First Solo Session

[Pirate Salmon]

So today I went to Fareham Clay Target Club to shoot Sporting, however the guy I go with decided he wanted to shoot Down The Line. Now I'm not very good so I didn't want to start a different discipline.

I took my brother with me to push buttons and keep score. Now I did the 50 Sporting twice, and got 14 both times.

The main reason for this post though, is I was surprised about how friendly people are! A guy who was waiting for a stand with asked how I was getting on, could tell I was new/nervous and even gave me some pointers. Also told me that anything over 10/50 on your first 5 sessions is really good so I should be happy, even though I felt like I wasn't doing very well.

Went round to my last stand and I only had 4 out of the 8 required cartridges left. So I intended to shoot the 4 and call it a day, however another group of gents gave me the 4 cartridges I needed (I didn't ask, they just realised I finished short), in exchange I bought them all a coffee when we got back to the club house and had a good chinwag.

I was really nervous about shooting in my own, however now I'm not, especially as I've seen how friendly and willing to help people are. Unfortunately I didn't get any names, but I'll remember faces.


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[Will Hewland]

Good stuff! I wasted YEARS, shooting infrequently due to always waiting for a group of mates to organise getting together and shoot. Just get out there and you will meet loads of people. And guess what? They all enjoy shooting and can't get enough of it.

 

[Nick Selby]

I don't shoot much due to my lad playing rugby on a sunday morning but have found the vast majority of shooters very welcoming and helpful. It is much more fun to shoot with others however I'm not that good and always feel like I might bring down the score of better shooters by shooting with them. Hopefully this is not the case though. Hope you continue to enjoy shooting.

 

[ips]

Good to hear.

You will not find nicer more genuine people than the shooting fraternity. I still have many lifelong friends that I met very early in my shooting career in fact I lead such a sheltered life my only friends are shooters.

Newbies should never be afraid to turn up on there own at any shoot.

 

[Finners]

This is good to hear, there's no doubt about it, shooting is one of the most inclusive sports :good:

 

[woody]

We run our straw baler on a Sunday morning, and this time if year all you need is your Wellies and a sense of humour.

There's blokes at our shoot who will lend you their gun, give you their shells, and chat all morning with you. I agree, it's such an inclusive sport.

pirate salmon, if you ever pass Hastings (appreciate it's a fair few clicks away) on a Sunday morning I'll treat you to a 50 sporting on our place.

 

[Mike L]

I am back to the uk for a while woody, can you let me know when your next one is please?!

Mike

 

[woody]

Sunday 11th, Mike.

You'd be more than welcome to join us. Appreciate we're a bit of a trek from Brighton but we put on some nice targets and have fun.

 

[Mike L]

Thanks woody, the missus is talking about Bruges on the motorbike, but if we don't, I will pop along and see you.

Thanks for the info.

Mike

 

[Pirate Salmon]

It was a great experience today. I have gotten into shooting due to the pure joy of doing the sport, however today makes me want to go back so that I can see the regular faces and get really involved.

We run our straw baler on a Sunday morning, and this time if year all you need is your Wellies and a sense of humour.

There's blokes at our shoot who will lend you their gun, give you their shells, and chat all morning with you. I agree, it's such an inclusive sport.

pirate salmon, if you ever pass Hastings (appreciate it's a fair few clicks away) on a Sunday morning I'll treat you to a 50 sporting on our place.

I may take you up on this, maybe sometime in Febuary/March? I'm really interested to visit lots of different shoots, see what they are all about. Will be a good experience, and I'll get to show everyone how bad I really am!

 

[HDAV]

Sporting is a hard gig to start.... all those different angles and trajectories to learn and read,. Skeet is ideal for learning as it will show flaws in technique that you can work on in a structured manner, DTL is good for discipline, shooting sporting is like trying to shoot every discipline in one go! Dont be afraid to try Trap or skeet (different experience to sporting but everyone is helpful and welcoming) 

 

[Pirate Salmon]

I honestly hadn't though of it like that. I will have a go at some of those others, however I see it a case of that if I stick with one discipline, then once in confident and happy I can do quite well I'll give the others a go

 

[HDAV]

Well worth watching a round of skeet, trap if your near a ground that does Skeet trap have a watch. Advantage is every week every skeet/trap target in the country is (should) be set to standard. Sporting some grounds change the stands every week. 

10/50 at one ground may be more like 30/50 at another...

Also for Trap no button pusher required If you fancy trying trap DTL is probably the best place to start.

 

[Tebbsy]

Hey Pirate,

i am new to the sport and this forum and shoot sporting only, i have tried the trap diciplines and really didn't like them, horses for courses and all.

The point of my post is i normally shoot by myself or i use to thanks to this forum.

A quick post of where you are planning to shoot, and a friendly face arrives and boom a squad is born.

All of the folks i have met up with a vastly more experienced and thier advice and tips have brought me on faster than if i had been shooting alone. Their friendship, warm natures, encouragement and patience have been second to none and right across the board! As in a previous post, the shooting fraternity has to be one of the most welcoming i have ever had the pleasure to be involved with!

A free resource that should be cherished

 

[BTC3]

Hi Pirate, I'll add to the chorus of "shooters are great".

My first outing to a shoot sucked, royally. The " regulars" weren't happy at having a newbie clogging up their stands, and were rather vocal about it. Set me back a bit, and I never went back to that ground.

But then I found this place about a year ago. Within a few minutes of my introductory post someone (Liz) had offered to show me round a local ground, and it was a night and day difference. People said hello, introduced themselves and were generally cheerful and pleasant - just like this place. Every other ground I've visited has been equally pleasant.

I also agree on the "have a go at skeet or DTL" comments if you're focusing on sporting. I enjoy DTL as something you can do on your own. I find it has a certain rhythm to it, and for me it works as a warm up - a bit like hitting the driving range before going out onto a golf course. Does nothing for working out lead or angles you see in sporting, but boosts confidence. However, be aware that there is an opinion that DTL is the start of the slippery slope to other trap disciplines and away from sporting...

Have fun, and if you feel like trying out some grounds in Herts, let me know.

 

[ExSCA]

Its great you had that experience, I have only been to Fareham once and it seemed like a very friendly club with nice people. 

You can also use this forum to find like minded (and similar scheduled) people to join up with and shoot together...

Enjoy your shooting!

 

[Pirate Salmon]

It was a great experience, so I'm looking forward to my next shoot.


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[Les53]

. I still have many lifelong friends that I met very early in my shooting career in fact I lead such a sheltered life my only friends are shooters.

It's only us lot that will put up with your antics and poxy lists mate!!!!  :laugh:

 

[Santa2512]

+1 on the friendly bunch

It was Tinkerbell & Andy S who gave me a great help when i first started.

Tink organised a selection of guns  for me to try from members, and  Andy lent me his browning,  (very sweet gun ). Both gave up a lot of time to make

my first proper solo day very memorable

I tried Skeet, OT & Sporting, and like you it was a whole new ball game,  

People also gave me cartridges, when i tried OT as id only factored in one clay/ cartridge  (OT  with both barrels was unheard off)

If people offer to go with you, take them up, its a great way to meet  a very friendly bunch of people.

Oh and get practicing, the 2nd Shootclay cup takes place later this year, thats a great day out

:santa: