History of clay pigeon shooting

History of clay pigeon shooting

The history of clay pigeon shooting dates back to around 1880, when it first gained a following. Through the Victorian and Edwardian eras this sport became increasingly popular as an entertaining diversion for hunting parties. The introduction of clay targets gave the shooter a flying target at which to aim, building their skill as a shooter through this activity. Note: clay shooting became illegal in 1921 but this was later lifted. More info can be found here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_pigeon_shooting.

This style of shooting became popular as an alternative to the pheasant and grouse shooting activities that had until that time been the primary shooting activity in the UK. While the pheasant or grouse shoot necessitated a number of birds being in any given location, the use of clay targets made the sport of shooting more readily available and more easily managed.

During the early history of clay pigeon shooting, there were a number of people that would practice and refine their shooing skills at school and facilities catering to this sport. A number of shooting schools were even opened in London to cater to the desires of Victorian enthusiasts who could use the traps and towers necessary to carry out the activity. During this era the sport grew in recognition and a number of tournaments were held in London and across the UK to introduce more people to clay pigeon shooting.

It was in France however that the first trap was produced. The ‘Hand Trap’ device was invented in 1927 by Emile Laporte; creating a revolution in the sport. Throughout the history of clay pigeon this is probably the most significant development, leading to the development of the sport as it exists today. The trap consists of a spring loaded with a metal throwing arm, hence the often heard cry of “pull” as the shooter prepares to take aim. The trap springs back into position and the clay target is released, flying through the air for distances of up to 135 metres.

 The first automated traps for the clay pigeon shooting were built in the 1980s, further boosting the sport of clay shooting and allowing even more people to participate in this exciting and challenging activity.

Today, the sport has seen a huge rise in popularity with websites emerging right across the UK offering clay pigeon shoots as a primary offering to a growing number of adults keen to enjoy the competitive nature of the sport, Intotheblue are one of these companies who have successfully popularised clay pigeon shooting events throughout the UK with other experience type websites following their lead.

For more information on this growing sport please visit the Clay pigeon shooting association main website at www.cpsa.co.uk who’s website contains a wealth of information including performances by the English clay pigeon shooting team.

Some general tips and advice for shooting.

 One of the first things you will learn if you participate in clay pigeon shooting is how to hold the shotgun.  The shotgun unlike an air gun is distinct because it has no magazine and generally will take only two cartridges at any one time. For the sport of clay pigeon shooting the gun must have a barrel that is between 26 and 34 inches long, and a maximum 12 bore.

Handling the gun is important to participate successfully in the sport, as you need to shoot with precision to hit a moving target. You must understand how to hold the shotgun correctly to achieve success in the activity and there are several key points you can focus on to start building your skill in this sport.

Balance and good positioning – The position of the body helps you to successfully handle the gun and having the correct stance that provides stability and balance includes the right foot positioning, body position, hand position, arm position and so on.

Head position – The correct head position is another thing that should be considered when learning how to hold the shotgun. While pointing and shooting, the head should remain upright and should not be tilted over the ‘comb’ of the gun’s stock. Next place your cheek firmly upon the comb. Different face shapes mean there is no hard and fast rule, but the lower face should generally be in contact with the stock.

Proper Mount – An understanding of how to hold the shotgun should include knowledge of the proper mount. The gun should sit in the shoulder ‘pocket’ and to do this, you should raise your arm to be parallel with your shoulder (stretched out to the side). Then bend the arm at the elbow at a 45 degree angle and this should ensure the correct placement of the gun.

These few key factors will help you learn how to hold the shotgun and with a little practice, the correct placement will start to feel natural and become easy to achieve.