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Hartmann’s Hints: Skeet Instructors

Skeet Instructors

During the last several years I’ve had the honor and privilege of being one of the NSSA Zone Instructors.

I was able to work with and learn many of the finer nuances of coaching shooters from the NSSA Chief Instructor, Ralph Aaron, as well as from the many other instructors of all levels that I met and worked with in San Antonio and in the classes I taught here in the NSSA Zone 6. I’ve lost count of how many Level 1 instructors I helped certify, but the total number is close to 75.

I recently resigned from being the Zone 6 Chief Instructor, due primarily to my age and the stress of traveling.

I spent a few days in early March on a trip to Barksdale Air Force Base’s Red Chute Shotgun Sports Club in Bossier City, Louisiana, where I trained seven new Level 1 instructors. One of these was Doug Frey, the publisher of Red Chute Gazette, a fantastic newsletter devoted to all things related to skeet shooting. Google it; I think you’ll like it.

The Red Chute club is a nice place to shoot with some really nice people shooting and running the facility. Because the club is on Barksdale Air Force Base, you have to get with the club prior to attending a shoot in order to get cleared to enter the base. Doug Frey is a good contact to use to gain access to the base.

As I’ve written before, I have really enjoyed my years as the Zone Instructor, and I’ve learned from all of the people that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and instructing.

If you think you’d like to become a instructor, go to MyNSSA.com and check out the Instructor section. You’ll learn a lot and have a little fun, too.

Stay safe,

Barry Hartmann

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who teaches American skeet and wingshooting. You can contact Barry at threeat8@aol.com or 918-803-2393.

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Hartmann’s Hints: Pattern Percentage

Pattern Percentage

 

I was just looking at pictures of some of the young shooters I’ve had the privilege of helping learn the shotgun sports. I have a “Rogues’ Gallery” in my shop where I have these pictures, so I see them often.

During the time I worked with them and others, we developed methods that have helped most of my students learn more about shotgun sports. One of these methods is simple and obvious if you just think about it.

I explain to students that the shot pattern as it comes out of the muzzle is the diameter of the inner barrel and the further it moves away from the barrel, the larger the pattern becomes. I use the analogy of a funnel to describe it.

I use this example when students are waiting until the target is next to or past them to shoot it. Shoot the target too far away and you can have holes in your pattern, too close and your pattern may be too small, but if you put it in the “Goldilocks zone,” the pattern is just right.

This description lets me explain why it’s better to shoot the target in front of you rather than next to you at most skeet stations. Your pattern is bigger, and it gives the shooter a small, but still greater opportunity to hit the target since they’re shooting it at an intersecting angle rather than at 90 degrees.

A visual aid I use to further explain this is a small piece of dowel, where one end is cut at 90 degrees and the other is cut on an angle. This aid allows them to physically see what I’m trying to get across to them.

I like to see my students play the percentages and hit the target in or near the break zone. Several of the young people I’ve taught have learned to play the percentages and have become superior skeet shooters.

Playing the percentages may help your skeet shooting, too.

Shoot often, shoot well, and stay safe,

Barry Hartmann

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who teaches American skeet and wingshooting. You can contact Barry at threeat8@aol.com or 918-803-2393.