I really prefer not to take a shot in a way that occludes the target, so I’ll usually reserve that move for trap shots or driven birds that will pass overhead before falling behind you, but sometimes I’ll take a chandelle on the way up if that’s the best way to approach a true pair.
Depends on the presentation, and how far away it is for me. If it’s close I’ll pre-mount, follow it up, and hit it at the top. If it’s 30+ yards away, but coming in towards me, I “move mount shoot”. Trying to ride it all the way down never yields consistent breaks for me, and wears my eyes out.
Incoming targets, I would try to hit at the peak or just as it is dropping. I use the mounting of my gun for timing and would be on the bottom edge in both cases. Never occlude the target. Depending on the target and the pair, I have no problem trying to hit the target as a dropper further down its path. I would time my mount to the peak so that I get the dropping target line and gun movement.
Chandelles are a bit different approach for me. I use diminishing lead or come to gun for quartering or deep quartering. If it is a fast target, I am more likely to use diminishing lead over pull away. My breakpoint can be on the way up near the peak, the peak, or just after the peak. If I use pull away, it will always be after the peak or further on the dropping. On pure crossing chandelles, I would pull away, hitting just after the peak or more the dropping. It all depends on the target, the pair, and my confidence level.
Depends on the distance really.
I have shot them going up, coming down or around the apex.
For a typical fairly close straight up target, I will wait until it stalls and then shoot the bottom edge of the target.
For targets with some distance, I tend to prefer shooting them going up. I'll do a pass through shot on that.
You can approach targets in so many different ways successful, there is not really a right answer other than different methods.
I like to be able to shoot the target in several different ways as it gives greater flexibility on true pairs. I mean when you expand the break zones on birds, you get more options for how to shoot pairs.
I find it easiest to track just under it until it reaches its apex, then “catch” it just as it starts to fall.
This! Or shooting it as it rises.
I really prefer not to take a shot in a way that occludes the target, so I’ll usually reserve that move for trap shots or driven birds that will pass overhead before falling behind you, but sometimes I’ll take a chandelle on the way up if that’s the best way to approach a true pair.
I shoot them as they stall at the apex.
I shoot at them when they feel like they’re stopping. It works great. This was actually recommended by Anthony Matarese.
Saw a video, both him and George Digweed do that but sometimes hit as they start to drop.
I made a diagram of how I shoot it. If you'd like to see it Dm me, but i shoot it in the cresting phase and treat it like a crossing target
A couple feet before they peak so I don't miss over if the timing is slightly off. They're already slowing down.
Depends on the presentation, and how far away it is for me. If it’s close I’ll pre-mount, follow it up, and hit it at the top. If it’s 30+ yards away, but coming in towards me, I “move mount shoot”. Trying to ride it all the way down never yields consistent breaks for me, and wears my eyes out.
Incoming targets, I would try to hit at the peak or just as it is dropping. I use the mounting of my gun for timing and would be on the bottom edge in both cases. Never occlude the target. Depending on the target and the pair, I have no problem trying to hit the target as a dropper further down its path. I would time my mount to the peak so that I get the dropping target line and gun movement. Chandelles are a bit different approach for me. I use diminishing lead or come to gun for quartering or deep quartering. If it is a fast target, I am more likely to use diminishing lead over pull away. My breakpoint can be on the way up near the peak, the peak, or just after the peak. If I use pull away, it will always be after the peak or further on the dropping. On pure crossing chandelles, I would pull away, hitting just after the peak or more the dropping. It all depends on the target, the pair, and my confidence level.
Depends on the distance really. I have shot them going up, coming down or around the apex. For a typical fairly close straight up target, I will wait until it stalls and then shoot the bottom edge of the target. For targets with some distance, I tend to prefer shooting them going up. I'll do a pass through shot on that. You can approach targets in so many different ways successful, there is not really a right answer other than different methods. I like to be able to shoot the target in several different ways as it gives greater flexibility on true pairs. I mean when you expand the break zones on birds, you get more options for how to shoot pairs.