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Practice

Clay Shooting Practice in Nottinghamshire

Shooting Cards Between 10am-3pm Tuesday To Saturday

No need to book practice, just turn up and shoot!

    • One of the UK’s premier shooting grounds
    • Sporting, Skeet, Sportrap and Simulated Game Practice
    • Shooters travel from across the Midlands and UK
    Suitable for regular practice, competition preparation and game shooting
License Holders Are Welcome To Bring A Non-License Holder To Shoot At Orston - Click For More Information
License Holders Are Welcome To Bring A Non-License Holder To Shoot At Orston - Click For More Information

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Why Practice At Orston Shooting Ground?

Orston Shooting Ground offers some of the most varied clay shooting practice facilities in the Midlands, attracting shooters from Nottinghamshire and across the UK.

With over 20 sporting stands, regularly changing target presentations and multiple shooting disciplines available, every visit provides a fresh and rewarding challenge. Whether you’re looking to maintain your skills, prepare for competition or simply enjoy a day shooting with friends, Orston offers practice facilities to suit all abilities.

Our sporting layouts, skeet, sportrap and simulated game practice areas are designed to help shooters develop confidence, consistency and technique. We also have 10 dedicated training stands featuring more accessible target presentations, making the ground an excellent choice for beginners, newer shooters and anyone looking to build confidence before tackling more challenging targets. Self-trap systems on the all layouts allow you to shoot at your own pace, while the variety of targets ensures there is always something new to test your skills.

From novice shooters developing their abilities to seasoned competitors preparing for their next event, Orston Shooting Ground provides a welcoming environment and first-class facilities for clay shooting practice.

RED COURSE

Our Red Sporting Course is designed to challenge experienced clay shooters and those looking to push their skills further. Featuring a variety of target presentations, distances and angles, the course is regularly updated to provide a fresh shooting experience and prevent shooters from becoming too familiar with the targets.

BLUE COURSE

Our Blue Sporting Course provides a more accessible shooting experience, making it ideal for beginners, a quick warm up or those looking to build confidence. With 10 dedicated training stands featuring easier target presentations, the course allows shooters to develop their technique and improve their consistency without the pressure of more challenging targets.

cpsa-premier-plus

Competition Practice At Orston

Orston Shooting Ground is a popular destination for competitive clay shooters looking to sharpen their skills and prepare for upcoming events. We host regular CPSA registered shoots and competitions throughout the year, attracting shooters from across the Midlands and the UK.

Our sporting layouts are regularly changed to provide fresh target presentations and realistic challenges, helping shooters avoid becoming too familiar with the same targets. Combined with our dedicated competition layouts, this creates an excellent environment for improving consistency, refining technique and preparing for registered shoots. Whether you’re competing for fun or aiming for larger competitions and wins, Orston offers the variety, challenge and facilities needed to support your development.

VIEW COMPETITIONS

ENGLISH SPORTING

English Sporting (ESP) is at the heart of what we do at Orston Shooting Ground.
With over 20 sporting stands, and regularly changing targets, every visit provides a fresh challenge for both recreational and competitive shooters.
We host monthly ESP competitions, both squadded and "turn up".

SELF TRAP SPORTRAP

Our dedicated self-trap Sportrap layout provides a fast-paced and versatile shooting experience, making it ideal for both tuition and independent practice.

The Sportrap layout is popular with both recreational and competitive shooters, providing a variety of target presentations that help improve timing, target acquisition and consistency.

ENGLISH SKEET

Our self-trap skeet layout has now moved from the front of the ground to a new location amongst the sporting layouts. The stand is partially undercover, making it more comfortable to shoot in all weather conditions. We're also currently investing in further improvements to the area, with additional work underway to accommodate a second skeet layout in the future.

SIMULATED GAME ARENA

Our purpose-built Simulated Game Arena offers one of the most realistic game shooting practice experiences in the Midlands. Designed to replicate a wide range of game shooting scenarios, the arena features high towers, automatic traps and varied target presentations that simulate pheasant, partridge, grouse and challenging crossing birds.

Everything Is Self Trap!

We are fully equipped with the Promatic Claymate self-trap system with time delay, allowing shooters to enjoy clay shooting practice independently and at their own pace. This includes the Game Arena. The system is simple to use and gives you complete control over your shooting session, making it ideal for individuals, pairs and small groups looking to practise without the need for a dedicated trapper.

DisciplineNon MembersMembers
Sporting36p/clay31p/clay
Driven Game Shooting Arena36p/clay31p/clay
Skeet£9£7.75
Sportrap36p/clay31p/clay

Membership At Orston Shooting Ground

You don’t need to be a member to shoot clays at Orston, but it helps! 

Club Orston Membership comes in Standard and Premium, but both membership tiers give you cheaper clays and cartridges.

Starting at £60 for the year, it is well worth becoming a member if you plan on visiting us often.

FIND OUT MORE

Clay Shooting Practice FAQS

Do I Need To Book Clay Shooting Practice?

No. Sporting practice, skeet and sportrap can usually be enjoyed without booking. Simply arrive during practice hours and sign in at reception. The Game Arena is extremely popular and booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Shooters can enjoy Sporting, English Skeet, Sportrap and Simulated Game Shooting facilities at Orston Shooting Ground. We no longer have DTL or ABT facilities.

Yes. Non-certificate holders may shoot when accompanied and supervised on a one-to-one basis by a certificate holder, subject to the ground’s requirements and paperwork procedures. Individual lessons and Have a Go sessions are also available.

Yes. The Simulated Game Arena includes high towers, automatic traps and grouse targets designed to help game shooters prepare for the season or improve technique throughout the year.

Please note our cartridge restrictions. 

We are extremely lucky to be set on flat ground with paths all around allowing disabled and wheelchair users to have access to the whole ground. We regularly welcome the Disabled Shooters Group to the ground. 

Blue badge holders benefit from free golf buggy hire!

The use of cartridges with a load exceeding 28g is strictly prohibited. The maximum permitted shot size is No. 6. This applies to the entirety of the ground, including The Simulated Game Arena.

Plastic and fibre wad cartridges can be used. You must bring your certificate when coming to purchase cartridges.

  • Individuals prohibited from posessing or using a shotgun cannot use these facilities.
  • All persons using these facilities do so at their own risk.
  • All guns and cartridges must be kept under supervision and are the responsibility of the owner at all times. We will not take responsibility for any loss or damage.
  • Hearing protection and safety glasses must be worn at all times. Caps are recommended.
Hot & Cold Food Available

Our cafe provides quality hot and cold food and refreshments in warm comfortable surroundings and is open Wednesday to Saturday (And competition Sundays)

Orston Shooting Ground,
Bottesford Lane,
Orston,
Nottingham,
NG13 9NX

Call: 07921 951477 | 07496 875539

David Grayson

CLAY INSTRUCTION

Dave has been a regular part of the Orston Instructor Team for over a year now and we can’t remember what it was like before we had him!

He has over 50 years shooting experience in the field. As a CPSA qualified instructor and member of the Institute of Clay shooting instructors, Dave is highly qualified to teach both beginners and competition shots.
He has also shot clays competitively for over 15 years, with success at all levels; County, Regional, National and Internationally. So you are in perfect hands if you are a competent shot who needs coaching.
Dave is such a lovely and personable man, we highly recommend him for anxious people and those who need encouragement.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT SHOTGUN OWNERSHIP

DO I HAVE TO KEEP MY SHOTGUN AT HOME?

No – you do not.

Within your shotgun application form, in the section referring to storage of shotguns, you could simply state that if you were to purchase a gun you would store it at a local gun club, such as Orston Shooting Ground. We do offer long term and short-term storage options dependant on your situation. Storage is free to Club Orston members. Alternatively, you can also store it at another license holders address. We also offer options for clients who would like to purchase a shotgun prior to receiving their license, enabling them to shoot with their own gun on their lessons at Orston SG. See available guns for sale here.

 

DO I HAVE TO PURCHASE A SHOTGUN?

No – you do not. 

Many people have a shotgun license and do not own a shotgun. We have guns available to hire for shotgun license holders here at Orston. The price is FREE for members of the club and £20.00/gun for non-members.

THE PROCESSING OF YOUR APPLICATION

Your shotgun license can take anything between 6 weeks to 6 months to process depending on your local constabularies processing time. Usually the process goes like this:

 

  1. Your cheque will be banked
  2. You will receive a call from your local firearms licensing officer who will arrange an interview you.
  3. When a suitable interview date is agreed he/she will want to ask you some safety questions (most of which we will have gone through within your lessons) and ensure you are safe to have a shotgun certificate. He/she will also check your security within your house and check that it is sufficient to store shotguns within it.
  4. Providing your interview has been successful along with your medical check and reference check you will then receive your shotgun license in the post usually 2-4 weeks after completion of your interview once signed off by the head of firearms for your county.

REFERENCES & MEDICAL CHECKS

Amongst your shotgun license application form you will be asked to complete a medical check and supply two references. 

Your references will be contacted at some point throughout your application process before approval. 

You can get your medical check completed by your doctor, however recently the doctors’ fees are varying and timescales differ, so in some instances it is easier to apply through Med Cert, who charge a flat fee and have a good turnaround time. 

APPLYING FOR YOUR LICENSE

If you’re wanting to take shooting further at this stage, we would suggest applying for your shotgun license. This is a certificate that authorises you to purchase shotguns and ammunition. If you’re wanting to go shooting alone or hire a shotgun you will need to gain a certificate in order to do so. This certificate lasts for 5 years.

You apply via your local firearms department, part of your local police force. Typically, local to us is Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire although you may be reading this article from further afield! Typically, this is/would have been in paper form, however in recent times certain firearms departments have moved to an online system so it is worth checking with your local department online prior to filling out a form (below). The cost of a shotgun certificate is a one-time fee of currently £80.00.  You can find your local firearms department, by simply searching on the internet ‘County Name’ Firearms department.

When applying for your shotgun certificate the application form will be for both firearms and shotguns. For clarification when firearms are referred to, it means ‘rifles’ so therefore is not relevant to a shotgun application form. 

Paul Murgatroyd

CLAY INSTRUCTION

Paul has been an invaluable member of Orston Shooting Ground over the last 4 years. Progressing from Head Groundsman, to Grounds Manager and now General Manager.

Paul has extensive clay shooting competition experience, shooting for his County on many occasions and for the Leicestershire Police Shoot Team, winning many national titles. Paul’s ability for target setting some of the UK’s finest courses at Orston undoubtedly benefits his clients through his coaching techniques and methods. His professional and calming persona provides a very good balance for those starting on the competition ladder or wanting to develop their clay shooting skills in the sporting disciplines. Paul is APSI qualified.

Steve Brightwell

GAME & CLAY INSTRUCTION

We are very lucky to have Steve as part of #TeamOrston, for those of you involved within clay shooting will know he needs no introduction! 

Steve has won numerous national titles and is currently on th GB shooting team in countless disciplines. Having said this, Steve’s dry sense of humour and infectious talent helps encourage new individuals into the sport and is as happy to teach first time clay shooters as well as competition level shooters and game shooters!

 

Steve Spiers​

GAME & CLAY INSTRUCTION

Steve’s love for clay and game shooting shines through with all his
clients, whether offering a first time Have A Go session or teaching
regular game shooting clients.

A retired police officer, Steve can often be found competing around
the County in clay shooting competitions, assisting on local game shoots
and competing for Leicestershire Police Team.

Andrew Watson

GAME & CLAY INSTRUCTION

Andrew is an APSI Fellow, meaning he brings a huge amount of experience and knowledge to all of our clients at Orston. A highly regarded instructor both on the clay ground and in the game field, Andrew brings a huge amount of success and enjoyment to his clients.

Whether its smashing your first clay, or hitting clays off the 100 ft high tower, Andrew will bring passion, enthusiasm and enjoyment to your lesson.