Leads when firing smooth-bore weapons. Secrets of shooting in flight. About shooting with two eyes open

Hunting has been and remains one of the most common hobbies in our country. Many boys and men like to get out into the forest or fields to return home with rich trophies - from a pair of hares or ducks, to an elk, a wild boar, or even a bear. Of course, in order to have something to brag about to your friends and family, you need to shoot well. And for this you need to know how to properly aim with a hunting rifle. Otherwise, you will miss the opportunity to get the desired trophy over and over again.

Why be able to shoot well?

Hunting strengthens a man's character, makes a man more decisive, resilient, and self-confident. Along with this comes an understanding: hunting is not just shooting at everything that moves. This is a special ritual that connects a person with nature, bringing him closer to the wild world.

A real hunter will never allow himself to wound an animal and leave it without pursuing it, without stopping the torment. Well, in order to have fewer wounded animals and make them easier to find, you need to be able to shoot well. After all, only an accurate shot long distance allows you to inflict a fatal wound on an animal or bird, which gives them a chance to die instantly.

In addition, the ability to aim and shoot correctly allows you to reduce the cost of ammunition. For some beginners, experienced hunters generally recommend using only single-shot guns in order to get used to catching animals and birds with the first shot.

Finally, when hunting, knowing how to aim simply ensures safety. After all, in order to stop an angry boar or a speeding bear, you need to make the most accurate shot possible - these dangerous, strong animals can be literally filled with lead, but they will have time to get to the hunter and finish him off. Well, a good shooter will calmly make one single shot, which will put the beast in its place.

Correct stance

Shooting from a standing position has been and remains the most popular in hunting. After all, usually a hunter has to walk or even run through the forest for hours, looking for prey, waiting for the moment when he can make a successful shot. The exception is a leisurely hunt with a powerful rifled rifle, when the hunter lies down in a comfortable place and waits for the prey to finish it off from a distance of several hundred meters.

So what is the correct way to stand? Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with your left foot forward (for people shooting from the left shoulder, vice versa). This gives stability, which is especially important when shooting from large-caliber rifles - 12 or 16. The body is half-turned relative to the line of fire. Finally, the body should regroup and lean forward a little. This reduces recoil power, allowing even a smaller shooter to easily compensate for it.

Of course, such a stance is ideal, and it is not always possible to achieve it during a hunt. If only because, for example, when hunting while walking, sometimes you have to shoot offhand - there is simply no time to take the desired position. But it will be useful for beginners to practice a little, practicing just such a stance as the most comfortable.

Comfortable grip of the gun

If you are wondering how to properly aim with smoothbore weapons, then the next step in mastering this difficult art is to study the grip of a gun. Everything is simple here: the right hand (left for left-handers) covers the butt near the trigger. The index finger rests on the trigger. The left hand covers the forend - you shouldn’t grab it too powerfully, the hand is simply used as a stop.

But the butt should be pressed into the shoulder as tightly as possible. This is especially true with powerful recoil. Otherwise, the blow will be so strong that a healthy bruise will remain on the shoulder. Under no circumstances should you press the butt against the collarbone - this can lead to a fracture.

The left hand must be maneuverable. It is this that performs the main function when aiming. The right one is always motionless.

But at the same time, if you need to turn in the direction of a sound in the forest, try to turn with your whole body, and not just with your hand. Otherwise, the whole posture falls apart, the butt no longer rests on the shoulder, and the shot may well cause more harm to the hunter than to the prey.

Shooting from smoothbore weapons

The vast majority of our compatriots use smooth-bore weapons when hunting - from ordinary single-barreled guns to semi-automatic weapons.

Some of the latter (for example, Saiga carbines) use the rear sight and front sight as sighting devices. They are very good when it is possible to carefully aim - in cases where shooting is carried out at a stationary or slowly moving target. Everything here is quite simple: you need to combine the rear sight with the front sight, pointing the latter at the place you want to hit. Everything must be as precise as possible - a millimeter discrepancy will lead to a miss.

But still, most hunting smoothbore shotguns have other sighting devices - a front sight and a rib. So let's figure out how to properly aim from the bar.

Overall, the aiming process is quite simple. It is enough to monitor just two factors. Firstly, the gun should be positioned as level as possible, that is, the shooter should not see the bar, but only one line into which it all turns at a certain angle. Secondly, the front sight must be aimed at the target, covering it. That's all. As you can see, everything is surprisingly simple.

Using optics

But some hunters prefer to use not ordinary smooth-bore weapons, but rifled ones. This includes the Tiger rifle, Los, Saiga-M, Simonov carbines and many others. There is no doubt - rifled weapons allow you to confidently kill an animal at a distance that is prohibitive for a smoothbore gun. Well, in order to realize the full potential of rifled weapons, it is advisable to use an optical sight. It allows you not only to increase the probability of a hit, but also to choose where exactly you would like to hit - in the chest, head, under the shoulder blade, in the stomach. Of course, the success of hunting in this case increases significantly.

However, do not think that a rifled weapon with a well-aimed, powerful sight is a guarantee of success. Not at all. After all, the hunter shoots, and a high-quality weapon allows him to reveal his skills. It is no coincidence that experienced shooters recommend first learning to shoot from a smooth-bore weapon, and only then switching to rifled weapons. If a hunter is simply a bad shot, the best rifle in the world won't fix that.

The aiming process itself is even simpler than when using a smoothbore gun. While looking into the scope (but without pressing your eye against it!), aim the crosshairs or other aiming mark at the prey. In some cases, it is necessary to make corrections for range and movement - they depend on the extraction speed, the type of cartridge used, the firing distance (studied first in theory, and then brought to perfection in practice). And take the shot.

Optical sight of what power to choose

Choosing a device is not as easy as it might seem. After all, on the market you can see optics from different manufacturers, at different prices, and with different powers. The most common models are with a magnification of 2 to 20. And here you should choose taking into account the distance you plan to shoot at - 100 meters or 500. The longer the distance, the more powerful optics you will need.

But in general, the ideal choice would be an optical sight with the ability to adjust the magnification. Yes, it costs more. But it allows you to confidently hunt animals at different distances.

Shooting at a stationary target

Now let's deal with the shooting itself. It will be useful for a beginner to learn how to aim a gun at stationary targets. In general, everything here is as simple as possible. All the techniques described above are used. You need to aim exactly at the center of the target or, when using optics, at the place where you want to hit the prey.

