Make a loud noise and break something.

There is something instinctive, even primal, about the satisfaction of seeing a clay target smash after a perfect shot. The smaller the pieces, the bigger the rush. That squirt of dopamine that tells your brain you just experienced a perfect moment.

Of course there were plenty of imperfect moments leading up to it.

There is the mental discipline; the body memory of hold points, foot position and gun mount; and that quest to find the perfect break point. And the frustration of developing your rhythm…until the entire effort coalesces into one perfect shot, then a run of stations and ultimately 25 straight, 50 straight, 75 straight, and oh no — a 99!

Some folks compare the disciplines of shooting a shotgun with golf. Yes, in fact, the similarities run deep. But there’s one big difference. With the shotgun sports you get to make a loud noise and break something — an exceptionally liberating, satisfying occasion.

To keep the rush going, here is what you’ll find in our Shotgun Clay Sports section…

• Skeet
  • The Basics
    • Rules & Etiquette
• The Course
  • Technical details like target speed, etc
• International Skeet
• Trap
  • The Basics
    • Rules & Etiquette
• 16-Yard Trap
• Handicap Trap
• Wobble Trap
• Bunker Trap
• Doubles Trap
• Sporting Clays
  • The Basics
    • Rules & Etiquette
• The origins of the sport
• Target types
• Do you need to shoot low gun?
• Special equipment
• 5-Stand
  • The Basics
    • • Rules & Etiquette
• Target types
• Clays
• Discussion of different types of clays
• Places to shoot

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Irwin Greenstein

Irwin Greenstein is Publisher of Shotgun Life. Please send your comments to letters@shotgunlife.com.

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