Southdown GC - FITASC - 6th April

[ExSCA]

Back from a lovely day in the sunshine at Southdown, shame about my shooting!

Started off on Valley parcours, some stiff targets well under your feet, including the longest rabbit I have ever seen (I think we christened it a mouse) - then onto Gorse for more of the same - including one peg which did for many of us with some simple looking targets that for some reason couldn't be hit!

Platform and Warren parcours in the afternoon - some nice crossers and loopers - but nothing I could find as I was shooting like David Blunkett today.

Bob_P, GavB and myself had a pretty good squad with some decent guns - we saw Chubby & Rebecka and a couple of other ShootClayers, as well as George Digweed (who carded 93), Tony Manvell (94) and few others who's names I can't quite recall. Oh, and Dennis Webb was there - and we said hello and reminsiced about the old days a bit.

My score - horrific - 54 this time, 10 less than my last effort at Southdown, but - it was my second FITASC so I'm still a n00b - just wish I hadn't gone backwards!

 

[Bob_P]

What a fab day, turned into a bit of a scorcher after the first two parcours after a chilly start.

As Matt describes, a few stands that looked simple but were actually very deceptive, hence quite a few misses. I was twice on for a 22 or 23 going in to the last pair of doubles, and then promptly threw them away. Thoroughly enjoyable though and one day I might hit one of the rockets.

Finished on a 70, my fourth FITASC, so relatively happy with that, no prize money this time though. :mellow:

 

[GavB]

great shoot , great conditions and great company. As last time I thought the targets were excellent even though a tad harder.

Loved the midi off the crane and thought the Mouse [rabbit] was great although I never hit it.

Managed to hit some tricky stuff and miss some very straight forward targets :angry:

I lost a couple on poor gun mount and three or four got the jump on me as I had forgotten the pick up point.

Homework - practice targets below feet - work on pairs [ i tended to rush a bit ] - improve memory - get back on track with rabbits, only hit a couple?

and dont miss sitting in the air, p*ss easy crow targets arrrghhh!!!

Fitasc gotta love it

 

[Bob_P]

So how do you hit the rockets then? They sort of sit there saying shoot me, then when you've missed I'm sure they're laughing on the way down....must be missing something (in both senses)

 

[GavB]

So how do you hit the rockets then? They sort of sit there saying shoot me, then when you've missed I'm sure they're laughing on the way down....must be missing something (in both senses)

yep, very weird even the top scorer in our squad missed the first one we came across, maybe like you said yesterday they are still rising a bit???

 

[Fuzrat]

Fron Chris Bathas book. Standard, 4 1/2 inches diameter 1 1/8 thick. Rocket 4 1/2 inch dia 5/8 inch thick, Deceptive in flight, it appears to float, but retains far more velocity than a standard clay. Battue 4 1/2 inch dia 3/8 inch thick.

So taking those measurements I would say a rockets need between the leed of a standard and a battue

 

[GlenPresley]

Usually they do need a tad more even though they appear to be doing less! When I first started shooting used to see them all the time and a nice 6 use to do the job. They are a very tough clay to break at medium distances! Definitely a 3/4 choke job with a big pellet if you strike it you want it to break!

Glen.

 

[Bob_P]

These were probably 30 yards or so, and I believe they were rabbit clays thrown into the air. Have to go back to Southdown for a bit of practise. Think Glen's probably right, they're going faster than you think and need a bit more above as they're slowing down. Don't see them on sporting layouts so far, only on FITASC, so one to work on for the future.

 

[GlenPresley]

All I know Bob is that in the old days all the big boys would pull out a 36gram 6 for those rockets!!!!

They are defintiely tougher to break.

See if you can get out to practise a few with some 28gram 6's in hand. I am sure you will find the lead and get hitting them!! If they have bit of distance to them I would go with 6's all day long! I usually always have 10 or 15 kicking about in my bag for Fitasc just incase.

Glen.

 

[ExSCA]

Results posted for the FITASC : http://southdowngunclub.co.uk/events-results/results/april-results/

 

[southdown]

Hi Matt

Glad you enjoyed the shoot sorry I didnt have achat with you but was flat out all day, how can I contact you to have a chat.

Shaun P

 

[southdown]

Hi Bob

You were most probably in front of our rockets ,I call them rockets but as you said they are rabbit clays ,I cant get any origanal rockets anymore in this country.They look like a standards but are flying more slowly,put on to catch you out.

I do occasionally put them on a sporting layout.

Shaun P

 

[Bob_P]

. - thanks for the tip Shaun, I was going to give them more, thinking they were deceptively slow...I'll have to come for a practise when you've got them on