Clay Target Q&A
With Russell Mark, Olympic gold and silver medallist
Questions: russell@corporateshootingstars.com.au
Q I have been trying different shotguns to use in Sporting Clays, but I am having trouble determining whether or not I am looking down the centre of the barrels when I mount the gun from the ‘off the shoulder’ position. Do you have any tips on how to mount the gun more consistently?
Peter Hanlon, NSW
A The first thing I would do would be to get a centre bead placed midway down the barrel. The advantage of the small mid-sight is purely for practice purposes, to gain a consistent gun mount. If you mount the gun incorrectly, it is easy to determine with the use of a centre-sight, as it will be obviously out of line with the main-sight at the end of the barrel. When you are actually shooting at a target correctly, the mid-sight will become invisible and the main-sight should appear only as a blur in your fore vision. This is a common problem with beginners who shoot with one eye closed. They often try to get a clear focus on the front-sight then switch their vision back and forth from the target to the sight trying to make everything look perfectly focused when they fire their shot. The important issue to practise is seeing the target in total clarity when it’s time to pull the trigger.