- Image via Wikipedia
When it comes to killing the clay as it is slung through the air, arguments abound to what methodology is most appropriate. Some will argue in favor of sight shooting, and others will argue for point shooting. Suffice it to say, when it comes to shooting clay pigeons, sight-shooting is the preferable course of action.
Point shooting has been a hot topic of discussion since the 1800s, and is a popular concept. It’s not difficult to fathom why. You can imagine an almost Star Wars Force-like power coursing through you as you watch the clay shoot into the air, and you swing your rife into position at exactly the right angle and approach. Then, firing your weapon, you watch in pride as the pigeon burst into a hundred pieces.
This would be a remarkable skill, to say the least, and it’s quite possible that a few rare gun-slingers actually possess the skill. But let’s face the facts: shooting clay pigeons is not like being caught in a dark alley unawares by an assailant. Point shooting is perfect for an instance like this, but is hardly appropriate for a bird in flight. An assailant in a dark alley will give you no time to think, thereby forcing your hand and making you react by instinct; hence the value of the point shooting paradigm.
Out on the range, however, a more trustworthy and predictable methodology is required. Shooting by the sight of your gun provides a consistent and measurable outcome. The sight of your gun allows you to return precisely to the same structure and form you practiced before. Granted, a lot of people don’t like structure and frequently run to the outdoors for a release from structure. But shooting requires discipline and practice. It requires discipline in the handling of the guns, and in the control of the firing; and it requires practice, lots of repetitive practice.
