How Much Lead?

The truth is, the earth is not flat. That was an important discovery…was it not? Here’s another important discovery. 

Before I begin, there’s a difference between an opinion and a proven fact based on long experience. This is the latter. Not just my opinion. Not speculation. Thirty-five good years of standing behind thousands of students…listening, watching, learning, and most importantly…confirming what works…what doesn’t…and why. Add to that, 4 decades of competition.

Having had the privilege of standing behind shooters of all skill levels, genders and ages, here’s a truth. The vast majority of my students arrive wanting to know “How much lead should I put on that target?”  This is especially true with all my engineers and math folks. Where does this shooting method come from? Good question. This I do know. The belief that you need to “measure lead” on a target is EVERYWHERE. 

Now a deeply ingrained habit, very understandably, many of my students want to keep this belief, this shooting method. My respectful question to them is: if all this measuring isn’t working (and it isn’t) do you really want to keep it? Because there are much better, simpler, far more reliable shooting methods.

I’m sure many of you here have already been told how much lead to give the target in front of you. More? Less? But always a specific amount. For this article, let’s assume you are serious about improving and want to learn how.

Please consider a few facts about measuring leads.

If in fact you correctly apply the “recommended” lead on this target…say 2 feet…and it breaks, good on you. Now…what is the correct lead on the next target at this Station? It’s likely someone will tell you. Let’s say you figure that out as well. XXXX. Congratulations.

Time to move to the next Station. Say hello to two new, completely different target presentations. Slower? Faster? Further out? Closer? Meaning what? 1) Will using the lead measurements on the previous Station work here? Sorry, no, they won’t. 2) The two new targets on this Station will, I promise, require different lead measurements than what worked on the last Station. Which brings us here. What are the two new lead measurements? Just like the last Station, some trial-and-error guesstimating must now take place. Again.

So, we’ve established that learning “how much” to lead the targets on Station 1 won’t help us at all on Station 2. Trust me, the lead measurements you learned on Station 1 and 2 won’t help you on stations 3, 4, 5, 6, all the way to the end of the course.

OK, with all that in mind, let’s say folks suggest that you begin to shoot more so you can develop/remember a list of lead measurements on various targets. Sounds reasonable. And can we agree that those measurements will be, for the most part, based on target speed and distance? Sound reasonable? I think so. Got your lead chart? Walk with me. Show bird, please. This target is definitely “out there.” The question is, how far is it? How fast is it? Don’t tell anyone now, but…that’s a midi…a 90mm…not a Standard target. It looks like 60 yards, maybe more. It isn’t. It’s 45 yards. Sort of. Maybe. Will your 60-yard lead measurement work here? Let’s not forget…what’s the target speed, again to help you estimate the lead? Are you sure about that speed? 

On measuring leads, if I haven’t planted the seed of doubt yet, please consider. While not all the time, just 99% of the time…my students who are measuring his/her leads…slow their gun down right before the trigger pull. Unbeknownst to them, trying to get that very specific lead “just right,” their gun is slowing down and their lead is collapsing. Missing behind the target is the norm. My opinion? No. I’ve watched this repeat itself a few million times in competition and while teaching. With new and advanced shooters.

As I’m preparing a short series on various shooting methods… pros and cons…I thought I’d start here, pointing out the hidden pitfalls of the Maintained Lead (ML) method of shooting. And why so many struggle with “measuring” leads.

In our future Paragon Blog posts, we’ll briefly revisit ML and explain how it can be used wisely and successfully. Here are the other upcoming methods. I’ll be outlining their strengths and a few weaknesses of each.

            • Pull Away

            • Swing Through

            • Churchill

These shooting methods…their proper use, advantages and disadvantages…are nicely explained in Daniel L. Schindler’s 3 books: Take Your Best Shot, To The Target and Beyond The Target. More information on the Paragon School of Sporting website along with dozens of blog posts.

Thanks for visiting. Be safe and I hope to see you out on the course.

Thanks for visiting. Be safe and I hope to see you out on the course.

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About Dan Schindler

Dan Schindler is one of only 60 worldwide members of the Guild of Shooting Instructors (UK) and is one of the most highly respected Sporting Clays and Wingshooting Instructors in the US. Dan is an NSCA Level III Instructor (since 1995) and founded the Paragon School of Sporting with one goal in mind. Whether it be for the advanced competitor or providing the basics to the entry-level shooter, Paragon provides the simplest, most practical and most effective Instruction, Coaching and Mental Training for the Sporting Clays, Skeet, Trap & Wingshooting enthusiast. Dan Schindler helps shooters alleviate a lot of their frustration by taking the mystery out of breaking targets, calling their own misses, and making their own corrections. Lessons are fun, enlightening and our clients learn to shoot better in minutes!  

Dan Schindler's Books

"Recommended for shooters of all skill levels, Coaches, Instructors

and parents of youth shooters."

Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition is THE Gold Standard Primer It's all about the fundamentals, a requirement for good shooting. This book is used by high school and college shooting teams, recreational and competitive shooters from around the world. Solid, valuable, concise information that has helped thousands of shooters shoot more consistently with higher scores.

To The Target (Book II) Builds on the steps outlined in Book I. Emphasises Gun Management skills when the trap fires, creating a consistent, reliable, trustworthy swing.

Beyond the Target (Book III) is for shooters of all levels, filled with valuable information, clay target truths. Entertaining and a culmination of 3 decades of Dan's life's work as a teacher, competitor, published writer, and much more.

Here's what Shooters, Coaches and Clay Shooting USA saying...

Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition

To The Target (Book II)

Beyond The Target (Book III)