Target talk: How to keep your shooting skills fresh

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For those that live target shooting, skeet, or other sports based around the use of a firearm, it can be difficult to keep your skills up to scratch.

After all, Australian gun laws are well-known for their strict regulations, often being referenced by other countries as proof that strong gun laws are beneficial.

The country's strong stance on firearms do, of course, allow for some forms of recreational shooting, but once again, these activities are highly regulated to prevent any unnecessary danger to the shooter or others.

However, it's not all doom and gloom for those that enjoy a day of trick shooting, and there are several ways to keep your shooting skills fresh whilst still remaining compliant with Australian gun laws. So, let's get into a few ways that you can stay sharp with your shooting in safe, legal ways.

Whilst carrying a weapon in Australia is illegal in most cases, that doesn't mean there aren't areas in which the use of a firearm is possible.

For those with a firearms license, there are ranges in which people can use shooting targets to practice their shooting, all within a safe, controlled environment.

At a shooting range, you can feel safe knowing that there are specialists there to guide participants where required and that everyone there has, at a bare minimum, a valid firearm handler's license.

As you can expect, these ranges will also have rules that are specific to them and the state they reside in.

This will also often dictate the style of shooting and the models of firearms that can be used with their facility. After all, each gun is different and will often require a different setup for safe, optimised use.

As a way to provide interested parties with some hands-on experience in a safe environment, Sydney's Try Shooting program allows those new to the world of firearms a guided lesson on how to use them correctly.

This program is held in an Olympic-standard shooting venue and acts as a way for people to become more familiar with certain firearms before they decide to go through the process of getting their license.

Individuals as young as twelve can participate as long as they meet all stipulated requirements. This makes it a fantastic way to either start your journey with recreational shooting or reintroduce yourself to it if you've spent some time away.

Either way, it is an interesting program and one that many people have used as their introduction to the world of shooting.

If you're outside Sydney, check with your local government website, as other similar programs do exist to help aspiring shooting enthusiasts learn more about firearms.

Although less common in Australia than in some other countries, clay shooting is one of the most well known of the sport shooting variants.

Also known as clay target shooting or clay pigeon shooting, it involves the shooting of special flying targets.

Unlike traditional target shooting, which relies on the use of more static targets, clay shooting involves moving targets that are less predictably placed than more traditional options.

This makes it the preferred choice for hunting enthusiasts and other shooting activities in which the factor of motion is important to consider.

For those that are interested in taking up clay target shooting, the Australian Clay Target Association, or ACTA, has a list of the various accredited clay target ranges and venues across the country.

This, coupled with a wealth of information and listings for newcomers to clay shooting, makes it a fantastic resource for anyone who finds themselves interested in trying it out for themselves.

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Safety is paramount when it comes to any activity involving a firearm, and it's vital that you follow the specific guidelines of your state or territory when it comes to shooting in any capacity.

For more information on what laws and guidelines exist in your area, your state's government website will have highly detailed information on any requirements you must follow as a firearm owner.