how far do you travel to a shoot?

[jwpzx9r]

I was just wondering about the sensibility of driving for a couple of hours and then shooting half an hour after arriving. I have two different comps I could shoot in tomorrow but both require about a two hour drive. One at Blagnac is about 220km much of it motorway but will take about 2hr 30mins the other is at Ychoux which is about 140km but still takes about 2hrs because it is not motorway. So that means out by 7am to get there on time the comps start at ten. I think I am going for Ychoux simply because it means less driving but can you really shoot well after a two hour drive? I know I will enjoy the shooting but you want to get a decent score.

 

[Darkside]

It definitely affects you driving for +2 hours and shooting strait away!!! I milked the cows (extra early) drove from Glasgow to The Dell for a 10am start at FITASC  (1/2 an hour the other side of Avimore, 2 1/2 hours) drove into the car park at 9.50 to be told,

"Don't pay, go straight to the skeet layout up the hil, your squad are already there..." 

Drove up the hill, jumped out, grabbed gun/shells/skeet vest, stuffed earplugs in as I walked, put glasses on and emptied boxes of shells into my pocked as we watched the show clays...scaped a 18 on what was a 22+ layout!!! 

Shot fine the other 3, but the score was gone on the first one!!! I need a minimum of 1/2 an hour to settle fown after a long drive

 

[Paul120]

We often travel 2 hours to do comps. I like to give it an hour before shooting. I read somewhere that driving has 2 main effects and you need half the driving time to recover. One effect is that you're eyes become tired and the other is that your sense of judging speed is altered especially if most of the driving is on the motorway. Just think how it feels driving at 30 mph after leaving the mway after doing 70. You feel like you've stopped. 

Clays can look to moving  slower than they are and you miss behind. 

 

[Hamster]

Driving long distances definitely doesn't seem to help much, I don't necessarily think it's the actual driving but the stress of having to wake extra early (that in itself can mean a poor nights sleep as I'm not a natural sleeper anyway) and worrying whether you're gonna hit traffic.

This is one of the reasons I've all but stopped doing shoots like the Essex Masters for instance as it's too close to go the night before and too far (2 - 3 hours) to do in the morning and feel fresh when you arrive ! 

The slightest bit of congestion or diversion if you're unfamiliar with the route will raise your stress levels and kinda takes the whole enjoyment away. I do envy people who live on the Western side of the M25 because they get sooo much choice in 4 different directions. 

 

[jwpzx9r]

Well thanks for the replies. I will probably make good time it being a Sunday morning BUT I will leave in the dark and still have to be aware of the speed camera's.. I know where most of them are  so I should make good time driving at a sensible speed. If I get there for nine I have an hour to relax before I shoot assuming I am first squad could be an extra half hour if not. I am a morning person so that will help.The weather is looking very good so I am sure I will have a good day out if not a great score and Ychoux is a very good shooting ground.

 

[Dog Tyred]

Wish Ychoix was two hours from me 

Two hours is standard commute for me to shoot OT. In fact every shoot this year, bar one in Rugby in January, has been a two hour plus journey !! 

ho hum 

DT

 

[jwpzx9r]

Hi Greg

In the summer there are so many grounds within an hour that you are spoiled for choice... they nearly all close at the beginning of September so it is a bit more tiresome getting to a ground. I have only shot the once at Ychoux and to be honest I really liked the ground although being the French champs and 600 shooters per day the atmosphere was great too so the whole experience put it on a different level for me.

 

[ips]

these days 25 minutes but 3hrs each way was regular until this season. Cant say I ever felt it effected my shooting when I was younger but as an old duffer even an hour is too much for me. Would much rather drive 3 minutes to the shooting estate I am currently working the dog on.

 

[Sian]

We often travel 2 hrs or more - some are a fair distance and some you just get caught up in traffic.  I would say we share the driving but in reality Tony does most of it both ways and it does knacker him.

 

[kevin]

I drive between 30min. and just over 1 hour. 4 shooting grounds to choose from and all open almost all year round.

 

[Doctor Lecter]

being a old git I don't enjoy driving to shoots , a . you cant enjoy the scenery , b . you cant have a beer or two after shooting , c. too many nutters about behind the wheel . !     I'm lucky to be only 20 minutes from orston  so get a lie in too  on a Sunday   so its all good .    

 

[Salopian]

Perhaps someone should tell Graham Stirzaker about this thread !

Darkside, get a faster car.

 

[Darkside]

Perhaps someone should tell Graham Stirzaker about this thread !

Darkside, get a faster car.

I'm surrounded by average speed cameras just now!!!

 

[FloodDefence]

Living in South Wales I have no choice but to travel to shoot, 2hrs + is quite normal, Longridge is probably the closest proper ground at about 1hr 20. Others I know from West Wales are regularly putting in 3hrs upwards one way. I find that sometimes the drive can take it out of you especially if it's a new ground and your not familiar with the route.

 

[Rupert]

20,000 miles a year for shooting, everywhere is 90 mins minimum for us.

 

[Will Hewland]

I've shot 18 different registered grounds this year. The furthest is 1hr 20 in good traffic. Must be 13 of them within 50 mins drive. I'm in a fortunate location..

 

[balltrap]

Perhaps someone should tell Graham Stirzaker about this thread !

Darkside, get a faster car.




 




 

Do we need that tosser on here ! he should of been banned for life :huh: .......that's what the golden eagles and swans think

 

[westley]

Some travel for a 3 hour round trip.........................................................AND LEAVE THE GUN AT HOME  !      :lol:

 

[balltrap]

Some travel for a 3 hour round trip.........................................................AND LEAVE THE GUN AT HOME  !      :lol:

by all accounts you would do better without a gun  :lol: