clay pigeon shooting Archives -

Get into Competitive Trap, Skeet & Clay Pigeon Shooting

IMG_20160726_092810 — Steph shows of his trap shooting skills

With a summer full of sporting events ahead, skeet shooting and trap shooting will once again be featured prominently on TV and online, and will hopefully help to publicise these fast growing sports and inspire a new generation of shooters to take part. If you are looking to compete on the global scale you are first going to have to master the basics.

This is somewhat of general guide to the various clay shooting disciplines, how to prepare yourself for each and some of the different techniques and target shooting supplies you will require to start shooting like a pro.

Know Your Game

So there are three different distinct styles of shooting clay pigeons but how are you meant to know which one is for you?

Trap shooting involves shooting a target that is launched from a single house that is located away from the shooter. This is the sport people generally think of when clay pigeon shooting is mentioned and this is one that tests accuracy and consistency above all else.

Skeet shooting involves two targets that are launched so that their paths cross in front of the shooter and are shot, usually with an over and under shotgun, in quick succession. The challenge here is a test of reflexes as well as accuracy and how quickly one can set their sights on a second target after shooting the first.

The third discipline is sporting clays which is sometimes “golf with a shotgun” and while maybe not quite as exciting as this name makes it sound, it involves a long course with various houses launching targets over natural terrain. It is considered great practice for live game shooting but is often not as competitive as the other two.

All three disciplines require slightly different attributes from their shooters and the best way to decide which one is for you is to try them!

Keep it Legal

Before you can buy a shotgun, or cartridges, you need to get yourself a shotgun license. These are obtained through your local police force and will cost £79.50, £49 for renewals*, and are straightforward and simple to fill out.

Recently the law was changed so that anyone can countersign your application as long as they have known you for two years and they no longer have to belong to a “listed” profession. Our comprehensive guide on this process can be found here. You can learn more elsewhere on our blog by heading here to our post ‘How To Get A Shotgun Licence’.

Unless you own your own clay thrower and a significant piece of land you are also going to need to join a local shooting club. Luckily there are plenty of these located all over the country and are often populated with friendly individuals that are more than happy to share their knowledge.

* Figures correct as for July 2016

The Right Tool

There are essentially 5 types of shotgun, single barrel: classic break barrel that must be reloaded after each shot, over and under: similar to the single barrel but has 2 barrels that are located on top of each other, side by side: the classic double barrelled shotgun where the barrels are next to each other, pump action shotguns and semi-automatics.

Any and all shotguns can be used for skeet and trap shooting but over and under as well as semi-automatics seem to be the most common as pump actions require significant movement to load the next shell which can throw off your aim whilst side by side shotguns have barrels next to each other meaning one shell shoots slightly left, and one slightly right. Single barrel shotguns are also effective but have to be reloaded after every shot making them unsuitable for skeet shooting. You can have a look at our range of shotguns here.

It’s also vital to grab the right target shooting supplies to go with your gun. When it comes to gauge selection there is some debate between 12 gauge and 20 gauge. Most people seem to be of the idea that more shot inside the shell increases the chance of hitting clays therefore 12 gauge are the way go. I am of the opinion that having a shotgun that you can shoot comfortably is the most important factor in accuracy, and besides you can get 20 gauge shells that are as heavy, if not heavier, than some 12 gauge shells.

Gauge does not always equal weight. When Skeet shooting I think that 20 gauge shells are actually more effective as they often have less recoil, keeping you on target for the second clay. Our shotgun cartridge to buy are available here.

It is worth noting that if using a semi-automatic or pump action shotgun that has a capacity higher than 3, you will need a fire arms (FAC) license and not just a shotgun certificate to hold them legally. Head to the .Gov.uk site for more.

Prep Work

Practice probably makes perfect but proper preparation prevents poor performance. This saying, if you can actually say it, will stand you in good stead when shooting as everything should be

considered if you want the best results. As well as your shotgun and cartridges you are going to need to consider which ear defenders are suitable, is your shooting outfit suitable for the weather? What are you going to have for lunch?

Everything, except maybe your sandwiches, is going to affect your shooting in a small way so it is important to get everything right. All of this is also best laid out the night before so you feel well prepared when you wake up and can focus on the task at hand instead of scrambling around, counting cartridges or wondering where the hell you put your shotgun certificate. This kind of prep work particularly important if you are entering a shooting competition, as you are going to be full of adrenaline as it is and the cooler you can keep your head, the better you will perform.

