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Sporting Clays is a clay pigeon shooting sport. Often described as golf with a shotgun, the sport differs from skeet and trap shooting in that it involves shooting clays at various locations which are launched at different velocities and angles. The original idea behind sporting clays was to create an experience that more closely reflects actual hunting conditions. Whereas top-tier skeet and trap professionals may have hit ratios nearing 100%, the best sporting clay shooters hit their targets only about 85% of the time.
Although the sport is challenging, it is quite popular with novice shooters and ordinary hunters. While professional shooters opt for expensive double-barreled or autoloading shotguns, the game can be equally enjoyed with an inexpensive pump-operated hunting shotgun. Naturally, safety is paramount. Proper hearing and eye protection is required while on the course.
A typical course will consist of 10-20 stands and ours has 10. Varying numbers of clay pairs are shot at each stand, with the total shots for an outing adding up to 100 targets (4 boxes of 25 shells). Advanced shooters have the clays thrown as simultaneous pairs, while novice or intermediate shooters can opt for the clays to be thrown on report (the second clay launched the instant that the shooter fires at the first clay). Clays are thrown at different angles and speeds; sometimes across the shooters view, towards the shooter, or away from the shooter. The shots are intended to simulate hunting for quail, grouse, pheasant, dove, or other game. Many courses have traps which throw clays from tall towers simulating high-flying ducks or geese. Some courses have clays that roll and bounce along the ground to simulate rabbits. There are also targets that loop in the air. Although this does not simulate any animal it is a challenging target usually.
These different target types offer the shooter different challenges. While most shooters find the regular Standard target to offer plenty of challenge, many folks strive to further their skills by shooting the Midi, Mini, Battue and Rabbit targets.
Standard - The Standard target is a 110mm clay target that is used for Skeet, Trap, Sporting Clays and the other sub-disciplines of shotgun shooting.
Midi - The Midi is a 90mm target that is similar in size to the Standard, but small enough to fool the shooter into shooting behind this target. The Midi requires slightly more lead than the Standard target.
Mini - As you can see, the Mini is quite small. Some call it the Bumble Bee target. It's 60mm size makes it appear extremely fast and sometimes difficult to see. Since it's speed appears to be extreme compared to Standards and Midi's, shooters can be tricked into over-leading this target (if they can see it).
Battue - The Battue is a 110mm clay target, but what makes this target different is that it's side profile is extremely small. When you see a Battue flying flat, it appears to be like a pencil flying through the air, giving the shooter almost zero "target face" for shot to break the bird. Don't give up hope though, when the Battue begins to slow, it's shape causes it to turn on edge, finally giving the shooter a full frontal shot at this target. It's also very fast!
Rabbit - You guessed it! This target bounces along the ground to simulate a Rabbit, Squirrel, etc. The target is 110mm and it's thickness is increased to withstand rocks and dirt while the other targets are much more brittle.
The main governing organization behind Sporting Clays is the National Sporting Clays Association or NSCA. Under the NSCA, each state has their own Sporting Clays association. For example the California Sporting Clays Association. Both organizations work together in order to maintain leaderboards, classifications and rules for the sport and their competing members. To find out more about the organizations, please visit www.mynsca.com and www.calclays.com. |
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