Dan Schindler's Blog

The Perfect Ammunition for Clay Targets

Since everyone else is, let’s talk about ammunition.Manufacturer? Folks, the truth is, they all work. Favorites build confidence and that counts. Pick any popular brand and know for certain: what’s in the box will do its job if you do ...

An Experienced Opinion on Shotgun Chokes

Counting on your shotgun choke to break this target?After watching countless X’s and O’s with an enquiring mind on which chokes work where, here are my findings.Does choke selection matter? For some yes, others no, depending on how much ...

A Heretic’s Opinion on Shotguns

Three goals: 1) Consistency; 2) measurable shooting improvement; 3) higher scores. Here’s Part 1 of 4 in a series on what we can and can’t depend on to reach those goals. Each Part in the series offers a short preview of what I cover ...

Mr. Bittlekirk Is Missing

Frustrated over your missing? Odds are, it’s not your gun, chokes, loads or shooting methods. A fan of football, baseball and shooting, I liked Mr. Bittlekirk at the handshake. In the clubhouse, I inquired about his goals, targets shot ...

One Two Many

Here’s exactly why you, I, and everyone else miss. No mystery, no confusion, just one correct answer.My message here can be easily misunderstood. To prevent that, remember, in all the clay target sports, there can be NO aiming of the shotgun. ...

The Truth About Measuring Leads

It’s human nature to leap to methods that promise quick and convenient ways to improve. From Tom Fiumarello, Paragon Senior Instructor: “It seems we as Americans have to have a hook. If we didn't, the golf industry would never ...

Sally’s Lesson

As our Fall wingshooting season approaches all too slowly, I thought you might enjoy a true story. My good friend’s name was Dave Miller. It was October in PA and Dave’s client wanted to go pheasant hunting. Dave set it up. ...

MA or Mayhem?

Some advice sounds helpful—until it costs you targetsFor those of you on a path to improve your consistency and scores, consider what can help you avoid two rough, time-consuming detours.Way back, in my US instructor certification classes, I ...

Guaranteed Xs? The Numbers Don’t Lie

“Explaining good shooting mathematically is hard.Demonstrating the math’s effectiveness on a Sporting Clays, Skeet and Trap target is not.” How to score well in Sporting Clays, for some, is no longer a mystery. I say ...

Instinct Got You Here

Methods will take you further.In the early days of sporting clays, natural ability and point-and-shoot instincts were enough to break targets and win bragging rights. But times—and targets—have changed. If you’re serious about ...

Beyond The X

If you already know you can break that target, why practice that target?My Sporting Clays student Greg (not his real name) sat across from me after this morning’s lesson. Over lunch he said he went to the Practice segment in his Paragon ...

Real Improvement Starts Here

And it’s not what you think.“Many stumble over a truth—then walk away, leaving the good lesson behind.”To keep a reader’s interest, a writer’s topics are endless. Truths, however, aren’t. And the value of ...

Make the Seconds Work Overtime

“Don’t count the seconds.Make the seconds count!”Being occupied with our guns, chokes and loads, that‘s all good. Too often though, we overlook one of the, if not THE most important requirements of consistently good shooting. ...

Good Lessons

Inconsistent scores, up one day, down the next on the same targets? Lesson paid for, shake hands with your instructor.Chambers loaded, gun up, targets are breaking station after station. You’re asked to hold the gun here, see this over the ...