How to clay pigeon shoot, deer stalking advice, gun dog training | Sporting Gun

Credit Crunch pigeon decoying

Pigeon shooting: Take a look at ways of saving money on essential decoying equipment during these recessionary times.

Clay pigeon shooting lesson: The physics of clay pigeon shooting!

Clay pigeon shooting lesson: If a complete novice comes to me for tuition - and by that I mean someone whos never fired a shotgun - I can almost guarantee that Ill have them hitting targets within the first hours lesson.

Deer stalking: zeroing and mounting the rifle

Deer stalking expert, Jon Snowden, explains why its important to mount a rifle as smoothly as a shotgun.

Pheasant shooting: How to shoot a high bird

Pheasant shooting is this month's topic, so I'm going to concentrate on high driven birds.

Which rimfire rifle is best for me?

Youve finally decided to buy a high-powered rimfire rifle, but which ones best for you?

How to shoot a driven target - clay shooting video

VIDEO! Clay shooting coach, Mark Russell, talks you through a basic method of shooting a driven target.

Rifle shooting the .243 calibre

The .243 calibre is a user-friendly cartridge for shooting deer, mostly roe, and perhaps the occasional fox at ranges out to 200 yards...

Clay pigeon shooting: Shooting a crossing target

When clay pigeon shooting, the driven crosser is certainly not a typical bird youll find described in many books on clay shooting.

Clay pigeon shooting: The perfect ready stance

Mark reveals why a correct ready position when shooting increases your chance of hitting more clays.

At what age can I apply for a shotgun certificate?

One of the commonest questions I get through Sporting Gun is from youngsters wanting to know what the minimum age is for getting a shotgun certificate.

Shooting lessons: Why correct stance is crucial to hitting more targets!

In this shooting lesson I'd like to take a good look at how stance, weight distribution and general preparation before, during and after you call for the bird, will help you break more targets.

Shooting advice: How to alter the comb on a shotgun.

See how a gunsmith alters the comb on a Beretta Ultralight shotgun.

Shooting lessons: Shooting lessons: How to shoot a right and left at clays and game shooting

In game shooting terms a right and left is where you successfully kill a bird with each barrel, in quick succession.

Shooting instruction: The bolting bunny

Shotgun instruction: Even if youre an experienced AA-class shooter, it can still be a tricky job to smash EVERY rabbit clay target.

Shooting advice and gun dog training: Careful with your puppy.

So thats it, youve finally got your new puppy. Its fully vaccinated, raring to go and ready to start its exercise and training. Youve got all your new equipment and are chomping at the bit to make a start.

Walked-up shooting and the going away target

For clay pigeon shooting enthusiasts and game shooters alike, walked-up shooting is making more and more sense in these financially difficult times. Mark tells you how to prepare for typical going away targets.

Clay pigeon shooting: How to shoot battues!

If the battue is your clay pigeon shooting nightmare - then read this helpful advice from shooting coach, Mark Russell.

The best things you can do to improve your shooting!

The best way to improve your shooting technique - in a few easy steps.

Change your shooting style to bust more clays!

Adapt your shooting style and survive - well, flourish more like! If you can interpret how the bird is presented and then adapt your style to suit, it will be odds on that you're going to bust more targets.

Improve your shooting psychology!

One of the biggest handicaps a shooter can inflict upon themselves is the psychological desire NOT to win!

Problems shooting long range targets?

If you can accept that they're just as easy as any other bird, long range targets can be a doddle.

Problems shooting close targets?

One of the main problems encountered when shooting up-close targets, and one of the main reasons for missing them, is psychological.

What to do if your gun dog gets over-excited!

To anyone with a new puppy or youngster in their care - don't allow it to continually play football with articles it can pick up and drop at will!

Switching from over-under to side-by-side shooting

Here we offer some shooting advice on maintaining your scores in the event that you have to borrow a gun.

Beginners' guide to FITASC clay pigeon shooting

FITASC sporting is a great leveller. If there's any weakness in your clay shooting technique, be it with your gun mounting or swing, this discipline will find it!

Can you explain what 'maintained lead' is?

Can you explain in beginners' terms what 'maintained lead' is and what are the benefits of this style of shooting? Are there any disadvantages?

TOP tips for shooting vermin!

Here we look at how a variety of vermin species can be simulated with clay targets. All you've got to do is practice hitting them!

Got a little cocker that can't cope with big retrieves?

Here's how to overcome a small dog's retrieving problems!

How do you shoot low flying birds?

Low flying birds, such as snipe or woodcock, can be as difficult as the tallest pheasants.

How do you shoot ground game?

At this time of year the same old topic of conversation crops up at shoots far and wide - namely the shooting of ground game and/or low birds.

How do I shoot a slow incomer?

Stalwart of every shooting ground, these clay targets come either as singles or as a pair.

How do you stop a gundog from dropping short?

How do you stop a gun dog dropping the retrieve short of the handler or, alternatively, circling the handler on its return?

Shooting those tricky wildfowling targets

It's that time of year again, so it's time for the duck and goose shooters among us to look at wildfowling targets and the way they're presented on the shooting ground.

Problems with high birds?Are you having problems with high targets?

Love 'em or hate 'em - high birds can always pose a problem if your technique isn't up to scratch.

Playtime is important for puppies

Tony reveals how 'play time' is an essential part of a gun dog's training.

Are you buying a new dog?

So you've decided to get a new gun dog? Read this checklist of things to consider before parting with your cash.

Shooting gun-up is sometimes best

Coach Mark Russell, of Grimsthorpe SG, explains when and why it's often best to shoot gun-up.

Gun-dog changes retrieves?

How to solve the problem when your gun dog changes retrieves.

Problems with shooting simultaneous pairs?

Mark looks at some of the trickiest simultaneous pairs you're likely to encounter.

How to plan your puppy training

Nobody said puppy training is easy - just make sure you don't make it unnecessarily hard for yourself.