Clothing is important as weather conditions and body temperature can have a significant effect on performance, so make sure you choose a suitable shooting jacket and sturdy footwear. Perhaps most important of all is your ear and eye protection. Shotguns are LOUD and you are going to want to protect yourself if you want to hear anything in the years to come. Have a look at our great of range of ear defenders here.

Pull!

trap and skeet shooting gun — the art of taking aim when clay pigeon shooting is important

Watch the clay! I can’t stress this enough, you’d be surprised the amount of times I’ve heard things like “those clays were so fast they caught me off guard” or “I wasn’t expecting them to come from there”. Well the trick to countering this is to watch every, single, clay and analyse it. From this you can determine where the best place to take your shot is, usually when the clay starts to slow, and from this improve your score card.

Before you start shooting you will be shown where that targets are coming from and how they fly through the air. Keep track of their flight path and particularly note where they slow down and/or change direction, as this will be your best chance to hit them.

Now every clay is not going to fly exactly the same but by a law of averages, you can have a pretty good idea of where the clay is going to move before it does. This process is called “reading” the clay and being able to do this effectively is what makes between a good shooter and a winning shooter.

A small point about your eyes. It is worth shooting with both eyes open if you can as you can benefit from a wider field of view but if you prefer to shoot with one eye closed you want to be using your dominant eye. 80% of men have a dominant right eye whilst around 80% of women favour the left. To check to see which eye is dominant out of yours pick an object across the room and point your finger at it. Close your left eye and if you finger is still pointing at the object you are right eye dominant. If the object moves away from you finger then close your right eye and open your left eye. The object should now be at the end of your finger and you are left eye dominant. If this still doesn’t work then you may need to seek an optician.

Keep Calm and Carry on Keeping Calm

When it is finally your turn to step up don’t rush yourself in a desperate attempt to get points on the board. Take your time and pick your shots. Take your time, control your breathing and keep your eyes open, don’t just poke and hope. You are going to have to shoot ahead of where the clay is. This is known as “forward allowance”, and will feel alien at first, so it is important to use your vision effectively.

Flow is important when shooting so if you do miss your first few shots don’t worry about getting embarrassed, this is a sport of fine margins and other shooters understand this. At the very worst they will think you are just having a bad day, and bad days last 24 hours at the most. In my experience, though, most shooters are extremely friendly thanks to the inclusive nature of the sport, and are more likely to offer words of encouragement than anything else.

The Art of Shooting

When shooting, the number one cause of misses has to be hesitation. If you have the shot, pull the trigger, and by checking for even a split second, the chances are you may have missed your small window of opportunity. If you don’t believe me take it from King Edward VII who was famously in love with shooting and said in 1911 “Aim high, keep the gun moving and never check”. Pretty sound advice, even 100 years later.

Keep the gun ready, just below the shoulder pocket, don’t be tempted to hold the gun down by your waist as it will take far too long to shoulder and make hitting the clay much harder. This position is called the “gun down” position and imitates game hunting. The “gun up” position is where the stock of the gun is already mounted in your shoulder when you call for the bird, this is generally used for skeet shooting where the targets fly fat too fast to allow you to shoulder the gun and then shoot. Just be aware that in many serious skeet shooting competitions, this position is not allowed and you must start from the “gun down” position so it is probably best to start practising with that stance if you wish to become a pro. Even if you see shooting as more of a hobby than anything to be seriously pursued, the gun down position can improve your reflexes and is how I like to shoot, no matter the discipline.

Another aspect that often gets over looked when shooting is your footwork. Now, no one is saying you have to be Anton Du Beke to shoot effectively but a little thought about foot placement can provide better balance and stability for higher accuracy. Balance is absolutely key, and you will notice the very best shooters are always in perfect balance at the moment the trigger is pulled. Take small, delicate steps and ensure that when the trigger is pulled, your front shoulder is directly above your front foot to give you the most stable platform possible. Your leading foot should also be pointing towards where you are shooting, to improve your balance and body position.

