Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-14

One of the best professional trapshoot-
 CTS and instructors in the
 United States.
 The ideas set forth in this article by Mir Holohan, a 95 per cent. trapshot are vastly different from those ex- slonals, but coming from a man of MT. Holohan's standing and ability, they are worth careful consideration.
 The ambitious beginner in the trap shooting sport has many artificial diff faculties 10 contend against besides the natural difficulty of building up gun muscles and organizing cooperation between eye. nerve and trigger fng- er-
 In my opinion. the road from the first shot to a 95 per cent. average is blocked with two formidable artif- cial obstacles, namely; The thought less advice of enthusiastic friends and the exaggerated importance of gun fit loads and other mechanical conSidera- tions.
 Success in trapshooting. as in every other game of skill is 9S per cent. per sonal application. If we expect to ex- eel, wc must pay the price of unusual effort. No enc 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 experience, are anxious to give him what they intend to be helpful instruc- tions. 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 thinks he can, with his back turned tell the beginner where the latter is shooting.
 I will venture to say that no man can stand behind a shooter an dtell within IS inches of where the gun is point ing at a standing object S5 wards away let alone giving exact information about holding on flying streak that is only in range for a second. To judge even approximately where the shot goes, one must pull the trigger him self
 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 mal<- ing one actual break out of 50 shots she informed the writer that her case was hopeless so far as becoming a trapshooter was concerned. She said:
 'T had four different instructors The first assured me that my shots were too high: the second declared I was shooting too low: the third in sisted that I shot to the right: while the fourth was sure all my shots were
 
 shooting too low, the remedy would be shooting higher, and if shooting to the right could aim more to the left, but since I was guilty of all those er- TOTS every time I shot I can see no remedy. I don't understand. T guess it's my clumsy way of shooting the bullets out"
 An experienced instructor will show the beginner how to hold the gun: see that he holds it the same while pulling the trigger; give instructions as to elevation and lead. then carefully note the targets missed and be sure he is right before making any suggestions. If after watching the beginner shoot at different traps. with corresDonding different angles and elevation. he finds that the pupil misses the high targets and hits a fair number of low tar gets, he has the best of evidence that the shooter is holding low and can safely advise him to shoot higher The same method of observation will indi- cate as to cross firing. by noticing that the shooter hits targets thrown at cer- tain angles and misses those that go in the opposite direction.
 If one would be an instructor, he must watch, note and study his pupil There is no rule of thumb or royal