Problem with smoothbore barrel

[Capt. Jas.]

I know a now retired instructor who taught a heads up mounting technique for shotgun shooting. He has his students looking several inches over the barrels of the shotgun, with the rib and front sight in the lower peripheral vision, but never actually on the clay or bird. The stock is on the shoulder, but not against the cheek.
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That, and slapping the trigger

I do that when trick shooting from the hip but neither is as consistent as head on the stock and eye on the rock.
OR
Perhaps you only got half the jist of that lesson. The part you explain above is fine when you start to move with the target and as you move with the target, your head hits the stock and you fire. In other words, you dont keep your head off the stock for the actual shot. This style allows a rifle shooter to not have time to aim and at the same time prevents him from having to make a poor mount which can jsut as easily screw up the shot.

......Slapping the trigger is not a style used by most accomplished shooters. Pistol shooting for trigger control is used by many shotgunners. Petrov, the great Russian shotgun coach once said "I fired 5000 shots just learning how to pull the trigger". Mike Yardley says "those who know no better slap the trigger of a shtgun and can never expect to realize their full potential."
Also, world champion sporting shooter, Gary Phillips shoots his shotgun with the stance of a rifle.

 

[paulvallandigham]

When you know the path of the clay target, you can set your feet like a rifleman, lock your hips, and still hit the target. Mostly, these guys have shot so many targets, and know their POI so well at any distance, that they can hit targets with any kind of stance. The question is how long can they do so? In an endurance shooting match, like the Grand American ( 16 yard trap) Shoot, where more than 200 people each year now shoot 200 targets straight to get into the shoot-off, and the winner has to break another 400 plus targets to win the event, footwork becomes rather important.

I happen to think Sporting Clays is a much more testing shotgun sport than others, save, perhaps, the Quail Walk at Friendship. That is equally as difficult. And, I agree there are large differences in the degree of difficult of sporting clays targets depending on the course, and the competition level. IN that, it is similar to golf.

I don't think I have ever " Slapped " my trigger on my shotgun- at least not consciously. I used to think there was something wrong with me, but I have rid my mind of that " shame." I do squeeze the trigger fast, and in one continuous stroke- the same way I shoot a double action revolver for rapid fire events. For trick shooting, with a rifle, I squeeze the trigger, and only know generally when the sear will release. I am concentrating on that front sight and the motion of the muzzle across the target when squeezing the trigger.

When I do that shotgun technique, my lower jaw is against the wood of the stock. I forgot to mention that. I was remembering to say that my cheek, and should have said my cheekbone, is NOT on the stock. And, you are correct that you fire as soon as the stock is mounted to the shoulder and jaw. That IS an essential part of the technique.

Thank you for correcting me, and those additions. :hatsoff:
Paul

 

[rickystl]

You might consider a barrel liner. Bob Hoyt in PA recently did one for me. You have to look hard to tell a liner was even installed. And, VERY reasonable with a fast turn around time. Rick.

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

A barrel liner is definately a possibility. Could you give me contact information on the man in PA who does this? What did he line for you and did it make the bore diameter smaller?

Thank all of you for suggestions, I offer up my sage advice every once and a while, but it is good
to be able to ask for advice also. No matter how long you've been in this hobby you run into a brick wall on rare occasions.