The shooter shooting a low-flying oncoming target overcomes the temptation to shoot from the moment of launch, because the target is clearly visible from the very beginning.
After some time, a new type of artificial targets appeared - plates. By the end of the 19th century, the machines for throwing them were so improved that it became possible to change the flight of the target to imitate the flight of a bird or the run of a hare. It would be a mistake to consider sporting as an alternative to hunting. Sporting is an excellent way of training hunters for shooting. Firstly, the hunting press is so great that the likelihood of meeting an animal or bird is steadily decreasing. Sometimes it also happens that many hunters return home without firing a single aimed shot. Secondly, the hunt is carried out within the statutory (sometimes rather tight) timeframes. Not everyone can go hunting during this period. And you can go in for sport all year round, just come to the shooting range. Shooting is carried out at targets of different sizes. Target flight varies - hijacking, oncoming, flights flying from the left or right. There is a target "running hare": the target rolls on the ground and bounces on the bumps, imitating the running of a hare.
A low-flying oncoming target has to be shot not only at the stand, quite often a bird flies along such a trajectory. The target can fly either directly to the shooter or at a slight angle to the shooting area. Most low-flying counter targets fall to the ground 10-15 meters from the lay-out.
To reliably hit a low-flying oncoming target, the shooter must have well-developed shooting skills. This requirement is explained by the fact that after the target has reached the highest point of the trajectory, it begins to descend rapidly. In the first two-thirds of the trajectory, the flight of this target is stable and predictable. In the last third, the flight speed decreases and the target begins to rapidly lose altitude. The descending part of the trajectory, both in length and in the flight time of the target, is extremely small. Of course, you can hit the target at any part of the trajectory, but it is not always guaranteed. George Digweed said there is only one point on the target's trajectory where the shooter is guaranteed to hit the target. It needs to be shot at the highest point of the trajectory. Not before she gets there, and not after, but at this point.
Most often, the shooter misses the target, shooting it at the initial stage of the trajectory. The shooter shooting a low-flying oncoming target overcomes the temptation to shoot from the moment of launch, because the target is clearly visible from the very beginning. But such a temptation must be fought, and here's why. The shooter cannot trace the flight of the target! After all, it is on the ascending section of the trajectory, which means that in order to give a lead, you need to close the target with the trunks. The shooter will not know what is going on with the target at all. And even more so in this case, he may not see that the target has passed the highest point of the trajectory and begins to decline. Do not think that a decrease in flight speed is equal to an increase in flight time. In the last third of the trajectory, the target moves just as fast, and before the shooter has time to figure out what's what, the target will already be on the ground.
If you are not satisfied with the shooting performance on the stand, go for dry shooting. Follow the target carefully, mark the highest point of the trajectory for yourself and tie this point to some landmark. Now you can easily aim the barrels at this point even without launching the target. After practicing throwing the gun at this point, return to the lay-out. Achieve guaranteed hitting targets at the highest point of the trajectory. Let me remind you once again that a low-flying oncoming target must be shot at the highest point of the trajectory, neither before nor after. Shoot earlier, when the target is still rising, or later, when the target has already begun to descend, the result will be the same - a miss. The target has come to the highest point of the trajectory, you brought the barrels under the target, a shot - the target is hit!
For successful shooting of this target, one should not get carried away with strict chokes, it is optimal to have a muzzle restriction not more severe than a quarter of the choke, since the target flies to the shooter. At a distance of 25 meters with a muzzle narrowing of a quarter of the choke, the diameter of the shot talus will be 75 cm.
For beginners, who have first picked up a smoothbore gun, should remember once and for all: shooting with a shot at fast-flying targets is different from target shooting. Do not aim at the target: when the shot reaches the aiming point, the target will no longer be there. And remember to be proactive!