The only exception is long-range shooting. Experienced shooters know that bullets and shot do not fly in a straight line, but along a more complex hinged trajectory. Therefore, if the target is far away, you need to aim not at it, but a little higher.

Shooting at a moving target

But aiming at a flying duck or a running hare is much more difficult. Here you need to act quickly and also make adjustments for speed. After all, the target moves quickly, and the shot or bullet flies at a certain speed. As a result, if you take aim directly at an animal or bird, you will probably miss.

A little anticipation is needed here. When shooting at a distance of up to 20 meters, the lead is one length. When increasing the range to 30 meters - two buildings. If the distance is 40-50 meters, then the correction should be at least 4 lengths.

How to practice your shooting skill

But remembering these rules while hunting and following everything, repeating point by point, is, of course, impossible. Therefore, it would be useful to practice (to begin with, with an unloaded weapon) at a training ground or even in an empty apartment - quickly take a comfortable stance and aim at a suitable object. Only when the body performs all actions mechanically, without the participation of the mind, will you become a real shooter and be able to instantly take aim and make a successful shot.

Subsequently, this skill is practiced many times while hunting. This is how experience comes. After all, no one will argue that a hunter with twenty years of experience has a huge advantage over a beginner, even if he has carefully memorized all the rules and advice. So go hunting in a suitable place and gain experience, bringing your hunting skills to the level of a reflex.

Most common mistakes

One of the most common mistakes made is taking too long to aim. Shooter for a long time aims at the target, tries to choose best time and place. However, a gun is a rather heavy object. As a result - left hand gets tired and begins to tremble slightly. And this leads to a decrease in accuracy. Therefore, experienced hunters spend no more than a couple of seconds aiming. This is the level you should strive for.

Also, if you are following the prey by moving the barrel behind it, you need to turn around with your whole body, and not just your hands. Many beginners do not know this and subsequently complain about frequent mistakes.

When shooting at a flock of ducks, for example, inexperienced hunters try to hit the very center in order to shoot down several birds at once. At the same time, they don’t even choose a specific target, hoping for a good spread of shot. However, this tactic does not lead to positive results. Therefore, it will be much better to choose a specific bird flying in the center and shoot at it.

Conclusion

This concludes our article. Now you know how to aim correctly when shooting and make adjustments when using smooth-bore and rifled weapons. We hope these simple tips will allow you to take your skills to the next level new level, reinforced by good practice. Break a leg!

If you are not the most experienced hunter, or you are simply not good at shooting at moving targets, then this article will help you deal with many issues regarding accuracy when hunting birds.

Weapon Selection

The quality of shooting directly depends on which weapon you choose. Longer barrels will provide greater accuracy. This allows you to hit the bird long distances, as opposed to the high spread of shot with short barrels at medium and long distances.

However, we should not forget that when using small shot at short distances, special accuracy is not needed. In such cases, a muzzle constriction of 0.25-0.5 is sufficient. Shotguns with a choke of 0.75 already require the use of more specific ammunition. Much depends on the skill of the hunter. Even with sufficient experience, shooters often shy away from using guns that are too accurate. Smooth, wide scree is indispensable when hunting birds in flight.

Duck hunting requires active pace shooting, so hunters often prefer multi-shot shotguns or use ejector double-barreled shotguns to increase reload speed.

Ammo selection

The question of what kind of shot to shoot a duck with has long been resolved. Shots in the number range from 2 to 7 are used. Ducks with weak feathers can be successfully shot with number 6 or 7. Number 7 is also good for hunting teal. For shooting birds in flight, number 5 is well suited.

If you are using a gun with a choke of 0.75 or more, then the ammunition for it requires slightly different preparation. In cartridges with a large charge, other methods of equipment are used, certain wads. For long-range shots, a concentrator container is used, which increases the accuracy of the shot.

Shooting technique

Shooting at a moving target requires knowledge of how to aim a gun and more careful preparation of the shooter. Shot shooting at a flying duck is carried out with a stationary gun or with a leash.

Shooting with a stationary gun

Such shooting is characterized by the fact that the gun is directed to a point located in front of the target, along its line of travel. When the target approaches the calculated distance to the aiming point, the trigger is released.

Shooting with a leash

Are you hunting duck? Then you need to know how to shoot a duck in years. From the moment the decision is made to fire until the shot itself, when the shot leaves the muzzle, 0.024 seconds pass. During this time the duck manages to cover 48 cm.

Accordingly, the charge passes by if you take the aim clearly at the bird. To avoid this, use a leash. That is, the gun does not stop at the moment of firing, but continues to move behind the target.

The trigger is pressed smoothly, without jerking and without stopping the weapon. To this must be added the correct calculation, called lead when shooting, depending on the number of the shot and the range of the target, as well as the speed and direction of its flight.

There are certain rules on how to shoot ducks correctly:

A swooping duck forces you to speed up the lead and shorten the lead.
A duck passing sideways at a distance of up to 40 meters significantly slows down the leash, and you have to use large leads, up to 1.5 meters. In this case, the gun may stop, so it would be more effective to use a method called shooting while overtaking, starting the leash behind the bird, and, having overtaken it by the required distance, fire a shot.
Game coming at a bayonet point at a low altitude requires a slow lead, and if it suddenly moves above the hunter, then the shot is fired at the moment the prey is blocked by the trunks. When flying low, it would be better to release the duck forward and shoot at the hijack.

One indisputable rule for the shooter should be: no matter in which direction the gun barrels have to be moved, this movement is made only by the body, and not by the hands.

The single arm-body-gun system remains motionless, the direction changes only with the help of the torso. The hunter must stand half a turn towards the intended point at which the ducks will be shot.

Calculation of lead when shooting

A novice hunter needs to understand how lead is calculated when shooting ducks, as well as other birds. Lead can be calculated using the formula S=vt, in which v is the speed at which the bird flies, t is the time it takes for the shot to fly. The following data will help you carry out all the calculations:

Average flight speed:

Goose - 18-22 meters per second;
Teal - 18-35;
Mallard - 18-27;
Partridge - 13-14;
Black grouse, capercaillie - 15-18.

Shot flight time depending on number and distance

20 meters - N1-0.06 m/s, N3-0.06, N5-0.06, N7-0.07, N9-0.07;
30 m 0.10 m/s, 0.10 0.10 0.11 0.11;
40 m 0.14 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.17;
50 m 0.18 0.19 0.20 0.22 0.24.

