New to the forum

Hello, 

I have just joined the forum, after being persuaded by a pal to try clay shooting again (last tried a *long* time ago in the CCF).

I really enjoyed a couple of hours tuition at the Nation Clay Centre at Bisley, found I wan't impossibly bad at it (even though, despite being left-handed in most things, the instructor showed me I am definitely a right-handed shooter, which is really odd), so have decided to try taking it up properly.

I have just put in the application for a grant of a certificate, so I hope that all goes smoothly - I found the licensing section at Surrey Police to have been incredibly helpful so far. 

If the admin. part of the process is concluded quickly - fitting gun cabinet & getting grant of certificate - I am looking forward to the more interesting parts: choosing a gun and getting out shooting...

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan,

Just gone thru the process myself!!

Good luck, plenty of help on offer here!!

James

Welcome to the forum  :hi:  

Hi,

welcome to the forum.

Hi


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Hi Jonathan, Welcome to ShootClay :hi:  Enjoy your visits   :thumbsu:

Hi and welcome...good bunch on here...... :hi:

Hi Jonathan, hope you get your ticket soon. 

Interested to know why the instructor said your right handed for shooting. If you can shoot right handed, it's a big advantage when buying a gun :good:

Welcome Jonathan

Thank you for all the hellos.

Finners - the instructor asked me to take a first trial shot with the gun on my left shoulder. I hadn't taken the shot before he'd pointed out my stance looked really uncomfortable, and he was right - it 'felt' all wrong and the shot missed. He tested my eye dominance & suggested I tried the gun on my right shoulder; the stance felt much better and the second shot hit. As just about all of my previous shooting had been from prone with one eye on the sights, I guess I hadn't noticed this before.

The only problem now is that my right hand is rubbish at working the lever and I look totally cack-handed trying to clear the spent cartridges.

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan and welcome  -  good luck

Hi. Jonathan,

I've had exactly the opposite, naturally right handed but have limited vision in my right eye so shoot left handed!

I agree it felt so cack handed breaking the gun and ejecting the spent cartridges!! But 10 minutes practising with snap caps I had it mastered!!

James

Just a quick update: had my visit from my local FLO. I was quite nervous, as I didn't know what to expect. I needn't have worried; he was absolutely great: we had a very thorough but very relaxed conversation, with lots about safety of guns and keys. He said he was happy with the cabinet, so all being well, I should have my certificate in around ten days. Great news.

Good news! 

So you'll be looking at guns soon now. Any ideas on what you want yet? 

Finners,

No idea yet. At the Nat. Clay Centre, we were shooting a Browning and a Miroku. I thought the Miroku felt like the better gun; I couldn't say why, though - it just felt 'better'. When I said as much to our instructor, he pointed out the Miroku was around £4000 of 'better'!

I think I need to try a few before I decide a. What I like, b. What suits me & c. What I can afford!

Any advice as to a good way of trying as many different guns as possible?

@JonathanR 

I guess most people would agree that the Miroku "feels" better than its equivalent Browning. In truth, there's not a huge difference between the machine made Browning and the Mirokus. 

I'd suggest you buy a decent used gun as a starting point. I have no proof, but my feeling is that most beginners (I know you've shot before) will swap their first gun within 12-18 months anyway. Possibly best not to try too many guns as it will only get a bit confusing. Better to concentrate on the type of gun, ie a Sporter or Trap etc and if you want multi choke or not and the barrel length etc. 

So just get a good used Beretta/Browning or Miroku to suit you and you'll not loose too much if you decide to swap later on. 

As for trying them out, many gunshops are based on shooting grounds and therefore you can try them out. 

Go to a shooting ground that has a gun room. Call first and book a lesson / caddied round and ask if you can try a few used guns after a look in the Gunroom with the salesman and/ or instructor. Bisley and EJ Churchill for instance. Maybe simpler at EJ Churchill because the shop and the ground are the same ownership.

Some gun shops are friendly with local grounds and might arrange for you to either borrow a gun (once cert arrives, etc.) Or can arrange for a gun or two to meet you at a ground. My local RFD offered me both options. Sadly (for the relationship with them) I ended up buying a used Miroku from another shop miles away as it just felt more comfortable to hold and raise to the shoulder.

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BTC3 said:

Some gun shops are friendly with local grounds and might arrange for you to either borrow a gun (once cert arrives, etc.) Or can arrange for a gun or two to meet you at a ground. My local RFD offered me both options. Sadly (for the relationship with them) I ended up buying a used Miroku from another shop miles away as it just felt more comfortable to hold and raise to the shoulder.

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Click to expand...

For a beginner, holding in the shop is rarely the way to judge the gun, as there is no knowledge of what feels correct. (Usually beginners just go for something too light as they are not used to holding guns, so everything feels awkward). Few experienced shots would buy a gun like that either, even when the feel in the shop is educated. They will try shooting it (or one very like it).