Shotgun Discipline
S.S.A.A. Shotgun caters for five shooting
disciplines. All evolve around shooting clay targets. Sporting Clays, Fivestand,
Tower, American Skeet and Trap are shotgun disciplines available through the
S.S.A.A.
Sporting Clays was originally introduced to
improve the shooting skills of the English nobles. Practicing on 'simulated
objects'
improved the skills of the marksman for preparation to game shooting.
It is currently one of the fastest growing shooting
disciplines worldwide, with
world championships conducted annually.
The object is to throw clay targets similar
to the flight of pheasant, duck, rabbit, quail and grouse. Each competitor
shoots
at a course of 25 targets with the release of the target activated by a
button under the control of a referee. The layout
of this discipline is often
situated in tree surroundings with the clay targets thrown at any angle and out
to distances of
60 metres.
Fivestand is similar to Sporting Clays;
however, the shooter competes in a shooting frame that limits the movement or
swing of the shotgun. National titles are conducted annually and club
competition is growing at a healthy rate.
Tower is a discipline requiring a high
platform to place the automatic trap. The shooting stand comprises five concrete
pads placed in front of the tower frame. The shooters face away from the tower.
Trap Shooting utilises one automatic
trap concealed in a 'bunker'. The trap is
capable of operating at various angles and can throw targets in a 90 degree
arc. The shooters shoot off pads that are either level with the top of the bunker or
one metre below the bunker.
American Skeet is set over eight shooting
stands positioned in a semi-circle between two automatic traps facing
each
other. One trap is located about three metres above the ground an the other is
positioned at ground level.
As the shooter moves from stand to stand, the angle
of the target flight varies.
While there are a number of very expensive
shotguns used for clay shooting, expensive shotguns are not necessary.
World
Championships have been won with the cheapest shotgun available for clay
shooters. Gun fit is essential and
although the shotgun is manufactured with the
best intention of satisfying the customer, finer adjustments are always
handy to
improve the shooting skill of the gun owner.