First gun

[robster970]

Hi folks,

I am pretty sure this subject is done to death but I could not find a search facility to check out old threads. I will probably for the rest of this year just pay for a bit of basic tuition and get the gun thrown in with it.

That aside, it seems to me that in the initial phases of getting the hang of shooting, gun choice isn't that important and starting with something that holds value and you can resell is probably more important. It seems to me that if you don't know what to look for, then keeping cost down, enjoying shooting and just getting basics right is paramount.

Is this the case?

Would starter guns be something like a Miroku Mk38 - about £700?

Is it important to distinguish between Field/Sport/Trap at this point? I understand Trap guns are a little heavier and therefore a bit more forgiving

I am hugely left eye dominant (22/6) but right handed and have chosen to shoot left handed after trying both sides out. Does it matter whether the cast of the gun is L/H or R/H?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[ExSCA]

Search facility is the little magnifying glass at the top right (I promise that I am looking for ways to make that brighter - as I think it doesn't show on some screens)

But - sit back and wait, you'll get plenty of replies on this!

 

[robster970]

Search facility is the little magnifying glass at the top right (I promise that I am looking for ways to make that brighter - as I think it doesn't show on some screens)

But - sit back and wait, you'll get plenty of replies on this!

. - thanks. I should point out I am talking about buying second hand here, not new. I guess opinion varies.........

 

[Will Hewland]

Hi Robster,

As you say, often asked. I may just copy my response for future pasting..

All experienced folk on here will tell you the same thing. Get a good used Browning, Beretta or Miroku, probabnly 30" barrels. They are all good and will hold value. This game is mainly about the shooter, not the gun. Having said that it needs to fit reasonably well, so get a left handed gun if that is what you are going with. Have you tried covering one eye (just enough) and staying right handed? Its an option..

I am not that far from you. Happy to chat at a local ground sometime, such as EJ Churchill.

Cheers,

CSC3

 

[robster970]

Hi Robster,

As you say, often asked. I may just copy my response for future pasting..

All experienced folk on here will tell you the same thing. Get a good used Browning, Beretta or Miroku, probabnly 30" barrels. They are all good and will hold value. This game is mainly about the shooter, not the gun. Having said that it needs to fit reasonably well, so get a left handed gun if that is what you are going with. Have you tried covering one eye (just enough) and staying right handed? Its an option..

I am not that far from you. Happy to chat at a local ground sometime, such as EJ Churchill.

Cheers,

CSC3

Thanks CSC3.

I looked at the member map, I can see a few of you who live very local to me. Churchills is an obvious place to talk so I'll ping you when I (eventually) plan to make it up there.

On using the right eye, covering the left eye did not work - the eyesight is so bad that the everything is blurry and glasses don;t fix the problem. There is a very noticeable improvement shooting left handed despite movement not feeling natural yet. It will once some muscle memory has developed and that I think is purely down to doing it.

 

[Emmsy]

seriously avoid the above post about covering an eye, stay left handed, its a lot easier to train the arms etc than the eyes!

cheap browning / beretta or miroku will do fine and holds value should you wish to change.

 

[ExSCA]

Hey Robster - where in Taplow are you? I'm just off Huntercombe Lane North...

 

[robster970]

Hey Robster - where in Taplow are you? I'm just off Huntercombe Lane North...

Approach Rd - where the station is - if you know the road, you'll know the houses.

I clocked you being in Burnham when I joined.

This shooting malarky started off as a bit of a giggle between a group of dads in taplow, burnham and eton wick. Me and one other have been bitten by the bug but I know I am far more interested in developing than he is. It's a performance discipline and I can never, ever not be good at something and I know I will practice/compete/participate more than him so getting to know locals with a comparable level of passion is definitely a plus for me.

 

[ExSCA]

Excellent - you'll have to join some of us on our outings... keep an eye on meet-ups, we're always off somewhere.

 

[robster970]

Excellent - you'll have to join some of us on our outings... keep an eye on meet-ups, we're always off somewhere.

I can see me buying something sooner than the end of the year at this rate! :wink:

 

[Will Hewland]

Get the cabinet and your certificate sorted as that can take time. You wont lose much on the right gun if you were to sell it..

CSC3

 

[robster970]

Will do.

One thing not covered: Trap/Sport/Field? Does it matter right now?

Chokes? Do I really need to shoot with these in right now? Shrinking the pattern down right now seems like not a good idea.

 

[TobyM]

What do you want to shoot, Robster?

 

[robster970]

Right now it is clays but I would eventually like to shoot some live quarry for the pot from time to time too.

So mostly clay, occasional bird/rabbit.

 

[Will Hewland]

Sporting clays gun then. Most have interchangeable chokes (screw in), so you just choose sensible ones at first without too much constriction / choke.

 

[robster970]

Thanks for the advice folks. Much appreciated. Right, need to do some work now.

 

[newbie]

nice miroku 38 gd 5 with chokes and adj stock in shootbay....

 

[robster970]

nice miroku 38 gd 5 with chokes and adj stock in shootbay....

Very nice but about a grand more than I'm prepared to pay right now. I'll take it off you for £700 though. Deal? Come on, it's the only offer you have on the table.

 

[newbie]

Very nice but about a grand more than I'm prepared to pay right now. I'll take it off you for £700 though. Deal? Come on, it's the only offer you have on the table.

is it?