British Association for Shooting - BASC Handbook of Shooting

The purpose of this book is to explain the principles of using a shotgun to shoot live birds and mammals. Although it will be of particular value to those taking the Principles of Live Quarry Shooting (PLQS) course it is intended as a general introduction for any newcomer to sporting shooting. There are more detailed works on all aspects of the sport and you should certainly read as much as you can about it, but there is no substitute for practical experience; lessons at a shooting school or from a qualified coach are essential if you are to get the most enjoyment out of shooting sports.

That enjoyment is hugely increased by the context in which shooting takes place good company, beautiful countryside and, if the shoot is well managed, an abundance of wildlife. Shooting puts far more back into the countryside than it takes out; if you take up the sport you also shoulder this responsibility.

Responsible shooting is the wise use of a sustainable resource, and that is why a considerable portion of this book is devoted to conservation. It is no accident that the representative body for live quarry shooting is called the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).

Traditionally, BASC has placed a great deal of emphasis on education and training. Some time ago the education sub-committee produced a set of codes of practice for the sport to guide those seeking basic information. This was done because we believe that we have a duty to encourage high standards of safety, sportsmanship and courtesy among those who enjoy the legitimate sport of shooting.

Following the codes of practice we established the proficiency award scheme (PAS) which was a way for those who shoot to improve their knowledge. The PAS has since evolved into the Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Live Quarry Shooting, which is no longer offered by BASC but by the National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC) which ensures the award remains current and available to all over 16s.

NPTC is the largest nationally recognised awarding body in the land-based sector. It works closely with Lantra, the sector skills council for land-based training and education, to ensure that qualifications are current and reflect the industrys needs. NPTC is an accredited awarding body with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and part of the City & Guilds Group.

The certificates (mostly at Level 2) provide practical skills assessments in a wide range of land-based tasks. The PLQS qualification is aimed at candidates who wish to develop a basic understanding of traditional country shooting, game and wildlife identification, and the use of gundogs. It is suitable for people who may:

Its aim is to provide an accredited qualification that is available to anybody wishing to develop an understanding of live quarry shooting with a shotgun.

The primary purpose of this Handbook of Shooting - The Sporting Shotgun is to teach shotgun safety, sportsmanship, including respect for the quarry, the law and courtesy.

It will help those who shoot to derive far greater enjoyment in the knowledge that they are conducting themselves to high standards of behaviour in the field.

Much of the criticism levelled against shooting sports is a direct result of either misunderstanding or of bad behaviour witnessed in the field. The rights and privileges of sportsmen to continue to enjoy their sport, and the satisfaction of helping to conserve the countryside and wildlife, depend very much on the behaviour of all shooting people. They will be judged by their attitude and behaviour.

The social structure of the shooting community has altered considerably in the last few years. There are many now who wish to take up the sport, or indeed who have entered it but have no real knowledge of shooting and the traditions of the countryside, or of the quarry species they pursue, and their management needs.

PLQS has therefore been introduced to give everyone who shoots a practical means of attaining the BASC ideal that all who shoot lawfully in the UK conduct themselves according to the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship and courtesy, with full respect for their quarry and a practical interest in wildlife conservation and the well-being of the countryside.

To learn more about the Level 2 Principles of Live Quarry Shooting visit the NPTC website at www.nptc.org.uk.

You may have inherited a gun, been given one or, more probably, bought it yourself for the particular kind of shooting that youre interested in. But however you acquired the gun it is important to understand how it is made, how it works, its care and use, so that, together with suitable cartridges, it can be used effectively and responsibly in the shooting field.

Definition of a shotgun

The Firearms Act 1968 defines a shotgun as: A smooth-bore gun, not being an air rifle or a revolver gun, with a barrel not less than 24 inches and with a bore not exceeding 2 inches. It must either have no magazine or a non-detachable magazine incapable of holding more than two cartridges.

This definition allows for various types of shotgun, incorporating different features.

Construction of shotguns

Modern shotgun barrels are made of steel and are either drilled or drawn out of a solid cylindrical piece of steel.

In the past shotgun barrels were made by twisting thin strands of iron and steel together and welding them into a tube. Barrels made in this manner are known as Damascus barrels and they may be found on a small number of guns still in use. Many will not have been proved (see page 32) for modern nitro powders, and can only be safely used with black powder.