The Gun
There are different types of shotguns, but clay targets are usually shot with a gun known as an “over-and-under” with two barrels arranged one above the other.
Older style side-by-side guns can also be used for clay shooting, though they do tend to be used more for game shooing than clays.
Semi-automatic shotguns are also quite popular and frequently favoured by the ladies due to the nature of their operation they tend to have less recoil (that is the kick-back) This type of shotgun only has one barrel. The term “Semi-Automatic” means that cartridges are held in a magazine and as the first cartridge in the barrel is fired with the pull of the trigger, the next cartridge is loaded into the barrel and the trigger is then pulled a second time.
The standard size is known as a “12 bore”. That’s a throwback to the days of muskets, when 12 lead musket balls weighed one pound. Another size of gun is the “20 bore”. As you might have guessed, in this case 20 balls of lead weigh one pound.
The odd one out in shotgun sizes is the 410, this is a calibre rather than a bore, which means the physical diameter of the cartridge is .410 of an inch.
The cartridge
A shotgun cartridge consists of a plastic tube containing powder, wadding and shot. At one end there’s a metal head with the primer “cap” in the centre. When you pull the trigger, the firing pin hits this primer to fire the cartridge. If you pick up one of your fired cartridges, you will see the dent where the firing pin struck the primer.
Note that shotguns don’t fire a single bullet, like a rifle. Each cartridge contains around 300 small round pellets or “shot”, which fly towards the target in a small cloud known as the “pattern”. With so many pellets you might think you can’t miss, but there’s a lot of empty space around that target and you’ll need all your skill to make your pattern hit the clay.
The Trap
Clay traps are machines to throw the clay target when you call “PULL” They can be angled and tilted to offer a wide range of targets. Some can also roll the clay along the ground to simulate a bolting rabbit.
The Clays
There are several different clay types and sizes, along with numerous different colours, however the main colours are black and fluorescent orange also known as “firebirds”.
They also range in size/diameter. The mini is 60mm in diameter, midi is 90mm, standard, rabbit and battue are all 110mm
