NZ Hunter Education Module 8: Recreational shooting

NZ Hunter Education Course:

Module 8: Recreational Target Shooting

Not everyone wants to use a firearm to hunt, so in this module we cover common areas of firearm use for non-hunters, while recognising that many clay bird shooters and some keen black powder shooters also hunt game. Likewise, many target shooters use firearms for small game and big game hunting.

Target Shooting

By target shooting we mean shooting at targets rather than game. Firearms used may range from .177 air rifles to .22 rim-fire rifles, centre-fire rifles, pistols and shotguns.

A 2007–8 survey found that 3% of New Zealanders over the age of 16 had been target shooting in the previous year, while 4.6% had been hunting (a very small percentage of hunters use bows rather than guns).

Clay Target Shooting

Also known as clay pigeon or clay bird shooting, this is the art of shooting a firearm, in particular a shotgun, at special flying targets, known as clay pigeons or clay targets.

The terminology commonly used by clay shooters often relates to times past, when live-pigeon competitions were held. Although such competitions were made illegal, a target may still be called a "bird", a hit may be referred to as a "kill", and a missed target as a "bird away"; the machine which projects the targets is still known as a "trap".

Targets are thrown either as singles or doubles from one or more traps situated some 15 m in front of the shooter, and are generally going away from the firing point at varying speeds, angles and elevations.

History

New Zealand’s oldest sporting competition is the national full-bore rifle championship, now known as the Ballinger Belt. First held in 1861, is still going to the current day.

Unlike archery and fencing, shooting is a current military practice. The link is clear in the history of shooting in New Zealand – the national full-bore rifle championship was set up by the government during the North Taranaki war, shooting associations were linked to defence forces well into the 20th century, and rifle ranges were sometimes bought outright or contributed to by the government.

Newspaper reports of New Zealand's early gun clubs first appeared in the late 1860s. The New Zealand Rifle Association was formed in 1878 (and became known as the National Rifle Association in 1923). By 1899 the New Zealand Gun Clubs Association (for trap and clay-target shooting) had been formed. Small-bore or miniature rifles – .22 rifles and air rifles – were used by cadet and territorial army units in the early 20th century, and the first small-bore clubs were set up. The New Zealand Small-bore Rifle Association first met in 1924.

Pistols were not used for target shooting in New Zealand until 1962.

All clubs have specified rules that govern club shooting. Whether target shooting punching holes in paper targets, or clay bird shooting or shooting steel silhouettes it’ all great fun. When you join a club you link with other keen shooters and you learn new skills and above all better safety practices.

Licences: Clay bird, black powder and target shooters require only an A category licence unless a shooter uses a MSSA (Military style semi-automatics) type firearm, which requires an endorsement and special security. All disciplines for non hunting and range use are regulated by the rules of various clubs. Pistols can only be used on a certified range in NZ and you must have an endorsement for your licence and special security.

(Module 7 covers legal requirements – also see below).

Skeet Shooting This is a variant of the above. Skeet is a word of Scandinavian origin, though the discipline originated in America. Targets are thrown in singles and doubles from 2 trap houses situated some 40 metres apart, at opposite ends of a semicircular arc on which there are seven shooting positions. The targets are thrown at set trajectories and speeds.

The targets used for clay target and skeet shooting are usually in the shape of an inverted saucer, made from a mixture of pitch and pulverized limestone rock designed to withstand being thrown from traps at very high speeds, but at the same time being easily broken when hit by just a very few lead pellets from a shotgun. The targets are usually fluorescent orange or black.

Traps are purpose-made, spring-loaded, flywheel or rotational devices especially designed to launch the different types of targets in singles or pairs at distances of up to 100 metres.

These machines vary from the very simple hand-cocked, hand-loaded and hand-released types to the highly sophisticated fully automatic variety, which can hold up to 600 targets in their own magazine and are electrically or pneumatically operated. Target release is by remote control, either by pressing a button or by an acoustic system activated by the shooter's voice. Target speeds and trajectories can be easily modified and varied to suit the discipline or type of shooting required.

Guns Used

Clay target shooting is performed with a shotgun. The type of shotgun used is often a matter of taste as well as the governing body of the sport in competitive cases. While all types of shotguns are suitable for clay pigeon shooting, the ability to fire multiple shots in quick succession is generally considered important. Some skilled shooters will use a single shot firearm in order to add to the challenge. Traditionally over and under shotguns have been popular, however semi-automatic and to a lesser extent pump-action have been used.

Cartridges

Shotgun cartridges for clay bird shooting are readily available in gun shops. Though home loaded cartridges allow the user to customize the ballistic characteristics of their shells, they are generally not allowed at clay pigeon shooting events unless otherwise specified.

The instructions and specifications are printed on the boxes. For clay competition, shot size must not exceed 2.6 mm/English No. 6. The shot load must be a maximum 28 g (0.99 oz) for all domestic disciplines. The use of steel shot is prohibited in all competition. Home loads, black powder and tracer cartridges may not be used.

NB: You do not need an endorsement on your firearms licence to own a firearm suitable to shoot clay birds. However we recommend that you join a local club. See ‘clubs’ on the HOME page for contacts.

Black Powder

Shooting

Generally associated with the use of muzzle loading firearms. A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the projectile and usually the propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the gun (i.e., from the forward, open end of the gun's barrel). This is distinct from the more popular modern designs of breech-loading firearms.

The term "muzzleloader" may also apply to the marksman who specializes in the shooting of muzzle loading firearms. The barrels of muzzle loaders may be rifled or smoothbore and modern muzzle loading firearms range from reproductions of side-lock, flintlock and percussion long guns, to in-line rifles that use modern inventions such as a closed breech, sealed primer and fast rifling to allow for considerable accuracy at long ranges.

