Glossary

shotguns

There are only a few types of shotgun, but many ways to shoot with them

 

over and under shotgunOver and under

Barrels on top of each other. Generally a heavier gun to hold and carry, less recoil. The design of choice for most clay shooters.

side by side shotgunSide by side

Er, barrels laid side by side. Lighter to hold and carry, but with a bigger kick.

 

 

 

 

 

Gauge/bore

"The number of lead balls the same diameter that weigh one pound". Most guns use 12 bore (or 12 gauge in American) but 20 bore is also popular; the guns are smaller and therefore lighter and with less kick, but with modern cartridges often reckoned as effective. See Wikipedia for an (American) explanation.

Safety catch

Most guns have one but some are automatic when the gun is closed, some have to be applied manually.

disciplines

sporting

Simulated game shooting. Traps are set to imitate the flight of birds such as 'springing teal' (two straight up), 'driven' (like a pheasant coming at you and over your head), 'crossers' (like a pigeon across your line of sight), 'going away' (like a grouse you've just stepped on), and so on.

Also 'rabbit' (on the ground running across in front of you, hitting a bump and jumping like a demented frog).

skeet

A different approach: two fixed traps - one high and one low, that you shoot from different positions on a semi-circle, starting with a 'going away', moving through various left and right 'crossers', to finish with the 'driven'.

compak

Shooting from the same positions on the semi-circle, this time there are five traps set all over the place and to be shot in different combinations. (Instructions are placed at each stand: the cause much muttering under the breath and the common cry of "Oh, I thought you meant that other No 2 trap").

ABT (automatic ball trap)/Down The Line

A single automatic trap firing away, shot from five slightly different stands, with varying height and direction.