Heidi Kaser launches her new column on Shotgun Life that takes you on a shotgun journey from the FBI Academy to her current role with the NRA where she is creating a Women’s Leadership Forum. Sponsored by Randolph Engineering, Heidi’s column will address the role of women in the shotgun sports. Shotgun Life has the highest percentage of women readers of any shotgun publication (34%) and we are proud to serve women involved in wing and clays shooting. Check out Heidi’s column at http://www.shotgunlife.com .

Sign-up at Shotgun Life to Receive Daily Shooting Tips From the

Library of Gil & Vicki’s Optimum Shotgun Performance (OSP) Shooting School

PIKESVILLE, Md. – July 20, 2009 – Shotgun Life announced today the new Gil & Vicki Ash OSP store for their instructional books, DVDs and other products and services designed to help shotgun owners improve their game.

The new OSP store on Shotgun Life is the first online retail venture outside of Gil & Vicki’s own domain. The venture underscores the common commitment by OSP and Shotgun Life to make the shotgun sports more enjoyable and rewarding for shooters of all experience levels.

In conjunction with its new OSP store, Shotgun Life launched its free “Shotgun Life’s OSP 3-Minute Coach.” Subscribers will receive shooting tips via email Monday through Friday that are excerpted from Gil & Vicki’s many books and DVDs. Shooters can sign up now at http://www.shotgunlife.com.

The Shotgun Life OSP store is located at

http://www.ospschool.com/products_programsshotgunlife.html.    

“Shotgun Life helps shooters steer clear of the conflicting instructional advice that’s dished up in the all those online forums,” said Gil. “We saw Shotgun Life as an extension of our philosophy, and that’s to get new shooters started on the right foot and help experienced shooters figure out those little tics and quirks that drive them crazy.”

“As the first online magazine devoted to wing and clays shooting, Shotgun Life is in a great position to help Gil & Vicki reach as many shotgun owners as possible,” said Irwin Greenstein, Publisher of Shotgun Life. “Shotgun Life is free, timely and women-friendly – breaking down the barriers that have held back so many shooters and advertisers frustrated with the limitations of the six-times-per-year publishing cycle that still persists as the industry model.”

Through OSP, Gil & Vicki provide a complete instructional package. No other instructors in the world have the depth of products, knowledge and experience for successfully teaching clays and wing shooting. Each year, Gil & Vicki add new products and services so that OSP continues to meet the ever-growing needs of the shotgun sports community.

The Shotgun Life OSP store will feature Gil & Vicki’s best-selling books and DVDs.

The books include:

• If It Ain’t Broke, Fix It!
• Sporting Clays Consistency: You Gotta Be Out of Your Mind!
• The Coaching Hour Chronicles series

DVDs include:

• 14 Tips to Better Shotgunning
• How to Practice & Understanding the Move
• Strategy & How to Play the Game
• Perfecting Your Gun Mount
• The Three Routines in Sporting Clays
• Choke Selection Made Simple

Visit www.ospschool.com to learn more.

Shotgun Life

Shotgun Life is the first online magazine devoted to the best in wing and clays shooting. For more information about Shotgun Life visit http://www.shotgunlife.com.

Media Contacts:

For Shotgun Life:                                   For OSP:

Bernard + Associates                            Media Direct

Ryan Holmes                                         Kim Cahalan

(775) 323-6828                                    (309) 944.5341

ryan@bernardandassociates.com           kim@mediadirectcreative.com                     

# # #

This article originally appeared on Shotgun Life in Elizabeth Lanier’s column, Shotguns and She-Nanigans. You can read more of Elizabeth Lanier at http://www.shotgunlife.com.

Written by Elizabeth Lanier

Getting Started

PULL – What can I say?  It is my favorite four-letter word.  Why, you might ask?  Well, it’s the word used to release a clay target, but what it really turns loose is more fun than you can possibly imagine. 

From the moment I step into a shooting box and put two shells in my gun, I cannot help but feel a huge surge of adrenaline and anticipation.  As I close the shotgun and prepare to say “that word“, I have to smile and be thankful for the serendipitous journey that has led me to love saying “PULL,” and beyond.

Several years ago I gave my husband a gift certificate for shooting lessons.  He was already a rifle shooter, and occasionally an upland bird hunter, so I thought a lesson aimed at the clay target disciplines would be a fun gift for him. I went along the day he was supposed to take the first lesson, ended up shooting with him, and I loved it.

