Western Australian

Clay Target Association

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Overview

Clay Target Shooting is a sport that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Why not try it and
join in the fun recreationally or at competition level at a local clay target club. Clubs hold
registered club events, state, national and international competitions. These include district,
state, world championships, Commonwealth and Olympic Games events.


Since its introduction into Australia in 1924 and the eventual inauguration of the present
governing body known as the Australian Clay Target Association Ltd (ACTA), the sport has
grown to its present strength of approximately 300 clubs with some 13,000 registered
members.

Clay target shooting offers many types of competition which give shooters an opportunity to
specialize in the discipline that best suits them.

ACTA disciplines include:

Down the Line (Trap), Skeet, Tower, Ball Trap, Sporting Clays and three Olympic disciplines, ISSF Trap,
ISSF Trap and ISSF Skeet. These are all shot at clubs throughout Australia, although some
may not have the facilities to cater for all disciplines. Competition events are normally run in
graded sections (AA-A-B-C) which provides equitable competition for both the novice and
the experienced shooter. Sections for Ladies, Juniors and Veterans are often added as further
encouragement.

About the Sport - Overview

Becoming a clay target shooter

Becoming a Clay Target Shooter
Contact your nearest club to find out what is involved in clay target shooting and what services and facilities, including coaching, they can provide. A club list is located on this website and on the ACTA website at Membership and Clubs.

Most clubs have provisions for non-shooters, including sometimes the use of a club loan gun. However, to shoot regularly you must obtain a firearms license and join a club. The WA Police issue firearms licenses, follow this link for more information WA Police Firearms Licensing.

Once you have joined a club, which includes joining the Western Australian Clay Target Association Inc. (WACTA) and the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA), you can participate in club shoots, practice days and any other shoots held by the ACTA affiliated clubs, depending upon your membership type. Should you wish to buy a gun, members of the club’s committee may be able to advise you on the type you require and where to purchase one locally. Click here WA Police Firearms Licensing for information regarding the legal requirements. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, contact Firearms Licensing on 130 171 011.

As mentioned, your club membership will include membership to the ACTA. Further information can be obtained at Membership and Clubs.

1. A receipt will be issued and it will remain attached on your My Page for printing. A letter can be requested if needed as proof of membership.
2. You can download the ACTA Member App.
3. An ACTA badge (depending on category when joining).
4. The current ACTA rules can be downloaded from our website.
5. A monthly copy of the Clay Target Shooting News, the official journal of the ACTA (E-news only).

For further enquiries regarding joining a clay target club or the ACTA, contact them on 026938 2121 between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday.

How to Become A Club Member

Safety

Clay Target Shooting has one of the most enviable safety records of any sport within Australia and around the world. As a result of its safety record, our members know that they can compete in the sport they love assured that no harm will come to them.

Because we use a firearm to compete in a recreational sport, it is of the utmost importance to maintain a high standard of safety for our members, visitors and the public. The first two things new shooters are taught are the safety rules and the correct gun handling methods.

The following are the golden rules of safety. The rules are not limited to those below and a comprehensive set of rules is located in the Australian Clay Target Association’s (ACTA) Shooting.

Rules book at https://www.claytarget.com.au/acta-referees/rules-book-and-amendments.html

Golden Rules:

1.Consider every firearm as though it is loaded at all times.

2. All firearms are to remain open and unloaded unless you are on the shooting stations of the range or designated practice mounting area or club pattern board.
• Never point a closed firearm in any other situation than stated above.
• When closing or opening a firearm always keep the firearm pointed down range.

3. Always check that the firearm is unloaded, never assume.

4. Always use cartridges that are in good condition, the correct gauge and chamber length for the firearm that you are using.

5. In case of a misfire or malfunction keep the firearm closed and pointed downrange until the referee can inspect it.

6. Always unload and have firearms open on the referees call and/or when the red flag is up.

7. No alcohol or drugs are to be consumed until the close of competition or whilst using a firearm for coaching or in the designated practice mounting area or club pattern board area. At no time is a firearm to be considered or used as a toy/play thing, i.e. no “Horseplay”.

8. Safety is the individual’s responsibility: you are responsible for the safe handling of yourself and your firearm at all times. No unsafe behaviour will be tolerated on any ACTA or WACTA grounds.

