Gun shop staff will explain the inner workings of a gun to you

So you’ve decided to start shooting? 

Shooters are a friendly bunch and always delighted when somebody new takes an interest in their sport. It’s certainly not an elitist pastime.

shooting creates strong social networks

Shooting is also good for your wellbeing. Recent research has shown that it creates strong social networks, offers support and reduces loneliness, provides regular exercise and positively impacts mental health.

Different ways to start shooting

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.

More and more women are taking up shooting

Clays, pheasant, wildfowling?

You might be interested in gameshooting or maybe think clayshooting is going to be your thing. Or maybe you’ve always been fascinated by wildfowling?  Or you want to do some garden airgunning? 

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’ve also got a useful section on shooting terminology, explaining shotgun bores and ammunition.

More on starting driven shooting

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 gun handling and safety.

Start with beating

Before shooting at anything you should also go beating. That way you will understand how a shoot is run and it will give the people on the shoot confidence in you so that if a vacancy for a Gun comes up you will be well placed to fill it.

You should ask the shoot captain if you might stand with one of the Guns so that you can see how things look from their perspective too. If a shoot accepts you, it is always easier to join the Gun team. You will need to get shooting insurance, as anyone who shoots without it is irresponsible.

Apply for your own shotgun certificate too. It is always a good idea to learn to shoot with your own gun and getting a certificate is a “rite of passage”.

It’s also worth reading about the etiquette of shooting. Most of it is just good common sense and good manners – for example, replying promptly to an invitation to shoot and coming dressed appropriately. If you’re new to shooting, you should also have a sound knowledge of the gun safety rules, which you can read up here.