Between carpooling three children around, after school activities and keeping up with home and family obligations, I managed to squeeze in (and steal) his remaining shooting lessons. 

Somewhere between the love of pulling the trigger, the desire to succeed, and introducing new shooters to this sport, I realized that it was the “why” of the misses and not the “where” that really mattered. 

It was the realization of the importance of good first experiences that compelled me to become an instructor.  To know that when I was guiding them through their first attempts with a shotgun, that I was setting them up for success.

When I was initially approached about discussing women’s shotgunning and the pros and cons we face, I was not sure if I could bring any new and novel approaches to shooting.   The more I thought back on my own progression in this sport, both as a shooter and now as an NSCA Certified Shooting Instructor of men, women and children,  I realized what I could do was be a voice of advocacy and assurance for recreational women shooters through my own experiences.

I stress recreational.  The women shooters who are proficient competition shooters already know the fun and fulfillment of shooting.  They know the skills and intense mental focus required to compete.  No doubt it was the pure pleasure of starting as recreational shooters that compelled them to hone those skills.

I believe there are many, many women who, given the proper introduction to the shotgun sports, would not only love this sport, but excel in it as well.  So I say if you have thought about it, why not give it a try? 

I know, I know…..what do women think of when they hear someone say “shotguns” or “shooting”?  They think of a man’s sport, heavy guns, loud noises, camouflage clothing and killing Bambi or Donald Duck.  It does not have to be any of that.

As a female shooter I think of the fun and excitement I experience every time I pull the trigger.  I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I hear the bang and see a clay break. 

For women who have family members wanting them to shoot or women who just want to try it, I encourage you to seek out a qualified instructor who will guide you through the learning process, paying careful attention to your eye dominance, good form and proper gun placement in the shoulder.  They will know the right gauge gun and the best shell to use for the first lessons. 

Many well intended people have introduced women and children to shooting with a favorite old hunting gun and perhaps some left over shells from a duck or goose hunt. “It’s easy, just point and shoot”.  Trust me, this is not the best way to get started.

If you have started shooting and are looking for fellow shooters, don’t be afraid to go to a nearby shooting range.  I have met many wonderful people in the shooting world at nearby gun clubs.

I met another female shooter, now a friend, at a pheasant shoot.  After a brief conversation about finding other women to shoot with occasionally, we exchanged numbers on the only paper we had, shot gun shell box tops, and agreed to meet and shoot.  I told her it would be fun to try and get other women shooters to join us and try to shoot on a regular basis.  We both knew of a few women who shot with their husbands or kids, or had maybe hunted with their father or grandfather in their lives, so we called them to join us. Before you knew it, we had a women’s shooting group. 

We now have about 25 members.  We have housewives, garden club members, doctors, lawyers, artists, as well as a pilot and teacher.  It is a fun loving, diverse group of women who have gone from shooting once a month to occasional 2 day excursions planned around shooting courses, shopping and all the shenanigans that go along with it all……fun shooting, good gear and great dinners, all topped off with a whole lot of laughs.  Every now and then we even let our husbands join us.

Like I said, why not give it a whole hearted try?  Whether a beginner or more experienced shooter, there is always merit in good instruction and learning to shoot better and better by building your shooting inventory….to me that includes getting the gear but we will talk about that later.

Women communicate.  They will convey their feelings if they are anxious or excited.  They are gatherers.  They like to understand and replicate instructions and often learn much more by visual demonstrations that just an explanation. 

Stay with Shotgun Life….soon we will talk about how we gather information, process it and incorporate it into building that shooting inventory we are talking about.  We will also discuss trying to find good “girl” gear, starting women’s shooting groups, shooting and shopping adventures and more.  Whew….so much to cover, so little space……….stay tuned.

Elizabeth Lanier is an NSCA Level I instructor based in Virginia. Please send your questions to elanier@shotgunlife.com. Every week, she will update her monthly column by selecting one question and post both the question and answer to her column so that all her readers can benefit.

This tutorial originally appeared in the free weekly e-letter distributed by Shotgun Life. To subscribe, please visit http://www.shotgunlife.com.

By Jack Bart

One of the best-kept secrets about successful trap shooting is that the game only has three primary shots.

