Will Hewland
Well-known member
Personal choice entirely, but I wanted to get the basics right before competing. Some don't mind coming last, but I am competitive..
How long are you shooting ?
- Thread starter Kasia To Be Fisher
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Parkie
Well-known member
Started shooting 2011, and been shooting reg shoots for over a year, my scores are slowly going up.
Met loads of wonderful people, I can't think of my life without shooting!
A bad day shooting, is better than a good day at work!
Met loads of wonderful people, I can't think of my life without shooting!
A bad day shooting, is better than a good day at work!
I come from a very poor family, mum and dad only had one car each so I helped by hunting small birds with home made catapults from the age of 9, which is around the time they bought me my new air gun to strap onto my chopper bicycle.
Shotguns came in 79, pigeon and rabbits first then clays in a small way in 83, slowly got into baler comps in the mid 80's and registered around 25 years ago. It took me next to no time to hit a few but only started reaching my potential when I got the right guns.
Shotguns came in 79, pigeon and rabbits first then clays in a small way in 83, slowly got into baler comps in the mid 80's and registered around 25 years ago. It took me next to no time to hit a few but only started reaching my potential when I got the right guns.
ips
Well-known member
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- Jul 19, 2012
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Never had a chopper in fact never had a new bike when i was a kid, we didnt even have a car my dad had a works pick up, used to travel all the way to cornwal for annual camping trip in the back of said pickup under a rag top of course but wow what a long uncomfortable journey.
Sorry thread drift. Hammys fault
Sorry thread drift. Hammys fault
chippy
Well-known member
I started in 2001 after getting banned from driving for speeding (needed a new hobby) it was motorbikes before.a few mates shot so i applied for my shotgun and FAC and have shot ever since. started at a local ground and i could hit 8 on a round of skeet. 4 on stand 1 and 4 on stand 7 just could not get my head around shooting into thin air and hoping the clay got there at the same time.
Danny 82
Well-known member
Forget where you come in competition, I shot at Hepworth Hall in the British the other week and came 400+ out of 900 but came away thinking what a great shoot, I felt I shot well and also learnt a lot!!!
It's fun and enjoyable and you are out there to beat your own scores and if you get close on a competition then it's a bonus!
Don't compete to put pressure on yourself, go to enjoy it because those 100 clays go quick!!!
It's fun and enjoyable and you are out there to beat your own scores and if you get close on a competition then it's a bonus!
Don't compete to put pressure on yourself, go to enjoy it because those 100 clays go quick!!!
Ashley
Well-known member
Been shooting about 40 years now, did my first straw baler aged 13 at dtl and came runner up to the then hereford and Worcester champion wally jones, who then took me under his wing showing me the tricks of the trade. Gave up aged 17 (discovered girls and cars)
Then started again about 25 years ago with dtl at first then abt , sporting and skeet. Represented the county at all off them.
Won the British open sporting in b class in 2011 at hodnet witch has been biggest achievement so far.
My advice to you is keep plugging away at it, the older you get the more time and money you have
Then started again about 25 years ago with dtl at first then abt , sporting and skeet. Represented the county at all off them.
Won the British open sporting in b class in 2011 at hodnet witch has been biggest achievement so far.
My advice to you is keep plugging away at it, the older you get the more time and money you have
Kasia To Be Fisher
Well-known member
Well done ! Means by all everything is achievable
Yes you are right no rush in life good advice !
S
Supercharged
Guest
I've been shooting off and on with shotguns and Riffles fir 30 yrs
Jason Mclean
Well-known member
I started shooting on and off five years ago but during that time had a year off due to things going on!
Started registered competitions a year ago at the end of this month! When I started had very low scores, think my first was at Windrush with a 38! I really wanted to improve for myself! I shoot as much as time and funds allow and have put loads of cartridges through my gun. I think as well as lessons you have to get out and shoot at targets to build up a bank of images and how to hit them!
I have had lessons with different people and gathered tips from friends I have made on the way! Everyone always seems friendly whilst out shooting!
Just in the last month or two things have come together and scores have been rising and getting some great results!
Started registered competitions a year ago at the end of this month! When I started had very low scores, think my first was at Windrush with a 38! I really wanted to improve for myself! I shoot as much as time and funds allow and have put loads of cartridges through my gun. I think as well as lessons you have to get out and shoot at targets to build up a bank of images and how to hit them!
I have had lessons with different people and gathered tips from friends I have made on the way! Everyone always seems friendly whilst out shooting!
Just in the last month or two things have come together and scores have been rising and getting some great results!
