Certificates are issued by the firearms department of your local police authority. You will need to show that you are a safe and responsible person to be issued with a shotgun certificate. The Shotgun Certificate - will show the names and serial numbers of any shotguns possessed. When you have obtained your certificate there are currently no restrictions on the acquisition of shotguns, providing the details of any transaction are noted on the certificate, and the issuing police authority informed. It is necessary to produce your certificate when purchasing cartridges. For the purposes of the certificate, a shotgun is defined as a smoothbore gun, with barrel(s) at least 24" (610mm) long. Semi-automatics and pump-actions must have a magazine capacity of no more than two shots: this has to be a permanent restriction, verified by either the London or Birmingham Proof Houses. (Under certain circumstances unrestricted semi-auto or pump action shotguns can be posessed but you will need a section 1 firearms certificate)

A shotgun fires a cartridge that contains a measure of explosive powder to propel a cluster of around 200 to 600 small round pellets, down a smooth bore barrel, towards the target. This differs from a rifle in that a rifle cartridge contains only one specially shaped projectile (bullet) which is designed for use in a 'rifled' (groved) barrel. (For more info see Rifle Shooting page)

The traditional "side by side" double barrel shotgun. The gun is constructed so that the two barrels are next to each other in the horizontal plane. When "sighting" the gun on the target the shooter looks down the centre connecting rib between the two barrels. The gun is hinged at a point just forward of the trigger which, by the use of a thumb operated "unlocking" lever, the barrels can then swing downwards exposing the "breech". The "breech" contains the cartridge chambers. To close the breech the gun is "snapped" shut and becomes locked back in the correct firing position. The action of closing the breech also "resets" the "firing pin" mechanism resulting in the gun being re-armed and ready to fire. The double barrel arrangement enables two shots to be fired in rapid succession if required, before reloading. (Note: this type of gun can also be obtained in a single barrel, single shot configuration).

"Single trigger – double pull" Most double barrelled guns have a single trigger which operates both firing mechanisms. When the first cartridge is discharged (fired) the trigger automatically resets ready for when the shooter wishes to discharge the second barrel.

"Over & under" double barrel shotgun. As the name implies the two barrels are placed one on top of the other – aligned in the vertical plane. When "sighting" the gun on the target, the shooter looks down the length of the "rib" on the top barrel. The method of reloading and firing the gun is the same as for the double barrel design as above.

"Semi automatic" & "Pump action" shotguns These guns have a single barrel and a "tubular magazine" which can contain 6 or more cartridges (UK law, however, limits the number of cartridges capable of being fired before reloading to a maximum of 3). Ie: 2 cartridges in the magazine plus 1 cartridge already loaded into the chamber. The tubular magazine is contained within or, in the case of a pump action, under the "forend" grip. The "forend" is the shaped "hand grip" under the barrel and forward of the trigger, used by the shooter to support the barrel weight and direct the gun onto the target.

Semi Automatic Action The gun is NOT hinged to expose the breech (where the cartridge is loaded) as in a "side by side" or "under and over". Instead, a spring loaded "breech block", that slides backwards and forwards is utilised which contains the firing pin mechanism. When in the forward "spring loaded" and "locked "position, the breech block holds the cartridge in place in the part of the barrel called the cartridge chamber.

1) The magazine is filled with cartridges (max 2 for the UK – all semi automatic guns have to have the magazine officially and mechanically restricted to take no more than 2 cartridges to be legal under UK laws).

2) The first cartridge is "drawn" from the magazine by the shooter manually pulling the sliding "breech block" backwards, using a small protruding lever and then allowing it to spring forward into the closed position. When the "breech block" slides forward it "collects" a cartridge from the magazine and pushes it into place in the "cartridge chamber". The firing pin, contained within the "sliding block" mechanism is automatically set to the "armed position" when the block is cycled. The gun is now loaded and ready to fire when the trigger is pulled.
3) When the gun is fired the "recoil" from the cartridge "automatically" pushes the "breech block" backwards in its "slide". In the same motion the spent cartridge is ejected through the ejector port, and when the "breech block" springs forward it automatically collects another cartridge from the magazine and pushes it into position in the chamber. The gun is now primed and ready to fire again.

