Clay shooting Berks/Hants - reccomendations?
Clay shooting Berks/Hants - reccomendations?
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foggy

Original Poster:

1,215 posts

312 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
After trying clay shooting for the first time at the Bisley NSC open day last weekend shoot (a top day out in itself for shooting all sorts of stuff - highly recommend it!) I'm thinking it'd be good to go for an afternoon of clay shooting somewhere with a group of friends for my 30th in a couple of months, a Saturday afternoon in early July.

So, can anyone recommend a good company to book with or place to go around the Berkshire/north Hampshire/east Wiltshire/south Oxfordshire area? I expect there'll be around 20 of us, 30 tops, all complete novices bar 2 or 3 of the group who have shot before, albeit not clays. Say 50 clays each for the afternoon, costs seem to be in the region of £50-60 each.

I'd prefer somewhere out in the sticks a bit with good scenery rather than being tucked away in a big hole, a bonus if we can have a bit of a hoon there on the way.

Any tips on what to look out for gratefully received!

TIA

Yeah, I know, worst 'it's my 30th soon' thread ever blah blah... wink

Edited by foggy on Sunday 9th May 22:53

smack

9,776 posts

221 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
quotequote all
I would ask on the regional Thames Valley and Surrey forum, as I am sure a few guys there shoot, and can point you in the right direction.

Primo

1,939 posts

252 months

Monday 10th May 2010
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There was a post there about it a couple of months ago iirc.

alock

4,566 posts

241 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Went to a place just south of thruxton circuit several years ago on a stag do. We had a great time. The day was geared around us having fun and not too serious.

Jem0911

4,415 posts

231 months

Don1

16,846 posts

238 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Royal Shooting school outside Pangbourne is a good one...

davido140

9,617 posts

256 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
alock said:
Went to a place just south of thruxton circuit several years ago on a stag do. We had a great time. The day was geared around us having fun and not too serious.
That'll probably be Laines Shooting School, very good place. Might have been Popham but I'm not sure they're a school or do experience days.




spidermanUK

808 posts

259 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Don1 said:
Royal Berkshire Shooting school outside Pangbourne is a good one...
Not "good", rather "excellent"!

RBSS is one of the nicest shooting grounds in the country, set in beautiful surroundings in a wooded valley.

It has top quality instructors who WILL get you breaking targets. For the few of you that "think" you can shoot there's the Famous Grouse layout and the 115ft tower to contend with!But there's also much simpler targets for the novices.

Speak to Sue on 01491 672 900 and she'll organise everything for you.

I have no connection with the school apart from having shot there many times, the most recent about 2 weeks ago. I'd be there every week if it wasn't a 2 1/2 hour drive!

Be warned however, you WILL get hooked!

Edited by spidermanUK on Monday 10th May 12:11

tertius

6,914 posts

260 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
spidermanUK said:
Don1 said:
Royal Shooting school outside Pangbourne is a good one...
Not "good", rather "excellent"!

RBSS is one of the nicest shooting grounds in the country, set in beautiful surroundings in a wooded valley.

It has top quality instructors who WILL get you breaking targets. For the few of you that "think" you can shoot there's the Famous Grouse layout and the 115ft tower to contend with!But there's also much simpler targets for the novices.

Speak to Sue on 01491 672 900 and she'll organise everything for you.

I have no connection with the school apart from having shot there many times, the most recent about 2 weeks ago. I'd be there every week if it wasn't a 2 1/2 hour drive!

Be warned however, you WILL get hooked!
Agreed - a great place. Quite pricey though. Good place for a birthday event though.

alock

4,566 posts

241 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
davido140 said:
alock said:
Went to a place just south of thruxton circuit several years ago on a stag do. We had a great time. The day was geared around us having fun and not too serious.
That'll probably be Laines Shooting School, very good place. Might have been Popham but I'm not sure they're a school or do experience days.
That's the place.

Stig

11,823 posts

314 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Don't forget EJ Churchill at West Wycombe (not far from J4 of M40)

foggy

Original Poster:

1,215 posts

312 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Good work gentlemen thumbup I'll have a look at the various places this evening.

Pangbourne sounds good, scope for a nice river side drink afterwards too.

Jem0911

4,415 posts

231 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Stig said:
Don't forget EJ Churchill at West Wycombe (not far from J4 of M40)
Very Nice place to be.

Zelda Pinwheel

500 posts

228 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
http://www.roundwoodshooting.co.uk/index.html
This is very close to Popham, but NOT the one right off the A303. Very good, lovely scenery, is almost literally in my back garden.
No idea about prices, but it's always busy so would be worth a call.

Edited by Zelda Pinwheel on Monday 10th May 14:55

foggy

Original Poster:

1,215 posts

312 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Roundwood Shooting - not open at the weekends due to local bye-laws boo! (we'll be going on a Saturday)

Lains Shooting School - looks promising, exactly the kind of thing I'm after regarding tuition and team events/challenges to make it fun and interesting, will make further enquiries.

RBSS & EJ Churchill - looks like top places. I'll make enquiries, fear they may be out of our league cost wise, but hey you never know what packages they may be able to offer.


Any more?

5678

6,146 posts

257 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
spidermanUK said:
Don1 said:
Royal Berkshire Shooting school outside Pangbourne is a good one...
Not "good", rather "excellent"!

RBSS is one of the nicest shooting grounds in the country, set in beautiful surroundings in a wooded valley.

It has top quality instructors who WILL get you breaking targets. For the few of you that "think" you can shoot there's the Famous Grouse layout and the 115ft tower to contend with!But there's also much simpler targets for the novices.

Speak to Sue on 01491 672 900 and she'll organise everything for you.

I have no connection with the school apart from having shot there many times, the most recent about 2 weeks ago. I'd be there every week if it wasn't a 2 1/2 hour drive!

Be warned however, you WILL get hooked!

Edited by spidermanUK on Monday 10th May 12:11
+1 been there a few times now and loved every time. Great venue and the instructors are excellent.

Famous Graham

26,553 posts

255 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
foggy said:
Good work gentlemen thumbup I'll have a look at the various places this evening.

Pangbourne sounds good, scope for a nice river side drink afterwards too.
It's in Upper Basildon, so a few minutes drive away from Pangbourne itself. The only (Thames) riverside pub in Pangbourne now is the Swan, so Goring & Streatley might be a better bet for post shotgun shenanigans.