Regardless of which way the targets come flying out of the trap house, there are just three ways to crush it. This gets even easier when you begin to understand that each of the three ways is determined by which station you’re on. Stations 1 and 2 use one shot; station 3 is a different shot; and Stations 4 and 5 comprise the third shot.

The best way to optimize this 3-Trap Shooting Technique is in your set-up. Rather than just stepping up to the station and calling for the target, there are few things you need to do first. By taking a moment to allow yourself the proper set-up, you almost guarantee that you’ll break the target based on the 3-Trap Shooting Technique.

The set-up consists of the hold point (where you point the muzzle before shooting), foot position and where you place your eyes. For our purposes, the information that follows is geared toward right-hand shooters.

A quick note before we proceed….When I say that your feet should be parallel, I’m referring to the leading edge of the concrete border on the station. Therefore, when I say parallel, it means your feet should be parallel to that edge; it’s our baseline for foot position.

Station 1

On Station 1, you should be standing so that your feet are nearly parallel, pointing toward Station 5. Your left should be almost touching that concrete edge. Your right foot will be back 2-3 inches – so that the toes of your right foot are at about at the ball of your left foot. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart.

Now you mount the gun. Your hold point is 1 foot to the right of the front left corner of the trap house. The reason for this is that no target (either left for right) will cross the gun barrel and get blocked from your view. By giving yourself the advantage of a full downrange perspective, it helps reduce that sense of urgency when you find yourself chasing a target that was momentarily obscured by the barrel. This hold point helps you maintain a calm demeanor so that you can concentrate on breaking the target rather than chasing it.

In terms of the horizontal axis, you’re going to hold the gun at the height approximately where you’re going to break the target. That could vary depending on how the target is flying in the wind. For example, if the wind is blowing toward you it will drive the target high. Shooting into the wind means that you would hold the gun higher than the normal position of parallel with the ground.

Still concentrating on the set-up, your eyes should look beyond the gun to the front edge of the trap house – allowing you to see the target immediately after it’s thrown.

As the target leaves the trap house, do not move the gun. Send your eyes to the left edge of the target. When you have the target well in focus, then move the gun directly to that left edge and shoot. There’s no lead necessary. Just shoot the left edge. Gun speed will create the necessary lead to break the target every time. Even with the right hand target from Station 1, you should break it on the left edge. Do not follow the target; go directly to the left edge and pull the trigger. The target will break every time.

The left edge is one of the three shots that I was referring to in the 3-Trap Shooting Technique. As you’ll see in a moment, you’ll also shoot the left edge of the target on Station 2.

Station 2

Everything is the same as on Station 1, except that you turn your body a little more to the right. You’ll find that this slight variation will also move your right foot about 2 inches further back than on Station 1.

Your hold point is half way between the center of the trap house and the left hand corner. You’re looking at the front edge of the trap house. You’re going to hold the gun at the height that you intend to break the target. Again, shoot left edge of target. Don’t try to figure it out. It works if you go directly to the target. If you track it, you’ll miss the target.

To recap, Station 1 and Station 2 should have the targets broken on the left edge. This left-edge approach comprises Shot 1 of the 3-Trap Shooting Technique.

Station 3

Turn another couple inches to the right. That will move your feet about 2 inches further back. Your feet are shoulder-width apart.

Hold the gun at the height where you’ll break the target and 1 foot to the right of center of the trap house. The reason to hold the gun right of center is that if you held the gun dead center on the trap house, a target could actually get under the gun and you wouldn’t be able to see it because the gun would obscure the straight away target. Thus holding the gun 1 foot to the right allows you to immediately see any target as it leaves the trap house.

Keep your eyes at the front edge of the trap house, looking for the target as it’s thrown.

Shoot directly at the center of every target. For example, if you get a straight-away targeting flying at 12 noon, you would shoot the target at 6 o’clock, which is dead center.

This 6 o’clock point of impact is the second shot of the 3-Trap Shooting Technique. It is unique to Station 3.

Station 4

Turn another 2 inches to the right. Your right foot will move back commensurately. Your feet are still shoulder-width apart. Your hold point is half way between the right front corner of the trap house and the center. The height of your hold point will be approximately where you’ll shoot the target. You are looking at the front edge of the trap house.

