Time and motion
Sporting Gun|September 2020
Malcolm Plant looks at the technique and skills you will need to employ to ensure you hit your target
Malcolm Plant
Time and motion

How can I help you? Conversations with shotgun clients who have some experience centre on what’s going right, what’s going wrong and whether they really know how they currently shoot a target.

All the basics seem to be operating reasonably well — no master eye problems, foot positions seem to be understood, gun mount and gun fit look OK, and upper body and arm movements are good.

And all of these can be checked with a few crossing clays from the right and from the left.

Then we get to the interesting discussion and exploration. Going-away targets, low incomers and high crossers are what the client wants 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 are targets going straight away from you, like a ‘down-the-line clay’ or targets coming straight towards you, such as a clay landing 20 yards out in front. Just shoot straight at them.

The going-away target is usually best shot after giving it a chance to flatten out into a horizontal trajectory. This also means that the target is at a distance where your shot pellet pattern has had a chance to open up a bit, to say 2ft to 3ft in diameter.

The incoming clay is also best shot when travelling horizontally towards you before it starts to drop towards the ground.

With both of these targets, the mental confidence to get the timing of the shot correct is fundamental — wait for the opportunity then don’t hesitate, have instinctive confidence; if you check and recheck the target begins to fall and becomes much more complex. With these clays ‘all’ we need to do is sit the clay on top of the rib of the gun and pull the trigger.

Denne historien er fra September 2020-utgaven av Sporting Gun.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra September 2020-utgaven av Sporting Gun.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA SPORTING GUNSe alt
Thermal spectrum
Sporting Gun

Thermal spectrum

Paul Austin explores both ends of the thermal market with latest high-end release from Zeiss alongside a surprising entry-level offering from Xinfrared

time-read
6 mins  |
August 2023
Roe, rucks and new ground
Sporting Gun

Roe, rucks and new ground

Jon Snowdon and his team have much to keep them busy and a new tool to help them

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
Tales from a lifetime of foxing
Sporting Gun

Tales from a lifetime of foxing

Join Mike Powell as he explores the evolving world of fox shooting, drawing from a career that spans seven decades

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Fox rot about Charlie
Sporting Gun

Fox rot about Charlie

Patrick Hook responds to claims that fox numbers are dangerously on the wane

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
The sniff of success
Sporting Gun

The sniff of success

Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Adventures of Nick & Ted
Sporting Gun

Adventures of Nick & Ted

A new chapter in the histories of Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter has Nick Ridley reflecting on the dogs he has trained over the years he has been associated with the magazines

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system
Sporting Gun

The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system

Vet's advice

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Gundogs Q&A
Sporting Gun

Gundogs Q&A

No problem goes unsolved as Sporting Gun puts your questions to the gundog experts

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
Stop-start!
Sporting Gun

Stop-start!

Fran Ardley continues her training tips on disciplining your dog to the stop whistle and the exercises you need to do

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Gundogs at the Game Fair
Sporting Gun

Gundogs at the Game Fair

Organising the Game Fair's prestigious gundog competitions: behind-the-scenes with Francesca Prentice

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2023