Melbourn and District u3a

clay shooting

bolting rabbits, right crossers, incoming birds, down the line ...

Clay shooting is the sport of shooting flying clay targets with a shotgun - and it is safe, exciting, challenging and fun. Hitting the target requires skill and timing and there's quite a feeling to be had when you pull the trigger and see the target shatter into pieces! Clay shooting is a great leveller - as it can be enjoyed regardless of age and physical ability. Men and women compete on equal terms.

Status:Active, open to new members
Leader:
Frank Martin Tel: 01763 246876
Group email: clay shooting group
When: Monthly on Wednesday afternoons
3rd or 4th Wednesday monthly
Venue: Nuthampstead Shooting Ground

Frank Martin writes: Royston u3a clay shooting group welcomes local u3a members who wish to join us (ie without paying another u3a annual subscription fee).

Our group meets once a month on a Wednesday afternoon at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground, a Hertfordshire League Ground. You will be supplied with shotguns - so there is no need to buy one or apply for a licence at this stage. An instructor, clays, cartridges and a cuppa are all included in the cost of the afternoon package.

There is a good atmosphere amongst the members and we don’t worry if at first you don’t hit anything - we do not expect you to if you are new to our sport, so relax!

Demystifying

Initially you'll be invited to my introduction to shotguns in Royston. Its purpose is to do away with the mystique of guns and improve confidence. I cover types of shotgun, how to use and carry them in accordance with regulations. My aim is that by the time you attend your first clay shoot and enter the cage framework (photo) you will know how to operate safely. In any case you will be inside the cage framework with an instructor. You will benefit from his guidance to enable you to hit a moving clay target. Pretty soon you'll know the difference between bolting rabbits, right crossers, incoming birds and down the line.

Scoring

We keep score and I present the TopGun at the end of the clayshoot with a trophy. I am qualified in Gun Handling by the CPSA and the BASC as I have long since attended their courses.

The inclusive cost of the package is £30 per visit which is a very good deal seen beside commercial offerings.

our ‘top gun’ for that month is seen here in a newly refurbished hut. Notice there are three cages each of which offers a different challenge. Each session we shoot 24 cartridges, in sets of four.
20 bore and 12 bore are two sizes of shotgun cartridges
A hit on a orange-coloured ‘clay.’ Despite the name, ‘clay pigeons’ are not made from clay. They’re made from a mixture of pitch and pulverised limestone. The combination allows it to be thrown from a trap at high speed, whilst also being easily broken by pellets from a shotgun. The most commonly used clay is slightly domed in shape and it measures 110 mm in diameter.
Frank Martin adds: January’s TopGun joined us only last Summer as a complete novice and this month scored 23 points out of a possible 24 points and beat all present including me. She is using a Remington semi-automatic 12 bore shotgun supplied by the shooting ground.