Practicing Gun-Down at Dartford Clay Shooting Club - December 2024

[@buckshotaaa]

I've been following Sophia's clay shooting journey and have to say she's coming on in leaps and bounds. She is at a stage now that she should start to shoot "gun down" but that means dropping the stock out the shoulder pocket, not lowering the muzzles. By holding the muzzles lower means she has to move the gun on two planes on a crossing target, ie up to the target and then on to a point in front of it. I would respectfully suggest holding the gun with the stock at elbow level with the muzzles pointing at the "hold point" so she only has to concentrate on swinging the gun in one direction to get in front of the target. I think she will find this method easier and give her more time to acquire the sight picture. Keep up the good work guys .

[@uk.teenage.female.clay.shooter]

Thanks Buck, we will try that on the next session, but Sophia did say she enjoyed the challenge. Thanks for your continued support!

[@massivetool]

Hi. Im not sure on the benefit of this … shooting ‘gun down’ is not in the shoulder but muzzle below 90 degrees …. It’s out of the shoulder, on the line of the target … movements here is way too much and moving in two planes rather than one. Appreciate that Sophia is hitting them, so that’s good, but I’d love to see her progress with some good coaching. Just an idea but reach out to Cheryl Hall … I’m feeling that would be a fab boost to Sophia and a bit of a ‘eureka’ moment. Would also be a great video.

[@uk.teenage.female.clay.shooter]

Thanks for the comment M.T. Sophias sponsor Manor & Co is actually aquainted with Chery Hall, and it has been suggested to maybe be coached by her, but I think distance may be an issue for us, we will see. It is hoped for Sophia to have further lessons from Mike Yardley in Essex. Thanks for watching, and we will change the shooting style from our next session.

[@massivetool]

@ Cheryl teaches all over. Just an opinion, I know Mike Yardley and he’s not the right guy! One lesson with a great coach will be far more beneficial than 10 with a lesser one. If you want bang for your buck, subscribe to Ben Husthwaite and watch his video series … think it’s £5 per month. If you watch and try those techniques in your own time, that will teach you lots. Trust me on this 😉

[@uk.teenage.female.clay.shooter]

@@massivetool Sadly I am not in a position to be able to pay for lessons, plus 1-2-1 coaching will soon be arranged and paid for by Manor & Co. Sophia has had a few lessons with Mike and she did do well, but this obviously needs to be a regular thing.

[@haydenbrown8421]

As an average 74%er sporting shooter I really struggle shooting gun up. Even watching others shoot gun down irks me. Unless it’s a quick straight away I won’t pre mount as I hate the gun waving around. It’s just me though.

[@uk.teenage.female.clay.shooter]

Each to our own I expect, good to practice, make mistakes and start again.

[@AdamsClayShootingGuide]

As others have said, this isn't the true meaning of gun down. Yes it provided a challenge and Sophia did well. However, the challenge was just unnecessary and could introduce poor habits such as an inconsistently placed gun mount. She would be far better looking at people shooting Fitasc, as that is the true "Gun down". We all need to be practising and training on useful things. Another constructive criticism, is just saying she is underneath or behind doesn't help. She needs to be told exactly why she was behind etc. Only a really good instructor will be able to see and rectify this. I agree on looking at Ben Husthwaite's subscription page.

[@uk.teenage.female.clay.shooter]

I myself am also still learning as we go along, so I can only advise Sophia so far, she will make marked improvements as soon as 1-2-1 lessons are confirmed sometime this year.

[@markhoulding1938]

Well said Good advice

[@AdamsClayShootingGuide]

The videos you are doing are very interesting and a different perspective. Keep it up both.​@uk.teenage.female.clay.shooter

[@Fendermanpaul]

Gun down is out of the shoulder, not pointing down. 😂

[@uk.teenage.female.clay.shooter]

Yes this has been pointed out many times already and is what we will do on our next session, we all make mistakes and it is all a learning curve for both of us.

[@davidshewring6708]

Sophia has the ability but needs a coach before she builds in too many bad habits. D

[@uk.teenage.female.clay.shooter]

Thanks, a regular coach is the plan via her sponsor, hopefully it will all start to come to fruition this year.

[@samcresswell109]

Why is this gun down, apart from gun pointing down on her shoulder! She would have been better if gun was down but pointing to where clay is coming from!

[@uk.teenage.female.clay.shooter]

Yes this has already been stated and the correct method will be taken up during our next session.