Post by PaulFor several years now I have wanted to try clay shooting but never got round
to it, after dropping several hints this Christmas I have got a voucher for
Kibworth shooting ground for 25 clays. What I am wondering is what my
options are after this, should I wish to continue shooting. Obviously I do
not want to buy a gun straight away, if I join a club would they have guns
that I could use? if so what would the rough cost be for say 25/50 clays.
The voucher I have was £40 for 25 clays + instruction, it would get a little
expensive paying out that much every time!
Paul.
Hello Paul, I go to Kibworth regularly.
They insist on you having the 'intro' before they allow you to touch a
loaded gun, so it is a good thing. I started nearly 2 years ago now, and
love it, though it is quite expensive, typically £10 for 50 clays, plus
the price of the cartridges, cheap ones are £2.50 for a box of 25.
It gets even more expensive if you hire the gun from the ground, as well
as them charging over the odds for the cartridges (£4 a box I think).
Kibworth does have a membership, but it is not really a shooting club,
it is a commercial shooting ground, and paying the £40 annual fee only
really gets you a discount each time you go there, £1 discount per 25
clays. For most people who take up shooting, it is worthwhile paying up,
as the discount fees soon overtake the membership fee.
If you like it, and want to do a bit more, then it might be wise to hire
out the grounds gun when you go there for a few times, just to make sure
you do like it.
If the bug bites, then you need to apply to your local Police to get a
shotgun certificate.So long as you havent got a record for violence and
armed robbery, or been inside, then there shouldnt be too much of a
problem getting it. £50ish for that for 5 years.
When you apply, and you dont think they'll be a problem getting it, then
you'll need to buy a gun cabinet.Make sure it is good quality, and
cannot be opened by a small screwdriver. £100 new.
Now onto the guns. Kibworth is blessed with a well stocked gun shop.
They have anything from £40 side by sides to £10,000 new guns.
All of them, whatever the price, all go bang, and smash the clay if the
gun is pointing in the right place. Dont be fooled by thinking an
expensive gun will hit more clays, it wont, it is the person using it
who makes the clays break.
I woudl suggest a £3 - 500 secondhand gun as a starter, so long as you
think you'll do it fairly often. If you can afford it, £800-1000 will
buy a better quality gun. Quality is in the woodwork, and the
fitting.Expensive guns look good, but you arent looking at them when you
fire!
Baz, the ground owner will allow you to try out any secondhand guns at
the ground. Try a few for fit in the shop, then take one out to test
it.When fired some are totally different to others, so test firing is a
must really.
Only buy one if you feel comfortable with it - firing shotguns is all
about getting the fit right for you, then breaking the clays comes easy,
compared to an ill-fitting gun.
So, overall, to get started, you are looking at £500 for a basic
gun/certificate and safe.
The cheapest option is to get a mate with a shotgun to go with you, and
use his gun. You'll start getting the hang of it, and he can tell you
where you are going wrong. I'm not a fan of paying for lessons, buy a
good technique book, and practice - sometimes a Tutor can be telling you
what you are doing wrong, but it may not work for you - I had 2 lessons
there, and was told to mount the gun at all times except for certain
types of targets, this may be the preferred method of shooting, but it
does not work for me, i have the gun well below my shoulder when I call
for it, and it seems to work for me.
I'm usually there on Saturday afternoons, and the majority of Sundays,
there are CPSA competitions there every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month,
that is not a good time to go - only a limited few stands are open for
practice, and the place can be packed.
The majority of people there will help you out, if you dont know them,
just say you have just started, and would like some tips as to where you
are going wrong (and you will go wrong - them bloody clays fly at 70mph,
and are only 1" thick!).
Follow up here if you'd like to go round with me - I've got 2 guns, so
that isnt a problem.
Most of all, take on board all of the safety advice given at the intro,
and stay safe at all times.
HTH
Alan.
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