...I use both; for close, fast targets I shoot booth eyes open but for mid-range, slower targets I will squint my left eye (I'm right handed/eye dominant) as I move in front to the lead. I DON'T aim with the bead though, I keep my focus on the clay but I have the barrel in my sight picture and keep the gun moving as I shoot. It can work well but you have to keep moving with the flight line of the target to maintain the lead you've created..
That's good to know and that this works for you. I pretty much do the same as you, keeping the target in sight but more or less aim once I'm on the target and keep the lead. Only see the bead and target as I pull the trigger. If you don't keep moving the gun with the target as you pull the trigger, then you will miss the target.
Not a trap shooter but a sporting one. I have at the very least, barrel awareness for every single shot. It then depends on the shot, for how much I use the bead. Aim/point the bead at the clay for pull away and crows. I also measure the lead using various techniques, depending on how much lead is required. Some say you shouldn't, but I say I have to. The nay sayers need to be more open minded, than just what works for them. There are those that can shoot sporting with only one eye open too.
I totally agree with you. Depends on what you are shooting: Trap, Sporting etc. Everyone develops their own technique. I was initially told to shoot with both eyes open. When I told them I am left eye dominant and right handed, the reply was: Well that puts you in a different category and you will need to see what works best for you with the gun you are using. Practice, Practice ...
I own a short barrel home defense shot gun, I can throw clays up with my left hand and hit them every time. If I have someone use a hand thrower I can also hit them every time because I am shooting at very close range at relatively slow moving targets. I don't really aim but I sort of just point the gun in as close to the general direction of where I see the clay and fire as soon as possible. If I had to use it against clays thrown from one of those gun club clay throwers I would imaging the clay would be out of my range before I could shoulder the shotgun. Would love to try some real gun club style clay shooting some day here in the USA.
Short barrel shotguns are great for close up targets, as you mentioned you just need to point. Having an open choke for close range targets allows you to simply point the gun and pretty much hit the target. If you get a chance to try some club clay target shooting, that will be a good experience and its a different style of shooting altogether.
When I initially mount the gun I see the figure eight (snowman). After that I focus beyond the trap house and call for the target. I only see the figure eight bead (end of the gun) briefly as I move through the target and pull the trigger.
Can you Aim a Shotgun when Clay Target Shooting ? We generally hear everyone talking about pointing a shotgun when Trap shooting. Which means shooting with both eyes open. I agree its more about pointing to lead a moving target than aiming. I want a bead on my shotguns but in reality I point the barrel and don't even use the bead. The bead is only sight reference point rather than a sight for aiming. For quick shooting pointing is better. Aiming takes more time and more time for the brain to process the sights on the sight picture. No such luxury of time when shooting moving clay targets and moving game birds. Forget peep sights and any other fancy iron sights for clay and bird shooting. I have always been more of a point shooting iron sight person than an optic person unless I was using a dedicated deer rifle for deer or precision target shooting. Optics, peep sights, and other fancy sights have their place but they take more time for using the sight. Much harder to use when quick shooting and fast target acquisition is required.
As we can see everyone has a different opinion on this topic which is a good discussion point. We use the beads for sight reference, which I do and then I see my beads again with the target in sight just before I pull the trigger. Its more of a cross reference for me and don't forget I shoot with my right eye open and left eye closed. Overall - horses for courses ! Every one has their own method and no one is wrong - remember if it works for you and you are getting the results you are expecting, then that's great.
As I mentioned in the video you aim a rifle (one shot single projectile). Generally a shotgun in pointed as it has multiple projectiles which are "sprayed" at the target as we have say 40-60 shot in the cartridge. You therefore have a greater chance of hitting the target. This especially applies to close up targets. When shooting clays which are further out you of course have to be more accurate and together with my cross eye dominance, aiming works for me. It's whatever works best for the individual.