Skeet shooting involves having to hit two targets, and following both clays is much harder than if they are coming one at a time. Most of the time, when I see people starting out skeet shooting they hit the first clay and miss the second. This is because they are trying to shoot the first clay, reset and then try and target the second, by which time the second clay has flown past them into the ground. The key to hitting both clays effectively is to draw the barrels of the gun in a long sweep that intersects where both clays are travelling. This way you don’t have to set yourself in between shots, and will help you hit the second clay.

In Conclusion

Don’t forget what the sport is all about, having fun. Sure it’s good to win, but so long as you are enjoying yourself, it doesn’t really matter. Learning a sport is a long but enjoyable process and perfecting a sport is an impossible one.

For all things clay pigeon stay tuned here at Pellpax, and grab your target shooting supplies in our Rifles and Shotguns department.

The Big Interview: John Bidwell

This month, we spoke to veteran shotgun champion, John Bidwell. The Suffolk-based shooter is highly respected in the world of shooting, and has won in venues all over the world – from Spain to Australia, Germany to America, and many at home in Britain. In this interview, he shares with us his illustrious shooting career, his conferencing and shooting venue High Lodge, Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, charity work, and much more.

With seven World Championship titles in individual events and 30 years’ participation in the Great Britain shooting team, 68-year-old John Bidwell is still competing at international level in the Super Veteran category. He is the inventor and manufacturer of the Auto Sporter Clay Trap machine and the founding owner of one of the most prodigious shooting venues in the country. John is the author of Move, Mount, Shoot: A Champion’s Guide to Sporting Clays, described as ‘the only comprehensive manual’ of the maintained lead method of shooting.

Do you come from a shooting background, John?

No, I don’t. My dad really wasn’t a fan of guns, although he’d worked as an armourer during the war. I got no encouragement from my parents when it came to shooting. I loved the sport, though, and I grabbed every opportunity to practise. In the late 1960s, when I was in my early twenties, I joined a shooting club, and ten years later I was part of the Great Britain shooting team. I’d never had a single lesson!

Tell us about your first shooting club and how you moved on to High Lodge.

The sport had been rapidly gaining popularity during the 1970s, and in 1982, we – my wife, Sally, and I – leased a bit of land at Henham Park in Suffolk, bought some second-hand equipment, and set up our first shooting club. I’d already got this vision of helping to make shooting a more mainstream sport, giving everybody the opportunity to have a go. I did some coaching while Sally ran the clubhouse. I say ‘clubhouse’ – it was a portable hut where members could get a hot drink and a burger!

In 1989, when the lease on the Henham Park land was about to run out, we got the opportunity to buy 100 acres of land at Hinton in Suffolk.

Can you describe High Lodge?

Well, I’m very proud of the fact that it’s one of only a few British shooting venues with a CPSA Premium rating. We’re now a 120-acre luxury resort, catering for conferences and corporate hospitality, short breaks, and celebratory occasions; we do quite a few weddings, actually. I run it with my two daughters, Jane and Helen. Sadly, Sally died in August 2011. She’s very much missed in the shooting world.

A popular feature at High Lodge is our ‘indoor’ outdoor range. Safety cages are incorporated into 12’ by 8’ wooden structures that provide shelter for people and equipment. We have a golf course, which opened in March 1998, an archery range, and two half-acre fishing lakes.

As far as accommodation goes, we’re growing. At the moment we have 19 luxury lodges – with planning permission for an additional 32, which are presently under construction. We have some rather nice function rooms and five-star catering, with extensive parking – and even helicopter landing facilities.

Is the Auto Sporter Clay Trap your own invention?

Absolutely. When we opened High Lodge, all the traps were manually operated, which was restrictive for shooters, because you couldn’t just pop out for a session without booking someone to pull. So, during the following few years, I worked on the production of electrically powered traps. My first model ran off the mains, but eventually we had the Auto Sporter Clay Trap machine, which is still manufactured on site at High Lodge by experienced technicians and engineers. It’s supplied to shooting clubs and competitive events all over the world and is used in conjunction with an automatic counter system.

What is your connection with Blaser, the German gun manufacturer?

Fourteen years ago, Blaser got me to help them design their new F3 model. I showcased the F3 prototype shotgun for sale in the FITASC World Championship in France – and actually won! This was great publicity for the F3. I’ve had a close relationship with Blaser and the F3 ever since.

… And other sponsorships?

