SPORTING, THE FAVOURITE DISCIPLINE OF HUNT ENTHUSIASTS

If you are a hunting lover, surely, at some point, you have heard about or have practiced the Sporting modality, the favourite of all hunters.

But, why is Sporting the favourite discipline of hunting lovers?

Well, because it is the perfect modality to improve skills and average hits, since, through the launching of specific shooting targets, the behaviour of the game species present in any hunting day is reproduced, in a shooting range suitable for that purpose.

BUT WHAT IS SPORTING, AND WHAT DOES IT CONSIST OF

Sporting shooting is a sport shooting modality with shotgun, regulated by the FITASC, in which the runs or flights made by game animals are imitated by launching specific shooting targets of different sizes, with different speeds and different trajectories.

Before the FITASC regulated this discipline, this practice began as a popular activity among groups of friends who needed to improve their skills and marksmanship on their hunting days.

It was not until the 20th century when hunters began to use English shooting schools to practice the shots they were less proficient in. From then on, competitions began to be organized for this type of public, which gradually grew and, with them, the need to regulate it.

In Spain, the first Sporting competition was held in 1975, in the International Championship of Spain.

HOW THE FACILITIES OF A SPORTING FIELD SHOULD LOOK LIKE

A Sporting shooting range is characterized by being located in large extensions of land, which can be flat, with slopes, with or without wooded areas.

However, they must be equipped with a sufficient number of trap machines to allow the shooters to find the same shooting conditions as during a natural hunting day, that is to say, they can simulate the hunting of partridges, ducks, pheasants, rabbits, etc.

Each area of land for the practice of the hunting trails will consist of a variable number of partial trails, between 1 and 8, each of which will have a certain number of shooting posts where the participants will be placed.

The machines will always remain hidden from the shooters so as to reflect, as faithfully as possible, the runs or flights of the different species.

Never forgetting, of course, the mandatory safety zones.

WHAT EQUIPMENT IS NECESSARY FOR A SPORTING COMPETITION

As in any other discipline of clay pigeon shooting, to practice Sporting you need to have a series of equipment, more than recommended, as a shotgun, a good helmet, eye protection glasses and, in this case, also sunglasses and a vest.

But in addition, taking into account that the length of the shooting range is quite more considerable than in the other modalities, and that, on this occasion, you will have to walk long distances throughout the day, we also recommend you to equip yourself with:

Water or isotonic drinks.
Comfortable shoes and good socks.
Comfortable and elastic clothes that allow you to perform all the movements without difficulty.
And, although it may seem strange to you, a chair where you can rest when you arrive at each of the shooting stations while you shoot 25 targets for each of the six shooters.

WHAT IS THE BEST SHOTGUN FOR THE PRACTICE OF SPORTING

Undoubtedly, the best shotgun for Sporting is the one that allows the pellets to come out through the barrel at the highest velocity, since the targets, in this case, move very fast.

Which are the shotguns that allow us to obtain this speed?

Shotguns with a barrel length of more than 70 centimetres. The most common in these cases are shotguns between 70 and 71 centimetres, although those of 75 centimetres can also be a very viable option.

What is interesting to take into account when choosing your shotgun is that it has polyshocks, so that you can select the most appropriate shock for each occasion, depending on the type of target or the orography of the place.

WHICH AMMUNITION IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR SPORTING

To answer this question, let’s focus on what the regulations of this modality determine:

The cartridge load is limited to 28 grams, with a tolerance of + 2%.

What is the reason for using one or the other?

Simple. With a load of 28 grams, when pushing less weight of lead, we will get more velocity, while if we increase that 2%, we will get more pellets per cartridge.

Leads should have a spherical shape and a regular diameter between 2 and 2.5 mm (with a tolerance of plus or minus 0.1 mm).

What to consider in the case of ammunition:

The use of dispersers or other loading devices is strictly forbidden, as well as the use of reloaded cartridges.
The mixing of dimensions and different lead qualities is strictly forbidden.
The use of black powder, as well as tracer cartridges, is forbidden.
The referee may ask the shooter, before he starts shooting and at the shooting stand, for two cartridges for control. The referee must take one cartridge from the shooter’s right pocket and one from the left pocket of the shooter’s vest or shooting garment.

BASIC RULES OF BEHAVIOR ON SPORTING

Like any type of clay pigeon shooting, Sporting have their own rules, which you can see in more detail in the official regulations.

Here we are going to leave you some of the most relevant rules that you should take into account when practicing this discipline:

All shooters must ask for the target with their guard down.
When shooting, the shooter must keep the stock close to the body, at a distance of more than 25 centimetres from the cross of the shoulder. A good way to control this distance is to indicate it on the vest by means of a ribbon or embroidery.
Once the target has been ordered, the shooter may not make any movement with the shotgun until he/she spots the target. If the shooter initiates the baiting at the sound of the machine, the target will be considered null and the participant will be warned of a foul. If two warnings are accumulated, the skeet will be considered zero. This is undoubtedly the most useful rule for the hunter, since, acting in this way, he will be able to increase his chances of shooting his prey.
Of the 25 targets to be shot per series, a minimum of three doubles may be shot:
- On the shot, i.e., the first plate comes out when ordered and the second comes out when shot.
- Simultaneous, i.e., when they are fired at the same time.
- Burst, i.e., when one comes out on request and, after loading the machine, another one comes out that will have the same trajectory.

WHAT ARE THE BEST SHOOTING TARGETS FOR SPORTING

We have already mentioned at the beginning of this article that Sporting is a sporting shotgun shooting modality in which the races or flights made by game animals are imitated by launching specific shooting targets of different sizes and thicknesses, with different speeds and different trajectories.

Each of the different targets is designed to mimic the flight or race of a hunting species, which brings more excitement to this discipline.

In Corsivia, we offer the following clay targets so that you can enjoy your days of Sporting:

Rabbit: With the same size as our standard target, but with a harder and more resistant edge. The launching of this target is done from machines adapted so that it can roll out, simulating the rodent’s race. Three options are available:
- Rabbit: diameter 100, height 16 mm and weight 120.
- Mini Rabbit: diameter 100, height 11 mm and weight 100.
- Extra Rabbit: diameter 110 and weight 130.
Mini and Midi: these are smaller targets than the Rabbit, so the speed at which they are usually launched is higher than usual. Specifically, our Mini target is a very fast and easy to lose sight of, so it is launched from quite close to the shooter and with a trajectory parallel to his position. They simulate the flight of partridges and grouse. In Corsivia we offer you two options:
- Mini 60: diameter 60 and weight 30.
- Midi 90: diameter 90 and weight 70.
Patena: This is a very thin target that tries to simulate the flight of a turtle-dove. It has a very changeable and fast flight: it comes out from the edge and turns until it shows its belly and then falls quickly. In Corsivia we offer you 1 option:
- Battue: diameter 108 and weight 70.