I'm looking to take some lessons on getting better at Sporting Clays. I'm probably a little bit better than mediocre at it. I consistently shoot in the low to mid 70s. But, I'd like to get better.

Does anyone have some recommendations? I'm in the Katy area 3 days a week and Baytown 2 days a week and I live in The Woodlands. So I'm open to go just about anywhere in Houston.

I'd like to find someone that can help me either fit my shotgun to me or recommend a different one.

This guy was coming on about the time I was winding down on the registered target scene, but seemed like a good one then, and in the general area:

https://www.shootwithadam.com/

Then there's this, but I'd hate to try to wade through it: https://nsca.nssa-nsca.org/instructors-2/

My suggestion is to talk to some and make sure they begin with focusing on fundamentals, then target reading, then the mental aspect. Some have that in the wrong order (and write books about their particular "expertise" so that's where they tend to focus), IMO.

Good luck and keep it fun.


Edit:

I blew right by this: "I'd like to find someone that can help me either fit my shotgun to me or recommend a different one."

Don't get too hung up on this yet. Without good fundamentals, "fit" may not help much unless there's a really bad issue that I'd speculate 95+% of shotgun shooters don't have (except in their minds). Again, IMO.

Steve Liberta. He instructs at a few different places in the West Houston/Katy area.

https://wsgclays.com/instruction/

I reached out to Adam to see his availability.

I'm not looking to win tournaments, but I'd like to get respectable scores.

Gil and Vicki Ash - they are both exceptional. OSP shooting.

https://ospschool.com/the-ashes/

dr_boogs said:

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Gil and Vicki Ash - they are both exceptional. OSP shooting.

https://ospschool.com/the-ashes/

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Came to post this. They are absolutely fantastic.

This on Gil and Vicki. Gil helped fit my guns and my wife's
Super people. None better.

TOM-M said:

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This guy was coming on about the time I was winding down on the registered target scene, but seemed like a good one then, and in the general area:

https://www.shootwithadam.com/

Then there's this, but I'd hate to try to wade through it: https://nsca.nssa-nsca.org/instructors-2/

My suggestion is to talk to some and make sure they begin with focusing on fundamentals, then target reading, then the mental aspect. Some have that in the wrong order (and write books about their particular "expertise" so that's where they tend to focus), IMO.

Good luck and keep it fun.


Edit:

I blew right by this: "I'd like to find someone that can help me either fit my shotgun to me or recommend a different one."

Don't get too hung up on this yet. Without good fundamentals, "fit" may not help much unless there's a really bad issue that I'd speculate 95+% of shotgun shooters don't have (except in their minds). Again, IMO.

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Do yourself a favor OP and listen to this man.

I bet I haven't seen them or taken a lesson in 15 years, but they changed my life, and I'm not joking. Like most of us, I learned on my own with random and often incorrect instruction. I had a lot of natural talent and could shoot very well instinctively but was super streaky because I lacked a foundation and an understanding of clay shooting principles.

I remember going to my first lesson with them. My uncle suggested it before we went duck hunting in Argentina. This is 20 years or so ago. He said - have an open mind, do whatever they say, be an open book. I did, and holy moly what an amazing series of lessons.

The concepts I learned from them, plus their books (If it ain't broke - fix it! …. What a perfect name for a clays book) and blogs, put me on a path to success, but more importantly, happiness behind the gun with very little frustration because I now know an effective system and can also work out my misses and correct them on my own.

I'm no world beater but I'm twice as good with a shotgun as I was before they coached me. It's led me to become a certified 4H shotgun coach and help 4h'ers get started on the right path. I've meant to send them a thank you note for many years, but I always get busy and forget to do it.

Usoos said:

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I'm looking to take some lessons on getting better at Sporting Clays. I'm probably a little bit better than mediocre at it. I consistently shoot in the low to mid 70s. But, I'd like to get better.

Does anyone have some recommendations? I'm in the Katy area 3 days a week and Baytown 2 days a week and I live in The Woodlands. So I'm open to go just about anywhere in Houston.

I'd like to find someone that can help me either fit my shotgun to me or recommend a different one.

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What kind of shotgun do you currently shoot? A Semi-Auto is typically easy to adjust using shims while an O/U may need some gunsmithing. If you're shooting an O/U, I think a 4-way adjustable comb is the best upgrade money can buy. Once you shoot a gun with one, you'll never want a shotgun without one.

An adjustable butt plate isn't the most attractive add-on, but they can help further dial in the fit and you can go a step beyond that and get one on a recoil reduction system. My kids have a RAD2 and a Bump-Buster on their guns and are really nice on the shoulder if you shoot a hundred+ rounds at a time

I've been shooting a Benelli Super Sport. After reading some online guides on how to fit a shotgun, it appears that it currently isn't fit correctly.

https://www.theyorkshiregent.com/shooting/gun-fitting-guide-fit-shotgun/

My eye sits about half an inch higher than the rib. I don't know how significant that is.

I'll wait until I meet with an instructor. Adam sent me back an email saying he isn't coaching anymore.

I'll reach out to the Ashs

I've got a SuperSport as well. It won't take you more than 15 mins to install the correct drop shim. Just pay attention to the direction of DX and SX. DX is for right handed shooters and will push the stock slightly cast-off. Definitely still go forward with the lessons, but there's no reason not to put a drop shim in it now

Keep us posted! Would like to know how Gil and Vicki are doing.

Larry Feland. We just had another lesson today. Larry is the best gunsmith in Texas too. Larry fits your gun to you in his shop which includes whatever it takes plus any thing you ever heard of and lots of things you haven't heard of. Then Larry takes you out to Westlake and you shoot until you can't stand it anymore. Then he takes your gun back to his shop and tweaks it and you go out and shoot again. Then he transfers your exact measurements to fit every single gun you own and want to shoot your best with. He's fantastic and a fantastic guy to spend a day with. He's never available on Fridays because he either at a shoot or hunting every weekend. And he lives at his shop. His entire family works in his shop and his wife Mary collects the money and schedules everything.

pfo,

I went to Feland's yesterday for my shotgun fitting. He is crazy knowledgeable. Felt like I was doing everything wrong.

He asked me who it was that referred me to him. Can I give him your name? or another way for him to identify you?

Dr. Boogs,

I bought their books and have been reading their first one. I figured I would get the shotgun fit to me and shoot a little before I took a lesson from them.