The PH Gun Cabinet - Shooting Matters

[dci]

smithyithy said:

How's everyone's shooting going??

I feel like I'm improving at my weekly practices, at my local ground at least where I know the targets so I can work on things to improve each time..

There's a few really nice going-away crossing targets, a few are quite fast so you have to get on them quick, and I hit 4 or 5 in row today, as well as a few rabbits (finally!) and 8 high pheasant targets in a row using swing-through - could shoot those with maintained lead I supposed as they're in the air for a while, but I seem to do better by letting them get ahead, following their path then accelerating in front of them.

A couple of targets I really struggle with though, there's a high over-head from behind that I just can't catch, I've tried getting on it really early but it moves over you so fast it's hard to catch, and then it's quite far ahead and moving away at speed.

They've moved one of the targets and changed it to a looper which is quite low and quick - I hit a couple, then missed a bunch in a row, so I've got some practicing to do on those..

Annoyingly my glasses broke mid-shoot, they were only some cheapish Jack Pyke ones, but because you have to flex the frame to change the lenses, this resulted in the frame cracking and eventually breaking in two, so I was shooting with wonky glasses where the lense was holding the frame together

I've ordered a set of Evolution frames with 4 different lenses, seems like a good set for ~£90 delivered.. There seems to be a huge gulf between cheap affordable glasses, and really high-end stuff like Pilla (which cost more than I paid for my gun, so are definitely not in my sights at this stage)

Evolution are good glasses and will see you to a point where you may feel that a set of Pillas will benefit you. I use Evolution and see them quite frequently at registered events.

Shooting is going ok so far. I seem to struggle with the transition between game and clays. Clays slow down but birds generally speed up and its surprisingly hard to move from one to the other. (To me at least)

In my local Sunday 50 bird sporting I am generally high gun more weeks than not and there is some quality competition yet when it comes to registered 100 bird shoots I struggle to reach 70/100. I don't want to see out another summer being stuck firmly in C class .

It's a mindset thing, I seem to lose control and lose concentration when the pressure in on and the score counts. On a standard pair of on report crow targets or long slow driven birds where a straight is expected I will almost certainly miss the last pair.

If there's a PH shoot this year in the south west or along the M4/M5 then I'll almost certainly be up for showing the collective how to miss a target..

Edited by dci on Tuesday 21st March 15:44

[MB140]

MB140 said:

My wife is organising one for the Simply Mustang group Probably late April-early may Kind of a have a go day. With dedicated car parking space. Food etc.

If there are spaces when dates are confirmed I will post up here. All will be welcome. If you have a license and just want to bring you pride and joy car and have a round now worries. If your not a l shotgun certificate holder than you will still be able to shoot.

My wife now has firm dates for a Simply Mustang Uk shoot at Orston. East Nottinghamshire Date confirmed as 29 July. This is going to involve dedicated parking where all the cars can park and have a mingle.They have multiple large car parks. Food etc.

There will be have a go experience opportunities for non shooters with instructors or for those with shotgun certificates and our own guns then it’s just pay for your clays (member rates for all shooting with the car meet).

Currently it’s only open to SMUK members but if take up is low or people drop out then would this be something pistonheads members would be interested in doing.

Of course there would be a cost TBC if you’re doing the have a go experience for the use of gun, clays, ammo, instructor. For those with their own stuff just cost of clays.

I will update the thread closer to the time with accurate coatings, what you would get and number of spaces available..

[jackofall84]

dci said:

Evolution are good glasses and will see you to a point where you may feel that a set of Pillas will benefit you. I use Evolution and see them quite frequently at registered events.

Shooting is going ok so far. I seem to struggle with the transition between game and clays. Clays slow down but birds generally speed up and its surprisingly hard to move from one to the other. (To me at least)

In my local Sunday 50 bird sporting I am generally high gun more weeks than not and there is some quality competition yet when it comes to registered 100 bird shoots I struggle to reach 70/100. I don't want to see out another summer being stuck firmly in C class .

It's a mindset thing, I seem to lose control and lose concentration when the pressure in on and the score counts. On a standard pair of on report crow targets or long slow driven birds where a straight is expected I will almost certainly miss the last pair.

If there's a PH shoot this year in the south west or along the M4/M5 then I'll almost certainly be up for showing the collective how to miss a target..

Edited by dci on Tuesday 21st March 15:44

dci - Are you shooting around Bristol at the moment?

[smithyithy]

Has anyone shot at Garlands in Staffordshire? They're the closest ground to me that does 100 bird ESP registered shoots regularly, so I'm considering dropping by, I need to start getting some registered to at least get a provisional classification.

I'm shooting at around 65% at my local club, but on more distant or unfamiliar targets I think I'd be lucky to score half that

dci said:

Evolution are good glasses and will see you to a point where you may feel that a set of Pillas will benefit you. I use Evolution and see them quite frequently at registered events.

