Transitioning from a novice shooter to an elite high-volume wingshooter in Argentina requires mastering the "Double" and the "Triple"—the ability to drop multiple Eared Doves from a single crossing flock before the shotgun runs empty.
The Trap of Flock Shooting
When a swarm of fifty Eared Doves suddenly erupts over the tree line, the visual overload is staggering. The immediate instinct of an amateur hunter is to point the barrel at the center of the massive, swirling cloud and pull the trigger rapidly, assuming the dense pattern of a 20-gauge will inevitably hit something. This is known as "flock shooting," and it is the fastest way to empty a 5-shot Beretta without touching a single feather. Doves fly with substantial gaps between them. To drop multiple birds, you must exercise absolute, ruthless visual discipline. You must entirely ignore the flock and isolate a single, specific bird.
| Shooting Tactic | Visual Focus | Lethal Result |
|---|---|---|
| Flock Shooting | Looking at the entire mass of birds. | Misses; shot string passes through empty gaps. |
| The Single | Hard focus on one bird's beak. | One dead bird; gun stops moving. |
| The Double / Triple | Kill the trailing bird first, smoothly transition focus to the leader. | Multiple hits; fluid, unbroken mechanical swing. |
The Trailing-to-Leading Transition
The secret to executing a clean double lies in target selection order. If a line of three doves is crossing from left to right, you must always shoot the last (trailing) bird in the line first. If you shoot the leading bird first, the explosion will cause the trailing birds to instantly flare backward or dive erratically, destroying your secondary shot opportunity.
By mounting your shotgun and executing a sustained lead on the trailing bird, you drop it cleanly. Because your shotgun barrel is already swinging from left to right, its momentum naturally carries it directly into the flight path of the middle bird. You simply maintain the swing speed, lock your eyes onto the next beak, pull the trigger, and continue pushing the barrel forward to the leading bird for the triple. It is one continuous, fluid arc of the hips.
Tactical Field Note: Executing a triple requires an unplugged shotgun magazine. Ensure your outfitter provides a semi-automatic capable of holding at least four to five shells (standard in Argentina). If you are using an Over-and-Under, you are obviously physically limited to the "Double."
Internal Connections
- Understand the physical stance needed for this in Shooting Seated vs Standing in the Argentina Dove Roost.
- Review the forward lead mechanics via Mastering the Crossing Shot: Forward Lead in the Dove Roost.
- See why your gun must be unplugged in Shotgun Magazine Capacity: Unplugged Guns in Argentina.