I have a long-standing relationship with Eley, the leading shotgun cartridges manufacturer, and I’ve recently engaged in mutual promotion with Lings of Lowestoft and their Mitsubishi L200 truck.

Tell us about your relationship with the CPSA. You’re Honorary Vice President.

The CPSA – that’s the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association – takes good care of its members. But the recruitment of new members is a role typically taken on by clubs like ours. The have-a-go sessions that I organise at shooting events, and the accessibility to the sport that High Lodge offers, open the door to beginners. At High Lodge, a special rate is offered to anyone who joins the CPSA – in fact, High Lodge recruits more CPSA members than any other club in the country.

What’s coming up this year for you?

Okay – I’ll give you a list of events. There’ll be have-a-go sessions at most of these.

High Lodge is well known for its charity events. Is this an important part of your work?

Yes, we’ve hosted many fundraising events for causes like East Anglian Children’s Hospices (EACH), East Anglian Air Ambulance, Cancer Research, The Multiple Sclerosis Society, Macmillan … and lots of others. One particular cause that’s close to our hearts is the care of Guillain-Barré sufferers; this is the debilitating disease that attacked Sally five years ago. We have an annual memorial shoot for Sally. I donated my solid silver World Championship trophy, won in 1996, as the champion’s prize for this event.

John is running a series of ‘have a go’ drop in sessions at his lodge. The dates are.

April 25^th-26^th: East Anglian Game & Country Fair at the Norfolk Showground, NR11 7WW

June 15^th-18^th: The Clay Shooting Classic at High Lodge, IP17 3QT

July 2^nd-3^rd: Country Fair at Heveningham Hall Estate, IP19 0PN

September 1^st-4^th: CPSA British Open Championship at High Lodge, IP17 3QT

September 10^th-11^th: Sandringham Game and Country Fair, PE35 6EN

You can learn more about John Bidwell and the services and events at High Lodge by heading to the official site.

And you can check out out our range of shotgun for sale by heading to our store. We sell shotgun cartridges by a range of manufacturers as well.

And learn more about clay pigeon shooting by heading to the CPSA website here.

Review: Clay Pigeon Shooting Training Day

If you’re interested in learning about using a shotgun, A great way to begin shooting is with a beginners course or some assisted training from an instructor. Our resident shooting journalist Hazel Randall tried out one such course, heading out for some instruction from Alan Evans of Fair Clay Targets.

I arrived at my destination with a hammering heart and a sense of dread. My life-long fear of guns – including toy ones, which, pointed at my body, can induce in me a shameful hysteria – was kicking against the whole idea. As I shook hands with Alan Evans, of Fair Clay Targets, I put on what I hoped was a brave face.

Alan was just as I expected him to be – tall, friendly, and relaxed. My nerves subsided a little. He led me to a wooden table, where a double-barrelled, over-&-under 12-bore shotgun lay open. Alan showed me that there was no cartridge in the opened barrel. He put one into the chamber, and then he took it out again.

Having established that there was no ammunition in the gun, and that death was not imminent, Alan closed the barrel and got me to hold the gun. He showed me how to tuck the stock (I’d always called it the ‘handle’) into my right armpit, support the fore-end with my left hand, and push the lever with my right thumb to open the barrel. I then closed the barrel. I did this a few times, growing a little more comfortable.

Holding the gun

The next step was to learn how to hold the gun. I was shown how to push the butt into my right shoulder, supporting the fore-end with my left hand. Throughout the session, I made the mistake of positioning my hand too far forward, restricting the movement of the barrel when aiming. With right hand on the grip, forefinger on the trigger, and cheek nestled into position directly over my left foot, I stood side-on to my ‘target’ (Alan’s right eye). Cross-eyed and a little shaky, I tried to position the tiny white sight at the end of the barrel over my target. I was glad when that bit was over.

My heart rate rose again when we went over to the cage from which I was to shoot. Immediately in front of it, a rope ran the width of the field. I was told to stay behind the rope. Alan operated the trap from where we stood, pulling a couple of clays so that I knew what to expect. These clays, flying onto a background of trees, were bright orange, showing up well against the dark backdrop. The trap from the other end of the field fired black clays towards us; these were easily seen against the sky. Alan told me that the clays were biodegradable, and the debris was left where it fell, to decompose within a couple of weeks. I thought that was pretty marvellous. Alan gave me some ear protection to put on. It was time to shoot.