Differences between shooting different birds

Duck

Let's look at how to shoot a duck.

There are the following types of shooting:

hunting for stolen birds;
semi-hijacked;
counter;
side.

It is preferable to hit in a half-grab, since the feather provides less resistance. But it’s not important in August, when hunting young ducks.

A shot at a retreating duck is called a stealing shot, taking into account the speed of the duck's flight.

When shooting from the side, the body is twisted and untwisted and the direction is right-left or left-right.

If the gun moves faster than the bird, overtaking it, then this is shooting while overtaking. The main thing is not to overdo it and not reach the point where the weapon stops, remembering the rules about shooting at a flying target.

A landing duck is taken at sight and a shot is fired, moving the barrels down in the direction of the target's movement.

It's easier to shoot a bird that flies vertically. You just need to cover the target with the barrels and pull the trigger.

Goose

There are two types of hunting for this bird - from a shelter and when flying from the water to feed in the fields. You should not rush to shoot from cover, waiting for the optimal moment. The initial shots are aimed at the head. If you miss, they hit the hijack or half-hijack.

You need to shoot while flying, standing at the edge of the reservoir. At the same time, shoot at the carjacker. This is necessary to make it easier to pick up prey.

Migrating geese walk high and fast. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the lead sufficiently.

Woodcocks and wading birds

When shooting, you should make sure that it happens in an open place and that tree branches and bushes do not interfere. In the forest, the shot range is short; the woodcock will not have time to gain speed. Therefore, lead is practically not used; the sight is aimed at the beak or body of the bird.

Pheasant and black grouse

A black grouse walking vertically can easily be shot offhand. Those who move away from the person are shot from the approach.

The pheasant begins horizontal flight about one and a half meters from the ground, freezing at the extreme point of its rise. Here you should take advantage of the moment and shoot at a stationary target. If you miss this moment, the shots are fired in overtaking with clearance, without stopping the gun.

Wild pigeons

The process of shooting at these birds is similar to shooting at ducks, but a pigeon, frightened by a shot or sudden movements, becomes unpredictable, and it is impossible to predict the flight path. You should wait a little and continue hunting.

Video

Watch detailed video instructions on lead shooting techniques.

The key to a successful and cultured hunt is rightly considered to be the ability to shoot. This is a whole complex of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. One of the main elements in it is aiming, which is a system of visual-motor actions of the shooter. In other words, the ability to aim is a sure guarantee of successful shooting.

Aiming means giving the aiming line of a gun a certain spatial position relative to the target necessary to hit it. The basis of aiming when shooting from both rifled and smooth-bore weapons is to combine the aiming line of the weapon with the line of sight passing from the pupil of the shooter’s eye to the target, especially at the moment of pressing the trigger, that is, the pupil of the eye should be on the continuation of the aiming line of the gun .

For a smoothbore shotgun, the aiming line is imaginary line, passing strictly through the middle of the sighting rib of the barrel (barrels) and the base of the front sight. When the line of sight coincides with the aiming line, the shooter sees only one front sight, located in the middle of the aiming bar and the upper contour of the receiver shield. True, many arrows highly qualified they shoot on a stand with a so-called “visible” bar (the pupil of their eye is slightly above the aiming line of the gun, about the height of 2-3 matches, if they are placed on top of each other and on the gun bar at the breech end of the barrels). This position of the pupil of the eye, firstly, improves visibility, which has a positive effect on the perception of target departure (especially on a trench stand), and secondly, it facilitates the control of barrels during the firing process.

The sighting line for rifled weapons passes through top part front sight and the middle of the slot of the sighting shield at the level of its upper edge.

To see an object clearly, our eyes do a certain job. Its essence lies in a reflexive change in the focusing of the eye so that the light rays passing through the lens of the eye and carrying information about the object are focused on the central part of the retina. A characteristic feature of our vision is that it is impossible to simultaneously and equally clearly see objects located at different distances from the eye. The closer the object that we are trying to see is located, the worse the visibility of objects located at large distances in the direction of the line of sight, and vice versa.

Aiming when shooting shotguns

A simpler “sighting” device on a smooth-bore weapon makes it possible to give the gun the necessary orientation relative to the target much faster, and small “inaccuracies” when aiming are compensated by the fall of the shot shell. And if the parameters of the gun correspond to the shooter’s constitution (the gun is good), then after appropriate training he can achieve correct position line of sight relative to the aiming line of the gun immediately at the moment the gun is raised (without subsequent adjustment, the implementation of which requires changing the focus of the eye on the bar and the front sight). This allows the shooter to focus his vision almost entirely on the target, which is very important when shooting shotgun at moving objects. In this case, the shooter must clearly see the aiming object (especially a moving one), focusing his vision on it. The bar and front sight of a gun, positioned appropriately relative to the line of sight, will be perceived by the eye indistinctly and vaguely. But if you paint the front sight or the end of the barrel strip in bright colors, then their visual perception will be more distinct.

Experiments conducted with highly qualified trap shooters showed that the absence of a front sight had almost no effect on their shooting performance.

The very process of aiming at a moving target, i.e. adjusting the position of the aiming line of the weapon relative to the target, occurs simultaneously with the leash.

If, at the final moment of aiming (when pressing the trigger), the shooter tries to control the position of the front sight relative to the bar or aiming line, focusing his eye on them, then a miss is almost inevitable. In this case, the flow of visual information about the movement of the target stops for a certain period of time (the eye stops seeing the target). The connection between the work of the tracking system of the eyes and the synchronous movement of the ends of the gun barrels is disrupted.

Here is a typical example. If a hunter, when shooting at a large flock of flying ducks, shoots “at the flock” without concentrating his vision on a specific duck, then the result of the shot is usually clear - a miss.

When practicing aiming at a fast-moving target, it is necessary to achieve a constant position of the head on the ridge of the stock, repeatedly repeating the techniques of raising the gun. When throwing a gun, your requirements are met. They are the subject of a special conversation. Here we note only the main thing: when completing the throwing process, the aiming line of the gun should be directed to the point where the eye is looking (or possibly closer to it).

Shooting with shot requires the participation of both eyes, which will ensure the effective operation of their tracking system, under the control of which complex visual-motor actions of the shooter are performed. Thus, when shooting with shot at moving targets, the eyes are focused once on the object of the shot.

