Started Trap -Can't Keep My Head Down

[synergy]

Also, think about locking your shotgun in, so that you're upper body is almost rigid like a tank turret, and your arms/head/gun all move as one.

I think about the shot as like being a stream of water out of a hose. I think about snapping the hose as the shot breaks, to spread that stream out.

Being more focused on your follow through, than whether or not you broke it, should help.

Also, maybe try shouldering the gun, and have another shooter behind you watching the shot...who pulls the trigger for you. Witnessing what the shot should look/feel like, will probably help you to replicate it on your own.

[JDshoots]

Raise the stock up. People tend to bury the butt stock in the pocket of their shoulder then they have to “reach down” with their neck to get their head on the stock. Sometimes people even lean to the side a little and others lean far forward to get on the wood. There is a saying, “bring the gun to your head not your head to the gun”.

Secondly get into the gun a little. I lot of people tend to stand upright and maybe even end up leaning back a little. Get into it, lean in, forward some, and keep leaning in as you follow the target. If you are moving forward you will not have time to lift your head.

Lastly, follow through. Stop looking to see your handywork, and after the shot, pick a piece of the target and follow it. People lift their head to see the target break, and that will kill you every time. The easiest target is a straightway, and that’s the most missed target because they want to see it break.

A 21” barrel is a little short for trap, hell it’s short for skeet. I think the extra length, like 30” helps more to slow you down and smooth out your motion. Even with a modified choke on a barrel that short, you pattern may be opening up to much at the distance a trap target is out there. It wouldn’t hurt to pattern the gun, see if the club you shoot at has a patterning board.

JD

[Hawk]

JDshoots knows what he's talking about. The only thing I can add is that you most likely need to cover the bird to break it with your 870 which means you'll have a hard time seeing the break. Shotguns made specifically for trap have a "lead" built in so that you can "float the bird" on top of your front bead to break it (plus see the bird turn to dust with out lifting your head). You also need to pattern your gun. You need to see where the POI is in relationship to your POA. Put up some newspaper at 30-40 yards with a bird size bullseye, hold your bead just under the bull and see what your pattern is (low, high, left, right). Also, I'd go to a IM choke for that gun. While you are patterning look for any big holes in your pattern (big enough for a bird to pass through) You'll need to experiment with ammo and chokes to close up any big holes. Are you shooting with both eyes open? If not, you are handicapping yourself and it maybe another reason you are lifting your head.

[dannyb]

I was just about to say the same thing. I was only getting incrementally better until I started shooting with both eyes open. It made a world of difference. Also, always bear in mind that a shotgun is not a rifle and the rules of rifle shooting (the shooting rules, not the safety rules mind you) do not apply.

[Zet70]

Took some friends from college shooting this past weekend. I have a 870 with a 18.5" mossberg barrel and personally have zero troubles hitting what I'm aiming at. One of the girls was having major problems until I placed a sheet of paper between her cheek and the stock. She learned real quick that she actually was pulling her face from the stock. You guys are eerie with all this bottle cap and Velcro talk lol. If the paper fell to the ground she was lifting off the stock and therefore not aiming properly.

[RandomTask]

Go trap shooting with Dick Cheney. That experience will help you keep your head down... waaaaay down.

[AxiTech]

Originally Posted by Flash

That's just the ticket, I can see it now. A big 6" square patch of Velcro-hooks glued on the stock, and properly set into his beard.

No, wait. It is spelling, you said proper "BEAD", didn't you.



Nonetheless, it would be an interesting concept for keeping a firm "cheek-weld" - - no! Wait! That raises another image - he couldn't shoot trap in that position, and I don't want to go there. Best quit while I'm ahead.

FLASH

"Cheekweld" indeed. Obviously you haven't been around a welding shop lately. Have you seen the price of 'skin rods' lately? Through the roof. He's better off trying the velcro. I know the sticky on the back of the velcro won't hold to skin, but, if you were to drill some 1/8" holes in your cheek, you could then use automotive style 'pop-rivets' to hold it in place. Probably need four of them, one for each corner. Again, glad I could help!

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by AxiTech

"Cheekweld" indeed. Obviously you haven't been around a welding shop lately. Have you seen the price of 'skin rods' lately? Through the roof. He's better off trying the velcro. I know the sticky on the back of the velcro won't hold to skin, but, if you were to drill some 1/8" holes in your cheek, you could then use automotive style 'pop-rivets' to hold it in place. Probably need four of them, one for each corner. Again, glad I could help!

An easier solution would be to buy a small (1 inch) Earth magnet (capable of lifting 20 lbs). Screw a steel plate to the stock, insert the magnet into your cheek like chew - instant cheek weld!

[Flash]

MMH, another thing.

Stance is very important. JDshoots touched on it when he said:

"Secondly get into the gun a little. I (A) lot of people tend to stand upright and maybe even end up leaning back a little. Get into it, lean in, forward some, and keep leaning in as you follow the target. If you are moving forward you will not have time to lift your head. ".

He's right, lean into it.


For the sake of discussion, assume we are talking of a right-handed shooter.
Place all your weight on your left foot, knee relaxed, maybe even bent slightly. Lean a bit forward, extending the gun and your upper body from (above) the balance point. Your right foot somewhat behind, but foot flat on the pavement. It is the placement of this right foot from which your body derives the power to turn and follow the flight of the bird, as well as stability and balance. Some place the foot further behind than others, but each person has a comfort-spot that gives good balance as well as good positional and turn control. Position (align) yourself where your body can swing the barrel to cover easily all the possible angle that a bird could fly, from extreme right to left. Most right-handers seem to find that they can swing from right to left more easily than they can the other way (for lefties, the reverse). Pivot and follow the bird with your whole upper body, swiveling on the left hip and leg.

Focus and point your gun just under the lip of the roof of the trap-house, so you can pick up the bird as it emerges. Positioning yourself before firing, see that you can swing from this position to the extreme angle left as well as right. If you are on station #1, the bird will not go too far to your right, but its passage to your left will be extreme. (The opposite applies at station #5).

Do not be in a great hurry to shoot until you have established a smooth swing on the path of the bird, and just as your point of aim PASSES the bird, FIRE, and then continue (follow through) on the bird with your gun.


Positioning yourself comfortably, having a stance that will allow you to swing to the extremes of the birds' possible flights without undue strain, and being able to move (swing) smoothly will help.

And no need to be curious if you hit the bird. If you miss it, one of your pals will be more than willing to shout it out for you and all the others to hear. So you really don't NEED to raise your head anyway, just to find out.

Happy shooting.

Flash

[MMH]

Good advice thanks guys! Another couple of cases of shells & I'm sure that I'll improve.