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.