Aiming when shooting a bullet

Successful shooting of a bullet from a smoothbore gun at large ungulates (elk, deer, wild boar) and bear is determined by slightly different requirements. Firstly, it is necessary not only to hit the animal, but also to the slaughter place. Secondly, the aiming accuracy should be much higher, since the displacement of the line of sight relative to the aiming line of the gun will lead to a deviation of the bullet from the aiming point when fired. The more significant this discrepancy is, the more the bullet will deflect.

When preparing to shoot at an approaching animal, the hunter first of all makes a decision about the advisability of the shot. For example, if the shooter and the animal are separated by dense small forest, then even at a distance of 20-30 m the effectiveness of the shot will be so low that it is necessary to refrain from shooting.

Then you should outline the line most favorable for shooting, and the killing place in the animal where the bullet will be sent. They depend on the direction and speed of movement of the animal, the distance to it, terrain conditions, and the requirements of safety rules.

As the animal approaches the selected line, the gaze focuses on the place in the animal’s body where the bullet will fly. A smooth raising of the gun to the shoulder is done either when the animal is immediately approaching the selected line, or a little earlier. This is due to the hunter’s individual shooting style, his qualifications and hunting conditions. Having made a jump, the hunter performs a preliminary correction - he combines the line of sight with the aiming line of the weapon, focusing his vision on the relative position of the front sight and the rib (sighting shield) of the gun. Next, without changing the position of the head relative to the ridge of the stock, he directs the aiming line of the gun to the slaughter area, taking into account the lead if the animal moves. At this moment, the shooter’s vision must be so focused that the front sight, aimed at the killing area, is visible.

The final correction of the position of the front sight relative to the aiming bar (sighting shield) and the target by changing the focus of the eye can be performed either at the moment the trigger is pressed, or slightly earlier. The latter is much more profitable. In the first case, it is very difficult to “position” your vision so as to simultaneously see the aiming bar, the front sight and the target, which is seen blurry. Experienced shooters say: you need to look at the animal through the front sight.

Thus, we are convinced that the process of aiming when firing a bullet becomes somewhat more complicated and requires more time. This leads to one of the main hunting commandments: do not rush to shoot, the bullet will catch up with the animal.

Most hunters close one eye when shooting a bullet, since it is quite difficult to perform the complex correction described above with binocular vision. Only people who are fluent in their use of weapons shoot with two with open eyes. By the way, this historical fact is not without interest. When the famous gunsmith F. Matska created a small-caliber (24) paradox according to the order and drawings of the famous weapons expert, biologist and excellent shooter S. A. Buturlin, the drawings did not include any sighting devices, not even a front sight. F. Matska, on his own initiative, installed a front sight on the finished gun, explaining to the customer that he simply could not produce his guns without a front sight. S. A. Buturlin wrote about his paradox that it is easy to use it to hit a thrown apple with a bullet, and also to successfully shoot moose at 150-200 steps.

Some experienced shooters correct the line of sight relative to the aiming line of the weapon by closing one eye, and firing, that is, pressing the trigger, by opening both eyes. Moreover, the final aiming is performed only at the front sight.

The formation of an effective system of actions when shooting is developed in the process of repeating them many times, achieving the most rational sequence, logical relationship and subordination. Moreover, the participation and control of the hunter’s consciousness (attention) is required. Success is facilitated by shooting practice at the “running boar” shooting range, as well as training with an unloaded weapon at home.

A conventional smoothbore gun, when selecting the appropriate bullet, gives quite satisfactory accuracy at distances of up to 30-35 m, but when shooting at longer distances (up to 70 m), conventional sighting devices do not ensure a reliable hit of the bullet. Therefore, many foreign companies produce repeating rifles (the so-called “deer gun”) with rifle-type sights.

On some models, the height of the rear sight may vary depending on the firing range (Browning automatic with a moving barrel for 5 rounds, weight 3.2 kg, with a special choke, barrel length 60 cm; Remington, model 1100, automatic operating on the principle of gas removal, weight 3.3 kg. Drilling the barrel - improved cylinder, length 55 cm).

Similar guns are produced by many other companies: Winchester, model 1200, reloading is carried out using a movable forend, magazine for 4 cartridges, barrel length 55 cm; model 1400 of the same company with a magazine for 2 cartridges, reloading is carried out by a gas exhaust mechanism. Franchi produces a special bullet barrel with cylindrical drilling of 12 and 20 calibers, 55 cm long, it can be installed in five-round magazines of this company instead of a barrel with chokes. The Ithaca company manufactures model 51, on which it installs an optical sight (calibers 12, 20, weight 3.4 kg, 60 cm barrel, special drilling) and recommends a proprietary bullet.

A relatively short barrel (no more than 60 cm) when using progressively burning powders does not in any way affect the action of the gun muzzle, giving it greater maneuverability and controllability.

Unfortunately, the domestic industry does not produce similar models. But some of our hunters install homemade “rear sights” on their guns, similar to rifle ones, thus achieving more accurate, accurate and long-range bullet fire. In subsequent articles in “Hunter”, other components of marksmanship from a hunting weapon will be considered.

The most effective waysshooting shot at moving targets

Analysis of the literature (S. Buturlin, 1928, 1937; A. Burdenko, 1948, 1962, 1967; B. Sventitsky, 1955, etc.), our own experience, as well as numerous surveys of stand shooters and hunters of various qualifications allow us to highlight several the most rational methods of shooting at moving targets (shooting with anticipation at moving targets).

But first it is necessary to talk about the decision to shoot. When a target appears, the shooter must decide, sometimes in a matter of seconds, whether he will shoot. The main thing is safety conditions.

The decision to shoot depends on the visual perception of the direction of movement of the target, determining the distance to it, as well as the very nature of the game allowed for shooting. The faster the hunter saw the game appearing, the better, since he spends a certain time perceiving the appearing target, after which he makes a decision appropriate to the circumstances.

The decision to shoot is made only after a clear visual perception of the game that has appeared. This is one of the most important conditions, non-compliance with which (shooting at noise and at a vaguely visible target) can lead not only to poaching (shooting of prohibited game), but also to tragic consequences.

Preparation for shooting plays an important role in the success of the shot. There are two varieties: “from the shoulder” and “from the shoulder”. In the first option, the shooter, in advance of the appearance of the game in the shot zone, inserts the gun into the shoulder, checks the correct alignment of the line of sight with the aiming bar of the gun, and after that either waits for the approaching game, or sends the dog forward from the stand.

