Trap/Skeet disciplines, where to start?

[BTC3]

Without wishing to stir up a hornet's nest, my question is as per the title.

The police kindly granted me a certificate a month ago.  My wallet kindly granted me a gun a fortnight ago.  Work and the weather finally let me try it out yesterday, and now I want more!

Nuthampstead is the closest ground to me, but my understanding is they specialise in Trap, and I've only ever done Sporting (and not much of it, but I have had a few lessons now, not just "have a go").  They've very kindly offered to set up a Compak layout for me, but as a newbie and first time visitor, there's no way I can accept that, I should try what they have.  I'm sure Martin and his team will have their views, but out of OT, UT, ABT, DTL and Double Trap, what would you more experienced shooters recommend I start with?

The reason for this is a mixture of curiosity, a desire to shoot, and convenience.  The first two I presume are self explanatory; the latter is because the ground is about 10 minutes down the road from me and open on Wednesdays, so I can duck out for an extended lunch hour (or two).  I'm more likely to be able to shoot there on a regular basis, than I am to making the best part of an hour's drive each way to the nearest Sporting venues (Cambridge and Sporting Targets).  Weekends are another story, but there have to be some benefits to working from home  :biggrin:

Many thanks,

Richard

 

[Mick Shaw]

Hi Richard

As a new shooter it would be best to start with the DTL and as you progress move on to the others.

Mick. :slow:

 

[40UP]

Get Martin at Nuthampstead to help you. Their advanced trap is too difficult at first but try their DTL. They do shoot sporting there under the name of a local club [Colliers End] every two weeks. I was there last wednesday and it was mostly trap but they have some learner stands. Just ask for help and they'll set up for you. Don't be shy, nice people.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Get Martin at Nuthampstead to help you. Their advanced trap is too difficult at first but try their DTL. They do shoot sporting there under the name of a local club [Colliers End] every two weeks. I was there last wednesday and it was mostly trap but they have some learner stands. Just ask for help and they'll set up for you. Don't be shy, nice people.

+1

 

[BTC3]

Thanks, all of you, for the replies.  I'll head down there this afternoon for a look around.

 

[Les53]

Get Martin at Nuthampstead to help you. Their advanced trap is too difficult at first but try their DTL. They do shoot sporting there under the name of a local club [Colliers End] every two weeks. I was there last wednesday and it was mostly trap but they have some learner stands. Just ask for help and they'll set up for you. Don't be shy, nice people.

+2 ........ and forget about sporting.....trap is where it's at!!!!!  :biggrin:

 

[BTC3]

+2 ........ and forget about sporting.....trap is where it's at!!!!!  :biggrin:

See?  There go the hornets.  I was told just the opposite yesterday!   :mole:  (this is the digging an even deeper hole smiley, isn't it?)

 

[Les53]

See?  There go the hornets.  I was told just the opposite yesterday!   :mole:  (this is the digging an even deeper hole smiley, isn't it?)

Oh you will find plenty of stuff on here between the tarpies and the hedge monkies mate!! The skeet boys never seem to say too much, mind you I don't think we have very many on here who only shoot skeet. Anyway keep digging and get your tin hat ready!!! :laugh:

 

[BTC3]

Will do!

 

[BTC3]

So it turns out the place is exactly 11 minutes from my house, and the Compak was already set up.  I was told Martin was busy, but I was free to wander and they would send someone to show me round.  However, the man himself appeared and said something that sounded like "get yer gun and come 'ere, let's see what we've got" - didn't have to say it twice.  He then very kindly spent half an hour or so going through the targets on the compak layout with me, explaining, correcting, further correcting until he declared me "sound".  Said I had a decent grasp of the basics, and should just get shooting rather than spend more money on lessons right now, just get used to the mechanics of shooting.  Oh, and the pad on my gun needs to be replaced (original hard, slippery plastic with something softer and grippier), which he got sorted there and then.  By the sound of it, you all know him already, so what can I say on first meeting the chap, other than what a decent, pleasant guy he is.  And patient and encouraging!

The other thing that caught me by very pleasantly by surprise, was that while I was watching a squad on one of the stands (from a safe distance, don't worry) a chap came up to me, introduced himself, pointed out the various areas of the club, explained his love of OT, offered some words of encouragement, and was keen to impress on me how this was a friendly place, unlike so many others he had been to over the years.  I'll just say that at some other clubs I've been to (only one particular shooting, but more than one tennis, and most golf clubs), I have noticed how groups of people tend to stand closer together and turn away as one in order not to catch your eye as you approach if they don't recognise you.  Anyhow, I was touched by the gesture, and the warm welcome I received.

I walked round the various Trap setups, and though I didn't try them (heck, by the look of things I'm going to have to go shopping for all sorts of strange accoutrements before I can do that, not to mention a gun with a Meccano rig across the top of the barrels ) they look pretty interesting, and I can see that I could have a quite some fun up there.  I can hear my wallet crying already.

Thanks again for your help.

Richard

 

[BoB1]

11 minutes? I am well jealous. Enjoy shooting trap; addictive, exhilarating & infuriating all in one!

I got comfortable (but not good) at shooting dtl before I started practising faster trap. Think I got 8/25 on my first UT round, but what a buzz! Fast trap is sooo much fun to shoot

 

[ehb102]

There's a fifty bird shoot not too far North of Royston. Let me know if you want a meet.

http://www.mobileclayshooting.co.uk/sunday-shoot.html

 

[BTC3]

@BoB1: thanks!  I should be able to go back up there in a couple of weeks, so will try to give at least one of the disciplines a go then.

@: that's a very kind and generous offer, thank you.  PM follows.