Buckmasters Tip of the Week - Wingshooting

Tip of the Week: Improve Your Wingshooting Score

Shotgunners' excuses for not hitting quail, doves, ducks and other fast-flying birds are much more numerous than the real reasons they don't succeed.

Mounting the gun inconsistently is one of the most common problems. Bringing the gunstock to the same place on your cheek and shoulder every time is a must. The mount should also be smooth and unrushed, with the right hand doing the majority of the lifting.

Anyone can develop a good gun mount, and you don't need to hire a sporting clays instructor to perfect it. All it takes is an hour of practice at home every day for two weeks. The practice is done in front of a full-length mirror. Make sure the gun is unloaded before starting, of course.

Looking into the mirror, slowly bring the stock to your cheek so that your dominant shooting eye is positioned over the rib and you're looking down the barrel as if you're ready to shoot. Do not let the barrel wag or move up or down when lifting the gun. The idea is to do away with unnecessary movement and to develop "muscle memory" so you mount the gun the same way every time.

A different form of this practice involves inserting an AA flashlight into the open, muzzle end of a 12-gauge gun (AAA flashlight for 20 gauge). Again, make absolutely sure the gun is unloaded before you begin. With the room lights off and the flashlight turned down to its smallest circle, mount the gun while keeping the beam trained in the upper corner of the room, where the ceiling and walls meet. Drop the gun and repeat the process for 20 minutes or until your arms or shoulders tire. Any unnecessary gun movement will cause the light to jerk out of the corner spot.
NSCA instructors say a good gun mount will improve a shooter's score 20-40 percent. That's a lot of birds.

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