FAQ's

Clay pigeon shooting has approximately 20 different forms of regulated competition called disciplines. These can be roughly divided into three main groups.

Trap Targets are thrown either as singles or doubles from one or more traps situated some 15m front of the shooter and are generally going away from the firing point at varying speeds, angles and elevations. Examples in this group are: Down-the-Line (DTL), Single Barrel, Double Rise, Automatic Ball Trap (ABT), Olympic Trap, Double Trap and Universal Trench

Skeet A Scandinavian word, though the discipline originated in America. Targets are thrown in singles and doubles from two trap houses situated some 40 metres apart, at the oposite ends of a semi-circular arc on which there are seven shooting positions. The targets are thrown at set trajectories and speeds. The main disciplines in this group are English Skeet, Olympic Skeet and American (NSSA) Skeet.

Sporting The English Sporting discipline has the sports's biggest following. While the other disciplines only use standard targets, in Sporting almost anything goes! Targets are thrown in a great variety of trajectories, angles, speeds, elevations and distances and the discipline was originally devised to simulate live quarry shooting, hence some of the names commonly used on sporting stands: Springing Teal, Driven Pheasant, Bolting Rabbit, Crossing Pigeon, Dropping Duck,etc.

Disciplines in this group include English Sporting, International (FITASC) Sporting, Super Sporting, Sporttrap and Compak Sporting.

The Clay Pigeons The targets used for the sport are usually in the shape of an inverted saucer, made from a mixture of pitch and chalk designed to withstand being thrown from traps at very high speeds, but at the same time being easily broken when hit by just a few pellets fired from a shotgun.

The targets are usually black, but other colours such as white, yellow or fluorescent orange are frequently used in order that they can be clearly seen against varying backgrounds and/or light conditions.

Clay pigeons are made to very exacting specifications with regard to their weight and dimensions and must conform to set international standards.

There are several types of targets that are used for the various disciplines. However, only the standard 110mm target is used in all of the trap and skeet disciplines. Sporting shoots feature the full range of targets (except ZZ) to provide the variety that is a hallmark of the discipline.

Standard: The most commonly used target of all, must weigh 105 grams and be of 110mm overall diameter and 25-26mm in height.

Midi: Same saucer shape as the standard but with a diameter of only 90mm.

Mini: This target is sometimes likened to a flying bumblebee at only 60mm in diameter and 20mm in height.

Rabbit: A standard sized (but thicker) flat target in the shape of a wheel designed to roll fast along the ground.

Battue: A very thin, flat, wafer of a target of about 110mm diameter which flies very fast and falls off very suddenly.

ZZ: This is a plastic, standard sized target attached to the centre of a 2-blade propeller of different colour designed to zig-zag in flight in a totally unpredictable manner.