Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-12
BY z. j. HOLOHAN.

8
" The ideas set forth in this arti.
Gle by Mr.. Holohan, % per cent
trapshot, are vastly different from
those expressed by other expert
enced professionals, but coming =
from man of Mr.. Holohan's
standing and ability, they are =
worth careful consideration. .
9
The ambitious beginner in the trap
shooting sport has man artificial diff.
liculties to contend against, besides
the natural difficulty of building up
gun muscles and organizing cooper
alton between eye. nerve and trigger
finger.
In my opinion, the road from the
first shot to 95 per cent average Is
blocked with two formidable artificial
obstacles, namely The thoughtless
advice OF enthusiastic friends and tht
exaggerated Importance of gun fit
loads and other mechanical considera
tions.
Success in trapsbooting. as in ever,
5ther game of skill. is 9S per cent per
sonal application. II we expect to ex.
eel, we mast pay the price OF unusual
effort. No one can teach us to shoot;
We must learn by experience, observa-
ton and hard work.
When new shooter comes to a
club and states that he knows nothing
about shooting. all the good fellows,
regardless Of ability, knowledge or ex-
perience, are anxious to give him
what they intend to be helpful instruc-
tons. The friend who does not know
where the shot from his own gun is
going. even with the weapon at his
shoulder and lined up before his eyes,
lhinks he can, with his back turned,
tell the beginner where the latter is
shooting
| will venture to say that 10 man
can stand behind a shooter and tel
within Is inches Of where the gun Is
pointing at a standing object IS yards
} way. let alone giving exact inIorma
ton about hold on u lying streak that
is only in range for a second. To
Judge even approximately where the
shot goes one must pull the trigger
First Class Instructor Needed.
This idea Is well illustrated by the
remarks Of bright young lady when
she appeared at the traps for the first
time. never having fired a shot previ-
ously After having broken two tar
gets, by grace OF the referee, and max
ing one actual break out of so shots,
she informed the writer that her case
was hopeless so far as becoming Il
traI shooter was concerned She SAID !.
Il had four different instructors.
The first assured me that my shots
were too high, the second declared !
was shooting too low; the third in
sisted that | shot to the right, while
the fourth was sure all my shots were
going to the left II any fault was
shooting too low. tho remedy would b.
to shoot higher, and II shooting to thu
right could aim more to the left, but
since | was guilty Of all those errors
every time shot | can see no rem
edy | don't understand, ! guess It's
my clumsy way OF shooting the bullets
out"
An experienced Instructor VIII show
the beginner how to hold the gun, SEE
that he holds II the same while pulling
the trigger; give instruction as to Gle
walton and lead then carefully note
the targets missed and be sure he Ii
right before making any suggestions
II, after watching the beginner shoot
at different traps, with correspondents
different angles and elevations, he
finds that the pupil misses the high
targets and hits a fair number Of low
targets, he has the best evidence that
the shooter is holding low and car
safely advise him to shoot higher. The
same method OF observation will In
dictate as to cross-liring, by notigna
that the shooter hits targets thrown
at certain angles and misses those
that 30 In the opposite direction.
II one would be an Instructor. he
must watch, nate aud study his pupil
| There IA M, rule of thumb mr. roval