I started end of August 2012 and on 27th August 2012 I did my first registered shoot which was Longridge followed by Wyle on 9th September 2012 followed by Four Counties on 16th September 2012 followed by Kegworth on 21st October 2012. You can see where I am going with this - straight in at the deep end. I shoot every Sunday 100 bird registered or open depending where we are and in good times do 200 on a Sunday. I did the Beretta World this year for fun and have a go at all the pool shoots just for fun and extra shooting. I quite often come last or near the bottom but I am okay with that although it will be nice one day to be further up the list. I had a go at UT this weekend at Orston really to give the husband a breather between shots as no-one else was shooting it but I hit more than I expected. I don't care about classes I am more interested in actually being able to know how to read the clay and I do struggle with some. I am also too ruled by my own inability to always give a stand the absolute concentration it requires and that let's me down in terms of score but at the same time I do better sometimes when I just don't think and just do. anyway I love it and I am sure I would do a lot better if I actually did my homework more by swinging the gun around the living room!
Gnasher
Well-known member
Started 2002 with 6 lessons at Bisley Gun Club. Have had the occasional lesson since by various different people. I've never found a coach that I wanted to work with on a regular basis.
Initially I would just do practice but found out competitions on Sundays offered the most variety and competition allowed me to measure my improvement. I worked part-time so would practice once in the week and shoot competitions at the weekends. Sometimes little clubs, sometimes registered. I've always preferred registered or 100 bird open shoots. In my first year I entered the English Open. I've rarely shot well in the big competitions but I love the atmosphere and targets at the big events.
The way to improve your scores is to shoot competition, regularly, at a variety of shoots. That way you will build up a memory store of different targets and get used to tackling the harder targets. Practicing every week at the same ground will mean you can hit their targets but struggle elsewhere.
I will probably always be a B class, occasionally A class, shooter but I'm happy there. Occasionally I win the ladies so I can feel good about that.
My main regret is not understanding about mental management early on in my shooting. If you're not thinking correctly you won't hit enough of the targets. I still can't get it right. To often there is a devil on my shoulder telling me "it's about time you missed one"
If you can control your thoughts, your shooting will improve. Confidence gets 70% of the targets broken, skill gets the rest.
Initially I would just do practice but found out competitions on Sundays offered the most variety and competition allowed me to measure my improvement. I worked part-time so would practice once in the week and shoot competitions at the weekends. Sometimes little clubs, sometimes registered. I've always preferred registered or 100 bird open shoots. In my first year I entered the English Open. I've rarely shot well in the big competitions but I love the atmosphere and targets at the big events.
The way to improve your scores is to shoot competition, regularly, at a variety of shoots. That way you will build up a memory store of different targets and get used to tackling the harder targets. Practicing every week at the same ground will mean you can hit their targets but struggle elsewhere.
I will probably always be a B class, occasionally A class, shooter but I'm happy there. Occasionally I win the ladies so I can feel good about that.
My main regret is not understanding about mental management early on in my shooting. If you're not thinking correctly you won't hit enough of the targets. I still can't get it right. To often there is a devil on my shoulder telling me "it's about time you missed one"
If you can control your thoughts, your shooting will improve. Confidence gets 70% of the targets broken, skill gets the rest.
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Jaykaysea
Well-known member
Started about 2 years ago, introduced by a friend when I had to give up competitive netball, and God I love it, wish I'd got into it sooner.
One thing I have done since I started is kept a little diary of every time I've shot and recorded the good the bad and the ugly so I can see how I have progressed. I have now beaten all the guys at my Club at least once and won Class C at Four Counties so I have some great memories. Set myself little targets and expectations and keeping them realistic so I can enjoy achieving them. Not sure how good I will be able to get with limited time and access to shooting, once a week usually, but am going to have fun trying to get better!
PS have loved reading everyone's stories too...thanks for sharing...x
One thing I have done since I started is kept a little diary of every time I've shot and recorded the good the bad and the ugly so I can see how I have progressed. I have now beaten all the guys at my Club at least once and won Class C at Four Counties so I have some great memories. Set myself little targets and expectations and keeping them realistic so I can enjoy achieving them. Not sure how good I will be able to get with limited time and access to shooting, once a week usually, but am going to have fun trying to get better!
PS have loved reading everyone's stories too...thanks for sharing...x
teepee1234
Well-known member
Got my first gun around 6 years ago and just shot practice, the odd straw baler and a bit of skeet - I wasn't aware of the reg ESP shoots until I joined this site 18 months ago. Shot the first Gunsite meet last year, and having looked at a few of the stands, shat myself, thinking, "Dear God, they want me to shoot THAT??!!" Never saw clays that went so far so fast! Shot a 48, but kept plugging away at various sporting reg's and loving every minute! Went up to B class last issue, and aim to keep going, but ain't gonna cry if I don't make AA!
