Teals

Used to be able to shoot teals really easy but I've lost my way and it's becoming my bogey bird, anyone got a simple method to get back on track? I currently hold a few meters over the trap and watch the clay appear then move the gun up the line of the target and just shoot the leading tip of it keeping the gun moving ? Am I wrong it used to work

Same problem as me right now. Close ones are ok, but those long ones, Arrrrrrrrrhhhhh!!  I'll read this post with interest.  :biggrin:

Hard to have a single system. Depends on the angle and distance. I see some people shoot them very quickly whereas I tend to be more measured. I reckon most are missed over the top though, because often the gun is rushing up to a target which is slowing and eventually falling.

Need a few different methods I would say personally!! i tend to look at what type of teal target is presented and then decide on hold and kill point, speed of gun etc,, good timing Will!!!!

Yeah Td tried being really aggressive attack it , no good tried letting it peak and getting under it no good...........

I really have gone from say 7 ex 8 to 2 maybe 3 it my only target I'm going backwards at

Try holding higher on the target line, minimal movement will stop you shooting over the top of the clay!

Will H I am sure will agree it's a tough one to talk through on here!! But something a good coach, Would put right very quickly!!

It's annoying me cos I'm finishing my round in 70-odd and the 5 clays I drop on teals would make the difference

Fast teal, gun hold 1/2 way up its line, wait for  clay to reach bottom of barrel and move gun smoothly through it kill when clay blanked, slow-ish teal, start at trap move up through it smoothly, blank and kill it simples

P.s doesn't always work  for me  :crazy:

I look at them as a fast over head driven,more or less the same picture but make sure you mount the correct side off the line ie left or right.  

Yeah Eddie that's what I used to do no issues , now I think I'm double checking myself and missing either behind (under) or down the side (wrong hold point)

Iv found the most important thing with teal is trust yourself, do not double check trust your eyes, that's for short to medium teal, the long buggers what works for me is high gun hold about half way up let the clay beat me and as I cover the bird I look out about a yard higher than the bird and shoot that point, it may sound strange but it works very well for me on the long ones I shoot them about 2/3 of the way up. But any time iv had trouble with teal it was lack of confidence and double checking

If you can wait and shoot it as it peaks then it's easy as there is no lead required. As others have said, hold the gun up say 2/3rds to 3/4 of the way up its trajactory and minimise gun movement so you don't over-swing and shoot over the top. I hold the gun slightly to the right of the bird (being right handed) on its way up so it doesn't get obscured by the barrels as it rises.

If you shoot it when it stops you are effectively 'rifling' it so it's an excellent indicator of gun fit. You must trust your fit and just stare at the clay, do not look at the barrels. If you miss, check your gun fit.

It's much more tricky if you have to shoot it on the way up or down because of the lead required but it's only the same as crosser in that gun speed and gun movement are key.

ATB Mark

Stand more side ways on. Mount gun to face not face to gun. Most shooters slip back to bringing face to gun. Practice this at home on a fixed point, get someone to watch you as it's difficult to know if you slightly move face to gun.

Gun hold 1/2 to 2/3rds on flight path. Kill zone 2/3rds. Watch the clay come to gun, insert gun (no swing) at the clay pull trigger your head does the rest. Clay is slowing all the time a swing could result in a over top miss.

No fast swing, nice and steady, slow it all down for slow ones.

SoR said:

Used to be able to shoot teals really easy but I've lost my way and it's becoming my bogey bird, anyone got a simple method to get back on track? I currently hold a few meters over the trap and watch the clay appear then move the gun up the line of the target and just shoot the leading tip of it keeping the gun moving ? Am I wrong it used to work

Click to expand...

It really depends what you mean by a few meters over the trap, generally that would be considered a little too low so you could end up shooting a slowing bird with a fast gun. More than any other bird the Teal needs meticulous timing, there really is less of a true sweet spot compared to many other presentations. 

In principal you have to shoot them as you describe but a good trick is to hold very slightly to one side and half way up allowing your peripheral gaze to catch the early movement of the clay, then chase it as it overtakes the barrels and depending on distance/speed flip through and shoot. If your timing is right and you fire before the clay has lost speed and stopped completely, the flip should provide enough lead. It would be a pretty awesome Teal both in distance and speed that would need good day light in terms of lead allowance. 

I would also say you're better off with a bit of choke because you can sometimes feel/see the shot if you're way off, but when you're on the breaks are invariably solid.

Since having my RSR barrels (simple snake oil gimmick) I have been so much more confident in tackling teals on the up.

Obviously this is partly due to the improved sight picture that I'm getting around the target.

Apart from going away targets, teals are the only time that I shoulder the gun first.........worth a try if you don't already.

Previously with gun down I think I would flick over the top?

A box of tracers on a practice stand could help if you're really stumped. :clover:  

I normally just sit the Teal on the bead and shoot.   if its reasonably close.

If its some way away, a small gap and shoot

:santa: