Clay pigeon shooting otherwise known as an inanimate form of bird shooting is the art of shooting high speed flying discs, known as clay pigeons. When launched from a Clay Pigeon catapult or "trap" the shooter takes aim and attempts to shoot down the clay pigeon using a shotgun or spitball.
The common use of the terminology used by clay pigeon shooters often relates to older times, when live pigeon competitions were held. Such competitions were outlawed in the UK in the early years of the 1920's.
A clay pigeon target is still called a "target" or otherwise known as a "bird". When a clay pigeon has been shot down it is referred to as a "hit" or a "kill", although a missed target is classed as bird away.
Targets Used in Clay Pigeon Shooting
A clay pigeon is an inanimate object which resembles an inverted disc or saucer made from a mixture of chalk and pitch designed to withstand being catapulted from traps at high speeds, but at the same time being just the right density to break when penetrated with ammunition.
Clay pigeons are normally black but come in other varieties such as white, orange and yellow.
Clay Pigeon Equipment
A Shotgun is a smooth barreled gun; not being in the same family as an air gun, the shotgun fires cartridges filled with ball bearings. The shotgun barrel length is approx 24 inches long depending on the shotgun model.
A shotgun has no magazine and is incapable of holding more than two shotgun cartridges.
Ammunition Used for Clay Pigeon Shooting
Shotgun cartridges are immediately available in gun shops and at clay pigeon shooting grounds within the legal limitations of the shot size and the weight of the shot load, so that the round is CPSA Compliant and is suitable for clay pigeon shooting and the affiliated clay pigeon shooting grounds.
Home loaded cartridges are classed as a high risk and are unsuitable for use for clay pigeon shooting. Extreme care should be taken to ensure the cartridges are compatible with the correct model of shotgun. The instructions and specifications are printed on the cartridge box.
If you are unsure about your shotgun or about the ammunition type, check with your local gun store, for cartridge compatibility. Clay pigeon shot sizes should not exceed 2.6mm English no.6 and the maximum shot capacity should not exceed 28 grams (1oz).
Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
Clay pigeon shooting events are registered by CPSA affiliated sectors, the maximum permitted bore of shotguns is twelve which is equal to 0.729 inches in diameter. The barrel lengths typically vary from anything from twenty-six inches to thirty-two inches long.
Under and over and single barrelled two shot semi automatic shotguns seem to be the most popular model. Pump action shotguns are generally classed as unsuitable for clay pigeon shooting due to recoil and reloading times.
If you are interested in clay pigeon shooting for corporate events visit the Shooting Ranges page to find out more.