Clay Pigeon Shooting, is the art of shooting at targets, known as clay pigeon or clay targets, with a shotgun.
The terminology commonly used by clay shooters often relates to times past, when live pigeon competitions were held. Much of the material in this article was provided by the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) in their capacity of National Governing Body for the sport of clay shooting in England.
The terminology commonly used by clay shooters often relates to times past, when live pigeon competitions were held. Much of the material in this article was provided by the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) in their capacity of National Governing Body for the sport of clay shooting in England.
Cartridges
Shotgun cartridge are readily available in gun shops and at shooting grounds, and within limitations as to the shot size and the weight of the shot load are suitable for clayshooting at CPSA affiliated grounds and for use in events coming under CPSA rules. Home loaded cartridges can be dangerous and are therefore are not acceptable at clay pigeon shooting events.
Shotgun cartridge are readily available in gun shops and at shooting grounds, and within limitations as to the shot size and the weight of the shot load are suitable for clayshooting at CPSA affiliated grounds and for use in events coming under CPSA rules. Home loaded cartridges can be dangerous and are therefore are not acceptable at clay pigeon shooting events.
Clay pigeons/targets
The targets used for the sport are usually in the shape of an inverted saucer, made from a mixture of pitch and chalk designed to withstand being thrown from traps at very high speeds, but at the same time being easily broken when hit by just a very few lead or steel pellets shot from a shotgun.
The targets are usually black, but other colours such as white, yellow or fluorescent orange are frequently used in order that they can be clearly seen against varying backgrounds and/or light conditions.
Clay pigeons are made to very exacting specifications with regard to their weight and dimensions and must conform to set international standards.
There are several types of targets that are used for the various disciplines, as follows. However, only the standard 110 mm target is used in all of the trap and skeet disciplines. Sporting shoots feature the full range of targets to provide the variety that is a hallmark of the discipline.
Standard: The most commonly used target of all, must weigh 105 grams and be of 110 mm overall diameter and 25-26 mm in height.
Midi: Same saucer shape as the standard but with a diameter of only 90 mm.
Mini: This target is sometimes likened to a flying bumblebee at only 60 mm in diameter and 20 mm in height.
Battue: A very thin, flat, wafer of a target of about 110 mm in diameter which flies very fast and falls off very suddenly.
Rabbit: A standard sized (but thicker) flat target in the shape of a wheel designed to run fast along the ground.
The targets used for the sport are usually in the shape of an inverted saucer, made from a mixture of pitch and chalk designed to withstand being thrown from traps at very high speeds, but at the same time being easily broken when hit by just a very few lead or steel pellets shot from a shotgun.
The targets are usually black, but other colours such as white, yellow or fluorescent orange are frequently used in order that they can be clearly seen against varying backgrounds and/or light conditions.
Clay pigeons are made to very exacting specifications with regard to their weight and dimensions and must conform to set international standards.
There are several types of targets that are used for the various disciplines, as follows. However, only the standard 110 mm target is used in all of the trap and skeet disciplines. Sporting shoots feature the full range of targets to provide the variety that is a hallmark of the discipline.
Standard: The most commonly used target of all, must weigh 105 grams and be of 110 mm overall diameter and 25-26 mm in height.
Midi: Same saucer shape as the standard but with a diameter of only 90 mm.
Mini: This target is sometimes likened to a flying bumblebee at only 60 mm in diameter and 20 mm in height.
Battue: A very thin, flat, wafer of a target of about 110 mm in diameter which flies very fast and falls off very suddenly.
Rabbit: A standard sized (but thicker) flat target in the shape of a wheel designed to run fast along the ground.
Traps
These are purpose made, spring loaded, flywheel or rotational devices especially designed to launch the different types of targets in singles or pairs at distances of up to 100 metres.
These machines vary from the very simple, hand cocked, hand loaded and hand released types to the highly sophisticated, fully automatic variety which can hold up to 600 targets in their own magazine and are electrically or pneumatically operated. Target release is by remote control either by pressing a button or by an acoustic system activated by the shooter's voice.
Target speeds and trajectories can be easily modified and varied to suit the discipline or type of shooting required.
These are purpose made, spring loaded, flywheel or rotational devices especially designed to launch the different types of targets in singles or pairs at distances of up to 100 metres.
These machines vary from the very simple, hand cocked, hand loaded and hand released types to the highly sophisticated, fully automatic variety which can hold up to 600 targets in their own magazine and are electrically or pneumatically operated. Target release is by remote control either by pressing a button or by an acoustic system activated by the shooter's voice.
Target speeds and trajectories can be easily modified and varied to suit the discipline or type of shooting required.
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Guns
A shotgun as defined by UK Law, is a smooth barrelled gun - not being an air gun - with barrel length in excess of 60.96 cm (24 inches) and a barrel with a bore not exceeding 5.08cm (2 inches) - and either has no magazine, or a non detachable magazine incapable of holding more than two cartridges - and is not a revolver gun.
For clay pigeon shooting at CPSA registered events and CPSA affiliated grounds, the maximum permitted bore of shotguns is 12, equivalent to 0.729 inches diameter. Barrel lengths typically vary from 26 to 32 inches, and side-by-side, under and over and single barrelled two shot semi-automatic are commonly used. Pump action guns are generally considered unsuitable for clay pigeon shooting.
A shotgun as defined by UK Law, is a smooth barrelled gun - not being an air gun - with barrel length in excess of 60.96 cm (24 inches) and a barrel with a bore not exceeding 5.08cm (2 inches) - and either has no magazine, or a non detachable magazine incapable of holding more than two cartridges - and is not a revolver gun.
For clay pigeon shooting at CPSA registered events and CPSA affiliated grounds, the maximum permitted bore of shotguns is 12, equivalent to 0.729 inches diameter. Barrel lengths typically vary from 26 to 32 inches, and side-by-side, under and over and single barrelled two shot semi-automatic are commonly used. Pump action guns are generally considered unsuitable for clay pigeon shooting.
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