If the shooter inserts the gun into the shoulder only when the game approaches within the distance of a killing shot, this method of preparation is called “slung shooting” *.

The use of a particular weapon for hunting is largely determined by the type of hunting and the individual characteristics of the shooter. If you are hunting without a dog (“from the rise”) for swamp, waterfowl or upland game, then the use of the “over the shoulder” position is completely excluded, since the game appears unexpectedly. If a hunter notices approaching game from afar, then he can insert the gun into his shoulder in advance, which is used in duck flights, woodcock hauling and a number of other hunts.

Beginner hunters, especially those with “non-stock” guns, spend significantly more time getting the eye into the correct position relative to the sighting line of the gun after the weapon is inserted into the shoulder. Therefore, the most effective shots for them will be those fired from the shoulder.

Successful shooting in a “saddle-back” position will be achieved if the gun corresponds to the morphological characteristics of the hunter – “butt-mounted”. To make a gun like this, you need to “tailor it to yourself.” A description of this process is given in many publications (Steingold E.V. All about hunting weapons. 1978, etc.).

It’s not enough to have a good gun; you need to learn how to throw it correctly, which is achieved by repeating the technique many times. One of the main requirements in this case is that at the moment the butt plate of the gun touches the shoulder, the aiming line must coincide with the hunter’s line of sight.

When making a “saddleback” position, the hunter keeps his eyes on the moving game. Simultaneously with raising the stock to the shoulder, the hunter, in accordance with the direction of movement of the target, rotates the body (not the head), trying to direct the ends of the barrels to the desired point. This makes it possible, firstly, to carry out the raising of the gun in the same way, and secondly, to control the position of the barrels relative to the game while raising the stock to the shoulder.

Having completed the raising of the gun (regardless of the manufacturing option), the hunter gives the barrels movement in a certain direction, but only by turning the body (and not the hands). Having given the barrels a certain orientation relative to the target, the hunter pulls the trigger without stopping the gun. In other words, the shot must be fired with continuous movement of the barrels. They say about such shooting: the shot is fired “with the leash” of the gun.

The shooter can leash the gun in two ways: “with anticipatory removal of the gun barrels” and “while overtaking the target.” The first involves moving the barrels forward of a moving target. After which the hunter equalizes the angular velocity* of the movement of the barrels relative to the target, while simultaneously bringing them to the required “lead”.

With this method, the movement of the trunks is uneven, often with a tendency to reduce speed, which, from our point of view, is unprofitable, since it can lead to braking and even stopping of the trunks. The difficulty of drawing the gun in this case is also explained by the fact that the angular velocity of the target is constantly changing relative to the shooter, gradually increasing as one approaches him and decreasing as he moves away. Only when the target moves at an angle of 90° to the direction of the firing line, and then at the maximum distances for a shotgun shot, does the angular speed of the target relative to the shooter change slightly (while maintaining a constant own speed of movement).

In turn, changing the angular velocity of the target accordingly requires changing the speed (angular) of the gun’s movement and the “visible” leads that the shooter sees before pressing the trigger (more on this in the next publication).

It should also be noted that the considered method of leashing requires, at equal angular velocities of movement of the target and the barrels, the greatest “visible” leads. In addition, the process of adjusting the barrels relative to the target and taking the necessary lead becomes more complicated. This is explained by the fact that our eye cannot tear itself away from the tracking object (target) for a long time, i.e. the ray of vision passing through the aiming line of the gun when shooting in this way should be directed not at the game, but at a certain point located in front along the target's trajectory.

For these two reasons, shooting efficiency certainly decreases. Without knowing this, many hunters use a “preemptive” leash. Experienced athletes shoot this way only at long distances (up to 50 m) at a bird or animal moving at an angle of 90° (or close to it).

The “overtaking the target” method is more rational and effective. Its characteristic feature is that when the gun is raised, the barrels should be directed behind the target, and the closer to it, the better. Highly qualified shooters complete the raising of the gun almost “at the target,” i.e., the barrels, together with the sighting line of the gun, are directed quite close to the target. During the firing process, the gun barrels smoothly approach the target, moving along the trajectory of its movement, but with a higher angular velocity. Otherwise, the trunks will not be able to overtake the target.

From the moment the jump begins and while raising the gun, the hunter’s eye must be focused on the moving target. The gun barrels, including its aiming bar, are not clearly visible to the shooter during the shooting, but as they approach the target, their image gradually “appears”, becoming most distinct at the moment the target barrels are reached, when the line of sight passes through the aiming line of the gun and target. Then the trunks smoothly overtake it and move forward synchronously with the eye. As soon as the necessary gap, in the shooter’s opinion, is formed between the target and the barrels, a smooth pull on the trigger follows without stopping the barrels of the gun.

The optimal difference in the angular velocities of the barrels and the target is very important. With a very large difference, it is difficult to correct the alignment of the trajectories of the target and the weapon and to select the timely moment to press the trigger. In this case, the ocular-analyzing apparatus does not have time to process the incoming visual information, and the motor centers do not have time to issue the necessary commands. The shooter must overtake the target at such a speed that the eye can record the moment the barrels approach the target and pass through the target.

Depending on where the gun barrels ended up after raising relative to the target, their movement when overtaking can be either very short (if the barrels are located close to the target) or quite long (if the barrels are far from the target). Naturally, in the latter case, the hunter will spend more time on the leash and the shot itself. But there is no need to rush, trying to quickly overtake the target with your trunks. The movement of the weapon should always be very smooth. One of the most common mistakes made by novice shooters is haste when raising the gun and overtaking the target.

The main advantages of the second method of leashing over the first: the ability to shoot with smaller “visible” leads; the likelihood of the weapon stopping when firing is reduced; Less time required to execute a reliable, conscious shot.

Now about shooting offhand. A characteristic feature of this method is that pressing the trigger is completed at the moment the gun stock comes into contact with the shoulder.

Successful shooting in this way is possible only when the hunter has reached a high level of skill in shooting, that is, he has learned to master his gun perfectly. This means that after the flip is completed, the butt plate of the gun stock is located stably in a certain place in the shoulder cavity, and the shooter’s head occupies a strictly constant place on the ridge of the stock. In addition, the hands hold the gun in the same places and, what is especially important, the position of the index finger on the trigger is strictly constant.

