Into The Blue

Pull! Until you’ve tried it, it’s difficult to fully appreciate the visceral thrill of taking aim at a flying piece of pottery, squeezing the trigger and watching the starburst puff of dust as it explodes into a thousand fragments.

Clay pigeon shooting can get very addictive. For those whose shooting exploits have been limited to the Xbox, this is a sport that offers fun, thrills, marksmanship, skill and the refreshing aspect of taking place in the great outdoors.

Head for the rolling countryside of West Lothian for today’s Big Deal from Into The Blue, offering a chance to cull those pesky clay pigeons*, get some expert advice on handling a firearm, and test your accuracy in a range of shooting styles.

Life on the range

The Big Deal offers a choice of offers, to suit your available time and preferences.

Option one is for one person to have a clay pigeon shooting session with 25 clays, in a small group.

Option two is for one person to have a longer session, with 75 clays. This also includes expert tuition from professional instructors, on a one-to-one basis or in a small, exclusive group.

Stop the pigeon

Sessions last between one and two hours and include use of the shotgun and all safety equipment, and instruction from advanced qualified coaches

The shooting school in West Calder, a short drive from Edinburgh, is staffed by a range of experienced coaches, all qualified through the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, the Scottish Clay Target Association, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation or the Institute of Clay Shooting Instructors.

Novices will be given a thorough briefing in safety procedures. You will be given protective equipment and then sized up for a suitable gun for your clay pigeon session. The firearm selected depends on your age, height, strength and experience at shooting clays. You’ll also be given in-depth instruction on how to load, aim and fire your gun, and advice on how to avoid straining your shoulder muscles with the inevitable recoil.

When it’s time to hit the range, there are a number of automated firing traps across the site, allowing you to try a range of clay shooting styles, including Down The Line (DTL), Sporting and Skeet. The number of clays chosen allows you a taster of the sport or a longer session honing your skills.

Give it a shot

For habitual slaughterers of clay pigeons and shooting novices alike, this Big Deal from Into The Blue is the perfect opportunity to get out on the range and enjoy blasting away those flying targets.

Whether you just want a little practice or would enjoy some hands-on tuition on the finer points of shooting, this deal is right on target.

*Note that no actual pigeons were harmed in the course of this offer.