Clay pigeon shooting advice

Wacker

Hey folks. I'm going clay pidgeon shooting in Balbriggan tomorow (Sunday). Have you guys got any advice for me (other than to not drink too much tonight), being someone who has never even fired a gun before? Are there any tricks, or is it all practice?
Cheers.

Sparks

I've only ever shot clays twice, so I won't try to tell you how to hit them, but I'll give you a bit of advice I wish someone had ensured was drilled into my head - make certain that gun's securly into your shoulder
First time out, shot at 20 clays. 19 were fine, and on the 20th, the gun had come forward a centimetre or so by the time I pulled the trigger, and I caught the recoil right on the collar bone. Ow Carried that bruise for a good month!

And enjoy it, clay pigeon shooting is (okay, can't say a blast, that's too much of a pun, can't say it's a barrel of fun, same reason...) lots of fun

Flattop 15

Enjoy it first of all.Dont expect to kill a straight twenty first time out.Only advice I can give you is when you are taking a crossing shot,swing in the hips ,and lead the clay roughly by a shotgun bead length.Hard to explain in words,easier to explain in reality when shooting.And as Sparks said make sure you have the butt in tight to the shoulder.Go get em!

Wacker

So, I'm back. I took thirty-six shots, and hit twenty-two. A hit ratio of about 64%, the best of the four of us that went. My shoulder hurs! Thanks for the tips.