Do you keep your finger on the trigger before calling the target or do you handle it like any other firearm and keep the finger off the trigger until ready to shoot?

Off.

When the gun is mounted and pointed downrange, my finger is on the trigger before I say "pull".

Chris

Wow... y'know how some things just become automatic? So automatic you don't even think about it anymore? That. I think my finger doesn't touch the trigger until I've acquired and started tracking the bird.

It's like when I'm pin shooting. My finger is off the trigger until the muzzle comes up and I begin to align on the first pin.

In neither case is it a conscious move/decision. It just "happens." (I actually had to stop and mentally visualize myself doing those things.)

Yes, I think in the split second before I call pull, I move my finger to the trigger.

But at the call of pull, I AM ready to shoot. The first shot comes probably less than a second after I say pull.

i have never tried those release trigger but have been fascinated by the concept.

Most people mount their gun, move the trigger finger to the trigger and then call for the target.

I shoot about 10,000 trap targets a year and I have shot a release trigger for about 15 years. I mount the gun, focus my eyes, pull the trigger to "set" the release and then call for the target.

The release trigger is very smooth and is a good antidote for a flinch.

heathtx

When I call for a bird, my shotgun is already shouldered, I'm pointed at the house, and my finger is on the trigger. In that order.

Shoulder shotgun skyward. Roll at hips down onto target plane. Swing left/right as necessary to get ON target. Finger on trigger. "PULL!"

If I'm not shooting, the shotgun stays broke, usually on one of my shoulders, barrels in front of me so I know where they are.

trap -- mount the gun, point it over the appropriate part of the trap house, gentle place finger on trigger, call for the pull

skeet -- pretty similar to trap, however may not always have my finger on the trigger for stations 3-5 when calling for the pull

sporting clays -- if I can mount the gun, pretty similar to trap
-- if the station's presentation dictates an unmounted or partially mounted starting gun position, my finger is generally off the trigger

FITASC -- given that all first shots occur from an unmounted gun, my finger doesn't touch the trigger until the buttstock touches my shoulder

Ran a skeet/trap range for over 20 years and was also an registered skeet shooter attending 8-10 matches a year and refereeing about the same number each year. From that experience I can say the majority of both type shooters have their finger on trigger when they call for the bird whether they shoot standard or release trigger. This seems counter to the way firearms are handled in other sports but it is not a problem. One thing to note, clay bird guns are only considered empty when they are open. When closed regardless of what is in chamber it is loaded and must be pointed down range so if the gun goes off no harm other than embarrassment (unless shooting a release trigger and they can be another story). Everyone on the squad knows the rules and acts as a safety officer. I've lost count of the guns I've knocked to the ground or seen knocked to the ground when a shooter has wandered the barrel out of the safety area. No club I ever shot at was bashful about requesting careless gun handlers to leave.

I was never a real serious clay shooter, but I did a fair bit of it. What I did depended on what I was shooting. If I was shooting my more serious guns, I'd be safety off, finger on (lightly) the trigger. With other guns, especially hunting guns I'd start safety on or hammer uncocked, finger off the trigger, with the gun at a low ready, not shouldered. It all depends on what you get out of it.

Heck, when I was shooting more 3-gun and shotgun matches my fun practice was what I called "empty gun trap". "Pull" with the bolt open and nothing in the gun. Port load, close and shoot.



And... as far as "off the trigger till you're ready to shoot:, when you say "pull" you're ready to shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
I was never a real serious clay shooter, but I did a fair bit of it. What I did depended on what I was shooting. If I was shooting my more serious guns, I'd be safety off, finger on (lightly) the trigger. With other guns, especially hunting guns I'd start safety on or hammer uncocked, finger off the trigger, with the gun at a low ready, not shouldered. It all depends on what you get out of it.

Heck, when I was shooting more 3-gun and shotgun matches my fun practice was what I called "empty gun trap". "Pull" with the bolt open and nothing in the gun. Port load, close and shoot.



And... as far as "off the trigger till you're ready to shoot:, when you say "pull" you're ready to shoot.

If your shotgun had a bolt, we already knew you weren't a serious clays shooter.

When I call pull shooting trap, my finger is on the trigger.

quote:

Originally posted by exx1976:

If your shotgun had a bolt, we already knew you weren't a serious clays shooter.

My favorite skeet gun was a short SxS 20ga with hammers. Really irked the snobby.

I only have limited experience on the trap and skeet ranges, but out of habit my finger was never on the trigger till I was ready to fire.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:

quote:

Originally posted by exx1976:

If your shotgun had a bolt, we already knew you weren't a serious clays shooter.

My favorite skeet gun was a short SxS 20ga with hammers. Really irked the snobby.

Nah, I'd be fine with that. I'm just not a fan of having hulls ejected at me while I'm standing there.

My finger is on the trigger when I call for the bird.

Most everyone does it that way.

When getting ready to fire - loading, mounting gun to shoulder, finger is along the side.

When I am ready to say Pull, finger is on the trigger.

I've shot on windy days when you shoot as soon as the clay leaves the house. If you wait to move your finger to the trigger it's sometimes too late.

Finger on the trigger when "pull" is called. Not a rule violation as you are ready to fire at that point, even though you haven't acquired the target yet. That might seem odd at first glance but it's not different than other shooting. For example, if you're shooting a plate rack with a pistol, you don't take your finger off of the trigger and move it to a resting place in between each plate. You are ready to shoot the entire time, even as you are moving from target to target.

But clay sports do have some interesting traditions. I think this has been talked about here before, but have you seen these?