While most people would think that hunting is only for serious sportsmen, recreational shooting should change their minds. Recreational shooting includes the sport of trap and skeet shooting as well as the popular paint ball and air gun variations. Sling shot shooting is also part of this category along with soft air gun shooting.

Trap and skeet shooting is the sport of shooting clay targets by using a shotgun. These clay targets are called clay pigeons and are released into the air at high speeds. Originally using live pigeons, this sport changed the targets to clay discs for a more reliable and humane target. Trap and skeet shooting equipment, include, aside from a high quality shotgun, target throwers, clay targets or discs and of course, shotgun ammunition.

Paintball shooting or simply known as paintball is a recreational shooting sport where competitors try to eliminate each other from the playing field by shooting each other with paint filled gelatin capsules. Using a compressed gas-powered gun or known to paintball enthusiasts as a marker, these paint-filled balls are shot at opponents at an estimated velocity of 300 feet per second, as per safety standards. Paintball hits are painful at any velocity or distance, hence the implementation of safety rules and gear. One safety precaution is in the mandated use of a paintball mask and goggle system. These safety accessories are usually sold as a set and may go for $24.99 to $69.99. Other equipment required for this sport include the marker and the paintballs. Markers sell for somewhere between $99.99 to $299.99, depending on the brand. Paintballs are sold at prices that range from $11.99 to 34.99, depending on the number of balls in the package.

Air guns are pneumatic guns which use compressed air to propel a projectile through the air. Air guns, more popularly known as BB guns, come in rifle configurations. These air rifles come in calibers that include .177 inch or 4.5mm, .20 inch or 5.0 mm, .22 inch or 5.5mm and .25 inch or 6.35 mm. Rifles for this sport usually come in the price brackets of $29.99 for the least expensive model to the top of the line cost of $479.99. Accessories for air guns or air rifles are gun scopes, shooting glasses and of course, ammunition pellets available according to the gun's caliber designation.

Soft air guns are a tamer and softer shooting version of the air rifles. Airsoft, as it is more popularly called, is usually used in war simulation tactical games or war games. As with paintball, airsoft games require a certain amount of protective gear to minimize injury. Impact-rated goggles are a must for this sport and the goggles usually used for paintball is often used here as well. Soft air guns can also be used alone with stationary targets.

Slingshots have come a long way from the old wooden prong and rubber band attachment used to launch stones and other projectiles. The modern slingshot is now composed of a steel prong with a molded plastic handle. While still using the basic principle of the old slingshot, modern sling shots offer a more accurate and controlled shot. These are also sold with their own glass ammo.