Are you a video game sharpshooter looking to put your skills to the test in the real world? If so, you need a dynamic, challenging target sport which gives you an adrenaline rush when you hit the target. We’re here to tell you about clay pigeon shooting, which we think is exactly what you’re looking for. What makes this sport unique is that, unlike other target sports such as archery or rifle shooting, you don’t fire at the same target over and over again. Instead, a machine known as a trap launches a spinning disk made of clay in an arc through the air in front of you, and you have one shot at it before it falls to the ground. Better yet, if you hit this moving object ( which is designed to imitate the flight of a real pigeon), you have the satisfaction of seeing it explode in mid air into a thousand pieces. More and more people around the country are taking up clay pigeon shooting as a hobby or enjoying it as a fun day out, and we want to recommend Cambridge as a fantastic destination for novices and veterans alike.

Cambridge sits in a wide open landscape and enjoys a good climate with clear skies and low winds year round. This combination means that nothing will get in your way on the shooting range, and is one of the reasons that the increasingly popular sport of clay pigeon shooting is becoming popular here. It’s popular for a couple of reasons: the idea of smashing plates is reason enough for some people to get involved, but if you want to increase your chances of scoring a bullseye, you need to quiet your thoughts, steady your hand and focus on the prize. Many people find a sense of calm or a break from the chaos of modern life when looking down the barrel of a shotgun and waiting for the clay that keeps them coming back for more. On top of that, it’s not necessary to have a shotgun licence or your own shotgun to get involved, and you can bring the kids too.

What kind of clay pigeon shooting experiences are on offer in Cambridge?

• Activity shoot: this is the best way to get a taste of clay pigeon shooting. You don’t need any experience, licences or equipment, just a good attitude and a steady hand. You’ll be guided by an expert instructor as you get into position, handle the gun, train your aim - and fire! The best way to enjoy this sport is with friends because up to 5 people can have the chance to shoot at each clay as it completes its flight across your line of sight, and whether you encourage each other to do your best, or engage in some friendly competition, it’s bound to bring out the best in you. While beginners will usually start with the classic Down the Line shooting arrangement, more experienced shooters who are looking for a challenge in Cambridge can take part in Olympic-style Skeet shooting or other, more imaginative game styles.

• Lesson: once you’ve got a taste for this sport, we’re sure you’ll want to come back for more, and there’s no better way to get more involved than by taking some lessons. In Cambridge you can choose from individual lessons, with the instructor’s full attention, or take a partner for two to one tuition. You’ll be surprised by how much the little things, like foot position and posture, can make a difference to your aim and hit-rate, and so your instructor will be able to make a big difference to your experience from the get-go. After that, who knows where it will take you? You can start to experiment with more complex shooting arrangements like Universal Trench, or take on the erratic and unpredictable flight of the modified clays used in Helice shooting.

• Simulated game shoot: an increasingly popular pursuit in recent years, this is an experience designed to mimic the challenges, unpredictability and excitement of hunting birds. The best thing is that you can enjoy it all safely in the knowledge that no animals are harmed in the making of this activity! Once again, the targets are clays, but they emerge from hidden in the undergrowth away from the carefully mowed lawns of the shooting range. A simulated game shoot could take you and your party into woods or marshland where the marshalls have set up the traps, and you need to be ready to fire when the clays are released, just like a bird breaking cover.

Requirements to do this activity

The shooting ranges in Cambridge want as many people as possible to enjoy this sport and welcome all kinds of people. Every ability is catered to, and the expert instructors are on hand to ensure that even the inexperienced or nervous shooters have a great time and stay safe. The minimum age required to take your first shots depends on the equipment available at each range. The size and power of each shotgun determine who can use it safely, and so, while some ranges welcome children as young as 8 years old, others don’t have suitable guns for anyone under 14.

The moving targets that you use in clay pigeon shooting mean that several people can have a go at hitting each one during the flight. For that reason, we recommend this sport to anyone who’s planning a birthday party, a stag or hen do, or a corporate team building event. Everyone will have an equal chance to hit some clays, so why not have a friendly competition with your gang on a Cambridge shooting range?

Clay pigeon shooting is also a sport that can be enjoyed by people with reduced mobility. If you’re a wheelchair user, you’ll be able to find shooting options in Cambridge where you can take part in the fun, just get in touch before your activity to talk about your requirements with the organisers.

How long does an experience last?

The length of your shoot in Cambridge is completely up to you, and you can also decide whether you want to arrange it by time, or by the number of clays that the trap will fire for you. A short half hour shoot would correspond to about 30 or 50 clays, whereas if you want to spend 2 hours shooting you should load about 200 clays into the trap. This is sure to increase your chances of hitting some of them! Lessons have a typical duration of an hour or two, which is plenty of time for the instructor to analyse your shooting style and help you improve your technique.

The last thing to say is that Cambridge hosts many outdoor activities besides clay pigeon shooting and these can easily be organised together in activity packages. For a complete escape in the great outdoors you can enjoy your shoot alongside a hair raising quad bike ride, or focus on improving your aim by combining clay pigeon shooting with other target sports like air rifles or archery.

If there’s anything we’ve gotten, don’t hesitate to get in touch - if not, go ahead and make your booking!