Why FITASC?

 

Why should I shoot FITASC?

 

Well, the first and best reason I can think of is, it’s a blast. It is also, in the opinion of many, the most challenging form of sporting. FITASC is an acronym for the French federation that governs the international form of sporting clays. FITASC typically occupies fewer trap machines and less acreage than sporting clays and is thus more common in Europe, where wide-open spaces are less plentiful.

A single parcour (or course) comprises 25 target presentations shot over three pegs (or positions). A 3-foot-diameter hoop usually marks each peg on the ground, and the shooter must stand within the hoop while engaging the targets. At each of the three pegs on a parcour, there is a menu indicating how the targets will be presented. Typically, the menu at each peg will include four to five single target presentations and two pairs, either report or true. For the single target presentations, the shooter has full use of the gun, meaning that the shooter may load and expend two shells in his attempt to break each target. Each shooter rotates into the shooting position to shoot singles, and when all have shot singles, they will proceed to shoot the pairs.

Other than the above, the primary differences between FITASC and sporting clays is that in FITASC, the shooter must call for the target while in a low-gun ready position. As you can imagine, a shooter with a perfected gun mount has the advantage. The other rule strange to the FITASC newcomer is that the shooter may not move from the time he calls for the target until the target is visible.

The reason sporting clays shooters love our sport is because we enjoy the variety and challenge of the targets we encounter. Assuming that you love sporting clays for the same reasons, you will like FITASC as much or more. So give it a go!

Don Currie is NSCA’s Chief Instructor, an Orvis Wingshooting School instructor, and Master Class competitor. To get free shooting tips and videos, sign up for his monthly newsletter.  You can also see more tips from Currie at www.doncurrie.com.