Getting Started in Clay Shooting

There are many shooting clubs all over the country where novices and experts alike go to practice their particular discipline and you will always find someone willing to help the first-time shooter.  The Clay Target Shooting Association of South Africa is the governing body and they can provide you with information on the various shooting clubs and different disciplines.  For information, contact Sarah Kalell on 086 111 4581 or fax on 086 684 1973 or email on ctsasa@netactive.co.za.  Office hours are between 8.00am and 3.00pm.

Once you have found a local club, it would probably be best to find out when their next practice day is and go along on that day.  You may not necessarily need your own shotgun, most clubs have enough people willing to lend a shotgun to allow you to have a go.  You will need to ask for the club to supply you with ammunition for your shooting session.  Targets are usually shot in ’rounds’ of 25 clays, the cost for which will vary slightly, depending upon the club’s facilities.

If you are very new to Clay Target Shooting, inform the contact person at the Club, they will ensure that someone meets you and shows you ‘the ropes’.  Emphasis will be placed on the safe handling of guns, together with the need for adequate hearing protection.

Clay Target Shooting can be taken as seriously (or not) as you like.  Three types of Clay Target Shooting are shot in the Olympics:  Olympic Trap, Double Trap and Skeet.  There are other disciplines which also take you to World Championship level - F.I.T.A.S.C. Sporting, F.I.T.A.S.C. Universal Trench and American Trap.  But whatever you want to do, whether it is simply having fun once or twice a month, or aiming to become a National Team Member, Clay Target Shooting is a vibrant, active sport at any level.