Jake Wallace

Need an intro to patterning? It refers to where you’d like to break a target, using the height of the shotgun’s comb to change where the gun shoots.

In my competitive shotgun career, I have always looked for pieces of technology that give the shooter and instructor different perspectives on shooting a target. I recently had the opportunity to use the new Tactacam 5.0 on the range to evaluate its effectiveness of capturing a shot.

There are four types of lead that can be used in shotgun shooting in order to break a target or hit a bird, they are; Spot Shooting, Swing Through, Pull away, and Sustained Lead. Each one of these can be effective given the right situation. In this piece, I will go over what type of lead is best in each situation and clay target game as well as which one provides the most consistent results.

Working to compete with the world’s best is not done in competition; it’s done in the countless hours of training on the range. Here’s how I prepare for competition.

Although it is possible to shoot with one eye closed it is not the most effective way to shoot a shotgun at moving targets. Starting to shoot a shotgun with one eye is the biggest mistake that anyone who wants to shoot or hunt effectively can do. I personally struggled with this as a young shooter, shooting almost my first two years closing one eye. When my coach decided to switch me over to two eyes it was the most frustrating thing I have ever experienced.

But, why I really love shotguns is because they are so versatile. Seriously, if you can find me any other gun that you can shoot a quail with at 15 yards and also shoot a whitetail with at 150, I will be very impressed. Not to mention all the different gauges, styles and brands.