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Thought I would kick off a new page for the new era. I broke my 15 week break today at Holland and Holland, who are now doing a Challenge 100 target shoot. This one runs to 20th April and they will do a new course monthly thereafter. It’s a new venture for them, under the new Beretta ownership and it’s an amazing chance to shoot this exceptional venue for £45. (Nothing available under £120 previously I think). Well, I didn’t feel as rusty as I had feared, but I really misjudged a few targets on two stands particularly, dropping 7. The last stand was a high tower driven with sun right

Well, 4 of us shot the Holland and Holland Challenge shoot. Never been there before so it was lovely to see such a beautiful place, lovely grounds, nice staff and Will! Now, Will did warn me about stand 7, saying I would struggle to see the first target as even though we were on a platform there was a bloody bush right where you wanted to shoot and that I would be lucky to see it. Started great on stand 1 dropping first rabbit out then straighten the rest. Got to stand 2, first one in and it was a l-r just skimming the tree line, I could just about see it when out the cage but when I got i

Don't understand all this garbage on FB and here about selection shoots and majors being un-registered, or not counting to your averages. They may be, and rightly so, tougher than your average shoot, but if you shoot 10% below your raw average then it doesn't count anyway. I don't see the issue, walk away and forget about it. I can quite easily shoot 10% below my average on an ordinary dolly up registered shoot anyway.😄

Firstly no I did not shoot this event, secondly Im C Class and this shoot was the first England Team Selection Shoot, and the West Midlands Area English Sporting Championship, add then its at Westfield and in April too boot, all the ingredients (perfect storm?) for it being, as MrLovatt described this very morn as being "a tad too hard" Now the shooters all competing for an England place will have expected nowt else (if it was the last selection shoot then things would have been different Im sure), those for the WM Area much the same, but for the vast majority of As, the Bs and Cs that booked

Easy for you to say Rich. I went for my 2nd Covid jab yesterday. Looking at the state of most of the other folks of my age queuing at the health centre I feel really lucky to be able to shoot a 100 bird course without needing medical intervention. 😲

Surprising how many people feel the time to shoot FITASC appears to take so long. Yet I know shooters who will sit in a car for 2.5 hours to travel to a 100 bird ESP Registered. FITASC is my second discipline which I do enjoy, but you do need to wipe the day out. I have been shooting the ESP registered circuit for many years now and have become friends with many of the disciples of that discipline. Shooting FITASC for the last 3 years also, I have met so many new people who shoot only FITASC. They are a very relaxed and welcoming bunch, who get the maximum out of the day, with both shooting an

Well, I emailed H&H, not to have a moan but just to say if they’re going to be putting in regular shoots this would have to be addressed, it has to be fair for all. I had a lovely phone call from them today offering me a complementary round. I explained I didn’t email them for that but appreciated the gesture all the same. I cannot do the challenge as targets cannot be changed now but was very impressed with the way it was dealt with. Good service.

Well the basic one is Beretta SP money, £1500, then a bit more for adjustable, a bit more for grade 4 wood and, a bit more for grade 5 which is special order, mine was £1900. So they aren't 'budget', but certainly are value for money. Won A class with mine yesterday 😁

Oxfordshire today, it’s a smaller ground than most and looked and remained very busy, long gone the days of 20/30 entries here. On at 12.40 no not chilly as feared but it rained from stand 5 so we all got a bit damp. Although in a squad of four we never really caught up with the full squad in front so no awaiting around getting too wet. Had a day of getting more right than wrong, like all I could claim “a few got away” however it was also a fair few hit that maybe on other days I get it wrong which means I don’t. For a bit of a treat after last stand borrowed a chums ( cleaned ) K80 SuperSport

On Monday 29th I went to Ian Coleys as a friend was picking up a gun. Glad I went as we found a much more suitable gun for him, just a shame I had to double his budget. He's bought it now and is over the moon so that's the main thing. Then the first real shoot back was Honesberie on Good Friday. Really great to be back out! They set the course just right for coming out of lockdown. Steady but with a couple of their normal bigger targets in the bottom field to keep people on their toes. Managed 92/100 which means I've finally broken the 90 barrier after 5 years of shooting Ian

Last year at the local shooting ground a bit of a crowd had gathered around a lad with a newish Beretta 686 which had jammed. As both barrels had just been fired the gun was deemed safe and various shooters were attempting to open it. I suggested that it was put in the gun rack at the stand and left for 10 minutes or so. After doing this, the gun opened easily. I got the lad to bring it back to the car park where I had my gun First Aid kit in my car. I took off the barrels applied some grease to the knuckles and the bites, re-assembled it and off he went. He came to me later to say the gun had

So in reality it's a knock off of a knock off, just a lot cheaper 🤣

Ok, this sounds wimpy, but I only do 15 yards now. You can tell all you need from that. It’s actually clearer than some distant test.

