As it relates to "calling a shot" when target shooting. I've heard this type of terminology occasionally as well as seen it written on targets.

Does this practice have roots in one of the shooting sports? Is it actually used in one of the shooting disciplines/competition?

Or is it something that was made up to excuse a bad shot, or to separate a guns inherent accuracy from a shooters mistake?

Do you make use of the "called flyer" practice?

As it relates to "calling a shot" when target shooting. I've heard this type of terminology occasionally as well as seen it written on targets.

Does this practice have roots in one of the shooting sports? Is it actually used in one of the shooting disciplines/competition?

Or is it something that was made up to excuse a bad shot, or to separate a guns inherent accuracy from a shooters mistake?

Do you make use of the "called flyer" practice?

Wayne; Many Target Shooters get to be better than just "pretty good" at remembering just where their sights were when the shot went off. If the "Sight Picture" isn't 'Right' many shooters will call the shot a "Flyer" even without seeing the actual Target. Not so much of 'an excuse' as a simple statement of fact.

You see that term in gun rags a lot. It relates to informally testing a firearm for accuracy by shooting groups with it at a paper target. Sometimes they know they jerked the trigger or flinched or whatever and therefore, that shot will enlarge the group through no fault of the firearm.

Why they don't just re-shoot the group I don't know. Gun writers always seem to be pressed for time...

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You're shy a few manners.

Mulligan???

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Some of my best 3 shots groups have been known to have a couple "fliers" mixed in.

Particulary for competition shooters it was critical that we be able to call each round, and in some cases our spotter would call it. I do it while coaching now. 1200 is the top of the target-and we use "civilian time" -so clockwise one, two etc. Then we would call the scoring ring "1200, nine-ring" or if no target we might just say that the round "hit at 1200 center"- or "two inches over at 1200". It ensures that you have your eyes open-and that you are really in control of the weapon-plus follow thru.

And ammo, and building wind, falling temperatures, range closings...

Didn't the shooter have a range book and pencil at his side and after each shot he would mark the shot on the target on the page as to where he thought the shot went or called the shot so to speak? Then he would mark the shot on another target page where it actually went when spotted. He would then compare the two to see how his perception of each shot was.

when I used to shoot a LOT of trap, 99% of the time I knew the shot was a miss as soon as I pulled the trigger. Mental breakdown.

When we shoot for score or competition in the Marines we have a range book. On each page for each stage of slow fire there are blocks that show the target and you are supposed to call exactly where the sites were lined up when the shot broke. This serves multiple purposes.

1. It makes the shooter focus more on shot placement as they are trying to focus on where the sites are and not thinking about, thus anticipating, the shot.

2. As a coach, I'll walk my group of shooters and check their "calls" vs. their marks. If the calls and marks are close then they are doing well on focusing. If they are calling the shots and the marks are showing up all over the place, then they are anticipating the shot and problably jerking the trigger or closing their eyes before the trigger breaks, so they are essentially guessing were the sites were lined up.

Over time, I have become decent at calling my shots with a rifle. Not so well with a pistol most of the time. It takes a good bit of practice to do it well.

Bill

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US Marine, 16 years+

When I am competing with the handgun, the only time I get the benefit of having a coach is during the team match. Everything else is a solo event. You learn to call your flyers as others have said, by where your sights were at the time the trigger broke. Often in the team match I finish my string and tell my partner/coach where my wide shots went, as in "I have a 9 a 3 o'clock and two 9's at 6", my partner/coach will then confirm or refine my call, a tell me of one or two more (sometimes a "few" more) that I never felt or saw that sight launched off to one side or the other.

When they are just outside the line it only means I wasn't focusing enough on the front sight, when they are to the middle of the scoring ring or out to the next line, it is me letting the sight drift or making the trigger break. Knowing, or recognizing when you're doing it helps to correct the error.

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Non illegitimae carborundum

Ok, so from an organized competition/practice standpoint it is more of a learning tool for the shooter to make improvements? But it is not an official part of the match, i.e. it is not in the rules or the match process?

Rifles and handguns have been mentioned. Is this highpower rifle and NRA handgun bullseye competition?

Thanks

It's not required for competition, it just helps you improve. It is required on the Marine Corps rifle range, even though most kids just guess because they only get to fire once a year if they are lucky. I haven't fired a qualification course since 2005. We don't use it for pistol in the Corps. I don't know anything about civilian shoot compititions.

Bill

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US Marine, 16 years+

I agree with KKG. When I shot 3-gun bullseye matches, I learned to call my shots. This gave me a pretty good idea whether I was following the funamentals; stance, grip, breathing, sight picture and triger press. After a little practice you can "call" the scoring ring and the clock position of each shot. Besides helping you with your shooting, it amazes bistanders and you look like more of a stud than you really are.

Yep; pretty much just a "mental" kick in the hind end or a slap to the back of the head. And, a reminder to pay closer attention to what you are doing and to do it right the next time.

My dad, who was a competitive shooter, would have me call the shot placement. It really does help you focus.

I always ask people what is the last thing you saw before you closed your eyes and stomped the trigger.

In teaching new shooters, I ask them to tell me where they saw the bullet hit the target.
This, of course, is not really possible but is another way of instilling the idea of "calling the shot"

....also I've seen the term used to comment on the possible fluctuations of time and tide and gravity, excoriating both unpredictable ballistic variance with some sudden glitch in an otherwise perfectly functioning firearm...

So 'flyer' can be of these causes:

1) mental/physical shooter;
2) ammunition;
3) firearm'
4) target shift in response to wind or earth tremors resulting from Dow Jones plummeting downward.

As a active member of the SBSS (Stealth Bullet Shooting Society) it is my passion to find ways to assign reason and rational explanation to bullet placement abnormalities. The "Stealth Virus" theory of shot placement variation is at an embryonic phase in its development. Those 'flyers' we casually discount, may be evidence of a life form which affects ballistic lead and copper in a microsecond. Vigilance!!!

Sure.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Remember "Dr. Strangelove"? Rememeber Slim Pickens riding the bomb?

Now think tiny little guys that we can'tsee riding the bulleton it's way to the target. it makes perfect sense.

Usually a "Called" shot is the one that you knwo when you jerked the trigger or flinched or...........that you know without looking is NOT going to be inside that nice group you had going. IT's an error on your part and for me at least is to say, it isn't the rifle, it isn't the load, it isn't the bullet, it wasn't the wind, I just screwed up.

Now if the next shot lands at the called flyer, you might have a problem.

RWT