My pair of 'Edge' frames with 4 lenses arrived today and they seem really nice, looking forward to trying them out and see what difference the lense colours make. The purple / pink ones give really nice vision when I was walking around the garden to test them

[smithyithy]

Well I just managed to get a slot reserved on one of Ben Huthswaite's masterclass days at Kibworth, been watching his channel and videos a lot and really like his teaching style.. He posted on Facebook that he'd be putting some summer dates up, couple in June so got booked in

[MB140]

smithyithy said:

Well I just managed to get a slot reserved on one of Ben Huthswaite's masterclass days at Kibworth, been watching his channel and videos a lot and really like his teaching style.. He posted on Facebook that he'd be putting some summer dates up, couple in June so got booked in

Well done.

I managed to secure an afternoon (3 hrs) with Ed Solomons at Grimsthorpe in April for me my wife and farther in law. My wife regularly has lesson with Cheryl Hall.

I’m actually quite nervous of having a lesson with Ed. I imagine I’m not of the standard of the usual people he teaches.

Lately I’ve been stuck at about 60% on average and don’t seem to be able to progress any better.

It’s the long crossers that always get me working out the lead and then staying consistent when I do eventually find them. I’m pretty good at anything fast incoming, 3/4ing, overhead etc, but the long big crossers I’m always stood on the peg thinking.

‘Nope this is a guess’

Very frustrating.

[smithyithy]

Nice one mate, Ed comes across really well in the videos he's done with Jonny on TGS, I'm sure he's great with any level of student honestly.

I had a nice shoot at Garlands this morning, I think I only probably hit about 1 in 5, but it was all new to me so I was just learning the targets and spending some time trying to actually make adjustments after each miss rather than just repeating a shot until I got a lucky hit.. I was quite surprised how I was able to hit some after just taking a step back and evaluating it. Overall a good shoot, I think I went through 6 boxes of cartridges

Clay snooker at my local ground again tomorrow, good bit of fun..

[jan8p]

MB140 said:

Well done.

I managed to secure an afternoon (3 hrs) with Ed Solomons at Grimsthorpe in April for me my wife and farther in law. My wife regularly has lesson with Cheryl Hall.

I’m actually quite nervous of having a lesson with Ed. I imagine I’m not of the standard of the usual people he teaches.

Lately I’ve been stuck at about 60% on average and don’t seem to be able to progress any better.

It’s the long crossers that always get me working out the lead and then staying consistent when I do eventually find them. I’m pretty good at anything fast incoming, 3/4ing, overhead etc, but the long big crossers I’m always stood on the peg thinking.

‘Nope this is a guess’

Very frustrating.

If I arranged a lesson with Ed, my wife would leave me!

[Old Fart]

MB140 said:

Well done.

I managed to secure an afternoon (3 hrs) with Ed Solomons at Grimsthorpe in April for me my wife and farther in law. My wife regularly has lesson with Cheryl Hall.

I’m actually quite nervous of having a lesson with Ed. I imagine I’m not of the standard of the usual people he teaches.

Lately I’ve been stuck at about 60% on average and don’t seem to be able to progress any better.

It’s the long crossers that always get me working out the lead and then staying consistent when I do eventually find them. I’m pretty good at anything fast incoming, 3/4ing, overhead etc, but the long big crossers I’m always stood on the peg thinking.

‘Nope this is a guess’

Very frustrating.

Once you learn the "sight picture" needed for long crosser's you'll be fine I should imagine.

If Ed Solomons cannot teach you how to shoot them, I don't know who can.

[tobinen]

I've had the pleasure of being squadded with Ed in FITASC and sporting and he's a top bloke, as well as an awesome shot. There's no need to be nervous. I've no doubt you'll come away a lot happier.

[smithyithy]

Spent Sunday at Doveridge in Derbyshire - superb ground, it's bloody huge when you account for the half a dozen skeet and trap layouts too. We stuck to the sporting layout including the tower section which is just brilliant - if you haven't been before it's basically a separate area within the trees with 8 traps - I think there's 4 up on the tower and 4 just below it, all driven game-style targets of different heights and speed.. We shot a few boxes on that section alone, great fun.

The rest of the sporting layout was really good too, nice mix of targets, some challenging but not ridiculously difficult. Had a walk around the ground as the weather turned really nice, it was very busy there (must've been 40+ cars) but never really felt crowded. Bacon sarnies were good too. Definitely a place to make semi regular visits to, it's about an hour drive for us so not too bad, set off at 8am, get there for when it opens.

Here's a wee video my dad took of me at the tower section. I couldn't really hit a couple of the very high birds, although I did get lucky and clip the edge of one. When I had my second go on there, a small group walked up to jump on after us, I was conscious that I was being watched so ended up super focussing and somehow hitting like 10 in a row

[Thin White Duke]

smithyithy said:

How's everyone's shooting going??

The only thing I'm consistent at is being inconsistent.

The ground I've been going to (run on a farm) doesn't really change their targets that much. And when they do it's a variation of the targets from the previous week.

One week I'll hit 40 or over (a good week), then it'll be 35 then I hit a bad patch I'm into the high 20's. (This is all out of 50).

I'll use the same gun and same ammo for a long period of time, but still can't find that consistency.

