Winter breaks from shooting?

[ExSCA]

I have been discussing having a winter break from shooting with a few people, I'd be interested to know people do and think when it comes to the winter months. 

Usually - I shoot once or twice a week - generally registered ESP, FSP and CPK/STR when there is an opportunity. Occasionally I will shoot a non registered event - but rarely do I do specific practice - except when having a lesson. 

This year I am thinking of winding down my shooting in Nov/Dec/Jan - maybe shooting one or two registered shoots a month and then having one or two dedicated sessions of practice in a month - and one week completely OFF per month.   Then taking a complete break in February with a view to ramping up in March for the next season.  For practice I might do some sporting, and maybe even slot a couple of DTL sessions over the winter to work on focus and concentration (I have found this to be very useful in the past). 

Does anyone else structure winter like this? Or do people just take the entire period off? 

Some people have mentioned to me that they may shoot NO competitions during the winter period. I quite enjoy some of the winter series FSP that are run - but I confess that the weather is becoming less tolerable. 

Interested to compare and contrast - not what is right and wrong. 

Admin

 

[Rupert]

We just carry on weather and temps permitting

 

[Will Hewland]

My main issue is with rain. I just don't enjoy shooting in it. One problem with booking in ahead for shoots (as is common with FSP) is that you are committed to go (or lose the money anyway). So you will end up getting cold and wet/ blown away more often.

I don't tend to think "winter or summer" but will go when the weather is not against me. You can have a stunning day of weather in January for shooting, but ideally not bright sun as it's low then and often makes clays harder to see.

I would really miss shooting if I took a long period off and I don't shoot well if it's infrequently.

 

[Sian]

We just carry on regardless of the weather. I can remember Amber and Tony being the only entries in a skeet registered at Dartford in torrential rain. I can remember Tony shooting ESP at Hornet in a blizzard, the last one out as they cleared up behind him. I really don't think we could not shoot we'd go stir crazy. If it's really bad and there's not much on for ESP then we have been known to spend the day trap shooting usually at Dartford or whilst in Wales at Sw2000.

 

[Rosso]

We just carry on regardless of the weather. I can remember Amber and Tony being the only entries in a skeet registered at Dartford in torrential rain. I can remember Tony shooting ESP at Hornet in a blizzard, the last one out as they cleared up behind him. I really don't think we could not shoot we'd go stir crazy. If it's really bad and there's not much on for ESP then we have been known to spend the day trap shooting usually at Dartford or whilst in Wales at Sw2000.

We carry on as well.

Got soaking wet and frozen solid at Gunsite in the middle of last winter.

It was like survival of the fittest.

Must be mad as not getting any younger.

 

[Sian]

We carry on as well.

Got soaking wet and frozen solid at Gunsite in the middle of last winter.

It was like survival of the fittest.

Must be mad as not getting any younger.

Yes but it is a happy insanity

 

[Rosso]

Yes but it is a happy insanity

Even my Peacock hand warmer went out.

Water logged and frozen.

 

[Doctor Lecter]

sounds sensible to have a winter plan , but to be honest im only twenty minutes  from orston gun club  so shoot every week work permitting ,  and during the depths of winter a bacon butty tastes even better .

 

[Bryn12]

I've been known to have to break ice to go scuba diving, so take insanity to a different level, probably keep shooting as long there's a ground open and I can get to it

 

[Santa2512]

I aim to shoot twice a month as a rule. 

I'm not lucky enough to have a job where i can get time during the week to shoot.

Factor in the other half, and household stuff, i make  sure i shoot whenever i can 

:santa:  

 

[Jim Wheeler]

I have had an 'enforced' layoff of 16 months,, not fun, and no gun! makes you keen,, but I am really out of touch, yes it's like riding a bike, but the more you ride the fitter/better you are, same with most sports.

personally tho', I don't shoot in the rain,or cold, if I can avoid it. uk weather is a bit different tho"! so I may hibernate till the next summer!

if you can,, keep shooting!

 

[Rosso]

Winter clothing always causes me problems with gun fit.

Vest, thermal vest, tee shirt,mole skin shirt, v neck jumper, scarf, Musto coat.

Gloves, under pants, thermal pants, mole skin pants. Etc.

 

[Wonko the Sane]

Does anyone else structure winter like this? Or do people just take the entire period off? 

Interested to compare and contrast - not what is right and wrong. 

Admin

from the desk of The Sermonizer

I'm gonna go for the right and wrong part.

How finely do you structure your life?  To what real purpose?  To just arbitrarily to impose a structure with no overall plan and intent is likely worthless.  If there is an overall purpose then there should be some plan of however long a term as necessary to achieve that or you're only pretending to have a purpose.

Seems to me that people get all wound up about some short term scheme that has no real thought as to the desired result.  What are you doing and WHY??

The structure in my life has been reduced to getting up every morning.  Whenever I get a round toit.  Yours may be the same thing and you just don't realize it cuz you actually think  you're accomplishing something.  Are you?

 

[Rosso]

Do you wear thermal pants in winter Wonko.

If yes does it effect your gun fit.

 

[Bryn12]

Do you wear thermal pants in winter Wonko.

If yes does it effect your gun fit.

depends what weapon he's handling

 

[Santa2512]

After a major accident in 2012, i need to wear gloves when i shoot no matter what the weather,

Ironically im in more pain in the winter, but its slightly better than being effected by summer breezes .

:santa:

 

[Wonko the Sane]

Do you wear thermal pants in winter Wonko.

If yes does it effect your gun fit.

What is this "winter" you speak of?

 

[Wonko the Sane]

If you go into any detail about this winter crap you'll need to address  POI, POA, choke selection, shot size, and prolly barrel length.

 

[SIMON-B]

When a Brit says winter Wonko think chilly gray overcast wet more gray more wet, brief ***** of sunshine on a Wednesday to get your hopes up, more gray, SAD disorder followed by complete apathy and depression, to be closely followed by the notions of emigrating to warmer climates, then the realisation that your British and the upper lip stiffens and out you venture across muddy fields to complain about the weather with other shooters?. It's no wonder David Bowie and his generation liked a bit of colour. .