Took my son-in-law hunting for ruffed grouse this week-end. I was able to shoot my british double for the first time. The barrels are a little long, but I will get used to it. There were not too many birds around but we managed to kick up a few.
Previously I had introduced him to shooting by having an afternoon of clay pigeon practise. He did not have much success, but I thought it was just a matter putting a little more time into it. I talked with him about the sequence of events in shooting at a bird in the wild- at least how I approach it. He missed a fairly easy shot, so we were talking about that etc. When he shouldered his gun, (an old but pristine Model 12 16 gauge) I noticed how awkward it looked in his hands. I have always thought this to be a very shooter friendly gun. I had him try my double - a Bland double, and that wasn't any better. He kind of looked like he was standing at firing line , shooting silhouettes. I tried to correct his posture a bit, but he had trouble with comb height and the bottom of the butt stock was the only contact on his shoulder- very high.
I would like to help him out but don't know how to proceed. Does he just need to get some professional shooting instruction, or is he going to need a fitted gun? Anybody in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area you would recommend who could help him?
thanks, Gary