[Chuffedmonkey]

I was at Doveridge on Sunday too, its a big ground and its local to me. I was on the Skeet layout for a couple of hours mid morning.

Sundays can be busy as its one of the only grounds within a certain distance open on a Sunday for sporting other than local reg shoots.

That high tower is a challenge and I miss more than I hit but its great fun when you keep the clays flying over. I don't know if you spotted it but down past the Skeet layouts there are more sporting stands and another high tower but not as high.

With the skeet/DTL layout, 2 x towers, campac, there must be around 25 sporting stands too, it is so easy to lose a day there and get carried away with clays.

[NDA]

Thin White Duke said:

I'll use the same gun and same ammo for a long period of time, but still can't find that consistency.

It's the same for many of us! I found that a consistent shouldering of the gun helped me enormously - a bit like the set up routine in golf I suppose.

[smithyithy]

Chuffedmonkey said:

I was at Doveridge on Sunday too, its a big ground and its local to me. I was on the Skeet layout for a couple of hours mid morning.

Sundays can be busy as its one of the only grounds within a certain distance open on a Sunday for sporting other than local reg shoots.

That high tower is a challenge and I miss more than I hit but its great fun when you keep the clays flying over. I don't know if you spotted it but down past the Skeet layouts there are more sporting stands and another high tower but not as high.

With the skeet/DTL layout, 2 x towers, campac, there must be around 25 sporting stands too, it is so easy to lose a day there and get carried away with clays.

It's great, definitely worth a trip - some nice cars there too, one chap rocked up in a newish R8, not sure I'd risk that down the lanes heading into the ground but it's better than some I've seen.

We didn't venture all the way down to the bottom but I did see the other tower, I'll have a look down there next time and at the 5-stand.

My only gripe if there was one, was that you have to pre-load the Claymate card rather than paying for the total used when you hand it back, it just meant we had to return to the desk half way to add another 100 clays and when it's busy that can mean queuing for a while.

Other than that though, great shoot. We might head over to Orston or Kibworth next, both around 1hr 15 min depending of traffic.

[Chuffedmonkey]

smithyithy said:

It's great, definitely worth a trip - some nice cars there too, one chap rocked up in a newish R8, not sure I'd risk that down the lanes heading into the ground but it's better than some I've seen.

We didn't venture all the way down to the bottom but I did see the other tower, I'll have a look down there next time and at the 5-stand.

My only gripe if there was one, was that you have to pre-load the Claymate card rather than paying for the total used when you hand it back, it just meant we had to return to the desk half way to add another 100 clays and when it's busy that can mean queuing for a while.

Other than that though, great shoot. We might head over to Orston or Kibworth next, both around 1hr 15 min depending of traffic.

That R8 was parked near a white Lotus which I witnessed driving up the steep rough non tarmac hill next to the shop, I cringed but he made it and it looked good.

The pre loading of the playmate has its pro's and cons, I cant I get carried away and shoot far more than I wanted too.

I have not shot at Orston or Kibworth but they are within around an hour or so distance and are on my places to try, I have only been shooting around 8 months but I am hooked and want to try as many different places as I can.

[smithyithy]

Chuffedmonkey said:

That R8 was parked near a white Lotus which I witnessed driving up the steep rough non tarmac hill next to the shop, I cringed but he made it and it looked good.

The pre loading of the playmate has its pro's and cons, I cant I get carried away and shoot far more than I wanted too.

I have not shot at Orston or Kibworth but they are within around an hour or so distance and are on my places to try, I have only been shooting around 8 months but I am hooked and want to try as many different places as I can.

Brave man, that hill was definitely better suited to the Land Rovers

I'm similar though, only started shooting in the new year but absolutely love it, great hobby to get you outdoors and as my dad's now retired it gives us something to do together.

I made a spreadsheet of most of the British grounds I could find so i could keep track of where we'd visited, and also which grounds allow non-license holders to shoot as that's the limitation for my dad, he only shoots with me so isn't going to bother with a license.

[Don1]

Went tactical shotgun shooting at the weekend. That's a huge amount of fun.... Another club membership and a variation to go in!

[tertius]

Don1 said:

Went tactical shotgun shooting at the weekend. That's a huge amount of fun.... Another club membership and a variation to go in!

“tactical” or “practical”?

[MB140]

smithyithy said:

It's great, definitely worth a trip - some nice cars there too, one chap rocked up in a newish R8, not sure I'd risk that down the lanes heading into the ground but it's better than some I've seen.

We didn't venture all the way down to the bottom but I did see the other tower, I'll have a look down there next time and at the 5-stand.

My only gripe if there was one, was that you have to pre-load the Claymate card rather than paying for the total used when you hand it back, it just meant we had to return to the desk half way to add another 100 clays and when it's busy that can mean queuing for a while.

Other than that though, great shoot. We might head over to Orston or Kibworth next, both around 1hr 15 min depending of traffic.

I shoot at orston. If you ever fancy a meet up then I’m always up to meet a fellow Ph. As I’m a member there you would shoot at member rates. I’m off there on Easter Monday. There’s a 100 sporting completion on.