Pass Along PDJ
March 2008

Shoot the Spot
by Steve Smith

he instinctive, fast, swing-through method of wingshooting is fine, as far as it goes. The problem is, it only goes about 35 yards. Starting from behind the target, you swing fast enough to pass the bird, then you pull the trigger as you sense or "feel" the muzzle pass the barrel. But that just doesn’t work at extended range for most people – they still have to see daylight in front of the bird, which means most of us start aiming rather than pointing, the swing slows down, which negates the advantages of the swing-through method: speed and using our instincts.

So, at long range, do what Nash Buckingham used to advocate: Imagine a moving spot about a bird length ahead of the bird, and use the swing-through method on that spot, shooting as you feel the muzzle pass it.

At close range, it’s butt, belly, beak, bang!

At long range, it’s butt, belly, beak, SPOT, bang!

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