It’s that time of year when an invitation to shoot rolls into the inbox and stings the average game Shot into confronting the fact they haven’t picked up a gun in something approaching a year. In the age of COVID-19, that might even be two years for some of us,…
Instruction
If you’re looking for instructions on how to improve your shooting or maintain your shotgun or rifle then you’ve come to the right place.
This section offers advice from the finest professionals and shooting aces in the country, gun manufacturers and gunsmiths.
It covers everything from how a gun works, to shooting psychology, the anatomy of a shotgun and gun fit.
You’ll also learn how to deal with shooting in bad weather and how to shoot under pressure.
Tips for night vision shooting
Night vision shooting has seen tremendous technological advances in recent years, such as equipment becoming smaller and lighter. Although the equipment works in any weather, cold nights give the best results for night vision shooting; rainy nights can make the image seem pixellated or indistinct. (Read our review of the…
Walked-up shooting and the going away bird
For clay pigeon shooting enthusiasts and game shooters alike, walked-up shooting is making more and more sense. Here is how to prepare for typical going away targets.
Swinging the gun – how to improve your technique
Looking at all things swing related - and how getting it right can increase the number of targets you hit.
How to learn the maintained style of shooting
Sporting Gun's shooting instructor shows how the maintained lead style of shooting could increase your scores and give you the 'X' factor.
Crosser clay targets – here’s how to shoot them
The clay that's crossing in front of the stand is probably one of the most common targets you’re ever likely to encounter on an English sporting layout
English Sporting clays. Here’s what you need to know.
Top coach Russell Mark looks at a few typical English Sporting targets that will help on game shoots
Clay shooting: How to hit battue clays
Clay shooting: Mark Russell of Grimsthorpe SG reveals how to hit that loopiest of targets - the battue.
Gundog training equipment: here’s what a top trainer says you’ll need
Kitting yourself out with gundog training equipment before the season? Tony runs through his own list of ‘must have’ essentials.
Becoming a good all-round Shot: here’s what you won’t learn on the peg
What does it take to become a good all-round Shot? We can all advise accordingly on how to improve your shooting, whether that be practice, finding the right instructor for lessons or having your gun fitted. But there are things that can’t be learned at a clay ground or standing…
Shooting with both eyes open – why it’s something to aim for
Out of season is the ideal time to work on improving your shooting technique and one of the questions I get asked frequently is about shooting with both eyes open. One eye or two? There are two different ways of shooting — monocular versus binocular — which basically means with…
Practising for the next shooting season
For many, it must feel like you haven’t picked up a gun for months. For many game Shots, this could be the case, especially with the season being affected by COVID-19. Covid is no excuse for not picking up the gun, nor is a disjointed season. Regardless of what has…
How to find the right shooting coach
In these strange times while we’re all still in lockdown, some of you may have found yourselves thinking about how to improve your shooting, as and when we can get back to some sort of normality. Shooting instructors This is a subject that infuriates the proper professionals. It is a…
The most common mistakes on the shooting ground (and how to correct them)
So not long now until you can get out on the clayshooting ground (29th March) and smash some clays. Most of us want will want to improve our shooting by addressing the common shooting mistakes we know we make. Follow these tips from Bisley instructor Tony Bracci and you’ll improve…
How top Shots minimise misses
Looking out of my window at a big cock bird picking his way down a hedge, just beyond my garden, it strikes me that I shot fewer days this season than in any other since childhood. In truth, it showed. Rather than getting into my stride, I frequently found myself…
Finding the best position for rifle shooting
There are various positions from which you can shoot a rifle. But which is the correct position for rifle shooting for you? Let’s take a look at some options and see how you can improve. Remember you should not immediately expect 1in groups at 100m from these positions. Check and…
Giving the very high birds your best shot
High bird shooting is a specialist subject. Some devote themselves to nothing else, but is there an optimum barrel length for it? It might surprise you to learn that the fashion for long barrels is nothing new. Take a look at any of the fowling 4- and 8-bore shotguns from…
Techniques and skills for hitting the target
Investigating and improving shooting techniques Going-away targets, low incomers and high crossers are what clayshooters frequently want to investigate and improve, namely walked-up and driven grouse and pheasants. Straight lines The only targets that do not require the shot pattern to be placed ahead of the clay on its flightline…
What you need to know about focal planes
Many rifle shooters don’t really understand the difference between focal planes and it’s an aspect of rifle scopes that is often confusing to many. Basically, the difference between a first and second focal plane scope is where the reticule is positioned within the rifle scope. This affects the image seen…
A beginners’ guide to FITASC clay pigeon shooting
FITASC sporting is a great leveller. If there's any weakness in your clay shooting technique, be it with your gun mounting or swing, this discipline will find it!