Pump Action Shotgun
The "pump action shotgun" has a sliding "breech block" similar to a semi automatic gun, but it does NOT use the recoil from the cartridge to push the "breech block" back to recycle the gun. Instead the "forend" (where the shooter grips and supports the front part of the gun) also slides backwards and forwards over the tubular "under – barrel" magazine when physically pulled and pushed by the shooter. The "forend" slider (also called the "pump") is mechanically attached to the sliding "breech block". So when the forend is cycled backwards and forwards the "breech block" also moves backwards and forwards, ejecting any spent cartridge and then, as it moves forward it collects a fresh cartridge from the magazine and deposits it in the cartridge chamber. When the trigger is pulled and the cartridge is fired the cartridge stays in the chamber until the "forend" (pump) is again slid backwards and forwards by the shooter. This action ejects the spent cartridge, reloads the chamber with a fresh cartridge and resets the firing pin. The gun then becomes re-armed and again ready to fire.

A shotgun calibre is called a "gauge" or "bore". The word "calibre" is NOT used when describing the "size" of a shotgun. Examples are 12 gauge (12 bore), 16 gauge (16 bore), 20 gauge (20 bore) and 28 gauge (28 bore). By far the most popular is 12 gauge which is also the largest gauge or "bore" generally available. The larger the number, i.e. 16 gauge or 28 gauge, the smaller the diameter or "bore" of the barrel. It is generally accepted that the larger the gauge or "bore" the more powerful the gun. So a 12 gauge can be considered to be more powerful than a 20 gauge. There are many reasons why a shooter may choose a smaller and less powerful option, but in general the physical weight of the gun and the "power" of the recoil, when the gun is fired, are the most common considerations. So an average size adult male would be comfortable in handling a relatively heavy and powerful 12 gauge, but a lighter and less powerful 16 gauge or 20 gauge may well be more suitable for a slightly built female, or younger and therefore smaller person.

What is a "gauge or "bore" measurement?
The numbers associated with the "gauge" or "bore" do not represent a metric or imperial measurement of barrel diameter as it would be with a rifle "calibre". The gauge is a reference to how a one pound weight of lead can be fitted into the barrel of a shotgun. So if you were to form a pound of lead into 20 IDENTICAL PERFECTLY ROUND BALLS the diameter of all these individual balls would be the diameter of a 20 gauge shotgun barrel. It therefore follows that if you divided one pound of lead into only 12 IDENTICAL PERFECTLY ROUND BALLS their diameters would be larger and each ball would be the same as the diameter of a 12 gauge shotgun barrel.

The .410 shotgun anomaly
Even smaller than a 28 gauge - .410 shotgun has an internal diameter of .410 inches. If the normal shotgun gauge formula is applied to a .410 it would be described as a 67 gauge, as 1lb of lead would have to be divided into 67 balls so that the diameter of each ball would be the same diameter as a .410 barrel. The .410 shotgun is lightweight, relatively low powered and small when compared to the bigger gauges. It is an ideal introductory gun for the younger shooter.

The information contained in the above document covers a number of important issues including, general safety, handling a gun, behaviour in the field, the law & security etc. the document has been prepared by the BASC (The British Association for Shooting & Conservation) and can be viewed on their website or downloaded as a PDF.

Clay shooting, also called, clay pigeon shooting is a hugely popular pastime, which involves shooting at a moving circular saucer shaped target, called a clay. The clay is thrown into the air at distances of up to 35 metres in front of the shooter by a machine called a Clay Trap. The machine can be adjusted to throw clays or "birds" on different trajectories, including; across and in front of the shooter from left to right or vice versa, away from or towards the shooter, from a low point of launch on a rising trajectory or high point of launch on a falling trajectory etc. The "clay" target is made of a frangible material that shatters when hit by the "shot" from a shotgun cartridge.

A great way to learn and develop shooting skills
Clay shooting is an activity and sport in its own right, although many game and pigeon shooters also use it to hone their skills for the field. If you only want to shoot clays you will find it to be a challenging and extremely satisfying pastime where you can choose to just shoot with friends on a casual "for fun" competition basis, or at a more formal competition level. Clay shooting is a recognised Olympic Sport and there are a number of different competition disciplines including "Trap", "Skeet", "Sporting" and "Down the Line" etc.

