Sporting Shoots; where- and how was it? (2018)

[Will Hewland]

A great course at College Farm today. Fairly firm, very few easy stands. My only comment is that there were a few stands that were tough with two hard targets but overall mix was good. My biggest issue was with the heavy rain that just wouldn’t quit. Until 10 seconds after I finished of course..

I had a very good first 7 stands, then found one I really didn’t gel with, a long crosser that I thought I must be offline with but just needed huge lead. Hit the last one. A few more away on the subsequent tougher stands and rounded off with 2 losses on the last stand which wasn’t a real toughie, more me just trying too hard to get a good score. Finished on 91. 

 

[Bebo]

IMO, Hold point is a massive deal.

Hold too far back and you can get a wild slash. But hold too far out and you need the clay to fly to your gun, so if it comes out a bit differently, you’re already in trouble. Also, if you need to apply lead, then holding near kill point gives you a tiny time window to apply it. It’s possible, some do it well, but it’s an added task that I would avoid.

Was struggling a bit to be consistent a few months back, went to see Ed S and he almost immediately picked up that I was getting lazy and holding too far out on targets.  Meant I was having to rush the shot to kill the bird where I wanted.  A day of working on that and over the following few months Reg scores have typically been half a dozen higher than in the couple of months before that.  So yes, hold points are very important.

Had a blip last weekend, but that wasn't hold related it was another common problem.  Trying too hard and holding onto targets too long / slowing the gun as a result.  Happens to me when I've had a poor stand and the confidence gets knocked.

 

[El Spavo]

Anyone else at Bisley today for the Surrey Police 100? Over the moon about hitting 82, highest ever tally and first time shooting above 80 at all, but was aware that apart from a few stands it didn't appear to be the most taxing shoot in the world. Was great fun though, and that's the main thing. I left about 1:45 I they said high gun was 96 but only about 6 people had shot over 90.

 

[Markh701]

Shame no one posted it was on!!

 

[MartynB]

Brilliant result for you ! Was it open to anyone ? Or was it just “ Blue Light “ services ? 

 

[El Spavo]

Brilliant result for you ! Was it open to anyone ? Or was it just “ Blue Light “ services ? 

Thank you. Nope, open to anyone, not sure how well BIsley advertised it though: I went with my mate who isn't forces or blue light related and he knew about it probably just cos we're both local, but I saw plenty of 'normals' . Obviously, I heard about it through being emergency services but they had medals (literally, dunno how common that is?!) for high gun police and high gun guest, both team and solo, as well as high gun side-by-side and a few others.

 

[antse7en]

Many planning Owls tomorrow? 

 

[Doug Pinnegar]

I’ve got commitments all day otherwise I’d be there for sure. 

 

[TheSherriff70]

All of the Police PSUK and inter services shoots are open to everyone. I don’t think that they are as difficult as a registered shoot. They normally get a good turn out, especially the shoot at WMSG (Hodnet) as you don’t get chance to shoot there often.

Some do have prizes, but that is normally only for team members not guests.

 

[El Spavo]

All of the Police PSUK and inter services shoots are open to everyone. I don’t think that they are as difficult as a registered shoot. They normally get a good turn out, especially the shoot at WMSG (Hodnet) as you don’t get chance to shoot there often.

Some do have prizes, but that is normally only for team members not guests.

Yeah, bit of an odd one... bloke in our team shot earlier in the day and hit 64 when he's usually an 80+ guaranteed, and chatting in William Evans they said some blokes had said they found it a tricky setup, so it's horses for courses I guess. Personally, I found it much easier than the Owls shoot earlier in the year where they'd asked Richard to set it up like a registered, but there were a few stands which, whilst waiting, you could see were catching people out consistently. Looked like a good turnout though, very busy in places, almost like a swell where loads turned up at the same time so if you moved on a bit you could miss it and go back and it would be quiet again.

They love a prize at Bisley, but the definitely give them to guest shooters there as well. 

 

[Will Hewland]

Owls Lodge today, the Bruce Faulds memorial shoot. Nice weather, but a bit breezy so had to stay awake on clay variance in places.

I thought it was a very good course. No dead easy stands at all, more a decent test all round, with two or three stands to really push you. Trickiest stand for many people; the two teals; proper ones where the traps are a good way in front of you and the clays go away at around 30-40 degrees. The first was tricky enough but the second was fast and shot at a good 60+ yards I would say. These were my weak point previously, but with my stock sorted it’s less of a mystery now. Happy with 7/8 on there (and the one I missed I clearly went above, no mystery..).

95 was leading when I left at 2.30 so happy with 92, although I missed two soppy clays at the far end, behind! Being too careful.. Anyway, some form has generally returned to coincide with the stock alteration. 