I opened the barrel, and Alan slipped a 24-gram shot cartridge into one of the chambers. Now the adrenalin was racing through my body. That first shot (which missed, obviously!) thrust the butt into my shoulder, and the bang filled my head. It was exhilarating. I liked the smell of the sizzling fumes that curled out of the chamber after the remains of the cartridge had popped out.

Following the clay

I found it difficult to follow the clays with my eyes and the barrel simultaneously, often holding the gun in a fixed position while my gaze wandered over the sky. Because my face was not hugged firmly into the barrel, my head tended to jerk backwards, throwing me off balance and the gun off target.

Thanks to Alan’s patience and expertise, my first experience of using a gun was an enjoyable one. The session ended with a strong, sweet cup of coffee and a biscuit, and the day ended with an almighty headache!

For more details of other approved courses nationwide, head to the BASC website. And check out our range of shotguns for sale, including pump action shotguns, and shotgun accessories like ear defenders, and delivery across the UK.

How To Get Started With Clay Pigeon Shooting

You don’t own a gun. You have never fired a gun. You have no gun licence. You don’t know how to obtain a licence. You don’t know if you need a licence. You don’t know anybody who shoots. So how do you get started with clay pigeon shooting?

When you attend your introductory shooting lesson, you don’t need a licence or a gun of your own. Current legislation allows an unlicensed person to borrow a gun belonging to the occupier (not necessarily the owner, but a licensed person) of privately owned land, in his or her presence.

Do I need a licence?

However, it is a legal requirement that anybody who owns a shotgun must hold an up-to-date licence. A first shotgun licence, valid for five years and issued by the Firearms Licensing Unit of the local police force, can be obtained at a cost of £79.50 on completion of an application form (201) and a follow-up interview with a police officer. Form 201, application for a firearm and / or a shotgun licence, can be downloaded from various websites, including the BASC (British Association for Shooting and Conservation), Shooting UK (a popular UK shooting website), and your local police force’s website. A shotgun licence application can take months – or as little as three weeks; it depends on whereabouts in the country you live. We’ve written a detailed blog post on the topic here.

Where can I practise clay pigeon shooting?

trap clay pigeon shooting club — Clay Pigeon Trap Shooting can be found in local clubs around the country.

There are over 500 clay pigeon shooting clubs in the UK, including 11 in Norfolk. You can find your local club by heading over to the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association. Check out our site for all your shooting accessories. Contact a club near you and book yourself onto a clay pigeon shooter beginner’s session, where you will be coached in technique, gun safety, site safety … and jargon, of course!

As a beginner, you will use a gun with a fitted recoil pad. Recoil (also known as knockback, kickback or kick) is the backward momentum of the gun when it is discharged. Being of equal force to the projectile (plus any ejected gases), the recoil is, understandably, quite a shock for a first-time shooter. Recoil pads are made from a soft material, e.g. rubber or leather, and are attached to the buttstock of the gun or strapped onto the shooter’s shoulder, which also serves to prevent the gun from slipping on clothing.

And what about clothing and essential shooting supplies?

Wear comfortable, safe shoes. Wellington boots are ideal in wet weather, and in drier conditions, walking boots or trainers are suitable. Ensure that laces are securely tied. Well-fitting clothes are essential. Tight clothing will obviously restrict movement, but baggy clothing, too, is restrictive in its tendency to get in the way.

The wearing of adequate and effective eye protection by shooters and trappers is now mandatory. It’s possible to wear additional eye protection over the top of prescription glasses; however, many people find this physically uncomfortable and a visual hindrance. As glasses are considered ‘adequate and effective’ protection, people often choose to wear either their own glasses or special eye protection.

It is advisable to wear some form of hearing protection is also compulsory when clay pigeon shooting. A discharging gun is extremely loud, and eardrum damage is irreversible. Check out advice from the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association for more advice on the exact guidelines;

You can find the BASC website here to get your Form 201. Detailed instructions on how to apply for a certificate can be found here. And guidance from the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association is available here.

If you already have your certificate, you can grab shooting supplies in our Shotgun store, and shooting accessories such as shotgun cartridges here.

And head to the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, where you can find a club near you.