You should probably give it the time to break in. Becoming a bit tighter when warm, suggests tighter tolerances, not poor machining. Have you greased it appropriately? I think 50 cartridges, is probably too few to break it in. What cartridges were you using, incidentally? Had you thought that it could be the cartridges? As you know, the machining is exemplary, good quality steel used throughout. Mine, is a grade 5 that I have refinished recently.

well done that girl, wins the gold in India after a shoot off

Jesus! That’s enough to worry sheep!!! No not the gun! 😂

Left peg permitting I too will joining you (but you know that as you booked one in), personally have always found any competition shoot at Barbury a stiffer than most ask and am not expecting anything less for these two either, that said am only really "competing" with others in my class and all in same boat there.

Nice one John(ny)... and welcome to the forum nut house!

Possibly but whoever sponsors you it still has to be put in the right place to score.

Longridge, which is, bar Easter Sunday, open all over the long weekend, went & met the brother. Lot busier than I’d expected and all to a lady, man, lass & lad seemed really jovial, we both shot well enough for first time out and if it was a bit closer I’d most probably go again tomorrow or Monday.

Willow Farm for a 100 bird practice. Big contrast to Wednesday - it was bloody freezing. Good range of targets. Struggle on a left-right that I misread, was giving it far to much respect as it was curling away a lot more than I thought. Finished on 82/100. Happy enough with that and the 77 I shot on Wednesday, was expecting to be considerably more rusty.

EJ Churchill was a good course this morning. Not as easy as they said it might be for sure. I did well on some stands that worried me and cocked up in other places. Scraped a 90 so can’t complain. Was chilly this morning and a lot warmer this pm, so I’m sure a lot of enjoyment will be had. My shoulder was a bit sore after first outing on Tuesday!

Well, VERY pleased with my return! Back to Pirbright/Mainstone Hills (which I've seen catch a lot better shooters than me out, so definitely no straw bailer for a club shoot). Bit nervy to start, hanging around the big queues of the first day of opening, waiting to see if it's like riding a bike or whether that bike does indeed gets rusty. Straighted the first, dropped only singles here and there on the next few stands, and pretty much carried that on throughout the 14 stands. Ended up with a very respectable 79, and that would have been higher if it hadn't been for the ever despised, sli

Pinewoods in Lincolnshire for us this afternoon, 225 practise clays each later and we were knackered. Run by the young Ron Chipman it's a cracking little ground local to us that puts on some good targets, nice stiff round and felt suitably challenged. Shot 100 with the new miroku 20 bore and then the rest with the dt11. All in all a decent return with just a few technical errors on teals and fast quartering away. Looking forward to the first registered at Orston in 11 days.

Willinghurst for us today. Started on stand 4 through to 12 then back up for stands 3,2 and 1. Enjoyable course, only had 1 bad stand which was stand 7. First in, 2 high r-l and only shot 1/8 😞 Wasn’t until I stood back and watch the others shoot it I realised the targets were doing different things to what I thought whilst in the stand. No one in our squad shot that well so didn’t feel too bad. Ended up on a 77 which is a PB for me so was chuffed, annoyed at the 1/8 and on stand 1 our last stand, the first target was a low teal behind a bush and I kept getting no birds which made me loos

Jonny, I’ve always enjoyed their shoots, we shot there last year for one of the challenges and as Tiptop states, some like it, some don’t. There will always be a few stands that are hard but that sorts the places out I reckon! Last year there was one stand that was a L-R crosser, a long way out and a very close incomer. We didn’t see anyone hit the long crosser, and the ref said that a certain ground owner only shot 5/8. I shot 7/8 and dropped the last close bird! It’s a bit like the Essex, a huge variety of stands and targets, some grouse butts, etc, some you’ll like, some you won’t. They

Thanks for the responses, will have to give it some serious consideration. We travel to shoot the essex each year and its about the same for us really distance and time wise. Thanks folks

I shoot there quite often as it's local to me, in fact will be there tomorrow for a practice. They have just spent a fortune on a completely new clubhouse and gunroom, and acquired some more ground. The targets are always a good variety and can be testing. Would it be worth the trip? That's the question, facility wise, yes, shoot wise well that depends, because no matter what the shoot is like, some will say it was good, some will say it was sh*te, as it is with all these majors, you will never please everyone.

