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Mule Driver

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I got to thinking about how often I shoot a fully mounted gun in sporting clays after many times reading and hearing numerous hunter only shooters being critical of using a pre mounted gun.

So, if we consider “cheat mount” as a form of low gun, I would say I personally shoot some form of a low gun 75 to 80% of the time. Usually only pre-mount for some teal, some rabbits, some close quartering (usually use a cheat mount here),and trap like targets. I mean, if you have a 40 yard right to left crosser with some speed to it, to me, a fully pre-mounted gun is a disadvantage.

So, I’m curious of (obviously, depending on the course) how often others actually shoot a fully mounted gun. For me, it’s maybe 20% of the time. I do know shooters who are very good who shoot pre-mount nearly 100% of the time. But, for so many applications, I find some form of off the shoulder works so much better.

Your thots?
 
I recently got into “cheat mounting” under advisement from my instructor. I’m enjoying it! I used to shoot fully mounted 100% of the time and had found it to be a disadvantage on some shots. If the hunter only crowd believes in strictly low mount, you can tell them there is a game for that 😁
 
My thoughts are how you practice learning and using your eyes. I personally pre-mount. My LOP is long, cannot shoot shorter LOP. Living in the north, shooting in colder weather with more clothes on just makes it easier. Ya, can have adj pads, but I don't want to deal with that. After mounting, I bring barrel down, call for the target and bring it up to my face. Gives me full view of target..
 
What is "cheat mount"?
Something just short of a fully mounted gun.

My cheat mount is one of two gun positions; 1) From a fully mounted gun I simply drop my mounting shoulder, which clears the gun out of my field of view a bit to allow a better view, or 2) from a fully mounted position I drop the barrels about 1 inch while keeping the butt of the gun in the mounted position.
 
Discussion starter · #9 · (Edited)
Unless you're into a lot of gun movement, the second shot of a pair is pretty much premounted. So I'm premounted at least 50% of the time.
Good point, however, I personally many times dismount for a second shot particularly if it is a radically different presentation or if comes out much lower in elevation from the first.

For example, the first bird of a report pair is a high right to left 40 yard crosser, and the second is a right to left rabbit at 20 yards. Many find it better to find that rabbit with their face off of the gun after smacking that high crosser.

Never the less, that’s a darn good point you made about the second shot. I think I should have said “how do you start off the pair” to be more clear. Still, I think it’s fair to say that for numerous presentations, coming off the gun to visualily find that second target can be of help, at least for me especially on a totally different second bird.
 
The term “cheat mount” in sporting clays came into vogue as a legitimate style after 1996 when the NSCA changed the rules from low gun to “free mount”. Prior to that cheat mount was used to describe cheaters that did not follow the rules of low gun and crept the stock up towards a mounted position prior to seeing the target and calling for it.
 
Since I prefer FITASC, I try to always use a low mount; on sporting and 5-stand it might not be quite as low, but it is lower than a cheat mount - even for rabbits. I made it work on rabbits by making sure mt barrel was pointing below horizontal, else I would be over the rabbit
 
Guess mine is a version of Move-Mount-Shoot here's my usual start position. But as I'm starting to call pull I do a SLOW!! push away with my gun as I start my mount and also starting a slow rotate of my ankles/hips. And finishing mount as the target gets close to my break area sync up and send it. And on quick target will have the butt a bit higher to start and if a long developing target will have the butt lower and even go slower on finishing the mount. It's all about timing and some days better than others .
And while moving to the 2nd target will raise my head off the stock to get a better look but leave the butt in the shoulder.

But that's just me :) and you do you :) since there's no Fitasc near me to worry about getting busted for moving the gun before seeing the target.

Image
 
Do what works for you.

BUT watching a shoot off at a big tournament , almost no one is shooting low gun.

And--shooting Fitasc is so much fun , better learn a low mount , too.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Since I prefer FITASC, I try to always use a low mount; on sporting and 5-stand it might not be quite as low, but it is lower than a cheat mount - even for rabbits. I made it work on rabbits by making sure mt barrel was pointing below horizontal, else I would be over the rabbit
Interesting enough, my scores and placements have been much higher in FITASC compared to Sporting Clays. Well, not always “much higher” but never the less I too enjoy more as well as shoot better at FITASC. That has reinforced my increased use of low gun at SC.
 
Guess mine is a version of Move-Mount-Shoot here's my usual start position. But as I'm starting to call pull I do a SLOW!! push away with my gun as I start my mount and also starting a slow rotate of my ankles/hips. And finishing mount as the target gets close to my break area sync up and send it. And on quick target will have the butt a bit higher to start and if a long developing target will have the butt lower and even go slower on finishing the mount. It's all about timing and some days better than others .
And while moving to the 2nd target will raise my head off the stock to get a better look but leave the butt in the shoulder.

But that's just me :) and you do you :) since there's no Fitasc near me to worry about getting busted for moving the gun before seeing the target.

View attachment 73934
I use something very close to this 90% of the time when starting a pair.
 
I'm not trying to change anyone but sera has seen me shoot a couple of times and he and his wife both liked what I was doing :) It works for me and that's all that matters :) like I said above you be you and I'll do the same 😁
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Unless you're into a lot of gun movement, the second shot of a pair is pretty much premounted. So I'm premounted at least 50% of the time.
Something else…..

A number of top instructors are telling their students to at times, come off the gun to find that second target, including Anthony.
 
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