Hi All,

I need of a bit of advise on getting into shooting for myself and No.1 son,we have been over to or local shooting ground(Greenfields in Canterbury),and spent a few Sunday mornings at the 'have a go' stand,but we would like to take the next step and have a few lessons,but i think there charges are a bit steep!.I know it is not the cheapest sport to get involed in but any help putting us on the right path from anybody would be great.

Thank in advance

Cliff. Works well when WATCHED

Foxy will be along soon, she might be able to help you

Just some basic principles to adhere to then practice practice practice, is it target shooting or clay etc

Depends on your local club, i used to be a member of West Wycombe Shooting ground (Churchill), they would throw in one or two complimentary lessons if you joined, but every lesson thereafter was in the region of approx $30 per hour, plus the clay charges (100 bird). Basically approx 60-70 pound all in. Not sure of the costs today, that was 6 years ago.

However i would not under estimate of getting a few professional lessons to get you started with a proper instructor, rather than a mate trying to teach you (his bad habits )

Then you become addicted by the way, so put aside just over a grand for a decent Beretta or Browning (you could possibly cadge another free lesson under the "fitting" excuse, then there is the weekly shoot, cartridges, gun cabinet .. Another Pommie Bar Steward down under

MY20 Defender 110 SE P400 Eiger/Ebony
MY10 3.0 RRS TDv6 Fuji/Ebony/Anigre

Last edited by Zilch on Thu Jul 28 2011 11:22am. Edited 1 time in total

When i use to do shooting many years ago it was free, MP5 sub machine guns, they could fire 30 rounds per second, if you could hang onto the gun we used to import them for many police forces in this country, build them up and test them

Last edited by Ady 555 on Thu Jul 28 2011 11:33am. Edited 1 time in total

Depends on what type of shooting you want to do................I do a bit of HFT with pcp air rifles, sub 12ft/lb = no FAC etc, ask in your local gun shop about local clubs, the internet reveals many a mystery as well I discovered a nice range 3 miles from my house that I never knew was there ! it's air only outdoors £30 a year and use it when you want, I've since progressed upwards and do some clay stuff up in Somerset (with some of the Olympic team) which is a hoot with a Winchester semi auto 10 shot (blows the crap outa stuff with a single ball cartridge) and recently went clearing "vermin" from a big estate....................with an M16  08 2.7 RRS "S"
Td5 110......very modified
RS 5
Kawasaki ZX12R me, it's quick !

Maybe we've met Andy,I've done the country on HFT shoots Concentrate on FT now though.

Thanks for the info,

We are looking at clays and the odd pigeon day to start with.And yes We would need lessons,just trying to get value for money from a club, as my local is £88 plus cartridges!.

Cliff Works well when WATCHED

mrfixit wrote:

Maybe we've met Andy,I've done the country on HFT shoots Concentrate on FT now though.

Dont do that much competition mate, but I have a colleague who does, Nick Jenkinson of Air Arms and Deben/Hawke fame, and 1 or 2 championships. 08 2.7 RRS "S"
Td5 110......very modified
RS 5
Kawasaki ZX12R me, it's quick !

Hey Cliff

Nice to know that you and your son are trying to take up shooting. My son (foxcub) shoots with me and he is 11, and we have a ball together.

I guess the cheapest way to do it, is to go along to your Shoot at Greenfields and try and get in and amongst a group of "old timers".... This is what I did and to be honest I learnt more from them than I did my shooting instructor.

You find that they will give you a more honest approach. It helped me as I lived on a Farm so I got a few traps in and just invited them round to the house to shoot ( free private lesons)

Also try joining the CPSA, and order a magazine called PULL oh and the Field, you will find loads of pointers and also club news.

The sport may seem expensive at first especially if tere are two of you, but once you gain the experience, you can find alternate places to shoot.

The best instructor ive found is a very talented guy which is well worth the travel from anywhere to go shooting with him, is a young lad called Lee Campion. He is awesome. He is based in Retford. If any one wants his details then PM Me, as I can also get discounts on his lessons and shoots.

Anyway Ive rambled enough. ! !

Thanks

Foxy ! x
http://www.frockstockandbarrel.co.uk/TrainingAcademy.htmvate lessons). 

BASC is another one for guidance ! Memberships worth it for the public liability insurance alone ! 08 2.7 RRS "S"
Td5 110......very modified
RS 5
Kawasaki ZX12R me, it's quick !

Sorry I don't really agree with the shoot with local lads principal. Yes it is cheaper and you will get so far, but then you will hit a plateau because of bad habits etc that we all get. In the long run you would be better going to a good instructor who will set you off on the right foot and keep you on the straight and narrow.

I've been shooting 28 years and wish I had learnt that way. The people who taught me are fantastic shots, but they aren't instructors and there is a huge difference, not in their own ability to shoot, but in their ability to analyse what you are doing and correcting errors in your style.

It is also worth trying different disciplines as different things appeal to different people. I don't know how old your son is, but the BASC do great days for youngsters, my lad is going to one on Monday, £15 for the day; covering clays, air rifles, fly casting and dog work Porsche Cayenne S Diesel 66 Plate

Ady 555 wrote:

When i use to do shooting many years ago it was free, MP5 sub machine guns, they could fire 30 rounds per second, if you could hang onto the gun we used to import them for many police forces in this country, build them up and test them

Ah takes me back to the days when I used to shoot them for the police, sadly ours were only on semi-auto but still good fun.....oh and I actually got paid to do it

Daz  2017 4.4 Autobiography FFRR - love this car
Gone - VW T5 Transporter
Long gone - 2009 Disco
Long gone but never out of my thoughts - 2008 TDV8 HST

Oh an just over 2 secs to get rid of 30 but still frantic, only did it a few times on an army range with their guns!

The clip is not me either but gives you a good idea.



Daz 2017 4.4 Autobiography FFRR - love this car
Gone - VW T5 Transporter
Long gone - 2009 Disco
Long gone but never out of my thoughts - 2008 TDV8 HST

Just starting clay shooting myself, giving it a go myself, seem to be getting better bit by bit, my local instructor works out about £70 an hour, which is a fair amount, but I enjoy the sport for what it is, I doubt I'll ever compete so if I miss I miss.

I shopped around for different guns, as it's not about what the person next to you shoots it's what fits you, I ended up with a beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 1 for a little over a grand

I joined pigeon watch forum as there is a fair bit of advice on there too