IMPROVE YOUR SHOOTING

Forward allowance is one of the most commonly used techniques of shooting. The theory is straightforward – but deciding how much allowance a bird needs is far from simple. MIKE YARDLEY tries to take a scientific approach to the big question – HOW MUCH LEAD?

THE WAY FORWARD

I have set myself an interesting mission – an exploration of the speeds at which birds fly and how forward allowance, mathematically speaking, may change as a result of species, range and conditions. Many of us will have opinions about this – we may, for example, have an idea about what we think we see or don’t see in different circumstances.

But, opinion isn’t very objective. We need facts to shoot consistently well!

Here is one with which to start: however you get your shot charge in front of a bird – whether you swing through, pull away or maintain a lead – whatever you think you see or do, and however you move your gun, there will be a distance at which the shot must be placed in front of any moving target if you want to hit it.

In the words of one old shooting instructor: “If you are out shooting and want to do the biz, you must shoot where the bird is going and not where it is.”

How much lead? That is always the $64,000 question. I have noted when driving my car that occasionally I have birds flying parallel to me. I have clocked wood pigeon at 50mph on several occasions and pheasants at nearly 40 (though they do not sustain it for long). Both appeared to be flying normally, without much wind in evidence.

I phoned pigeon expert John Batley, and, reassuringly, he noted that typically wood pigeon fly “up to about 50mph in level flight but are capable of 70 mph in strong wind.” This supported my occasional observation.

My next port of call was BASC’S Dr Peter Marshall. He told me: “The estimations of bird flight are varied and really depend on the environmental conditions in which the bird is flying.Wind, topography, stress, and condition of the bird all play a part. One thing which can be said is that in general, although smaller birds appear to be travelling faster, it is usually the larger bird which in fact is flying at the faster speed.”

This is most interesting and may explain more than a few misses at duck and geese. Peter went on to tell me that reasonable estimates would be 30+mph for partridge, 35mph for pheasant, 35-40mph for large duck and 35-45mph for geese. Although much higher figures (90mph) have been recorded for migrating brent, as, apparently, discovered by the WWT using GPS equipment.

So, there is some very interesting information here. Partridge are relatively slow flying. Large birds and pigeons in full flight are deceptively fast. This is useful stuff. Now, it’s time to mention the Eley Shooter’s Diary – a great resource. It notes – and has done for all the years I have bought or been given it – forward allowances at different ranges for birds travelling at 65kph (40mph). It does this both for standard game loads (nominal observed velocity 325 m/sec – 1070 fps) and high velocity game loads 340 m/sec - 1120 fps).

The Eley figures, presented in the diagram below, will get you thinking.

Forward allowance

For birds crossing at 40 mph, using No. 6 shot.

So, you will see at 30 yards – a pretty typical distance for most live quarry work – 5’ 3” is required for the slower cartridge and 5’ 6” for the faster one when a bird is travelling at 40mph. Frankly, I think the 3" difference is rather academic, but, this accords pretty much with my own experience with pheasant. I might make the same comment for the 8’ and 7’ 8” of lead required at 40 yards according to the Eley tables, although my subjective impression with high pheasant is that they sometimes need significantly more (especially if I am using a short-barrelled gun which changes the perception of lead – I always feel I see less with longer barrels).

Most clays are travelling at about 45-50 mph when shot. So, the figures in the diary apply pretty well too (assuming crossing targets of standard size). Midis, however, require more lead (usually, roughly speaking, about 50 per cent) as will any target that is presented faster than the average.

What about the closer stuff?

On crossing clay birds at 20-25, I will often tell a beginner to shoot a yard or so in front having established a relationship with the target (to those who note one man’s inch is another man’s yard, I would say not if you focus on the bird).

A Quick Guide To Lead

Estimated forward allowance for straight incoming and true crossing birds (quartering angles will appear to need less). Calculations are based on quarry presented in typical conditions without wind assistance and are rounded up to the nearest foot. These are not definitive and intended only as a guide. (Images not to scale)

 

 

 

I might add to all this that, when I am loading for friends, I note many close birds – birds which might be better left – missed in front.When range gets to 20-25 yards, however, the pattern of missing is typically just behind, and on the high stuff many Guns are missing behind by as much as a factor of 50-100 per cent. They are, in other words, typically misjudging the lead by a yard or two, sometimes more (though stopping the gun may be a related issue).

Their problems are often aggravated by other issues such as rushing, stopping the gun or misreading the line as well. I am now going to a clay range to test some of this out (again)... I suggest you do the same before your next foray in the field!

Michael Yardley is a professional shooting instructor, and a London University qualified psychologist. He may be contacted via email.

How much lead? Mike’s conclusions

Lead required for your typical 40 mph bird:	Lead required for a slower, 35 mph, bird:	Lead required for a faster, 50 mph, bird: Pigeon, some clays, many wildfowl
* 4 feet at 25 yards * 5-6 feet at 30 yards * 7-8 feet at 40 yards * 9-10 at 45 yards	* 3 feet at 25 yards * 4-5 feet at 30 yards * 6-7 feet at 40 yards * 8 at 45 yards	* 5 feet at 25 yards * 7 feet at 30 yards * 9-10 feet at 40 yards * 12 at 45 yards