Might set my alarm to make sure we get booked in!

Used beretta browning or miroku would be my bet

I don't think she faded, it's the limelight that's faded. Any form of shooting doesn't seem to get much coverage now. 😒

Oh aye up, yer back are yer ? 🙄

That is why the events at Nigel Harts at St. Dials are so appealing TipTop. Turn up, shoot 50, 45 minutes for tea and bacon, shoot 50 more, your done.

Don’t see any enjoyment in taking 8 hrs to shoot 100 clays regardless of what discipline it is. It would have to be done in a few hours to get my interest.

Court Farm this afternoon. First comp this year for me, albeit not a Reg one. Defo not match fit. Straight on the first two stands, one away on 3 and then I started to wobble. Started dropping last pairs or one bird of the last couple of pairs. Then dropped 5 on a following teal that I should have been all over. Put both things down to being over cautious and aiming instead of just shooting the bloody targets. Did ok on crossing stuff, managed to rein in the overleading. Finished on 78, but it wasn't a tough round and should have been mid-80s on those targets.

Not meant that way, but Hey, take it as you like. That's the trouble with the typed word, as opposed to the spoken word, one can't see the intended grin. 😁

Totally agree Will, so many of us moan about not being able to see a target and unless we tell them they don’t know what to change but it’s the way you go about it. It would be great if they did start to do regular shoots there, I thought it was lovely and enjoyed it.

They are due to change the course after this one ends on 28th now I believe. You can see they are dipping a toe with competition shooting and have some lessons to learn, but I’m in favour of keeping it to constructive criticism (as Donna did) because this place can be a great resource for us comp shooters in time.

... I never shot Westfield either. But I am shooting the next selection shoot and SW champs at Barbury at the end of the month, and will be expecting an equally tough test. Hopefully it will be an insight to the up coming English Open there.

There is certainly an advantage to a low hold, in fact it’s really your only option. One eyed shooters and by that I mean someone that has to squint or cover an eye, can only mount on the trap house lid. Any higher and you’ll find your lead hand will inhibit your view of the target. There is a caveat to this though. You may find at some grounds where the trap sits high in the house you can afford to mount just a little higher. Experiment and see. You’ll know you’ve pushed to too high when you’re not picking the target up in your peripheral vision as quickly as you want to. This vide

Thanks John, the question is can I keep it going or was it a fluke? I suppose I will find out next time🙂

I would join you at H and H Doug. I’d like to shoot it again without blazing sun. And I got lucky in their weekly draw so have prizes to collect!

Westfield this weekend for the England selection shoot and then Holland and Holland on Tuesday for the challenge shoot. I think there's space on our squad if anyone would like to shoot it? We're on at 11:30 on Tuesday 13th.

I shot at Coley’s yesterday, had my best score ever with my first time getting in to the 70’s. Would have been better but couldn’t hit the second bird on the last stand🙄I think I was giving it too much lead when non was required. Also my first registered shoot since changing cartridges from Hull Superfast to Fiocchi Fblack👍🏻

Well shot. Honesberie scores were all pretty high, so I’m expecting a kicking when I visit later this month as they “correct” it. 😆. Good luck at Coleys today, I’m there next month. College Farm was good as ever yesterday (a distinct contrast between a hard first half and a steady second half). Oxfordshire Shooting school reg on Friday. So far, post lockdown I’ve been shooting quite well but can still do some daft stuff. I live in hope of fixing that.. probably in vain. All good fun, just glad to be back out.

20 yards with a 1/4. Anything more and the pellets will creep outside the 30 inch circle. This is not a hard & fast rule. I'd try at 20 yards & then 25 yards to see the increase in spread. Also be prepared to learn very little. I'm sorry but pattern plates really don't tell you much at all.

A gunsmith friend has always said that most of the work he does on newish guns could have been negated by a couple of hours finishing by hand in whichever factory,and yes his bench sees its fair share of Perazzi amongst everything else! So the OP gun no doubt needs a little TLC from a proper gunsmith rather than the production operative that assembled it.

Hi Luke, this was posted for a bit of fun, you would never try to tame the recoil on that shell that kicks like a mule ., I have shot many thousands of them and I was well known in the area for using them, If you can see a target no matter how far they will brake it with impressive results, shame they are about £10 per box now and yes they live up to the marketing.

Ooooops sorry. No animals were harmed during writing of this post! 😂