The home of Shooting Times and Sporting Gun


What’s the best distance from a hide to shoot at pigeons?

PIGEON SHOOTING
Peter Theobald
Within reason, the closer the better! If pigeons are co-operating well, I would say the average range of successful shots would be under 25 yards, so you could say this was the optimum range.

However, with modern ammunition and a degree of skill on behalf of the decoyer, 50 yards should be the maximum most people attempt.

At this range, half choke and 30 grms (1.1/16oz) of No.6 shot will produce a killing pattern every time.