Skeet
The clay targets are launched from two different positions 40 yards apart. One from a raised, 10ft high trap and one from a 3ft high "ground level" trap. The clays are "thrown" from each trap generally in the direction of the opposite trap but "going away" from the competitors shooting area. Competitors shoot from 7 different positions or "stand" which are set out equally on a semi circle that extends from the "high trap" position round to the "low trap" position. The first position or "stand" for shooting (e.g. number 1) is closest to the high tower. Pairs of clays or more than one pair on some stands are shot from each of the seven positions in turn. Although the clays will be leaving the "traps" in practically the same direction each time, because the shooter moves round in a full semi circle the relative "track" of the clays to the shooter will change at each different shooting position, so providing a variety of targets.
The competitor shoots at 25 clays per round and competitions generally consist of 4 rounds with 100 birds in total. One point is scored for each bird hit.

Trap (also called "Down-the-line" or DTL)
There are several variations of "Trap" shooting but one of the most popular is "Down-the-line". The shooter stands on one of a line of 5 pre-set positions 9stands). The clay "trap" launcher is positioned centrally – 15 yards in front of the line of stands. The trap launches the clay targets on a rising trajectory "going away" from the line of shooters so when the clay is released it is already 15 yards from the shooter and travelling, and rising further from them at speed to a full distance of around 45-50 yards. The competition starts with all 5 shooters each standing on one of the line of 5 pre-set "stands" (numbered 1 to 5 from behind the shooters). The shooter on stand no 1 "calls" for his first single "bird" (clay) and has up to two shots to hit it. He will shoot at a total of 5 individual birds on this stand. The next shooter along (on stand 2) will then receive his 5 birds. When all 5 shooters have had their 5 birds, the competitors then move to the next stand "down-the-line" to their right, whilst the shooter on stand 5 moves across to stand 1 on his left. This procedure continues until all competitors have had 5 birds on 5 different stands – a total of 25 birds.

Each competitor has two shots available for each bird thrown. If it is hit by the first shot the competitor scores 3 points, if it is hit by the second shot only 2 points are scored. A miss is scored as zero. If the competitor hits every one of the 25 "birds" with the first shot they will score a maximum of 75 points. The shooter with the highest score wins the round. There are many variations of this discipline with some using more than 1 trap or with "doubles" (i.e. 2 clays) being thrown instead of only one.

Trap shooting – "The New Golf"
Shooters, according to their ranking or handicap may also have to stand further than the 15 yard mark from the trap, making the "shot" more difficult. This handicap system has led to trap shooting being called the NEW GOLF!

Sporting
Unlike traps & skeet, which offer repeatable or relatively predictable target presentations, sporting clays "birds" simulate the unpredictability of live-quarry shooting, offering a great variety of trajectories, angles, speeds, elevations, distances and target sizes.

"Golf with a shotgun"
Because a typical sporting course can offer between 5, to 12 different shooting stations ("stands") laid out over natural terrain and each with its own peculiarities, it is also often referred to as "Golf with a shotgun".
There is no particular or "standard" layout for a sporting clay course but competitors will all receive the same presentation of targets and in the same order – effectively each having an identical set of skills.

Clay shooting – the "Olympic" sport
The 2012 Olympics will include, Skeet, Single Trap and a variation called Double Trap.

To view the CPSA, (Clay Pigeon Shooting Association) information on clay disciplines.

For UK Gunroom list of clubs (http://www.ukgunroom.com/directory)

For CPSA list of affiliated grounds (www.cpsa.co.uk/find-a-club)

For Sporting Shooter list of clubs (www.sportingshooter.co.uk)

For Go Shooting website (www.basc.org.uk)

Game & rough shooting
No longer the preserve of the landed classes, game shooting is accessible and it can provide a valuable bridge between town and country offering, on the one hand, recreation in the countryside and, on the other, economic benefits to help sustain a healthy rural community.

More information
1) For information on Driven Game, Rough Shooting and Grouse Shooting; (click here) to visit the Game Shooting page on the BASC website.
2) Where to shoot:
For the BASC Go Shooting website.

For New to Shooting on the "Guns on Pegs" website. Clay Shooting and other opportunities are also listed on this website.

Wood pigeon shooting & decoying
Since pigeons are capable of devastating agricultural crops, farmers will often welcome responsible guns onto their land.
More information:
To visit the woodpigeon shooting page on the BASC website.

Wildfowling:
Wildfowling is the pursuit of geese and ducks often on estuaries and coastal marshes.
More information:
To visit wildfowling page on the BASC website.