“If I book a lesson or two with a coach, what am I going to learn and how do I know the information and instruction is of high quality?”. It’s an enquiry I’ve come to expect. Here’s what a good shotgun coach should cover Safety The safe handling of the…
Start Shooting
So you want to start shooting and need to find out how to go about it? What an excellent decision. Welcome to a time-honoured sport which we trust will give you hours of pleasure.
Shooters are a friendly bunch and always delighted when somebody new takes an interest in their sport.
City and country folk
People start shooting in various ways and it’s not a given that you need to be brought up with it and start as a child. Or that you need to live in the countryside. Many keen shooters take it up as adults whilst living in a city and head out into the field at weekends.
Clays, pheasant or both?
You might be interested in gameshooting or maybe think clayshooting is going to be your thing.
Whatever appeals to you, here we’ve gathered together all the information you need to know on how to get into shooting. Find out how to get a shotgun certificate, learn when the game seasons open, explore how guns work, get help with buying your first gun, what you should wear shooting and the intricacies of shooting etiquette (so you get invited back another time). It’s very important too that you are aware of the shooting safety rules.
We also have articles on how to shoot well, places to shoot and how to find a good shooting instructor.
How to start clay pigeon shooting
When clay pigeon shooting as a beginner, being prepared is essential for getting good scores.
Ampleforth College Shoot 2018
In the past five years the school shoot has grown in both extent and professionalism. Student-led and supported, with guidance by staff and parents, Ampleforth is putting down around 800 pheasants and partridges each year in three pens across the valley, shooting a good 10 days in the season. Eight…
Starting out clayshooting? Learn correctly from the start.
If you’re just starting out as a new shooter, try and steer away from being taken around a clayground with a friend. You are far better off when starting out clayshooting taking several lessons with a qualified instructor in a quiet part of a ground without spectators, where the instructor…
How to get a firearm certficate
Advice on how to get your firearm certificate with information on what police are looking for, what counts as good reason to own a firearm and what variations are
How to get into shooting
If you are looking to get into shooting of any kind, this easy guide will give you plenty of hints and tips
Clayshooting tips for beginners
Understand the jargon heard on the clay shooting ground with Mark Russell's tips for shooting beginners
A beginner’s guide to picking-up
We walk you through what to expect on your first time picking-up, including when to know if your dog is ready, what to do on the first drive and how to behave during the day
How to get your shotgun certificate
Find out how to apply for a shotgun licence, plus more information on waiting times, fees and the appeals process
A guide to buying your first gun
It's never too soon to start looking at guns with a view to buying your first and any dealer will be happy to reserve a gun until your certificate arrives
Our beginner’s guide to shooting – what you need to know
Beginner's guide to shooting: Here we have the answers to some of the questions you have asked about starting shooting.
How to get into game shooting
Have you ever wanted to get into game shooting and wondered where to begin? Well, that’s just what Johnathan Cox, head keeper at the Buckhurst Estate in East Sussex, is trying to solve for many keen clay, pigeon and wildfowl shooters. Driven game shooting is notorious for being seen as…
Starting shooting: What’s a lock, stock and barrel?
Starting shooting: What makes a shotgun? 'Lock, stock and barrel' is a common enough phrase in the English language, signifying completeness in every respect!
Start shooting with lessons – and you’ll soon be hooked
Shooting lessons: what you need to know! So, now you are at the shooting ground, what happens next?
Guide to shotgun jargon
With so many shotgun terms floating about, it can be hard to know what you're talking about.
First invitation to shoot – what now?
A: Congratulations on receiving your invitation to shoot. However, before you mount a gun to shoot at any sentient creature, you need to have plenty of practice at clays. Go to a good ground that will do proper gun fit too. That will make you a better shot and will also give you confidence in…
How to be an excellent companion on a shoot day
Shooters are generally a friendly lot and will welcome a new face. Read up a bit on clayshooting/pheasant shooting and partridge shooting before you go out and learn the difference between driven shooting and rough shooting. For more in-depth knowledge on some of the terms you’ll hear when you’re new…
Why footwork in shooting is crucial to consistency
Being a good game Shot is about being consistent on all forms of quarry, in different weather conditions, on different topography and at different times of the season. Alan Rose, the renowned shooting instructor at the West London Shooting School, always drummed into me that style and technique kill the bird. The top sportsmen in this country are successful…
Starting game shooting
Wildfowling If you can’t afford to buy game shooting by the day, or through a syndicate, we recommend you join one of the many UK wildfowling clubs listed with the BASC. That’s because… An annual membership fee costs much less than a day’s driven game shoot. You are mentored in…
Starting shooting with clays
The first clay pigeon shoots started around 1885 as an affordable alternative to competitions using live pigeons as targets. Shooting schools – particularly those owned by London gunmakers – set up courses to simulate the flight of live birds. The new sport quickly became a hit with Victorian and Edwardian game…