Learning
To Clay Shoot – A Guide to What You
Need to Know
Clay
Shooting is a fun and exciting hobby
that is ideal for men and women alike
and for all ages. Many couples choose
clay shooting as it is something that
can be equally enjoyed together and there
is certainly no physical advantage to
be had!
All you need to start is a little information,
enough money to get you going (not a lot
as you do not need to purchase any equipment
to begin with) and a few hours of your
time.
1. Locate a Ground
2. Have a some Lessons
3. Practice, Practice & Practice
4. Now is the time to think about kit.
5. Enjoy Your Sport
1. Locate a Ground.
There are literally hundreds of grounds
spread throughout the British Isles ranging
from informal shoots set up by a dozen
or so friends right up to fully commercial
grounds that are open seven days per week
and have luxurious clubhouses, restaurants
and retail outlets. All you need to ensure
before you start to shoot is that you
are being taught by someone who is trained
to do so. There are many, many people
out there who are perfectly capable of
shooting
themselves but would struggle to teach
somebody else. An instructor who has passed
either a British Association of Shooting
& Conservation (BASC)
or Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA)
Instructors Course is suitably qualified
to teach you how to safely and ably fire
a shotgun. As a novice it is also necessary
to begin with the appropriate size of
shotgun and subsonic ammunition, which
results in a more gentle recoil into your
shoulder. When deciding which ground is
right for you, make sure you check that
the correct equipment is used. Other than
that it depends on what facilities you
require and location.
2. Have a Lesson.
You will need at least a few lessons with
an instructor to begin with to ensure
that you are taught about gun safety,
the etiquette required to correctly handle
a shotgun and of course the tips and techniques
required to actually break a few clays.
A lesson will generally cost from around
£40 to £70 per hour plus cartridges
(allow around £10 per hour) although
many clubs offer shared lessons where
the cost per head can be significantly
reduced. Any clay shooting ground worth
its salt will issue you with ear defenders
and eye protection. It is absolutely imperative
that you use both of these pieces of safety
equipment whenever you are on a range.
Never be in close proximity to a shotgun
in use without wearing ear and eye protection.
You will also need to be checked for “eye
dominance”. This takes literally
a few seconds and should be carried out
at the start of your first lesson as it
will have a large bearing on how you are
taught to shoot. Eye dominance is the
strength of your eyes in relation to each
other. Generally right handed people are
right eye dominant and left handed people
are left eye dominant which is ideal although
it is possible to have “cross eye
dominance” or even to have “central
vision”. This is where neither eye
is dominant. Whatever the outcome there
are easy solutions and it is nothing to
be concerned about.
3. Practice, Practice & Practice.
Once your instructor is happy that you
are safe to shoot alone it will be advantageous
to put into practice what you have learnt,
even if you have more lessons to come.
Practicing your shooting enables you to
appreciate more what you have learnt and
experience a wider variety of targets
all at your own pace. It will also allow
you to work out what targets are presenting
you with problems. This is important as
when you next see your instructor you
can concentrate on what you really need
to.
4. Now is the Time to Think About
Kit.
Once you have been shooting a little while,
enjoyed lots of practice and are competent
and confident enough to use a shotgun
then you are finally in a position to
decide whether or not this is a hobby
for you. If it is, then it is worth considering
getting the kit required. Although you
have been borrowing ear and eye protection
from your club it is worth buying these
as well as a skeet vest for summer use
and a thicker shooting coat for winter
use. There are many choices to be made
so ask your instructor as he or she will
be able to advise on your specific requirements
having got to know you during your shooting
lessons with them. Ultimately, you
may wish to purchase your own shotgun.
In order to do so you will need to apply
for a license from your local Police Firearms
Dept.. This is a relatively simple procedure,
similar to a passport application but
with the added requirement of a personal
interview with a local firearms officer.
If you intend to purchase and store a
shotgun at home (the other alternative
is to store it at your club) they will
also wish to see your security measures
before issuing you with a license. You
will need to discuss your specific requirements
with a shop to ensure you get it right
first time. As you have had a few lessons
you will know about gun fit, stance and
gun mount and will, with assistance from
a reputable gun
shop, be able to find a gun that fits
you and is within your budget. Shotguns
can be purchased from as little as two
or three hundred pounds and be perfectly
adequate for the job although as a rough
guide, most people would spend from £500
to £1000 on their first gun. If
not abused and regularly cleaned a shotgun
can easily last 10 to 20 years without
a problem so they are tremendous value
for money and most hold there value well.
Gun fit is the most important aspect of
choosing your new shotgun.
5. Enjoy Your Sport
Having learnt to shoot, practiced and
purchased all the kit you need you will
hopefully enjoy many years of clay shooting.
With such a diverse range of targets,
competitions and disciplines to choose
from there really is something for everyone
and most clubs are very welcoming, fun
and enjoyable places to relax and unwind
in. Enjoy!
Jim Allen is the Events Director for Sporting
Targets, a
Corporate
Hospitality and
Clay
Pigeon Shooting venue based in Bedfordshire.