If you see something that you consider to be unsafe, do something about it. At the very least question the person and the behaviour, it could save someone’s life.

Learn More

“Safety is your responsibility, not someone else’s”

Shooting Etiquette

  1. The president and the club committee are volunteers and honorary. They accept and respect your constructive feedback and expect your assistance plus co-operation at all times.

  2. It is your responsibility to ascertain your squad and layout and be on time: you must be at the firing point within two (2) minutes of being called. Penalties for not adhering to this may include the loss of a target, disqualification, or re-squadding at the direction of the club.

  3. While on the tracks, respect the other shooters’ rights to perform without interference:
    a. Trap (DTL) – shooters must not move off their shooting station until the next shooter has finished shooting on their station or a vacant lane exists between the competitors.
    b. Skeet – shooters must unload before leaving the shooting station.
    c. All shooters must remain on the layout until the last shooter has finished shooting.

  4. All competitors are required to dress in an appropriate manner. Wearing camouflage (in any form), singlets or singlet style sleeveless tops, high cut shorts are prohibited. Regarding footwear, all shoes must have a restraining strap or support at the heel, thongs, scuffs or bare feet are not permitted on the shooting range.

  5. Respect the referee and do not obstruct his vision.
    Check your scores before leaving the shooting layout and let the referee know if you think that there is an error.

  6. Gun slings and sleeves are not permitted to be used on any ACTA/WACTA range.

  7. Do not engage in any form of “horse play” or games when in possession of a firearm.

  8. Mobile phones or like devices, must be switched off or placed on vibrate whilst in competition or practice.

  9. Do not damage club equipment and report any damage to the club management.

  10. You are expected to conduct yourself as a sportsperson at all times, disciplinary action may be taken if you bring the sport into disrepute.

  11. Take responsibility for your safety and the safety of others whilst at a club.

Disciplines

Down The Line (Trap)
Down The Line layout Down The Line Shooting, or “Trap Shooting” takes on several forms, but no matter the variation, they are all shot over a standard measured layout. This layout is made up of five (5) lanes or tracks that are displayed from fifteen (15) metres (from the target machine) to twenty-five (25) metres, with the lanes tapering towards the traphouse. The most used pad on this layout is fifteen (15) metres, which assumes the title of common mark. However, a handicap system is shot with the individual shooter’s ability and skill deciding the handicap meterage.
Learn More.
Skeet
American Skeet is the standard variety most shot within Australia. This discipline is shot over a standardised eight (8) pad system, set between a High and Low traphouse. This semi-circular layout starts with number one (1) pad at the High House through to number seven (7) pad at the Low House. The number eight (8) pad is set midway between the flight line of the targets. Skeet is shot in brackets of twenty-five (25) targets, but with a set program from pad to pad. Each competitor knows where the target will appear from, going to and what speed it will attain. The challenge is the constantly changing angles, with neither left or right handed shooters having the advantage at the end of the round.
Learn More.
ISSF Trap (Trench)
ISSF Trap Layout ISSF Trap, or as it is more commonly known “Trench”, is best described as the Olympic Discipline of Down The Line. This style of shooting has a high degree of difficulty, is challenging and can be very rewarding. The ISSF Trap over each bracket of twenty-five (25) targets is a fair and equal competition, for at rounds end all competitors have shot at the equal style of targets. This layout is a five (5) pad system, but only 15 metres is used and set straight across the rear of the ground level trap house...
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ISSF Skeet
ISSF Skeet is the second Skeet Discipline shot in Australia, but the style is participated at World Cup and Olympic level. Like Skeet, the rounds are shot in brackets of twenty-five (25) targets, but from this point there is little similarity. For although the ground layouts are the same distance, the targets thrown are quite different in speed. Three other differences that become visible are gun position, time delay on target release and the sequence of target release. The gun is held in a down position where the toe of the stock must touch a mark on the hip until the target visually appears...
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5 Stand Sporting Clays
Five Stand is very similar to Sporting Clays in that a wide variety of targets are thrown. No two five-stands are exactly alike. There are five “stands” or stations to shoot from. There are usually somewhere between 6 and 8 traps that throw targets. Participants shoot in turn at each of the 5 stands and various combinations of targets are thrown from the traps. There is a menu card that will advise the shooter of the sequence of targets. Five Stand is a great way to get a Sporting Clays like experience in a small amount of space, with very little walking...
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