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Hartmann’s Hints #81: Patterning Your Shotgun

Patterning your shotgun

I have thought of writing this hint for a couple of years, but because there are so many great articles about patterning written by great shooter/coaches, I’ve waited. Now three of my students have recently purchased used or new shotguns, and all of them want to pattern their shotguns.

Patterning gives the shooter confidence in where their shotgun and any sub-gauge tubes, as well as their shot shells, shoot. I personally like to pattern my shotgun when I’m evaluating new loads just to see if they perform as well or better than my previous loads. I also pattern any new (to me) shotguns.

Many years ago a friend of mine purchased a couple of pallets of 12-gauge ammunition for a really great price. His scores with these new shells dropped him out of AA almost immediately.

At first he thought he was just having a few bad days. After this happened  a third time, I suggested that we pattern his shells. We found big holes in the several patterns that we shot. I loaned him some of my reloads while still at the pattern board, and they worked fine. He then used my reloads at his next shoot, and his scores came back up.  His great deal wasn’t so great after all, and patterning proved it was the shells, not him.

I like to pattern from a steady rest as you might when sighting in a rifle. I believe that shows me where the shotgun shoots the loads or the shotgun I’m evaluating. I also like to use paper so I can take the patterns home to mark and evaluate at my leisure. Paper also allows me to keep a record of past evaluations. I place the paper between 14 and  18 yards for skeet. I use that yardage as that’s about where I try to break most of my skeet targets.

Pattern your new shotguns, sub-gauge tubes, and shotshells to see where they shoot so you’re confident in their points of impact.

If, with your current shotgun, you have a sudden change for the worse as you try a new brand of shells or a new reloading formula, take your new brand or new reloads and some of your old ones to the patterning board and see if there’s a difference in your patterns. It may be your problem is with your ammunition and not just you or your shotgun that’s affecting your scores.

 

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 Hint #80: Attending the NSSA Mini World and World Championships

Attending the NSSA  Mini World and World Championships

Jack Taylor and Gunnar Casey, two of the young people I’ve had a hand in training, asked me to join them for the Mini World Championships.

These two have become contenders in all of their recent shoots and were anxious to make their presence known at the Mini World, too. These are two very talented young shooters. They wanted to stay for the World Championships, but their school schedules have already been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they didn’t want to miss more of their classes.

This was Jack’s first trip to the Mini World and Gunnar’s second trip. They both have previously shot at the National Shooting Complex.

Jack evaluated various shotguns while at the shoot and he found a really nice one while there. He shot three or four different brands of loaners from various vendors and finally selected one that was an exceptional deal. Smart young man, he took his time and really made sure he got a shotgun that fit his needs. Now he has to pay his parents back for the loan.

Vendors Row had all of the great shotguns that we skeet shooters recognize, as well as just about anything else a skeet shooter might want or need.

I usually try to visit all of the stores and peruse everything offered. Jack and Gunnar and their fathers were right there, too. Gunnar was evaluating different barrels for his shotgun, and also being a smart young man, decided to wait and continue to work with his current set-up. He has shot several straights with his current shotgun.

While Vendors Row is a big attraction, the Mini and the World Shoot are also where you’ll see friends that you may not have seen since the last World Championships. Two of my friends, Jonnie and Russ Stevens, live nearby, and it’s always a pleasure to see them. I also saw many people I know from the various states I’ve shot in, and that’s always great, too.  We were squadded with some really nice people that we enjoyed shooting with. That includes Mark Knighten from Mississippi, a good squad mate.

This year, the year of COVID-19, made the shoot a little different than normal due to ‘social distancing’ and face masks, but it was still a fun and exciting event.

The Mini World and World Shoot are always fun and exciting for us die-hard skeet shooters.

The people at the National Headquarters always make these events very enjoyable and well run, from the registration process through the actual shooting and shoot-offs. If you haven’t been there, you may want to go and be a part of the excitement, see old friends and make new friends, too.

Jack, Gunnar, and I did not perform as well as intended, but it was a great experience for all of us. We saw old friends, made new ones, and we did have an enjoyable trip.

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.

