Clay pigeon shooting, also known as "Inanimate Bird Shooting", is when a shooter aims at flying targets that are made sent into the air by a machine. The common weapon used is a shotgun. In earlier years, live pigeons were used as targets. Live pigeon competitions were titled as illegal in the UK during the early 1920s. However, the target is still called a "bird" or "pigeon". A hit is also called a "kill". If the shooter misses the target then it is called a "bird away", and the machine that sends the targets into the sky is called a "trap". Certain competitions only allow a maximum size shotgun of 12, which is the same as 0.729 inches in diameter. The length of barrels are usually 26 to 32 inches. Pump action guns are not suitable for clay pigeon shooting. The shot size cannot go over 2.6 mm. The load of the shot cannot be greater than 28 grams for general targets, and 24 grams for Olympic competitions.
The targets that are used in clay shooting are often in the shape of a saucer that is slightly inverted. The materials used to make the targets are pitch and chalk that can hold its shape when being thrown from the trap at a very high force. On the other hand, the targets still need to be able to be broken easily when they are hit by the lead pellets from a shotgun. The clay targets are usually a bright fluorescent color, such as orange. Black, white, and yellow are used as well but not as often. The targets have to be made according to standards with specific weight and other dimensions. The same measurements for the targets are typically the same internationally.
The most common target that is made and purchased by buyers is the target that weighs at least 105 grams. The overall height is 25 to 26 height with a diameter of 110 mm. This type of target is known as the Standard clay target. A "Midi" target has the same saucer-like shape of the standard target, but it only has a diameter of 90 mm. A "Mini" clay target usually has the looks of a bumblebee that is 20 mm in height and 60 mm in diameter. Other clay targets that are used is a "Battue", "Rabbit", and a "ZZ". All of them are more modern designs that have unpredictable manners and are thought to be the trick-style clay targets.
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