...I use both; for close, fast targets I shoot booth eyes open but for mid-range, slower targets I will squint my left eye (I'm right handed/eye dominant) as I move in front to the lead. I DON'T aim with the bead though, I keep my focus on the clay but I have the barrel in my sight picture and keep the gun moving as I shoot. It can work well but you have to keep moving with the flight line of the target to maintain the lead you've created..
That's good to know and that this works for you. I pretty much do the same as you, keeping the target in sight but more or less aim once I'm on the target and keep the lead. Only see the bead and target as I pull the trigger. If you don't keep moving the gun with the target as you pull the trigger, then you will miss the target.
Not a trap shooter but a sporting one. I have at the very least, barrel awareness for every single shot. It then depends on the shot, for how much I use the bead. Aim/point the bead at the clay for pull away and crows. I also measure the lead using various techniques, depending on how much lead is required. Some say you shouldn't, but I say I have to. The nay sayers need to be more open minded, than just what works for them. There are those that can shoot sporting with only one eye open too.
I totally agree with you. Depends on what you are shooting: Trap, Sporting etc. Everyone develops their own technique. I was initially told to shoot with both eyes open. When I told them I am left eye dominant and right handed, the reply was: Well that puts you in a different category and you will need to see what works best for you with the gun you are using. Practice, Practice ...
I own a short barrel home defense shot gun, I can throw clays up with my left hand and hit them every time. If I have someone use a hand thrower I can also hit them every time because I am shooting at very close range at relatively slow moving targets. I don't really aim but I sort of just point the gun in as close to the general direction of where I see the clay and fire as soon as possible. If I had to use it against clays thrown from one of those gun club clay throwers I would imaging the clay would be out of my range before I could shoulder the shotgun. Would love to try some real gun club style clay shooting some day here in the USA.
Short barrel shotguns are great for close up targets, as you mentioned you just need to point. Having an open choke for close range targets allows you to simply point the gun and pretty much hit the target. If you get a chance to try some club clay target shooting, that will be a good experience and its a different style of shooting altogether.
Did I hear you correctly, you can see both beads and the target all at the same time?
When I initially mount the gun I see the figure eight (snowman). After that I focus beyond the trap house and call for the target. I only see the figure eight bead (end of the gun) briefly as I move through the target and pull the trigger.
@Theshotgunchannel ok got it now, that makes it much clearer thank you
Can you Aim a Shotgun when Clay Target Shooting ?
We generally hear everyone talking about pointing a shotgun when Trap shooting. Which means shooting with both eyes open.
I agree its more about pointing to lead a moving target than aiming. I want a bead on my shotguns but in reality I point the barrel and don't even use the bead. The bead is only sight reference point rather than a sight for aiming. For quick shooting pointing is better. Aiming takes more time and more time for the brain to process the sights on the sight picture. No such luxury of time when shooting moving clay targets and moving game birds. Forget peep sights and any other fancy iron sights for clay and bird shooting. I have always been more of a point shooting iron sight person than an optic person unless I was using a dedicated deer rifle for deer or precision target shooting. Optics, peep sights, and other fancy sights have their place but they take more time for using the sight. Much harder to use when quick shooting and fast target acquisition is required.
As we can see everyone has a different opinion on this topic which is a good discussion point. We use the beads for sight reference, which I do and then I see my beads again with the target in sight just before I pull the trigger.
Its more of a cross reference for me and don't forget I shoot with my right eye open and left eye closed. Overall - horses for courses ! Every one has their own method and no one is wrong - remember if it works for you and you are getting the results you are expecting, then that's great.
point shotgun aim rifle.if you aimed a shotgun it wouldnt have shot in it? simples.
As I mentioned in the video you aim a rifle (one shot single projectile). Generally a shotgun in pointed as it has multiple projectiles which are "sprayed" at the target as we have say 40-60 shot in the cartridge. You therefore have a greater chance of hitting the target. This especially applies to close up targets. When shooting clays which are further out you of course have to be more accurate and together with my cross eye dominance, aiming works for me. It's whatever works best for the individual.