Rifle vs. shotgun shooting
8/10/2020 10:37:42 AM
By John Satterwhite
Rifle shooters focus on their sights. Shotgunners focus on the target. Why? The target for the rifle shooter is usually standing still, while the shotgunner's target is usually moving and can change direction quickly. Doves are a perfect example.
Rifle shooters spend an inordinate amount of time getting a perfect sight picture and squeezing the trigger. Shotgunners are required to acquire the target and press the trigger very quickly before the target gets out of range.
Rifle shooters have elaborate sights that can be adjusted. Shotgunners use the stock of the shotgun as their rear sight, and, if you are not of average size, you might need to modify the wood in length, cast or pitch if you want to perfectly center your targets.
Rifle shooters buy target barrels if they want greater accuracy. Shotgunners change choke tubes to gain a dense pattern at their particular working range so the bird will not be able to fly through the pattern, i.e. tighter chokes equal efficiency at greater range.
John Satterwhite is the former Shooting/Hunting Educational Coordinator for the MDWFP. Satterwhite, who died in August of 2014, was the captain of the 1976 U.S. Olympic Shooting Team and a four-time International Shotgun Champion (1968, 1974, 1975, and 1976).
