are trying to hit a moving target, like a clay or a bird, our focus needs to be on the target so our hands can move the gun to the right spot.
I really like your channel. Some really good tips notches for beginners but for people that have been shooting for a long time as well. You should call it ‘dare in brocca’ which is the Italian for hit your target made famous by Beretta
Great video!
Once you get the eye hand thing going . Its Practice, Practice and more practice until is all muscle memory. The competitive shooters will put up a 1000 clays a day.
Ok- so this is my take- If I look at the target and my hands will go to where my eyes are looking- well I am going to miss most or all crossing birds because the gun has to be out front, not where the bird is. You have to be able to judge the distance between bird and barrel to send the shot correctly.
Any data on how far bird shot goes off yonder?
Really depends on shot size, what metal the shot is made from (density of shot) and amount of powder. There are some charts you can find online.
@@TargetFocusedLife thanks
Can you do a review on one of the impala plus semi auto shotguns?
👍 Interesting concept, and a valuable lesson. Thank you for sharing your comments. Did you know your hat was on backwards?
I agree with not aiming your shotgun (of course) but pointing your Shotgun…. that makes sense. But I think he should’ve started off initially saying that your Shotgun should fit you correctly and when it’s mounted properly your eyes are automatically looking down the rib of the gun. THEN you point the gun…. To shoot the clay. And you will get to the point where you never even see the beads of your shotgun. It’s a crazy concept for new clay shooters… but you have to trust the process
my instructor was struggling with how bad i was when i started, he watched and watched and at end he said try to miss a yard in front of the target. 😂
0:45 what shotgun is this? 940 mossberg?
Made the mossberg switch huh, me too love my 940
You should review the grisan MC 312 shotgun maybe the best value semi out there!!!!!.
subscribed when i first seen the 3 seconds
I shoot well. When I'm firing, I find it's best when my eye is on the bird, until the shotgun is mounted, and near target, as this occurs, my focus shifts, to the bead, and I guide the bead to the point of fire.
I am right handed but me left eye is dominant. How can I overcome this problem?
I practice point shooting with my revolver. I figure that if I ever am confronting a baddy and my life is on the line, I'll be so focused on him, I won't see my gun, much less the sights .
What if your left eye dominant and shoot right handed?
Is that why you can switch targets that fast like in the sx4 trick shot video on your old channel
What ear protection are you using?
Great Video! What is this Shotguns brand? Franchi Steel?
Mossberg silver reserve
Can you shoot a right hand gun, left handed? If so, pros and cons?
I do. All of my shotguns are right handed. These were originally bought so my right handed son could use my shotguns as needed. It depends if the shotgun manufacturer gives you all casting shims to set up for left handed. That's why I love Beretta because they give you everything to shim your gun properly. Negative is that the chamber opens towards your face. In all the years I have shot a right handed gun left handed, only a few times have I had powder blown in the eyes from firing a shell. I now wear glasses regularly.
Firebird link?
What gun are you using
How about shooting skeet where leads are required?
What you have here is a definition problem. You fail to define what you believe aiming to be and what it is not.
Ppl are shooting at a moving target so they have to see the target, move the gun and pull the trigger at the right time. This requires certain abilities and skills sight, movement and co-ordination. Just because the skills are different to rifle shooting does not mean aiming is absent. The opposite in fact. Seeing the target, moving the shotgun to the appropriate place etc is all part of aiming. The statement that moving a shotgun barrel is the same as hand-eye co-ordination is medically erroneous. Muscle memory tells you where your hands/arms are - it does not tell you where your barrel is in relation to the target. Your description of focal v peripheral vision was also in error. Its all to do with focal length. Seeing the target, the barrel and the firing point is called aiming. Focusing on the target and pointing the shotgun in the wrong direction aint gonna work.
I've always aimed my shotguns and never had a problem with it and i don't miss my targets either
Does the same apply to shotgun deer hunting?
pointing inaccurately will make you miss also..
Than you for the video
Guess the best way to learn this is by taking your front sight completly off. Force yourself to only watch the target and dont worry where your barrel is pointed at.
Love the chooooonnn
Head in the gun...eye on the target.
It looked like you were shooting a Mossberg 940 JM Pro for a second. Which choke tube do you find works for clays in that gun?
Thanks, good lesson
Question is: bid on end of rib or not ... ofcourse when gun stock was fitted ...
What do you think of using Aimpoint red dot for shout gun as a training aid? So it shows how to mount the gun and learn how to track a clay.
I wouldn’t recommend it. To see the red dot, you need to focus on the sight, not the target. We have some upcoming videos about mounting and gun fit. If you have a solid mount and the gun fits you moderately well, not even a front bead is needed. Shooting a shotgun is like pointing your finger l, just point where you are looking. We will also have upcoming videos about lead.
When i shoot moving targets both eyes i focus on the target and i dont see where is my gun pointed beacuse i focus on target
Can you make a video reviewing that Mossberg silver reserve shown in this vid? There’s not many videos on it on UA-cam yet since the new ones came out a year or 2 ago!