9 Tips for Clay Pigeon Shooting

9 Tips for Clay Pigeon Shooting

600,000 people in the UK are shooters.

This sport is fun to watch and participate in. Aside from its leisure value, a participant gets to learn gun handling and the discipline that comes with the possession of a firearm.

If you are looking to become a shooter, here are top shooting tips to help you shoot clay pigeons like a pro.

 

1. Safety Comes First

It is important to wear the appropriate eye and ear protection equipment.

In addition to this, it’s advisable to keep your gun unloaded until it’s time to shoot. Nevertheless, always handle your gun as if it’s loaded.

 

2. Determine Your Dominant Eye

Most people assume their dominant hand side is also their dominant eye side. This is not always true.

This is how to do a dominant eye test:

  • Draw your arms out in front of you and form a triangular shape with your thumb and forefingers by placing your hands together at an angle.
  • With eyes open, centre this triangle on an object like a doorknob or a keyhole.
  • Then close one eye. If the object remains centred, the eye your seeing with is your dominant eye.

You are now ready to start shooting.

 

3. Join Competitions

Competitions are a great way to get you working in overdrive to get in form. Look out for competitions and other shooting events in your locality and sign up. These will make your practice more.

You can also form a shooting team with stronger players to up your chances of winning. Ensure to have clear team objectives as well as team rewards for participation and good sportsmanship.

 

4. Find the Right Gun

For you to aim correctly, you need to find the right gun fit.

To do this, set a 16-yard target and shoot a few shots at this target without really aiming at it.

If you discover that your highest density is off centre, then have your gun re-fitted.

 

5. Focus on the Target

This sounds like the most obvious shooting rule. However, it’snot uncommon for beginners to focus on the barrel rather than the target.

 

6. Work on Your Endurance

While you will be eager to start shooting on day one, this might disadvantage you.

Instead, use your first few sessions to practice mounting and pointing the gun.
Most people find this physically taxing.

Practising this transition helps build upper body strength and helps one perfect their form for actual shooting.

 

7. Shoot Clay Pigeons: Work on Your Stance

Once you have got the focus and endurance down, you can now work on your stance.

To get this right, stand with your front leg slightly bent and your hind leg straightened out.

Bend slightly at your waist and then ease forward into your gun.

 

8. Move the Barrel Until You Shoot

This ensures you have a consistent follow-through.

Keep your dominant eye on the target and follow with your barrel. Start with lower targets.

Once your gun recoils, it will naturally bring you to a higher target.

 

9. Analyse Misses

Do not be discouraged by consecutive misses. Instead, re-evaluate your form, and make the necessary changes.

Also, assess your lead and decrease or increase as required.

 

Ready to Shoot?

You would want to shoot clay pigeons to improve your coordination as well as physical strength.

And the good thing is that once you gain the necessary skills, you can start monetising your hobby by participating in competitions.

Aside from your shooting and event planning your skills, you will need to work on a reward system.

At trophies and medals, we recognise the need to reward Excellency. Towards this end, we design and create customised awards for our clients.

Check out our site and request a brochure for details about what we offer.