In this article we look at the most suitable barrel lengths for shooting different types of clay target and live quarry, and how the appropriate choice can help or, indeed, hinder a shooter. This is intended to be a guide for newcomers to the sport, who often struggle to understand…
Improve your shooting
Want to improve your shooting? It is something we all aim for and every shooter could learn something new to refine their technique.
We asked Mark Heath, head instructor at West London Shooting School for some top tips. He has taught hundreds of people to shoot, both beginners and those who have been out in the field for years but who have fallen into bad habits along the way.
He says:
- Don’t underestimate the need for concentration when shooting, as opposed to aggressive speed and lack of focus. Lacking concentration will not get you anywhere.
- Shooting large amounts of cartridges can become expensive. Instead invest in a couple of lessons with an instructor who can analysis your faults and correct them for the future. This will result in less cartridges being used to perfect your shot.
- Having a well fitted gun is essential for this sport. If your gun is not shooting where you are looking you are playing shooting roulette. You may win and you may not.
- Follow a pre-shot routine that works for you, allowing you to build up your confidence and perfect your routine.
- Find a cartridge that you have confidence in and stick to it! If you keep changing and are swayed by the latest trend this will not help keep your consistency.
Read through the following articles for more tips on becoming a better Shot.
What to expect on your first day pheasant shooting
Wondering how your first day pheasant shooting is going to turn out? We asked some experienced shooters what novices should expect on their first day. An exciting buzz “All shoot day mornings are exciting. There is a buzz as you arrive for coffee and to draw pegs. Keepers, beaters, pickers-up,…
5 tips for airgunners
Mat Manning offers five key tips for airgunners to improve their fieldcraft 1. Go on a reconnaissance mission Reconnaissance around your shooting permissions will help you to target the right places at the right time but all wildlife observation is beneficial — whether in the field, car, park or garden. Observing…
Will professional gun fitting help my shooting?
I would like to have the stock on my new Beretta Silver Pigeon professionally fitted because I don’t feel as though I am shooting as well with it as I should. I have never had a gun fitted before and wondered if you can you recommend a fitter with a…
Your first day in the field. Episode 4 – how to become the Shot you’ve always wanted to be
In the fourth part of our Shooting Times series on how to become the Shot you’ve always wanted, in association with Hull Cartridge, Tom Payne is looking at how to approach your first day in the field – from how to stand on the peg to the proper way to…
How much forward allowance do you need to give?
Shooting tips from coach Mark Russell. Here he takes a look at forward allowance, and turning sight pictures into words.
Footwork. Episode 3 – how to become the Shot you’ve always wanted to be
If you don’t get your footwork right, you’ve got almost no chance of connecting with the bird you’re trying to shoot. In the third instalment of our series on how to become the Shot you’ve always wanted to be, in association with Hull Cartridge, Tom Payne teaches you how to…
Clayshooting grounds just an hour from London
Whether you’ve always wanted to learn to shoot clays or need to brush up your technique with some lessons before going out in the field again, a trip to a clayshooting ground is always a good idea. We’ve picked out a selection of clay pigeon shooting grounds near London and…
How to practise your gun mount at home
There is no substitute for regular gun mounting practise to achieve a smooth, fluent and efficient mount — bringing the comb up under the gun sight, aligning your shooting eye perfectly time after time. Exercises to practise your gun mount at home Use an unloaded gun and have a large…
How to hold a shotgun
I always watch the best shooters at our club and can't help but marvel at how easy they make everything look. They seem to have all the time in the world to mount the gun and break the clay.
Gun mount. Episode 2 – how to become the Shot you’ve always wanted to be
In the second part of the Shooting Times series on how to become the Shot you’ve always wanted to be, in association with Hull Cartridge, Tom Payne looks at the holy grail of straight shooting – how to achieve a perfect gun mount. Videoed at the Royal Berkshire Shooting School…
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 in these financially difficult times. Mark tells you how to prepare for typical going away targets.
How to become the Shot you’ve always wanted to be – episode 1
In episode one of ‘How to be a better Shot’, instructor Tom Payne gives Patrick Galbraith, editor of Shooting Times, a step-by-step tutorial on how a gun works and eye dominance. If you often head home after a day’s shooting with a pile of spent cartridges and not much to…
Will I always need a patch for my left-eye dominance?
I'm a lady gun and have just begun shooting. I'm left-eye dominant and my instructor demonstrated that a small patch or piece of tape on the lens of my safety glasses would help with this problem.
The most common mistakes on the shooting ground (and how to correct them)
Sometimes we need a reminder to correct our shooting by looking at common shooting mistakes often made. Best feet forward Footwork in shooting is crucial to the movement of our body, as it is in any sport. It enables us to have a free moving swing and move the gun…
This is how to analyse your shooting (and become a better Shot)
Eyes If you are right-handed it is crucial that your right eye controls the direction in which the gun is pointing. Or your left eye, for the left-handers who shoot with the gun in the left shoulder. When the opposing eye takes over control of the pointing activity, the shot…
Why do multi-shot airguns cost more?
Paying more for a pre-charged airgun with a magazine-fed firing cycle is probably justified if you intend to use it for hunting. When a fast second shot is required to finish off wounded quarry, the extra speed of being able to cock and reload the gun with the throw of…
How to improve your shooting footwork
As with any sport, when you want to get better at it you have to go back to basics to ensure that you have a good enough grounding. Shooting footwork tips A crucial point with shooting is having your feet in the right place. The reason for this is so…
How to improve your visual focus on the clay target
Don’t look at the gun once it is at your cheek and shoulder. All of your attention must be on the target as you pull the trigger. Mount the shotgun to your cheek and eye, not to your shoulder. If you are standing correctly with a well-practised gun mount and the…
How to mount your gun
The mount is a crucial part of your shooting technique and knowing how to mount your gun correctly can quite easily be the difference between hitting or missing a target. Where to start When you begin shooting it is quite normal to start in the shoulder, but as soon as…