Preparing For Your First Clay Pigeon Shooting Trip

Image by The Riders Tale via Flickr

With animal conservation becoming increasingly popular, more people are turning to clay pigeon shooting to be able to experience shooting as a hobby. There is a lot of tradition to this popular past time, and there is an excellent article on various lifestyle blogs that will let you know what to expect from your first-time clay pigeon shooting. When you know what to expect, you will be able to prepare for the experience and make sure that you look the part also.

Dressing The Part For Shooting

The traditional dress for a formal shooting event is to wear a three-piece tweed suit, and these are available in a variety of different styles and designs. If you use the internet and search for shooting clothing, you will see some different retailers offering an assortment of suitable attire for your first experience of shooting. If it is a less formal event, then you may also wear moleskin rather than tweed, as this is also acceptable.

Dress For The Weather

It is important that you have the weather in mind when choosing your outfit and the time of year will also have a bearing on the most suitable clothing you should wear. You will need to ensure that you have a warm pair of socks for the colder months, as well as a quality pair of boots that will keep the wet out and help to keep your feet warm and dry. With the changeable weather in the UK or in your local area, you should also prepare for rain, no matter what time of year! Choose a style of waterproof coat that allows you the full movement of your shoulders and also one that has deep pockets to keep spare cartridges safe.

The Correct Accessories

There are also a few essential accessories that you will also need to prepare yourself for your first shooting trip, such as;

• Hip Flask – These are especially important on those colder mornings to help keep you snug and warm.
• Hat & Gloves – These are also important for when it is cold to keep your head and hands warm. Make sure your gloves allow for a good grip while also maintaining the dexterity in your fingers.
• A Bag – A good quality bag is something else that you will need, to keep all of your accessories like Red Dot Sight scopes and suppressors in when you are not using them. You can also keep a top up for your hip flask, as well as plenty of extra cartridges. Bags come in a variety of different sizes and materials but people will often coordinate them with their outfits.

Learn The Basics

According to Keep Guns Safe, if you have never fired a gun before then it is important that you familiarise yourself with gun safety before you try clay pigeon shooting. Many places will offer tuition for beginners to teach gun safety rules, but you can get ahead of the game by learning a lot using the internet before you go. An excellent place to start is on the UK Government website hse.gov.uk or on your country’s government websites.