BEGINNERS GUIDE TO STARTING CLAY SHOOTING IN WALES
If you have an interest in clay shooting - perhaps from having a go in a country fair, or a small organised event - you may wish to take it further. A few guidelines exist on this page to point you in the right direction.
Local Shooting Ground
The first thing to do is locate your local shooting ground/club. A number of clubs and grounds in Wales that are affiliated to the WCTSA and are listed on this web site - follow this link.
Initially contact the owner or organiser and see when they are open.
Make a visit to the ground and have a chat with the organiser and they may
have time to show you around and explain the different disciplines of clay
shooting that you can shoot. They may also be able to offer tuition
courses at a modest price - whereby they supply tuition, gun and cartridges.
Whilst at the ground it is also worth chatting with locals and regulars.
If the owner of the ground is busy, you may find some of the regulars are
more than willing to show you around and explain the different aspects of
shooting - it
may give you a feel of whether clay shooting is actually the sport for you.
Clay shooting is a very social sport as you often shoot in groups and squads
- so your first chat with some of the regulars could evolve into a lasting
friendship !
Shooting Tuition
For any beginner, a few shooting lessons is a worthwhile investment as not only will be you be taught to hold and shoot a shotgun properly, you will also be taught gun safety, the mechanics of gun assembly and dismantling and the instructor will be able to advise you on gun fit and suitable disciplines to shoot.
As described above - lessons can usually be arranged with your local ground - but pre-booking is usually necessary.
Local Police
After you have had a few lessons and shot a variety of clays over different disciplines, you may have decided you wish to take clay shooting further and you will now be thinking about purchasing your own gun - perhaps from the advise of your shooting instructor or friends you have made at the shooting ground.
There are legal requirements on the safe storage of guns and ammunition and you often have to have measures in place before even applying for a shotgun whereby you can guarantee the safety of the gun and cartridges. So as to clarify things and put the process into perspective - the easiest thing to do is ring up your local police and ask to make an appointment with your local firearms officer. The local firearms officer will be familiar with shotgun applications and will be able to advise you on the process involved, coupled with the security measures needed to be taken - such as fitting and locating a suitable gun cabinet.
For further reading the home office firearms laws can be found here:
WCTSA
On a final note we would advise all people shooting in Wales to take membership of the WCTSA. Not only will you be backed by excellent insurance cover (which is very important), you will also be in the position to have you scores recorded and classified and also to be able to represent your county and country.