How to break clays .com

This is a page for the questions that I've been asked since I started writing this stuff. I've used a few here and probably covered the subject in other pages, go back to the front page to look further . What I've written here are my own thoughts and observations which I've drawn on to try to answer your queries, I won't guarantee I can give you the definitive answers to everything. If in doubt ask a professional.

Q. Why does it hurt when I shoot clays? I think the stock needs to be lowered or a recoil pad fitted so I get a better sight picture.

A. This is a good one to start with, there's more than one question here, Jonathon. It's more than likely that it hurts either your face or shoulder because you aren't mounting the gun properly, the gun doesn't fit or you're not concentrating on the job in hand - you are excited and want to see the clay break. You've said you need a flat sight picture - what exactly do you think you need to see? If you have a rib with just the single foresight bead, when you mount the gun properly you should be aware of the bead just sitting on top and in the middle of the rib when you look at the target. If you have a rib with a centre bead and a foresight bead, when the gun is properly mounted then you should be aware of the end bead sitting on top of the centre bead so they are both together in a figure of '8'.
Whatever you do, don't look at the bead or the rib because by doing that you will have lost concentration on the target and miss behind. When everything is mounted properly you should be aware of the sights as I've described which would mean you are looking at the target and the gun will shoot at it. If you have to really squash down onto the stock to see the sights as above, the stock may have to be lowered.
A standard rule of thumb for stock length is to stand the gun upright, (proven empty), into the crook of your elbow and look to see where your trigger finger sits comfortably in relation to the trigger. If the stock is the right length, the trigger will probably be just below the tip of your finger, against the fleshy pad that should actually touch and pull the trigger, that's the bit finger prints are taken from.
If the stock is too short, it may be that a recoil pad will extend the stock to a more appropriate length in which case your cheek will be lower for a flatter sight picture - that's one of the tricks that people use instead of bending the stock on a gun.
It's not quite a simple as that though - it could be that the gun does fit but you aren't mounting the gun quite tight enough so that when you fire the gun the stock swings about and it's clouting you in the face, or that you are lifting your cheek off the stock to look at the clay to see whether you're going to break it and again, that will smack you in the face. Are you using something like 32g cartridges in a lighter over and under or a side by side? That will make the stock rattle against your face if you shoot a 50 straight off.
The best answer I can give you is to take your gun to a gunsmith and ask him to have a look at you both. He'll ask you to show him the gun is empty and to mount it and point at his eye. He'll be able to tell if it fits straight away and if not, what you need to do to put it right. If the gun does fit he could also probably work out why it hurts when you use it and put that right.

Q. How far does lead shot travel? Does shot weight make a difference?

A. It depends on several factors, there isn't a definitive answer to your question, Brendan. What we must be aware of and abide by though, is the recommended distance in front of the gun which is known to be a safe zone for shot to travel through and fall on - 300 yards, (the same as 275 metres).
Many years ago, I heard a story that told of a cartridge maker who tested his cartridges on a canal, firing into the air at different angles towards another who marked the ripples from the shot entering the water by which they could establish distance for any given load. Whether it's right or not I don't know but the figure of 215 yards quoted to me from this heresay appears to be within the realms of possibility, given data available from more modern testing. Several research papers are used to quote the distance that lead shot travels although they mostly point to the same set of results so what follows is as a guide only, it isn't to be taken as an excuse to shoot with less than a 300 yard safety area in front.
So how far does shot travel, then?
Firstly, we have to consider the angle of elevation at which the gun is fired; there is an optimum angle at which lead shot will travel the furthest when shot from a gun. Most people will tell you that the gun needs to be held at 45º from level ground when fired but this isn't the case - it would be if we lived and shot in a vacuum, physics shows us the shot would proscribe a parabolic arc which would make things far too easy for us. As we are surrounded by air, the shot has to overcome air resistance and friction so the angle a shotgun needs to be for the shot to travel furthest is 32º-33º from level ground. Pointed higher or lower than that will make the shot land sooner, i.e. shorter than it's maximum distance.
Secondly, we have to consider the wind velocity. If you shoot straight up into the air it is unlikely that you will be hit by the falling shot from your gun, a hefty breeze will blow shot up to 70m sideways so it follows that a wind from behind you when you pull the trigger will help the lead travel further and conversely, a wind in your face will shorten the distance it travels.
Thirdly, we must take into account the size and weight of the lead pellets in your cartridge. The larger and heavier the shot, the further it will travel. US shot size 1 (4.06mm) could travel about 350m given the right conditions whereas US shot size 12 might only travel 110m.
So, given all this, how far away can we as clay shooters expect to see our shot land? Most of the results from tests suggest that common clay shot sizes will travel between 160 and 215m which all makes sense of the safety zone if we take a strong wind into account. 9 shot will cover the shortest distance while 7 shot will travel the furthest.

Q. How do I know if my gun fits? I bought a new gun and shot well at first but now my scores have dropped off.

First of all, Henrietta, don't worry about your scores dropping off if you are new to clay shooting, I've seen it all before. The first few times at the ground you will shoot instinctively, unless you are taking lessons, in which case you may be taught the method that is chosen for you by the coach. Given that you are then 'on your own' as it were, after a bit you will start to think about what you're doing and it will all fall apart; you probably know enough now that you concious mind is over riding your subconcious and you've started to worry. One of those worries will naturally be, "Does my gun fit"? I've listed a few things that may help set your mind at rest but by far the best way to answer your question is for you to see an expert on gun fit.
1. Hold the gun, (proven empty), upright towards the ceiling with the butt in the crook of your elbow, holding the grip of the gun as normal. Lay your trigger finger alongside the trigger against the guard. A general rule of thumb says that if the gun is of the correct stock length, the trigger finger end pad, (the bit you should use to pull the trigger), will probably be level with the part of the trigger which you touch when you use the gun.
2. Stand in front of a mirror with you gun, (proven empty again), and mount the gun as if you were shooting, pointing at the eye which is the same side as the gun - this would normally be your dominant or master eye. Don't make a conscious effort to mount it to point at the eye, just do it. Once you have mounted, hold the position and look down the rib of the gun. If you have one foresight bead at the end of the barrel you should see it in the middle of the rib at the muzzle and you should also see the whole of the rib flattened out as if it's only 1/4 of an inch high from breech to muzzle. If you have a foresight bead and a bead half way along the rib, once you've mounted, you should see the foresight on top of the mid sight as if they were a figure of 8 on top of the rib.
If you see too much rib the gun will shoot high, too little so you're looking at the back end of the rib and it will shoot low. If the beads are not in the centre of the rib you will be shooting to one side. Don't do this too often or it will become part of your problem, you'll constantly check whilst shooting and miss behind.
3. Find a Pattern plate at a gun club or a field to hang a piece of card or with a target or a cross in the middle. Fire half a dozen cartridges from 16yds by mounting the gun on the target and pulling the trigger. That will show where the majority of your shot is going, so proving fit or otherwise. A correct fit will put around 60% of the shot above the aiming mark and 40% below.
4. Have a lesson with a coach who will be able to tell if the gun fits and also whether you have any problems with your technique that are making you shoot off line.
5. Go to a gunsmith who will ask you to mount the gun several times, usually onto his eye. Experience will tell him whether you gun fits and he will more than likely be able to put it right if it doesn't. This would normally involve heating the woodwork in an adjustable frame to bend the stock up, down or sideways to fit your face; adding a wooden extension or a pad to the butt to lengthen the stock; cutting a piece off the stock and refitting any butt plate to shorten the stock. I would suggest your friendly, local gunsmith as the best method to find whether your gun fits properly.

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