The position of the legs is also important. But when hunting, it is not always possible to give them the desired position. Therefore, the shooter must learn how to correctly raise the gun with different leg positions. In a word, you need to “feel the gun” and achieve complete automaticity in its use.

Shooting offhand is most effective at targets that have low angular velocities relative to the shooter. Such options quite often arise when hunting with a pointing dog and “from the approach”, when the game moves away from the shooter. When shooting on a skeet, this method is used when shooting at a stolen target.

Let's try to outline the technical side of the matter. When a target appears, based on visual perception, a decision is made to fire a shot (sometimes you have to let go of the game so as not to be smashed by the charge). The hunter's vision is focused on a flying bird. The hunter begins to raise his gun, trying to bring the ends of the gun barrels closer to the flying game. In this case, the gun is simultaneously raised to the shoulder and the body is rotated.

The angular speed of the gun's movement exceeds the angular speed of the game's movement. As the trunks approach the target, the hunter begins to see them more clearly (they are most clearly perceived at the moment the trunks overtake the target). Having caught up with the target, the eyes and trunks are synchronously directed to a point located ahead along the target’s trajectory. At the same time, the index finger smoothly presses the trigger, and at the moment the stock touches the shoulder, a shot sounds.

The most important condition for success is a smooth raising of the gun, during which the barrels of the weapon are adjusted relative to the moving target.

Experienced shooters quickly shoot offhand, and from the outside it seems that they are not aiming at all, since they do not have a gun leash. The time it takes to execute a shot offhand depends on the skill of the shooter and the angular velocity of the target. The least amount of time can be spent shooting at a target whose angular velocity is zero (an hijacking or oncoming target flying at the shooter's eye level).

Effective shooting is achieved not only by using one method or another, but also by consciously performing all visual-motor actions. Mindfulness means high level control of the system of motor actions occurring under the control of the shooter’s eye-analyzing apparatus.

*The term was first introduced by A. A. Burdenko, one of the prominent experts in the field of shooting. This method should not be confused with offhand shooting, which is described below.

*Angular velocity is measured in degrees per second and determines rotational movements.

Lead when shooting shot at moving targets

To hit a moving target, gun barrels must occupy a certain spatial orientation. The shooter must direct the ends of the gun barrels to the desired point in the trajectory ahead of the target (take lead) and pull the trigger in a timely manner. Only in this case the shot shell will meet the target.

In the literature on shooting, movement speeds are usually given various types game. Depending on them and the time of flight of the shot at various distances, lead values are recommended. In this case, you should also take into account the angle between the target’s trajectory and the firing line (the trajectory of the shot shell). But is a hunter able to calculate all this in a matter of seconds before firing a shot at an unexpected target? We can confidently say that none of the high-class sports shooters, when preparing for a shot, make arithmetic calculations to determine the amount of lead required for a particular game.

The shooter needs to know the values of the maximum leads when shooting at targets moving at different speeds, and imagine the change in leads depending on the firing range (as the shooting distance increases, the leads increase). In addition, we must remember that a teal can fly faster than a mallard, and a goose flies no slower than a mallard, etc. But remembering all the speeds of movement of various game and all the amounts of lead depending on the angle of their movement is not necessary, and is simply burdensome.

The distance to the target (to determine the feasibility of the shot) and the place most favorable for hitting it, based on specific conditions, are necessarily recorded by the shooter.

The shooter determines the speed and direction of movement of objects using vision. The mechanism of operation of the eye tracking system is that it detects, “points” the eye at a moving object, accompanies it and transmits information about the direction and speed of the target’s movement. Physiologists have determined that small movements of an object (less than 5 arc minutes per second) are not noticeable by the eye, as well as very large angular velocities. When the speed of an object is more than 10 - 15 degrees per second, the eyes do not have time to track it. In this case, determining the speed and direction of movement of the object becomes difficult.

Information about the absolute speed and angle of movement of objects is perceived by the tracking system of the eyes through the angular speed of movement of the object while continuously tracking it with the eyes.

The angular velocity of an object is directly proportional to its absolute speed and the angle between the direction of the line of sight and the trajectory of the target and inversely proportional to the distance.

S.A. Buturlin in the book “Shotgun” (1937) provides interesting results of numerous experiments carried out by the American company “Winchester”. If the shooter takes aim at the point where the target should appear, then from the moment it appears until the first movement of the index finger pressing the trigger, 0.14-0.35 seconds pass, on average from 0.25 seconds for inexperienced people to 0.20 seconds for very trained shooters. The descent stroke - a movement of about 1 - 3 mm - takes (according to Journet) from 0.001 to 0.003 seconds *. The hammer drop in the best hammerless shotguns occurs in 0.0022 - 0.0025 seconds. From the hammer hitting the primer to the displacement of the projectile it takes (with good primers) about 0.001 seconds. It takes 0.029 - 0.067 seconds for the projectile to pass through the barrel before the shot leaves. In total, from the appearance of the game to the departure of the shot from the barrel, it takes from 0.17 to 0.41 seconds.

Thus, from the moment of receiving a visual perception of the relative position of the barrels and the target until the shot leaves the barrel, an average of about 0.23 seconds passes (for highly qualified shooters).

So that this time does not affect the choice of the necessary leads, the ends of the gun barrels must necessarily move during the firing process (it is better if they remain in motion for some time after the shot). In this case, the lead is influenced mainly by the time it takes the shot to fly to the target.

Estimated lead is the distance by which the target will move during the flight of the shot to it. The value of the calculated lead (Ur) is determined by the formula Ur = Vt x Tdr (Vt is the linear speed of the target at the moment of the shot, Tdr is the time of flight of the shot to the target).

The lateral displacement of shot fired from moving gun barrels can be ignored, since its speed will be as many times less than the speed of the target as the length of the gun (about 1 m) is less than the distance to the target. For example, if the target is moving at a speed of 20 m/sec 20 m from the shooter, then the lateral velocity of the shot will be only 1 m/sec, i.e. it will be only 5 percent of the target’s speed; the lead should also differ by the same amount.

Depending on the angle between the trajectories of the target and the shot projectile, the value of the actual lead (Uf) can vary from 0 to the calculated one. UV - the position of the barrels relative to the target at the moment the shot leaves them, ensuring its defeat. It is determined by the formula UV = Ur x Sinа. Ur is the calculated lead, and is the angle between the trajectories of the target and the shot projectile.

