Struggling with consistency on long crossers at my local sporting clays course
I've been shooting sporting clays for about 5 years now, but I keep dropping birds on station 7 at my club - it's a 45-yard left-to-right crosser that simulates a crossing duck. Using my Browning Citori 725 with an Improved Modified choke and Federal Top Gun 1-1/8oz #8 loads at 1200fps. I'm hitting maybe 6 out of 10 consistently, but can't seem to break through to 8 or 9. Tried different leads from 4 to 6 feet but still inconsistent.
1 Answer
That's a tough bird - 45-yard crossers test everything. First, I'd suggest trying a Full choke instead of IM for that distance, especially with #8 shot. The pattern will hold tighter at that range. On the lead, I've found with those long crossers it's more about maintaining your swing speed than picking a specific lead distance. Try focusing on keeping your gun moving smoothly through the bird rather than picking a spot ahead of it. Also, check your foot position - for left-to-right, I plant my left foot slightly forward and pivot from the hips. What's your follow-through like after the shot?
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