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Hartmann’s Hint #3: Courtesy

Courtesy

 

We never shoot at another shooter’s target, it’s common courtesy. We never take a gun that’s not ours out of the rack unless we first ask the owner if we can—that’s being courteous too. We, as shooters, are usually pretty courteous folk.

 

One of the discourteous things that many of us do is to talk while another shooter near us is shooting. Whether we’re on the field with other shooters or behind the line, we need to be cognizant of those shooting and stay as quiet as we can so as to not, through our talking, cause that shooter to lose their focus and miss.

Usually when I’m shooting, I’m trying to resolve a problem, looking at another way to shoot a specific target, to solidify a method I’ve adopted, or I may be in a competition. In these cases we need to be able to concentrate on what we’re doing at that time and not be listening to someone else.

Sometimes we talk to explain why we missed on a specific shot, and while that’s important to you, the shooter  you’re speaking to probably doesn’t want to know about it (unless they’re your coach) and wishes you’d talk to yourself and not out loud. Usually that other shooter is concentrating on what they’re trying to accomplish, and they don’t need outside influences breaking that concentration.

Remember be as courteous to the other shooter as you wish they would be for you.

Courtesy is contagious.

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who can help you improve your skills at American Skeet and wingshooting. To contact Barry, email him at threeat8@aol.com or give him a call at (918)803-2393.

 

 

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Hartmann’s Hint #1: Henry Ford

Henry Ford

 

Many years ago, Henry Ford was quoted as saying, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”

 

I’m pretty sure he wasn’t referring to the shooting sports when he made this statement, but with a little massaging it can, and in my opinion does, fit our sport. When we shoot, are we just having fun shooting with our friends or do we have a goal?

Are we practicing, trying to hit the ’10 ring’ more often, trying to hit low 5 sooner or trying to hit that elusive rabbit? In other words, are we working on that part of our sport that we as individuals need to work on, or are we losing sight of our personal goals and just playing?

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who instructs in American Skeet and wingshooting. To contact Barry, email him at threeat8@aol.com or give him a call at (918)803-2393.

 

 

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Hartmann’s Hint #2: Prevent Rust

Prevent Rust

 

We’ve all heard the phrase that states something like, ‘Guns have only two enemies, politicians and rust.’

 

While politicians are what I consider our greatest challenge, the only thing we can do to remedy this problem is to flush the political bowl as we need to by voting out the worst and voting in the least harmful. Don’t forget to vote every time there’s an election. We need the pro-gun vote to help us keep our rights. The Americans that wrote our constitution gave us that right, and each vote does count.

Rust is also difficult to get rid of unless we stay on top of it constantly. Here in Oklahoma we have a lot of moisture in the air most of the year — snow in the winter, humidity during the summer, and rain almost any time.

I learned a long time ago that surface rust starts in no time at all; you shoot, place your gun in its case, and head for home. By the time you get home it has started, and while you might not see it right away, it’s there. This is the point where you either clean your gun or see the corrosion start etching the metal parts. That’s what corrosion does — it eats metal.

Take those few minutes after you get home to dry, clean, and lubricate every part that needs it. If you aren’t sure if the cleaning and lubricating products you’re using are the best, check with your shooting companions, see what products they like, look at advertisements, look at the products that are sponsors of the major pro-gun organizations such as the NSSA, the NRA, or the ATA, and ask your gun’s manufacturer to suggest some products.

Remember, the process of getting new politicians takes time, but rust can be fought with a little time and the good products that are now available.

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who can help you improve your skills at American Skeet and wingshooting. To contact Barry, email him at threeat8@aol.com or give him a call at (918)803-2393.

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Ask the Instructor: Barrel Length

Barrel Length

 

I am considering moving up to 32-inch barrels from 30-inch barrels. Most of the shooters at my club now shoot with 32-inch barrels.
What are the pros and cons of moving to a longer barrel?

 

With all other factors being equal (shell, load, etc.), there is no appreciable advantage in shooting a shotgun with a 34-inch or 32-inch barrel length over one with a 30-inch barrel. In recent years, the trend has been toward longer barrel lengths without regard to the size and height of the shooter or balance of the shotgun. This is a mistake, in my opinion. This trend is more fad than function.

For a sporting clays shooter, the proportionality and balance of your shotgun should be your primary criteria for determining barrel length. A shotgun that is properly balanced puts the center of gravity of the gun between your hands so you are able to move the shotgun naturally and efficiently to the target with less physical effort. If you are more of a skeet shooter, shorter in stature (under 5’10”) or have a length of pull (LOP) of 14¼ inches or less, you might want to consider sticking with the 30-inch barrels. With a shorter stock and a longer barrel (32-inch or 34-inch), your gun will be slightly out of proportion, with more weight toward the front. If, on the other hand, the LOP of your gun is 14½ inches or longer, you might be quite pleased with a 32-inch barrel.

If you decide to convert to a longer barrel length, shoot lots of targets with your new gun and allow yourself some conversion time. Your subconscious sight picture will change slightly, so you should increase your practice time for a couple of months in order to adapt to this new barrel length.

Don Currie is NSCA’s Chief Instructor, an Orvis Wingshooting School instructor, and Master Class competitor. To get free shooting tips and videos, sign up for his monthly newsletter.  You can also see more tips from Currie at www.doncurrie.com.