I shoot most weekends and practice in the week if I get time off work. BUT... quality definitely over quantity! Coaching will always play a part in my shooting - it's no good just throwing lead into the air if you don't know how or why you're missing - or hitting, for that matter. I shot over 16,000 last year and only managed to scrape into B class at the lower end after all that! So, that Ed bloke will be seeing more of me in the coming months!
I've met a lot of great people along the way, mostly through this site, and same as Jem, this shooting malarkey has changed my life. I've made some good friends, for which that admin bloke will have my eternal gratitude.
(just off to blow my nose...)
:biggrin: :hunter:
I shoot most weekends and practice in the week if I get time off work. BUT... quality definitely over quantity! Coaching will always play a part in my shooting - it's no good just throwing lead into the air if you don't know how or why you're missing - or hitting, for that matter. I shot over 16,000 last year and only managed to scrape into B class at the lower end after all that! So, that Ed bloke will be seeing more of me in the coming months!
I've met a lot of great people along the way, mostly through this site, and same as Jem, this shooting malarkey has changed my life. I've made some good friends, for which that admin bloke will have my eternal gratitude.
(just off to blow my nose...)
:biggrin: :hunter:
Santa2512
Well-known member
Ive only started shooting clays in the last few months, but can agree wholeheartedly with the comments raised.
I shot a recurve bow competitivley (sp) for 6 years,
The first year or so was once a week at club level with the odd competition thrown in..... lets just say that at that level, it was more handicap & beginner that won me any medals
When i changed to a shift based job, i started practicing 5 days a week, as well as my weekend shoots....
within 12 months i had moved from 4th place in our clubs champs, to 1st, It really pays off, the downside is, unless you have bags of natural talent, you have to keep the level of training up.
Certainly for Archery, there were distinct phases that a beginner would go through,
A distinct climb in scores from first starting, to a plateu, usually around 8-12 months, which usually saw a lot of people leave. If you got through that ,
there would be another climb, and a corresponding plateu, this was the tougher one, as by that time you usually had a handicap & classification,
Its at this stage, things start to get tough, as you need more commitment & mental approach to move on.
Some people are happy to stay at this level, others want more, and push on and up so to speak .
Mart
I shot a recurve bow competitivley (sp) for 6 years,
The first year or so was once a week at club level with the odd competition thrown in..... lets just say that at that level, it was more handicap & beginner that won me any medals
When i changed to a shift based job, i started practicing 5 days a week, as well as my weekend shoots....
within 12 months i had moved from 4th place in our clubs champs, to 1st, It really pays off, the downside is, unless you have bags of natural talent, you have to keep the level of training up.
Certainly for Archery, there were distinct phases that a beginner would go through,
A distinct climb in scores from first starting, to a plateu, usually around 8-12 months, which usually saw a lot of people leave. If you got through that ,
there would be another climb, and a corresponding plateu, this was the tougher one, as by that time you usually had a handicap & classification,
Its at this stage, things start to get tough, as you need more commitment & mental approach to move on.
Some people are happy to stay at this level, others want more, and push on and up so to speak .
Mart
I have been shooting for about a year now and I have only really improved in the last 6 months. I shoot around 80-85 in sporting but do have up days and down days. I shoot once a week unless I'm not working. It's hard to find the time sometimes. I think clever is right in saying its different for everyone. But with a lesson or two and some good advise you will be there sooner than you think!Hi,
I wonder how long do you shoot guys ?
I picked up the gun about a year ago and would love to break more clays but only as a hobby still do sometimes competitions and become class B
. I wonder how long do you shoot ? And how long ( or how much ) it took you to be reasonable shooter?
RobertBeard
Moderator
Apart from shooting in the ATC at school I took up small-bore target shooting in 1990 and then clay shooting in July 2012.
Kasia To Be Fisher
Well-known member
" If you can control your thoughts, your shooting will improve. Confidence gets 70% of the targets broken, skill gets the rest."
70 % dusted clays sounds a lot !!!
am working on it Natsasha I am able to to hit the clays which are similair to the one I shot before, but struggle with the "new" ones ..
&
Yaykasea ..me 2
" have loved reading everyone's stories too...thanks for sharing...x"
..
70 % dusted clays sounds a lot !!!
am working on it Natsasha I am able to to hit the clays which are similair to the one I shot before, but struggle with the "new" ones ..
&
Yaykasea ..me 2
" have loved reading everyone's stories too...thanks for sharing...x"
..
kevin
Well-known member
I´ve only been shooting since May last year. Started after a friend invited some of us from work to have a go. Hardly missed going at least once a week since then.
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