Thanks Agent360,
I think the biggest problem I have with the "under the nose shot" is with planes that turn really well. If I'm BnZ'ing a plane like a Spit as I'm pointed down diving on them for the shot they almost always try to pull straight up and over. If I lead them maybe (big maybe) I'm able to at least have them pass through my "spray and pray." I'm not sure if I lag them that I'll be able to pull the gunsite for the right lead at the time I'm supposed to fire.
This is true but you want to avoid this because turns into a head on low angle off shot...not good...puts you into a nose low over shoot situation. Its better to pull off, avoid the head on attempt, get seperation and re set.
When you pull lead pursuit in hopes of closing before he can translate to aft canopy (move across your lift vector from nose to tail and out of the shot envolope) you close at a low angle...meaning into the front quarter. This is what you want to avoid.
If you go to pure pursuit and close the distance enough to then go to lag pursuit then push nose low into a dipping roll and pointing your wing at the bandit you can cut him off and get inside that pull up you describe...then puts you at a high angle off meaning more perpindicular with with your nose strait at the flight path and your plane unloaded ( no G's ). The bandit passes faster by your nose but at an angle that gives him no guns on you and a bigger target for you....plus you can immediatly convert this to rolling scissors or extend for alt.
Pulling lead as you describe puts you into a head on position and set you up for a lead turn overshoot.
Lead pursuit has it uses but in creating a canopy up profile snap shot on the bandit pure pursuit and lag pursuit works better. Lead in this situation will normally result in a blind shot under your nose when the bandit breaks and lose of sight at some point.