Now we come to the third shot of the 3-Trap Shooting Technique. On Station 4 and on Station 5 you will shoot every target on the right edge. Move directly to the target. Do not chase it. As they say in the old Westerns, head the target off at the pass. Even if you get a left crossing target, break it on the right side. Don’t think about it, just do it. You’ll smash the target every time.

Station 5

Turn another 2 inches to the right, which will put your feet about 45 degrees in relation to the front edge of the station. Look at the front edge of the trap house. Your hold point is 1 foot in from the right front corner of the trap house, at a height of approximately where you’ll break the target. After you’ve established the target with your eyes, go directly to the right edge of the target and pull the trigger. The target will break.

Conclusion

The 3-Trap Shooting Technique basically gives you three different shots for five stations. On Stations 1 and 2, you break the target on the left edge. On Station 3, you break the target in the center. On Stations 4 and 5, you break the target on the right edge.

This method gives you the ability to know exactly where you’re going to shoot at the target before you even establish the target with your eyes.

Always move directly to the target. Do not follow it. What you’ll discover is that you’ll almost forget the target is moving. Your only job is to go directly to the target as though it’s simply hanging out there.

Everything that we talked about is written in stone, except the height that we hold the gun in relation to the trap house.

In terms of the height, that is dictated by the wind conditions. Here’s a tip to help you determine your vertical axis for the hold point…

In any windy situation, the targets are always changing. You can use this to your advantage. I call it “playing the wind.” When it’s my turn to shoot, I hold the gun at the highest point of the target flight, based on where I saw the target fly as I watched the shooter before me. Always watch the target of the shooter before you to determine your vertical hold point.

I am constantly changing my vertical hold point to the highest point of the target flight. The wind will dictate this. It could be very high or very low. Occasionally the hold point is low enough to be, on the trap house.

On a calm day, you don’t have to change it. The target will go to the same high point, every time. That’s when you can really get in a groove. It’s so easy, it’s almost like stealing.

Always look down through the gun in order to see the target as it approaches your gun hold point. As you see it moving below the gun, move the barrel left or right to meet it. Your barrel only has to move horizontally, and often only a few inches, or not at all. If you do it correctly, It really does look like the trap machine  is throwing the targets at your gun.

REMEMBER: NEVER HOLD HIGHER THAN THE HIGHEST POINT. THE TARGET WON’T MAKE IT TO THE GUN. IF YOU’RE NOT SURE HOLD A LITTLE LOW.

If you can master the 3-Trap Shooting Technique, you be amazed at how it seems that the trap machine is throwing the targets directly in front of your gun.

Jack Bart is a professional shotgun shooting instructor, master stock fitter and owner of Bart’s Sports World in Glen Burnie, Maryland.  His phone number is 410-746-3232. Please visit his web site for guns, accessories and shooting instructions at http://www.bartssports.com.

I just returned from a 3-day course at Blackwater Worldwide in tactical shotguns. It was one of the most incredible experiences ever. The big rule is never let your pump gun go empty, whether you’re running, walking, backing up, kneeling, prone, around doorways, through windows — you’re always topping it off as fast as possible. It completely changes your relationship, how you view, over/unders and side-by-sides. I’ll be writing it up for Shotgun Life at http://www.shotgunlife.com in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled.

The Shotgun Life FREE E-Letter is published every Wed. with the intent of providing shooting tips for people in the shotgun sports. With nearly 1,000 subscribers, its popularity has skyrocketed.

On Wed. 2/25, it will feature a great lesson from former H.M. Royal Marine Commando and Firearms Instructor and Tactical Advisor for the City of London Police, Andy Tubb.

Andy’s theory is that anyone can improve their shooting by using their

instinct, honed over the millennium, to point at prey. And based on his background, we’ll just make the assumption that he’s a pretty darn good pointer. 

He was responsible for central London’s armed police response and advice, where he provided protection for the Royal Family, International Heads of State and VIPs. In addition, he was involved with hostage rescue, anti-terrorist operations, security and the recovery high-risk/high-value property,

As an H.M. Royal Marine Commando, Andy’s training covered Arctic warfare, parachuting, sniper shooting, skiing and other tools of the trade.

This guy knows his stuff…

To sign up for the Shotgun Life free e-letter, please visit http://www.shotgunlife.com and simply enter your email address where it says “Sign Up for Shotgun Life’s Free E-Letter.” Pretty simple.

You’ll receive a free shooting tip every week from a top instructor. Remember, spring is coming and it’s time to get ready.