An interesting topic. I sometimes shoot with a bunch of guys who go to Bruce Ney for instruction. They all have a very similar pre-shot routine, including making sure the shell ends are turned the right way. That part seems distracting to me, as it puts the focus of your eyes on something small and close range when you are about to have to shoot a moving object at a wider view.

I was watching Nick Berry's footage of the recent NE Regional at Hopkins. I did notice that Tony Rivera has pretty much zero pre-shot routine and he was missing targets I would expect he would hit. His gun barrel was still moving around when he called for the target, and a lot of the woods targets seemed to be beating him.

I turn my shells so the name is turned up. I do this to slow myself down.

Hi Terry - yeah, I absolutely understand why you are doing it, my shooting buddies explained it in great detail. My point was more about changing your visual focus from micro to macro. I personally take a deep breath to slow down. But couldn't turn my shell anyway as I shoot a sling-o-matic!

Considering this game is supposed to simulate hunting, I agree with you.

Sporting Clays is no longer designed primarily to simulate hunting. It evolved into its own sport with its own unique challenges some time ago. The role of the pre-shot routine (whether long or short, detailed or simple) in SC shooting is some evidence of that.

Obvioulsy.

Would it still be appropriate to call pull unmounted?
I'm used to shooting that way. I seem to hit better when I don't take much time to think about the whole exercise and shoot more instinctively.

tp (sometimes doing things the hard way)

Familiar with FITASC?.....or are you talking about calling pull while standing beside your horse?;-)

My horse likely wouldn't appreciate it. She's a steady girl but has her limits.

Mainly considering the question for Sporting Clays. As in using a shotgun?
Or did I use the term incorrectly?

tp

As long as you do what you described in the shooting stand and maintain the safety standards absolutely you can call pull with the gun unmounted.

I have observed a number of shooters over the years do exactly that or in a few extreme cases had a routine even more radical but that worked for them. I watched one guy shooting with a model 12 pump put both rounds into the magazine and as he called pull he was chambering the first round and bringing the gun up to mount. He was consistent no matter the type of presentation and he shot well that way.

T-Pee, you need to go shoot some FITASC where you MUST have the gun off your shoulder (although not as low as you do for International Skeet, which is on the hip)

"I turn my shells so the name is turned up."
In reality folks do that so the shot goes straight down the barrel . Not to the right or to the left or below the sight plain but straight . One should also blow the smoke out of the barrel after the shot so the shot charge can see where it is supposed to go .

tp

In addition to pre-shot routines, I’ve recently wondered how a shooter decides how many fore end finger diddles to do between shots.


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I did some reading. Sounds like another game up my alley!
Now to find a club close that offers the sport.

tp (and a 33 gallon gas tank)