Gambling With Your Shooting - Previously Published Sporting Clays Article by Dan Schindler

July 18, 2008 - PRLog -- The worst thing about being self-taught is the teacher.  It’s not that we men aren’t smart because we are. In this case, it’s kind of like the Driver’s Ed teacher saying, Look, we’ll talk about the brake tomorrow, right now just get your coat and I’ll get the keys.

You’ve been hunting pheasants, quail and ducks for many years. By now, good shooting should pretty much be a no-brainer. Facing your first clay bird, we heard, Yeah, I can do this, throw me a target. It’s pretty much a jock mentality. After all, while you may be a bit washer and dryer challenged, you can shoot a shotgun!

From 1960 to 1980 I was a very respectable shot in the game fields. If it had feathers or fur and was in season, you could count on me to fill the tag or game bag followed by modest tales of extraordinary shooting prowess. Back then, I didn’t have the first clue how I dispatched game so quickly in the fields of Pennsylvania and Iowa but I did. I had a semi back then too. It was a gnarled 20 gauge SXS that was semi-reliable but really delivered when it counted.

It was in the early 1980’s that I first encountered the clay target. For some unexplainable reason the little 20 gauge wasn’t as reliable on the clays course as it had been in the field. Never doubting my ability, I knew a new gun would take care of this quite handily. Which it did of course, until it recognized who was shooting it and then it too became unreliable. Undaunted, my search continued with multiple purchases until my accountant suggested I figure out just exactly how the X got on the score sheet.

I’m now in Veteran class. Though not happy about that particular classification, the many years I’ve spent in sporting have encouraged and supported my lifelong desire to be involved in the shooting sports. Here is a hard-earned lesson paid for in many missed targets.

When we first step into the box, unguided and without expectations, sporting clays is a blast. Minis, battues and rabbits confound us at first but through trial and error, gradually, 1 shell at a time, targets do begin to break. Instinct is the shooting method of choice and for good reason. It’s worked before and that’s reason enough.....

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This Sporting Clays Article was previously published in Sporting Clays Magazine by Dan Schindler in January 2006.

The Paragon School of Sporting is now making available the remainder of this article as well as numerous others, available for download on The Paragon School of Sporting Website:(http://www.paragonschool.com/catalog)

Sporting clays continues to be an elegant sport born of long tradition, fulfilling our wingshooting passion to experience the wing and shot. Feather and clay, inescapably tied, grants us so many learning opportunities to hone our skills, a path of personal growth that affords us a refreshing, unbiased look at ourselves. Time and again, my students have learned how entirely more capable they are than once thought. The American sporting clays shooter can honestly and proudly say, in a very short period, he has indeed advanced to take his rightful place among the best in the world. And, let's not forget, no one is having more fun out here than you and I are.

The events, times, places and persons in my articles are all true. While I changed a name here and there, 100% of the information came from my experiences with you. Each tournament, each lesson, each experience with you generated the material for my work. I am grateful.

We hope you enjoyed the first part of the article and will visit us online to browse the numerous collection that is available. Until then, happy Sporting!

For More Information, Please Contact Us At:
The Paragon School of Sporting
http://www.paragonschool.com
P. O. Box 1276
Flat Rock, NC 28731
Tel: (828) 693-6600
Order Magazine Articles Online: http://www.paragonschool.com/catalog

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Daniel L. Schindler
* Guild of Shooting Instructor’s, England
* NSCA Level III Instructor, US
* Author of two books, and more than 100 Sporting Clays shooting articles.
* Gun Fitter
* Course Designer

Dan Schindler is a member of the British Guild of Shooting Instructors and is a NSCA Level III instructor. Whether it be for the advanced competitor or providing the basics to the entry level shooter, Dan provides the simplest, most practical and most effective coaching for the sporting clays enthusiast.

Dan has spent his entire life studying and participating in the various facets of shotgunning. Aside from his exemplary credentials as an instructor and writer, he received his gun fitting training from Peter and Wendy Crabtree originally from the West London Shooting School.

Whether you’ve just gotten into the sport, shoot for fun or are an advanced competitor, Dan will take you To the Next Level.