Shotgun Sports

Breaking clays is one of the most fun ways to get better with a shotgun. Most clubs welcome new shooters and many offer loaner guns and coaching.

Trap

Targets fly away from the shooter at varying angles from a single house. A great place to start.

Skeet

Targets cross in front of you from a high house and a low house as you move around a half-circle of stations.

Sporting clays

Often called golf with a shotgun. A course of stations with targets that mimic real birds and game.

Five stand

Sporting clays packed into a small space, with multiple throwers and shooters rotating through five stations.

Three-gun and cowboy action

Action sports where the shotgun shares the stage with a rifle and a pistol. Speed and smooth reloads win matches.

What to bring

• Eye and ear protection
• A shell bag or pouch
• Target loads in the right gauge
• A good attitude: clay shooters are some of the friendliest people at the range

Range time