Here’s What You Need to Prepare Before Starting Shooting Sports
By Space Coast Daily // March 25, 2020
The origins of shooting sports go way back to ancient Greece where archery contests were arranged to honor the gods.
As weapons evolved and archery became a relic of the past, guns became the weapon of choice for soldiers and hunters alike.
Shooting as a sport takes on many different forms; some include hunting while others are focused on hitting inanimate targets. Some shooting sports are more available than others, depending on the location where the sport is practiced.
Due to the dangerous nature of guns, shooting sports are often accompanied by heavy regulations that limit injuries to yourself and others.
To help you prepare for taking up a shooting sport, we’ve prepared a brief guide that should help you figure out what you need to know.
Practicing with Air Rifles
A lot of professional shooters started by practicing with air rifles. They are quite cheap, easy to find, and can be legally used in sports by people under 18 as long as they’re accompanied by an adult.
Air rifles can teach you the basics of gun safety in addition to sharpening your skills and senses before you move on to heavier weaponry.
Pistol Sports
Shooting sports that involve pistols rely mainly on achieving high accuracy when hitting inanimate targets. If you’re interested in taking it to the next level, Olympic pistol shooting is a great way to build a name for yourself in the world of shooting.
Firing a gun properly is not easy but it takes less strength to control and aim pistols compared to rifles and shotguns. A lot of beginners use pistols in target practice and gun safety lessons due to their minimal learning curve.
Rifle Sports
Rifles are one of the most versatile types of guns you can use for a myriad of shooting sports. They can be used in deer stalking, competitive tournaments, and biathlons.
The most commonly used rifle for hunting and shooting sports is the AR-15, thanks to its great customization capabilities. Some sports allow adding optics to improve the handling and precision of the rifle.
You should look for the best AR 15 scopes that can allow you to clearly see and shoot targets up to 500 yards away if you need to.
Being able to see and accurately hit the target is very important in hunting as well.
Shotgun Sports
Shotguns are often used in clay pigeon shooting. The sport involves using a shotgun to hit clay targets thrown into the air at high speed by a mechanical device.
The type of shotgun used varies according to each tournament’s discipline and rules. Shotguns are bulkier and heavier than most other weapons but they leave little room for error as shotgun shells contain very small metallic projectiles that disperse once the shot is fired.
They are often chosen for home protection due to their fearsome sound and ease of use.
Shooting a gun in a safe and protected environment can be very therapeutic for some people. Shooting sports take casual target practicing and transform it into adrenaline-filled competitive activities that allow you to hone your skills as you progress.
Make sure to research the type of gun you’ll be using and be sure to read up on gun safety rules before taking up any shooting sports.
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