When using the “preemptive” shooting method (when the ends of the gun barrels and the target have the same angular velocities), the “apparent” lead coincides with the actual one.

“Visible” lead is the relative position of the barrels (sighting line) of the gun and the target (ensuring, in the shooter’s opinion, its defeat), which the shooter sees before pressing the trigger.

When shooting “overtaking” the target (when the barrels move at a higher angular speed than the target), the “apparent” lead will be slightly different from the actual one.

From the moment of visual perception of the relative position of the barrels and the target until the shot leaves, about 0.23 seconds pass, as mentioned above. During this time, the barrels continue to move at an angular velocity exceeding the angular velocity of the target. In 0.23 seconds, the barrels will already take a different orientation relative to the target, i.e., due to the difference in angular velocities, the ends of the barrels will increase the clearance between them and the target, moving forward of the target along the trajectory of its movement.

For a shooter, what determines the effectiveness of shooting is the moment of perception of the relative position of the barrels and the target before pressing the trigger, and not the moment the shot leaves the barrel when the action is already completed. And at the moment when the shot leaves the barrel, the aiming line of the gun will occupy a position corresponding to the actual lead (UF).

Thus, the “overtaking the target” method allows for effective shooting with less “visible” lead. “Visible” leads largely depend not only on the qualifications of the shooter (as evidenced by the experiments of the Winchester company), but also on the nature of the trigger press, and on the length of the trigger stroke until the sear releases the hammer. Objective data from the above experiments allow us to assert that various tricks of manufacturers to reduce the time of movement of the trigger (creation of the “blitz” system) practically do not give anything, except for reducing the service life of mainsprings, since the gain in time is extremely insignificant and is only for some athletes seconds. In addition, the opinion of many athletes and coaches about the influence of combat spiral springs used in some models of shotguns on the processes of shooting and selection of leads is unfounded. The fact is that the difference in the response time of spiral mainsprings compared to flat ones does not exceed the first thousandths of a second, which is incomparable with the total time that affects the amount of lead, measured at 0.19-0.23 seconds.

How do “visible” anticipations differ from “actual” and calculated ones? Surveys of many highly qualified athletes, for example, showed that when shooting a target on the 4th round stand from a high booth (left), where the lead should be the greatest (the calculated lead is equal to the actual one and should be about 1.7 m), the shooters called “apparent” lead from 0.5 to 1 m (most often called 0.6 – 0.8 m). In this case, the value of the “apparent” lead is almost 2–3 times less than the actual one. When shooting hijacked targets at the 3rd and 5th shooting numbers of a round stand (the direction of fire was at an angle of about 60 degrees to the target trajectory), the majority of shooters surveyed responded that the trigger was pulled at the moment the barrels overtook the target, i.e. when the barrels began to “break away” from the target - go forward (the actual lead in this case should be about 0.9 m).

During training, shooters form visual “images” of the relative position of the gun barrels and the target at the moment of pressing the trigger, depending on the angular velocity of the target’s movement.

When shooting on a round stand, where there is a significant variety of directions and angles of target flight, several images (3-4) of the relative position of the barrels and the target are generated at the moment of making the decision to pull the trigger:

1. The barrels approach the target (shooters say “along the back edge of the target”) when shooting targets at an angle of up to 15-30° to the shooting line.

2. The barrels pass the target (“on target”) when shooting targets at an angle of 20-40°.

3. The barrels overtook the target with a small clearance (“the barrels moved away from the target”) when shooting targets at an angle of 40-60°.

4. The barrels overtook the target with a significant clearance - 0.6-1 m (“the barrels moved away from the target”) when shooting targets at angles of 70-90°.

The mutual positions of the barrels and the target described above, i.e., “visible” leads, make it possible to successfully hit almost all targets on a round stand.

It must be emphasized that on a round stand, targets, having almost the same absolute speed upon departure and at the point of impact, have different angular speeds of movement relative to the shooter at the moment of the shot, while the angular speed of the target during the flight almost always changes in one direction or the other. This is explained by changes in the angles between the trajectories of the target and the directions of the line of sight (see figure).

In the previous article, it was noted that when overtaking a target with barrels, an optimal difference in the angular velocities of the target and the barrels of the gun is necessary, which allows you to timely and, most importantly, consciously pull the trigger and use a minimum number of visual images of “visible” leads. Therefore, when shooting at targets in different directions, the movement of the barrels when overtaking the target is carried out at different angular speeds. The greater the angular velocity of the target ( larger angle), the greater should be the angular velocity of the gun barrels, and vice versa.

To determine the amount of lead, some authors recommend setting aside a certain number of game bodies (ducks, hare, etc.). Any counting involves pronouncing numbers. It’s good if you need to set aside 1-2 bodies of game (target), but if it’s 4-5 bodies, then it’s almost impossible to do this relative to a moving target in the short period of time allotted to complete the shot. It is also impossible to practically use recommendations for the use of a large number of leads expressed in centimeters (40, 60, 80, 120, 150 cm), since the formation of a significant number of visual images of leads and their quick “recreation” is simply impossible.

Shooting while hunting has some differences from shooting on a skeet. They consist in the variety of shooting distances and a rather subjective perception of the speed of movement of the game, depending on its size. For example, it seems that a goose is flying rather slowly, although in fact its speed is no less than that of a mallard. So where to start, how to learn how to make the right leads in order to successfully hit game?

The first thing you need to learn is to accurately determine distances, especially the maximum - 35 meters. And not only to objects located on the ground, but also in the air. For example, to the top of a tree, the corner of a house, to birds flying at a certain distance in advance: at the height of the roof of a house, pipe, electrical wires, etc.

Next, you need to gradually form visual images of certain distance segments corresponding to maximum leads at distances of 20 and 35 m. If you take average speed flight of most hunting birds is 20 m/s and take into account that shot No. 7 flies a distance of 35 m in 0.136 s, then the maximum calculated lead will be equal to 2.7 m. When shooting “while overtaking a target” at a distance of 35 mm, the maximum visible lead will be approximately be about 1.5-2.0 m. Having set aside a one and a half meter or two meter segment, you should try to remember how it looks from a distance of 35 m.

When shooting at 20 m, the calculated lead will be 20 m/s x 0.064 s = 1.28 m. Therefore, it is necessary to create a visual “image” of a meter segment at a distance of 20 m.

The formation of visual “images” of various segments is a long and gradual process (first one image, then another) and requires a certain amount of time.