Muzzle-loading firearms are loaded through the muzzle. Black powder or Pyrodex or a similar substitute is poured into the barrel and a patch then a lead ball or bullet are put into the barrel on top of it. A flame enters the barrel through a small hole at the closed end, usually at the side, just above the trigger. This ignites the powder charge behind the bullet.

Some actions fire by way of a slow burning ‘match’ pressed down into the flash pan. In others, a mechanism sends sparks from a flint into a flash pan where a small amount of fine powder carries the flame down the flash hole. A percussion cap is used in some actions.

Before loading a muzzle-loading firearm make sure it is not already loaded.

Put a ramrod or wooden dowel down the bore.
When it will go no further, mark the dowel at the muzzle.
Remove the dowel and position it on the outside of the barrel with the mark at the muzzle.
The dowel should almost reach to the flash hole.
If the dowel does not, the firearm may be loaded and dangerous.
You will not be able to safely load and fire it – take it to a gunsmith!

Handling muzzle-loading firearms safely READ and follow the instructions given. For safety reasons you must use only black powder or modern equivalents such as Pyrodex. Powder made for modern firearms must not be used or mixed with black powder.

When loading, you must be careful not to double up the powder charge and not to insert more than one projectile. Hold your aim until it discharges.

Under some conditions, such as a damp atmosphere, the charge may not ignite immediately. It can delay the projectile being fired. This is known as a ‘hang fire’ and you must hold your aim for several seconds until the discharge takes place. If the firearm fails to discharge (after ten seconds), taking care to keep the muzzle in a safe direction you can clear the flash hole, re-prime or cap, and have another attempt.

When reloading, there is a danger that a glowing ember from the recently fired black powder may remain in the barrel. Use a damp patch to clean the bore. Hold the muzzle away from your face and body when you pour a charge down the barrel.

Never pour powder straight from a bulk powder container. Pour from the bulk container to a measure, then from the measure to the muzzle.

It is easy, and extremely dangerous, to double load a muzzle-loading firearm. Once your firearm has been loaded it is important to see that it is either fired, or the charge and projectile are removed. If in doubt seek advice from a Black Powder shooting club, NZ Black Powder Shooters Federation or a gunsmith.

Black Powder Cartridge Rifle (BPCR) refers to modern shooting sports which employ black powder cartridge rifles. These firearms, often of the type referred to as "buffalo rifles", are single-shot firearms using a fixed metallic cartridge containing black powder, which launches heavy projectiles at relatively low velocity.

These firearms are usually used to compete with iron sights rather than telescopic sights (scopes). The challenge of the sport lies in the slow loading of the individual cartridge, and the low velocity resulting in a very arched trajectory. Sometimes the targets at a BPCR match are silhouette targets: large steel cut outs in the shape of animals which often must be knocked to the ground for the hit to count.

NB: You do not need an endorsement on your firearms licence to own and shoot muzzle loaders. However we recommend that you join a local club. See ‘clubs’ for contacts.

Pistol Shooting

A pistol is any firearm that is designed or adapted to be held and fired with one hand, and includes any firearm that is less than 762 mm in length.

If you wish to possess a pistol you are required by law to hold an endorsement on your firearms licence. You are required to either belong to a Pistol Club recognised by the Commissioner of Police (B endorsement), or, be a bona fide collector (C endorsement). Pistols can only be fired on an approved Pistol Club range. You need to obtain a special permit, known as a ‘permit to procure’, from the Police so you can buy a pistol.

The Arms Officer will check the security of your firearms storage at home before you will be allowed to keep the pistol there. You will only be permitted to take the pistol from home to the Pistol Club range or to a gunsmith or dealer.

Target pistol shooting was introduced in New Zealand in the 1960s. By 1972 we had a pistol shooter at the Olympic Games.

Since that time target pistol shooting has developed in numbers and the types of events shot. New Zealand pistol shooters have competed successfully in many international events, winning many medals at Commonwealth Games, as well as World Championship medals in other pistol disciplines.

Pistol New Zealand has over 80 affiliated clubs throughout New Zealand and various disciplines are practiced, such as:

IPSC 3-gun

3-Gun is a practical shooting discipline where stages are shot with a combination of a rifle, handgun, and/or shotgun. The shooter must move through different stages, and engage targets in a variety of different positions.

Cowboy Action Shooting

Cowboy Action Shooting, a sport created in California in 1982.Cowboy Action Shooting recreates life in the Wild West by shooting a course of fire designed to depict an old west historical shootout, a movie scene or just someone's idea of the Wild West.

Service Pistol

Service Pistol comes to us from Australia, where it was first adopted as an Australian Nationals Championship event in 1977 and shot with pistols and revolvers in calibres from 9mm to .45 Service Match tests your entire pistol shooting skills in a 90 shot match, and doesn't need a fancy pistol.

ISSF

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) based in Munich controls shooting sports at the Olympic Games all the pistol events at the Commonwealth Games and the Oceanias. The main events are 10 and 50 metre pistol, and 25 metre pistol events which require autoloaders or revolvers. ISSF shooters compete at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

Metallic Silhouette

HMS shooting is a group of target shooting disciplines that involves shooting at metal cutouts representing game animals at varying distances. Metallic silhouette shooting can be done with airguns, black powder firearms or modern handguns. The targets used are rams, turkeys, pigs, and chickens, which are cut to different scales and set at certain distances from the shooter depending on the specific discipline.

Muzzle Loading

Pistols used range from the 15th century matchlock to the late 19th century percussion pistol and revolver and their modern made replicas with some matches catering for guns with modern sights or purpose built target pistols. Muzzle loading pistol shooting in New Zealand is shot to the rules of three different organisations.