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Hartmann’s Hints #86: One is Better Than None

One is Better Than None

A while back I shot the Saint Pat’s shoot at the Tulsa Gun Club.  I wish I could tell you that I shot well but ………

I like to watch shooters when I’m not shooting, as I can learn something from almost all of the people I watch.

One of the shooters I watched was a young shooter that normally shoots some good scores.  I watched as him shoot doubles and he ‘dutched’ at least four pairs in the two rounds that I watched his squad shooting.  He would miss the first target and give up on the second.

I tell my students to always try to get both targets but I also tell them that ‘one is better than none’.

We don’t want to miss any, but it does happen. When it happens on the first target of a pair, we have to stay in the gun and execute the second shot correctly, not give up.

 

Stay safe,

Barry Hartmann

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Hartmann’s Hints #85: Gun Mount

Gun Mount

You can read a lot of articles about gun mount. Gun mount is one of the most important aspects of shotgun shooting. An inconsistent gun mount leads to many misses.

A poor gun mount, as well as poor execution of several other aspects of shotgun shooting, can lower your opportunities to hit the targets.

I have found that many new or less experienced students lose their mount as they follow the target across the field. Their bodies continue to turn with the gun while they’re following the target, but their turn slows down even while their eyes stay with the target. This is where the student uses their arms, and their face-to-comb pressure loosens, sometimes considerably.

A common comment is, “I thought I had that.”

This loss of face-to-comb pressure is frequently seen when right-handed shooters are shooting a left-to-right shot, or left handed shooters are shooting a right to left shot. There appears to be a natural tendency for this to happen, and you as the shooter have to learn to control that tendency and to stay on the gun throughout the shot execution and its follow-through.

Constant face-to-comb pressure is necessary if the shooter wants consistent hits.

“Arming” may be caused by myriad issues, one of which is foot position. Others may be stance and/or gun fit, or maybe hold or look points. Almost all of the causes begin at set-up and are displayed as the shot is executed.

I believe that the relationship of the shotgun and your eyes has to stay constant. I tell students to place their head on the gun and to make sure they have their head down hard (and keep it that way) as they execute the shot and the follow-through, keeping the relationship of their guns and their eyes constant.

If you are having a problem with this or any of a number of other problems, go to an NSSA-NSCA Certified Instructor. They will work with you to help solve your problems.

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 #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.