Clay shooting: Competition shooting! Mark Russell, shooting coach at Grimsthorpe SG, on preparing for competition shooting.
Clayshooting
Will gun-hold position affect my clay shooting disciplines?
I have done a fair bit of clay shooting - Sporting and Skeet - and I’m now trying my hand at Down-the-Line, which I really enjoy.
My clay shooting improves against a wooded backdrop!
I enjoy shooting English Sporting at different clay shooting clubs in my area and find that I always get better scores when the layout is in, or alongside, woodland rather than those in the open. Why should this be?
My clay shooting scores drop when I’m at different grounds?
Clay shooting: I have joined the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association and started to shoot registered English Sporting at different grounds in the region.
I can’t seem to improve my clay shooting scores!
I’ve been shooting now for just over 14 months – English Sporting – and only managing to hit 20% or so of the targets.
What’s the best gun to start clay pigeon shooting?
Clay pigeon shooting: I am 14 years old and have just got hooked on clay pigeon shooting. As a present I was hoping to get a gun and all of the essentials.
I always have to chase the clay after mounting!
I have trouble mounting onto the target and always find myself trying to ‘catch-up’ to it when clay shooting.
What’s the best way to shoot ‘crow’ type clay targets?
Clay shooting: I’m never sure if I should take them on the way up, or the way down. Any help you can give would be much appreciated.
Will low, driven clays help with my game shooting?
Clay and game shooting: I read your reply to a game shooter about getting ready for the season and you recommended regular practice on clays thrown from a high tower.
Do I need an instructor to improve my clay shooting?
How can I teach myself to shoot better without the help of an instructor? I'm happy with my gun mount and gun because I make a point of picking it up for a few minutes dry mounting practice every day.
Should I buy a trap gun to start clay shooting?
My friend has been taking me clay shooting and I would now like to get my own gun when my shotgun certificate arrives.
My clay pigeon shooting gets worse on holiday!
I really enjoy clay pigeon shooting on holiday to Spain and Cyprus in the summer for an odd competition shoot or two, but I’ve noticed that I never manage to match the Sporting averages I get here.
I lost my leg and now have trouble clay shooting!
Clay shooting: I lost a leg last year in a motorbike accident and now find it harder to shoot Sporting because I can’t move my feet to cope with doubles.
I always have trouble getting on to the second clay!
When clay shooting I usually miss the second target of a pair on report. It seems to always be more difficult for me to get on to the second clay. Can you help?
How can I maintain my clay shooting scores?
I can’t afford to go clay shooting as often as I used to just now and I’m finding it hard to maintain my Sporting average.
I look at the barrels when clay shooting!
When clay shooting, I often lose the clay and look at the barrels. Is there a technique to try and stop myself doing this?
What’s the best clay shooting discipline to start on?
A friend who introduced me to clay shooting says English Sporting, but two of his friends told me to try Down-the-Line because it’s the easiest of all and will give me confidence in breaking targets.
I need to pick-up the target faster when clay shooting!
When clay shooting I find I fatigue easily and it takes me longer to 'pick-up' the target, when I need to be more snappy.
Shooting the second clay on report is tricky!
I'm generally happy with my clay shooting, but always seem to have major problems shooting the second clay on report.