CLAY TARGET SHOOTING

The sport of Clay Pigeon Shooting involves using a shotgun to shoot at and break a circular flying target made from a fragile material. 

Clay Pigeon Shooting has evolved into a sport enjoyed by a wide range of ages (often from ten years and upwards) at all levels from novice to Olympic competition. Safety is a priority at all shooting grounds with a firm set of safety rules being applied by all those involved. 

The Clay Pigeon 

A Standard clay pigeon is an upside-down saucer shaped disk, 110 mm in diameter and made from a mixture of Calcium Carbonate (Limestone) and Pitch. Clays come in several shapes, sizes and colours to allow a wide variety of targets to be thrown against both light and dark backgrounds. 

Types of Clay Targets

• Standard (108mm-110mm): The most common, versatile target used for, this is a general purpose target and this is a general purpose target on most of the clubs.

• Midi (90mm): Smaller and faster, these simulate distant, quick birds and are harder to hit.

• Mini (60-70mm): Extremely small and fast, used for advanced training.

• Battue: Thin, flat discs that fly straight, then suddenly drop or dive.

• Rabbit: A thick-rimmed disc designed to roll along the ground. That mimic’s rabbit’s run, hence “RABBIT”

• Specialty/Coloured: Used for better visibility against backgrounds.

The sport of clay target shooting originated as a way for hunters to maintain their marksmanship out of season. Targets, which these days are saucer-shaped discs of breakable pitch or ‘clay’, are thrown in varying trajectories, distances and speeds, with the shooter scoring points for each target they hit. The targets are sturdy enough to be thrown at speed from launching mechanisms, called traps, but are brittle and will break upon impact with shotgun pellets fired at them – sometimes with spectacular results.

Over centuries, the sport has developed and diversified into several disciplines, and it’s not just hunters that take part. Field & Game Australia has members who don’t hunt, but are keen clay target shooters. It’s a great way to socialise with family and friends; to have fun; and to benefit from the personal growth and discipline that comes with participating in any sport.

There are three main types of clay target shooting: simulated field, skeet and trap.

Simulated Field is the general term used for disciplines where targets are thrown to emulate the movements of game animals, as such, there are no set trajectories or shooting stand layouts for most Simulated Field events. Field & Game Australia’s discipline for Simulated Field is referred to as Australian Simulated Field, and is the most popular discipline of clay target shooting at Field & Game Australia ranges.

Simulated Field targets can be thrown from all sorts of positions, with all sorts of trajectories. Shooters will never experience the same set of targets twice, even at the same Field & Game Australia range. As they are emulating game animals, variation and diversity is key for a set of good simulated field targets. This same variation and diversity keeps the sport interesting.