Not shooting worth a hoot...

[remm]

Focus on the bird, not the bead. You should hardly notice the end of your barrel unless as espringer said, the bird is close range and flying directly away from you, then the barrel pretty much covers the bird. Only time I could think of looking at that bead would be a ground pound or a turkey where you take more of an aim. I'd say wingshooting is mainly instinctive, some people can, some people struggle.

 

[Enslow]

Could be the fit of the stock that is a problem for you.

 

[Obi-Wan]

Is this a new or different gun? If so you may want to check the shims between the stock and receiver. I shot a Mossberg for years with no problems but when I switched to a Benelli I was shooting low. I laid one gun on top of the other and could not believe the difference between the stock and receiver alignment between the two. I changed the shim and my problems ended. I was taught point with a shotgun and aim with a rifle. If I think when shooting a shotgun it usually end up with a miss

 

[FishSticks]

Don't overthink it, keep it fun... My friend claims that watching those ShotKam videos, shows how far to lead birds. I am not sure that is actually true but I really enjoy watching them as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xt2Hg2mNtI

 

[eyexer]

I put high viz sights on too and it helps a lot.

 

[SlamminSalmon]

Hi vis sights made me struggle could see it to easy and wouldn’t put my head down like I should. Figured it out and threw it in the slough. Now I try to leave my brain at home so I don’t think I just do

 

[SDMF]

Openest choke you can find. Look for the beak, specifically the beak. Your eyes will get your hands where they need to go. In the immortal albeit modified words of Ty Webb, “Be the beak”. Na na na na na na na na na na.

 

[Achucker]

I used a high vis sight. Just for sight alignment when shouldering. When it was bright my eye was in line with rib. When not so bright it was too high. Once I made the adjustment birds started dropping

 

[Kentucky Windage]

Just keep missing please. Maybe there will be a few around for when I finally get time to hunt.

 

[2400]

There are a lot of great ideas in the thread so far. Here's a another one, find a buddy or coach that's a good shot, have them watch you shoot for a while. Sometimes that's all it takes is someone else watching and letting you know what you can change or improve on to up your percentage of hits.

I'm a SCTP lead instructor and we do that all the time for kids and sometimes parents after practice. Sometimes its just a little thing sometimes it's a lot of work to overcome a bad habit, flinch or?

 

[Duckslayer100]

I don't have time to run through all the replies at the moment, so apologies if this has already been mentioned.

Get your gun fitted. I struggled like crazy all through high school and college shooting my 870. It was frustrating has hell, and didn't seem to matter how much shooting I got in or how often I practiced.

Then I got my M2, which comes with shim adjusters. Got the right combo of shims so the gun comes up PERFECT every time. Clean, square line of sight. Tight to my shoulder with my cheek down. It was like night and day, and almost instantly. I think the softer cheek pad helped, too. With my 870, I instinctively shot with my cheek off the stock. I think because after a few too many whacks with magnum loads, my brain wouldn't allow the abuse.

Now with the Benelli, there's no flinching. I get right down cozy with the stock and everything falls into place.

Not saying you have to get a Benelli, but doing some modifications to your gun (they make aftermarket slip-on risers or extenders, for instance) could help a ton.

My 2 cents.

 

[Bfishn]

^Getting a Benelli M2 or SBE is definitely the expensive answer, but those guns do pull up amazingly well for most people. I shoot my Browning plenty good, but have also shot the SBE a fair amount, and every time I pull them up they just feel right.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

Think I follow the bird to much looking down the side of the barrel and not actually looking down at the bead.
You guys are probably going to suggest shooting clay's?? On two outings I've got one bird..last weekend I went 0 for 6....thats shot at 6 birds and got a zero. 8 shells, wasted 3 shells to 2 birds..they did not drop.

go ahead...laugh at me..I can take it.;:;banghead

Generally speaking (not trying to offend you), are you a good shot and are currently in a slump? In your 2 outings, were the birds flushing to where you were missing layups or was the wind whipping 20 MPH and every first shot was with the wind at the end of shotgun range? I don’t beat myself when I have a bad outing due to birds getting up at the end of shotgun range.

I’d second 2400’s take in having a skilled shooter stand behind and you watch your form over a round or 2 of Clay’s to identify where things are going wrong. SDMF is good at letting me know what mistakes I’m making on the range when I’m struggling.

- - - Updated - - -

I wouldn’t chalk it up to the gun like some have mentioned until you comment on what’s your normal for success

- - - Updated - - -

Change out your choke to an improved cylinder.

 

[shorthairsrus]

Accuracy with a shotgun -- IMO it runs in cycles --- I am hot and then sometimes i am cold. The cold cycle being the shortest -- however some days. Confidence and pulling the trigger at the correct time works for me

 

[Maddog]

"Change out your choke to an improved cylinder."

X2

 

[campchef]

Spend some time with Mark Sandness at Capital City sporting Clays

 

[LBrandt]

Stop Shooting at owls.