The suggestions listed below are primarily for the novice hunter. The
experienced gun man has already put them into practice. The fundamentals
are: correct gun position, proper shooting stance, effective range, and
swing.
Correct Gun Position
Place the cheek firmly against the stock in a position that enables
you to see the target clearly over the end of the gun. Do not sight down
the barrel as in rifle shooting. This causes you to shoot low, and
interferes with an unobstructed view of the target in flight.
Keep the head down. Misses are often caused by cheeking the stock,
then raising your head to look for the target. Remember that in shotgun
shooting, your eye acts as the rear sight. Once on the stock, your cheek
should remain there.
Proper Shooting Stance
Face the target. A right-handed shooter should, if possible, point
his left foot toward the spot he intends to fire. This will prevent body
cramping. Feet should be spread comfortably apart. Lean forward
slightly, with the forward knee bent slightly, weight on the forward
foot. On angle shots, pivot from the waist. Always keep the gun in
motion even after shooting. Follow-through pays off!
Effective Range
Know the range of your gun. Shooting when game is beyond range is a
major cause of crippling and loss of game. The type of choke in your gun
determines maximum effective range. If you are unsure, pattern-check
your gun on large sheets of paper at various ranges. Then hold a decoy,
or other gamesized object, against the pellet pattern. This
will show you at what point the shot charge becomes too spotty for
effective hits. Compare rocks or other objects that approximate size of
the game you will be hunting at various distances. With a little
practice you will be able to determine distance almost instantly.
Lead, Swing, Follow-through
When shooting at moving game, especially faster waterfowl in full
flight, it is necessary to shoot well ahead of the bird. It would be
impossible to make an accurate chart covering all the variables of the
bird's speed, distance from shooter, and angle of flight. In addition, a
bird can move 5 to 20 feet in the time a hunter can pull the trigger.
Only by swinging through the target, determining what appears to be the
right amount of lead, and following through after the shot is fired, can
consistent success be attained. It has been said that 95 per cent of all
misses occur because the shooter stopped the gun when he pulled the
trigger.
The Shotgun Shell
A box of shotgun shells usually lists five specifications:
Gauge-usually printed as 12 Ga., 16 Ga., 20 Ga., etc.
Length of shell-printed as 2 3/4", 3", etc.
Drams equivalent- printed as 3 1/4/. Drams equiv.
Size of shot-printed as 2, 4, 6, etc.
Ounce of shot-printed as 1 1/8 OZ., etc.
Gauge
It is vitally important to pay particular heed to the possibility of
mixing up shells of different gauges. Persons who hunt together with
guns of different gauges, as well as the man who owns different gauge
guns, should keep shells carefully separate and constantly recheck
before entering the field. For example, a 20 gauge shell will slip into
a 12 gauge barrel so its rim rests on the forward edge of the forcing
cone of the chamber. The shell will not fire and cannot be readily seen.
If a preoccupied hunter mistakes failure to fire as a failure to load,
he may add a 12 gauge shell into the chamber. The 12 gauge shell will
slide into the chamber behind the 20 gauge so smoothly the shooter is
completely unaware. Upon firing, the obstruction caused by the 20 gauge
shell can cause serious injury.
Length of Shell
All shotgun barrels are chambered to accept shells of specific
length. If shorter ones than designated are used, there is no danger.
But if a longer shell is chambered, it may result in a dangerous
constriction of the shot charge and gas wads as they pass through the
forcing cone of the chamber.
The shooter should aiso realize that the size designated on the gun
barrel means the length after firing. While a shell marked 2 3/4" may
actually measure 2 1/2" with the edges crimped, firing will open them
up. That is the length shell the gun must be able to handle.
The owner of a shotgun can use shorter shells, with excellent pattern
performance, if a heavier load is not required to do the job. But never
load a longer shell into any gun than that which the gun is designed to
shoot.
Dram Equivalent
Today's modern smokeless powders produce far greater power, with
much less weight, than the old black powders. The black powder shells
were measured in drams (1/16th of an ounce) while the smokeless powder
shells are designated in drams equivalent. Thus a shotgun shell marked
"3 1 /4 dram equiv." contains enough smokeless powder to produce the
same power produced by 3 1/4. drams of black powder.
Shotgun powder burns more quickly than rifle powder. With the
relatively large bore required by a shotgun, it would be heavy and
burdensome if thick barrel walls were used througho ut, as with rifle
barrels. Therefore, shotgun shell powders are made to burn more quickly,
exerting the greatest energy near the thicker-walled breech. Obviously,
shotgun shell handloaders should always take every precaution to use
none but the prescribed powders.
Size of Shot
Lower numbered shot, such as 2 and 4, provide the maximum distance
and killing power to be used on fox, turkey, geese, and similar game.
The higher numbered (and smaller sized) shot such as 6 or 7 1/2, is
preferred by most hunters for pheasant. Size 7 1/2 or 8 shot is good for
smaller upland game, such as chukar partridge and bobwhite quail, and in
trap. Most skeet shooters want more pellets, and therefore use 9s.
Ounces of Shot
The greater the distance from muzzle to target, the wider the shot
pattern. Therefore, more pellets are needed for greater pattern density
in longer range shooting. Check the chart to see the various ounces
available, and the recommended ounces for each species of game. Heavier
loads will be required for shooting beyond 45-50 yards. Lighter loads
are required to avoid mutilating smaller game at close ranges. Most
hunters purchase the heavier loads only when specifically required,
since expense is greater.
Trap Shooting Etiquette
1. Make your entry far enough in advance so that the office can
properly process it. Clubs want shoots to start on time, but they can't
if shooters don't sign up enough in advance so that squadding and record
keeping can be done.
2. Be ready when your squad is called and also when it is your turn
to shoot in the squad.
3. Do not lean over each time to pick a shell out of a box on the
ground or to pick up empties. Have your shells where you don't have to
stoop to get them.
4. Do not raise your gun until the shooter ahead of you fires.
5. Remain at your post until the fifth man has fired, then move to
the next position. At the end of the round, stand facing the trap until
the last man has fired the last shot. If you are leadoff, do not fire
until all squad members are in position after each change.
6. Never load your gun before changing positions. When going from
position five to position one, turn to the right to avoid bumping guns
with the man coming from post four.
7. Load only one shell at a time, except in doubles. Close the gun
only when it is your turn to shoot. If a delay occurs, remove the shell.
8. Do not allow ejected shells from your gun to hit or annoy other
shooters.
9. Do no unnecessary talking when you are on the firing line. When
you are not on the firing line, keep your voice down when you are around
other squads which are shooting.
10. Time your shooting to establish rhythm in the squad. Call in a
loud clear voice so that there is no confusion about when the puller
should respond.
11. Be a sportsman at all times. Be sure your competitors get what is
due them, but do not be a target claimer.
12. Observe safety rules. Do not point your gun at another, even if
it is unloaded. On the firing line, always keep your gun pointed toward
the ground or the traphouse.
13. Shooters are always willing to have you look at their guns, if
you ask permission first. Do not pick up another's gun from the gun rack
and handle it without asking.
Introduction
Beginning Trap and Skeet
Shot Gun Information
Glossary