Upon achieving positive results from such training, you can move on to “linking” the images of the segments/lead relative to the aiming line of the gun inserted into the shoulder. First with a stationary gun, then leashes in the process. When performing this technique, it is necessary to press the trigger (with an empty cartridge case, into the capsule hole of which a rubber cylinder is inserted) at the moment when the barrels (the aiming line of the gun) are oriented relative to the “target” according to the formed visual image. First, at a target located at 20 m, then at 35 m. After this, move on to training at a moving target, aiming at flying birds (ravens, jackdaws, etc.). At the end of this stage of training, shooting on a skeet will be of great help, provided that the techniques for throwing a gun have been developed. In this case, it is not at all necessary to fire a shot at each target fired at the command of the shooter. The learning process is more effective when firing a “conditional shot” is combined (when an empty cartridge case is placed in the chamber) with a real shot (a live cartridge is placed in the chamber). Under the guidance of a qualified trainer, mastery of shooting skills accelerates.

When shooting at targets moving at angles less than 90° to the shooting line, the visible leads decrease and can be equal to zero, as when shooting at low-elevation targets (shooting at a target from a low booth at the 7th shooting station).

Visual control over the position of the barrels when firing with smaller visible leads is carried out successfully only in the case of an optimal speed for overtaking the target with the barrels.

In the process of moving the gun, i.e., when the ends of the barrels approach the target, the trajectory of their movement is corrected (the ends of the barrels seem to “fit” into the trajectory of the target). And already in the immediate proximity of the barrels to the target, the required lead is determined depending on the angular velocity of the target’s movement. This, obviously, occurs on the basis of comparing the visual perception of the real position of the barrels relative to the target with the “reference image” that was formed during the training process, was fixed and confirmed by successful shots.

Hunting shooting practice shows that if three “images” of visible leads are formed for distances of 20 and 35 m, which will correspond to the maximum lead (when shooting targets flying at angles of 70 - 90°), half the maximum (for targets at angles 40-60°) and one third of the maximum (when shooting targets at angles of 20-40°), then this is already quite enough for accurate shooting at animals and birds.

It should be remembered that the development and consolidation of skills in determining the relative position of barrels and targets moving at different angles is achieved in the process practical shooting on the hunt and on the stand. This equally applies to motor skills that ensure optimal speed for overtaking targets with barrels.

Summarizing all that has been said, let us formulate the main conclusions that characterize the main conditions for performing an effective shot:

– single focusing of the eye on a moving target;

– continuous “following” of the target with the eyes, especially from the moment the gun begins to raise until the trigger is pressed;

– smooth execution of all actions: raising the gun, leash of the weapon (when the ends of the gun barrels approach the target, overtaking it) and pressing the trigger;

– the optimal difference in the angular speeds of movement of the target and the gun, ensuring smooth overtaking of the target by the barrels;

– maintaining constant movement of the gun at all stages of the leash, especially when pressing the trigger;

– obligatory visual control of the ends of the gun barrels during the raising and during the firing of the weapon and their corresponding adjustment relative to the trajectory of the target and the target itself at the final phase of the firing;

– stable execution of throwing the weapon into the shoulder without subsequent adjustment of the position of the head relative to the aiming line;

When everything goes right, aiming the gun at a moving target is as easy as pointing your finger at it. It really is the same natural movement. Or it should be like this. The problem is that we humans tend to develop bad habits. Such habits, in turn, can make it easier to miss rather than hit the target. Even when you seem to be doing everything right on the bench or in the field, your perceptions may be wrong. When you're tired, chances are you'll make one of these mistakes and not even notice it. This article describes the five most common causes of misses and how to fix them. By following these you will understand how to learn to shoot accurately and minimize the number of misses.

You're peeking

It's nice to see how a target is destroyed or feathers scatter when hit by a shot charge. In practice, this is a magnificent sight; many shooters are so eager to see it that they lift their heads from the stock immediately after pressing the trigger. The problem is that if you peek, you'll probably miss it. Instead, concentrate on the tab and keep your eyes on the target. Do this from the moment the target leaves the machine and keep the tab for a while after pressing the trigger, and then you will not only see hits on the target, but you will see them much more often.

You change focus

There are many products advertised on the market that can improve your target shooting performance. Most of them are front sights of different colors and shapes or other devices that are attached to the end of the gun barrel. They work great when you're aiming at a stationary target, like a turkey, but for a fast-moving target, like a plate or a bird, they create more problems than they solve. Why? Because the last thing you need to look at when shooting at a flying target is your barrel. A bright front sight can force you to shift focus from the target to the barrel, sometimes several times from the time you aim until you fire. The moment you look at the barrel, you stop the leash. Instead, focus on just one thing - your goal.

Shooting at a point

The flying target seems easy. She approaches the shooter. Unfortunately, these targets are missed more often than they should be because shooters tend to aim at a spot in front of the target and pull the trigger. This may work if the target is coming directly at you and fits into the pattern, but this is a rare case. In fact, the target approaches at an angle, sometimes at a very small one, and as a result, the shooter's intended flight pattern is confirmed, or he misses. Instead, follow the target in flight and keep the gun moving. And then you will hit it every time.

You don't follow through

Doubles, with an intersecting trajectory or flying in pairs, puzzle even the most experienced shooters. The problem is that most people think about how to hit the second target before they even shoot the first. Such haste leads to premature movement of the barrels during the first shot, that is, the shooter fires a shot and immediately begins to aim at the second target. Just like in golf, it's important to finish the job, so try to finish the first target first before moving on to the second. The best way learn to emphasize the lead and continue it for some time after shooting at the target. This, coupled with focusing your eyes on the target rather than the barrel, should help you avoid shots behind the target.

You wince

Everyone knows that involuntary flinching is a shooter's worst nightmare, but people tend to forget how annoying it is to shooters. When the shooter flinches while aiming at a flying target, he raises his head up and moves it away from the butt, while his hands stop their natural movement and pull the weapon far away from the target. Since everything happens within milliseconds, this may not be noticed. This error is the most difficult to detect and the shooter cannot understand why he misses, although he does everything correctly. To avoid involuntary flinching, focus on the target and the desire to see it fly to pieces. If you don’t see this, most likely you involuntarily close your eyes in anticipation of the recoil from the shot. Try to concentrate, if you can’t solve the problem, try cartridges with a weaker charge or buy a recoil pad to soften the recoil.