 

[antse7en]

Owls today, not sure what to say. I’ve got myself into a right muddle lately after adding bits to the gun, sight pictures changing, losing the plot on gun down/up and generally being all over the place. 

Lowest reg score in months and months, right on my one year of shooting. 

Spoke to RF afterwards who I haven’t been able to see in a couple months due to schedules and we’re going to get some instruction booked in and hit the reset button. Gah.

Edit - also realised I don’t like shooting reg alone, having got comfortable shooting with others - today I wandered from stand to stand a tad aimlessly at times. 

 

[Richard59]

Owls also, rocked up to start at 1pm, most unusual for me as like to be at it crack of sparrows so to speak, on my tod and bounced around the stands a bit to avoid the odd big group, there was a l-r rabbit that I never found and later an incoming simo l-r that I just held on too far too long and thought, well not thought I know that rather daft of me that I simply froze & I dropped too many on  otherwise had a most pleasant day.

Oh must add saw the ever smiling Sian & Tony well Tony has a new P and is beaming, hope he enjoys his new P as much as I do mine. 

 

[Will Hewland]

Owls today, not sure what to say. I’ve got myself into a right muddle lately after adding bits to the gun, sight pictures changing, losing the plot on gun down/up and generally being all over the place. 

Lowest reg score in months and months, right on my one year of shooting. 

Spoke to RF afterwards who I haven’t been able to see in a couple months due to schedules and we’re going to get some instruction booked in and hit the reset button. Gah.

Always go back to basics! Basics hit the first 75% of clays and help the rest too..

Owls also, rocked up to start at 1pm, most unusual for me as like to be at it crack of sparrows so to speak, on my tod and bounced around the stands a bit to avoid the odd big group, there was a l-r rabbit that I never found and later an incoming simo l-r that I just held on too far too long and thought, well not thought I know that rather daft of me that I simply froze & I dropped too many on  otherwise had a most pleasant day.

The l-r rabbit was pretty straight forward as long as you shot it fairly late and let it slow and stop bouncing. I saw a foot of lead (max) on it. 

 

[Richard59]

Always go back to basics! Basics hit the first 75% of clays and help the rest too..

The l-r rabbit was pretty straight forward as long as you shot it fairly late and let it slow and stop bouncing. I saw a foot of lead on it. 

And thats the opposite of where I started & then I carried on getting quicker & earlier that I am, oh 92 you

 

[Sian]

Owls for me nothing silly but still not happy with my gun.  Enjoyed the shoot except the green ones.  Didn’t hit any of the going away green paired with the rabbit, simply lost it.  The next stand sim pair green and orange, I managed to hit most green but pure luck as by the time I pulled the trigger I couldn’t really see it anymore, got lucky with timing I think.   I am dropping stupid ones mainly   The only stand I expect always to struggle was the teal but I got a few.  Not shooting tomorrow my third time in 7 years I’ve missed Sunday shoots but I really don’t feel like it.

 

[Will Hewland]

Owls for me nothing silly but still not happy with my gun.  Enjoyed the shoot except the green ones.  Didn’t hit any of the going away green paired with the rabbit, simply lost it.  The next stand sim pair green and orange, I managed to hit most green but pure luck as by the time I pulled the trigger I couldn’t really see it anymore, got lucky with timing I think.   I am dropping stupid ones mainly   The only stand I expect always to struggle was the teal but I got a few.  Not shooting tomorrow my third time in 7 years I’ve missed Sunday shoots but I really don’t feel like it.

Go out, have a great Sunday lunch. That green was the easiest target all day. Shooting should be quality not quantity Sian.

 

[Sian]

Go out, have a great Sunday lunch. That green was the easiest target all day. Shooting should be quality not quantity Sian.

If you could actually see it!  I’m staying home in my pyjamas all day.  I’m not actually shooting that much, I was off Friday but chose not to shoot..  

 

[Will Hewland]

If you could actually see it!  I’m staying home in my pyjamas all day.  I’m not actually shooting that much, I was off Friday but chose not to shoot..  

Who are you? And what have you done with Sian?

 

[Hamster]

Enjoyable shoot at my local ground, nice medium hard round which I had to shoot with a mates DT10 yielding 86 which felt a good half dozen light compared to my own gun. Not surprising as the stock was about 1/4" too short, sight picture was quite different and the heavier barrels cost me as they need pushing and "seeing" more lead but my mate who is himself a handy A class managed a good few less and oddly enough didn't think my consoling him by saying "at least we know it's not the gun"   was very...........consoling or funny.   

ps. own gun having a new U bolt fitted.