Having missed more than my share of birds at all ranges I can state that most men can not accurately judge a 50 yard shot much less hit one at that range. If you place a soda can, a reasonable oversize substitute for ducks vital area, on a post and measure 50 yards you will see how small a kill zone looks.
Most 50 yard shots are more like 35. Worse too many measure where the bird came down to Earth instead of where hit by shot. If you shoot a deer at 50 yards and it runs for 200 after the shot it does not become a 250 yard shot. I have had ducks shot in a strong winds land from 20 yards behind the blind to well over a hundred away from the blind. None of these were more than 25 yard shot when hit and killed. Hit a bird at 25 yards and have it land at 50 does not make it a 50 yard shot but some seem to think it is.
Hits at long range are not all luck. You do have to figure lead and correct for shot drop, then you need a steady speed and path target, then you need for enough pellet energy with proper pellet placement to a vital area to kill a bird. If you do not figure it all correctly and do it correctly then your hits are just luck. Good luck for you and bad for the bird.
