Stratstone Super Seven at Royal Berkshire Shooting School

[ExSCA]

Just back from RBSS after a fantastic morning - and an opportunity to try the Stratstone Super Seven challenge.Mrs Admin accompanied to take some pictures, as well as Nicola and writers from some other publications & websites. 

Arrived at 9.30am for bacon rolls, and a quick introduction to the event from Dylan Williams at Royal Berkshire. We then went out onto the ground for a quick warm up flush from the 'low' tower - some nice driven birds in a sequence, all loaded by the instructors there.  A couple of goes on that - and we were sufficiently warmed up for the main event. 

The Stratstone tower is enormous - about 80 to 100 foot higher than the shooting position which has been cleared out and reshaped for the event - which will run for three months from tomorrow.  Through the trees from the stand, you can see that the tower is much wider than usual, allowing the trappers to have a number of manual traps ready for action.

The rules of the tower challenge are pretty simple - from the moment you close the gun and call pull, the sequence starts and doesn't pause until it has finishes. No birds are just relaunched as soon as the trap can be reset.  Loads up to 30g can be used, but when we tested there was nothing that couldn't be hit with a 7.5 - I shot using Black Gold 7.5's - as well as some Eley VIP's from RBSS. 

So - the targets, the TARGETS! They are incredible - from the first straight overhead, through to the end of the sequence the birds are enormous - and very deceptive in places... there are curling, edge on birds, pairs that look close together, birds that RISE from the tower, and some that are driven at a downward angle at speed.   they are breathtakingly fast at times - bit none felt unhittable, 

I am no driven specialist, but first time out I hit 9x25 - second attempt I hit 12 - very satisfying to hit birds that need a big gap  The sequence is relentless and it feels very like being on a pheasant drive, your gun needs to be down to see the birds, but your barrels need to be high to get the line on these targets. The instructor loading for me kept telling me to get my barrels UP and watch the line for the wide and curling birds which can really catch you out. It is a wide shooting area, and you can move around the position to get the best angle, if a few feet either away will help you. 

I will definitely be back to have another go at this.  Maybe more than once! It definitely feels like you can get better and better at this with a bit more practice. Highest score in our press group was 14.

For the main event starting tomorrow - entry is £50 for 100 birds.  entrants will get a 50 bird sporting warm-up on some of the great stands at RBSS. We were told there was a variety of targets - including some ground game  Then each entrant will get two attempts at the tower sequence - with a break in between if you need.  If you are already booked in, I think you are in for a treat, I predict some of the top shots will REALLY fill their boots with this and the final event will be something really special.

The top 20 scores for the event will be entered into a grand final where scores of over 23 will stand a chance of winning one of the seven amazing cars.  To add to the fun (and maybe the nerves) three of the cars were parked ready for us to view - a lovely Range Rover, a Morgan Aero and an Aston Martin V8 Vantage. 

Dylan Williams explained that he had been working on getting this competition organised for over two years, and with the support of Stratstone, David Duggan Watches and Rolex they had managed to pull together an amazing prize pool.  Every entrant will get a £50 voucher for Really Wild Clothing, and a £250 voucher for a new car from Stratstone.  RBSS have had calls from across the world including the US and New Zealand and bookings are flowing in for this. 

My prediction is that once scores start going up and word starts to travel this will be a VERY popular event. 

Some pictures below...

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[Jeremy Baker]

Looking forward to the ALOT!!!



Sent from my mobile that's my excuse for typos and errors.

 

[FloaterSi]

I have got a sore back and neck just looking at those photos.

 

[ExSCA]

Jeremy - you will really enjoy this - proper fun factor.  I'll get booked in for another go soon...

 

[Nicky T]

Now THAT looks like a stunning day out! Great write up and pictures Matt :biggrin:

 

[ExSCA]

Two amazing days in a row... shame I've had a cold throughout - but both days super fun.

 

[Shaun Hopkins]

Great pics Matt looks and sounds like you had a great day must say you have sold it to me always enjoy shooting the RBSS challenge but this looks fab so will book asap before the weather gets to bad. :good:

 

[Steve Lovatt]

well folks shot this today , the format is shoot 50 sporting over 5 stands all very interesting combinations at quite tricky at times but you should hit 48 to 50 ,my best go this afternoon i shot 47. then onto the tower challenge , did not know really what to expect but was pleasantly surprised that we had no edge on clays a mixture of midi and standard all of which show alot of underside and all are very hittable BUT doing it in a sequence is another matter , my best score was 15 ex 25 

high score wise i think a 83 to 85 will be a fantastic score and i will be back for more 

the RBSS ground looks superb and really good to see all the guys again this year and not have to wait to shoot the classic handicap in feb 

all in all the carrot has been dangled we have just got to get it together and put in some scores 

steve

 

[Steve Lovatt]

Sorry didn't realise there was another thread

 

[ExSCA]

Just going to merge this with the other one...

 

[ExSCA]

And we're back!

Glad you enjoyed it Steve - I really had a good time trying this yesterday - 9 then 12 were my two scores, but I think there MIGHT be a 15 in there if I'm feeling really fit and don't mind dancing around a bit!  I didn't shoot the sporting course, they gave us another driven stand to warm up on...

 

[ExSCA]

And the leaderboard is up : http://rbss.co.uk/shooting-school/stratstone-super-7/

I'll have to go back - because my press day score obviously doesn't count!

 

[Banger]

Hi Steve, I know its difficult to compare as the targets are very different but was the difficulty degree a lot more than the handicap flush? looks like it.

Also were they mainly report pairs?

looking forward to a go!

 

[Steve Lovatt]

I would say the flush off the tower is a lot harder than the grouse due mainly to the flight lines and reading them

There are two simo pairs , a pair left to right and a straight driven pair , ho sorry there are three then a pair one long left to right and one straight driven

Think that's it I had a bad day and left my concentration at home

 

[Will Hewland]

Might have to give this a go. Probably wont waste a great deal of time going through the trim options for the cars beforehand..

 

[Jeremy Baker]

I would say the flush off the tower is a lot harder than the grouse due mainly to the flight lines and reading them
There are two simo pairs , a pair left to right and a straight driven pair , ho sorry there are three then a pair one long left to right and one straight driven
Think that's it I had a bad day and left my concentration at home

There was the two curly ones over head
The full use away to the left.


Sent from my mobile that's my excuse for typos and errors.

 

[Steve Lovatt]

Bloody hell nic , you got too much time on your hands !!!!!!!

Can't quite see a pheasant flying as quick as those two curlers from left to right

But yes you are correct it will appeal to game shooters as they are used to shooting 5:1 ratios

But as I said still a good comp , can't see much more than 85 being hit though

 

[maddmatt]

apparently two of the clays are upside down and there is also a rocket....

 

[lead belly]

Never seen a good game shooter yet that would beat a half decent clay shooter. On clay's that is. I would bet any amount that a recognized clay shot wins this comp.!! Well maybe not any amount.