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Hartmann’s Hint #77: Another Safety Item

Another Safety Item

 

Some time ago I wrote a hint about safety and the dangers of accidentally placing a 20-gauge shotshell in the chamber of a 12-gauge. It’s a safety issue and the reason most, if not all, 20-gauge shells are now yellow. Several people have told me that they still have red 20-gauge shells.

I recently received an email from a member who stated that he had read that hint and thought about sporting clays now having sub-gauge events and how the same issue might arise between the 20-gauge and 28-gauge shotshells.

I went to my shop and got out one of my 20-gauge tubes, a 28-gauge shell and a 20-gauge shell. I dropped the 28-gauge shell in and then the 20-gauge shell after it. They fit. Just looking at the shell sizes, you can see that they would fit.

The 28-gauge shells drop into the forcing cone of the 20-gauge tube and essentially disappear, making it possible to place a 20-gauge shell in after it.

While the yellow color of the 20-gauge shell should help prevent this potential accident from happening, just as it has in the 12-gauge to 20-gauge, it’s still a possible accident waiting to happen.

Two things that should make this less likely are that the 28-gauge feels smaller than the 20-gauge, and the 20-gauge shells are that nice yellow color.

So, this hint is to remind all shotgun shooters to make sure you’re only carrying the shells your gun is set up to use at that time.

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 Hint #76: Cell Phones on the Field

 Etiquette #29

A few weeks ago I was creating a pamphlet for instructors that they might want to give their students, something in writing to help reinforce what they were teaching. I consider it a supplement to what the instructors are teaching.

One of the items that I included was a page with skeet shooting etiquette. After I had written as much as I thought should be in the pamphlet, I consulted with Chief Instructor Ralph Aaron on the pamphlet and its content.

Ralph made several comments and one of those is what this hint is about: Etiquette item number 29.

Several hints ago I listed the previous 28 items, and then I wrote more hints about several of those 28 etiquette items.

I consider etiquette as the second most important aspect of skeet shooting, coming in right after Safety, the most important aspect of skeet shooting.

The new etiquette item in my pamphlet, # 29, deals with technology, our cell phones. Almost everyone I know has a cell phone. Shooters who have cell phones need to turn them off before stepping on the skeet field, or, better yet, leave them someplace other than on the skeet field. There are not many things I can think of that are more annoying than having a phone ring as you’re about to call for your target, or someone having a phone conversation as you’re mentally preparing to take your turn. Please be considerate of your fellow shooters!

So, the next time you’re heading out to shoot, leave your phone somewhere other than on the field, or turn it off. Your calls should be able to wait until you and your squad have finished their rounds.

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 Hint #78: Visiting Various Shooting Venues

Visiting Various Shooting Venues

 

I have been lucky enough during the years that I’ve been shooting skeet to have shot at many venues. While these have all been great places to shoot, there are also some that had beautiful facilities.

Among these beautiful facilities is The Red Chute Shotgun Sports Club at Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, Louisiana.  In fact, until I was able to shoot in Springfield, Missouri, at the Springfield Rod and Gun Club recently, I had considered Red Chute as the most beautiful venue that I had been to.

The Springfield Rod and Gun Club is located north of Highway 44.  It is located on 119 acres of forest with an area of what looks to me as over 20 cleared and mowed acres where the very nice club house and their skeet fields are located.  They have four fields. I shot on field 2.  The targets were outstanding and easy to see.

For several years I had heard about this club, but this was my first visit there. I only had time to shoot the 20 gauge, as I had booked four people for lessons the next day.  It was a 2 1/2-hour trip each way from the Tulsa area.

After seeing the Springfield club, I have to imagine there are many other venues that are just as beautiful that I just haven’t been able to visit yet.

The shoot was run like a well-oiled machine. Everything ran smoothly. The people were as friendly as any place I’ve shot.

I was treated as well as if  I had been a four-gun shooter. I got lost on the way to the club and called for directions.  Micah Gibbs, one of the gentlemen running the shoot, was more than helpful in getting me there.

I believe that everyone should visit all of the clubs within two or three hours of where they live. Maybe you’ll discover a hidden gem like the Springfield Rod and Gun Club. I will be going back.

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.