Shotguns...

[map]

Did a 'have a go' clay shooting session the other weekend and quite enjoyed it.
Obviously they were using light loads as didn't want to put people off with too much recoil.

So wondered if anyone had any advice on getting started.

What I've done so far...
Do a little research on various sites.
I've already been to the local shooting ground and will arrange a training session.
Need to tidy the house and get a gun cabinet then apply for the shotgun licence.
That maybe an issue as missus doesn't want an ugly steel cabinet (allow £150 ballpark) but will accept those disguised as furniture (so that's in the £1500 ballpark ).

I've already been told the horror stories of gun dealers sizing you up for a gun just to shift it off their shelves when it's not really suitable. I guess that's just similar to car and some motorcycle dealer shifting dodgy stock (someone say DK at the back )
As I understand it a 'reputable' dealer should let you try before you buy under the 72 hour rule.

What I'm asking...
Any general advice on starting clay shooting
Recommend a good gun to start with (and maybe keep with)
Any recommendations where to get stuff
Advice on taking a gun, ammo, etc. on the bike if and when required
What does actually happen when the Firearms Officer calls round?

I've already checked it is legal to carry on a bike so long as in a gun slip or broken in a case and can't be fired but was wondering about the actual practicalities.

Also I know the startup cost can be high (as with most hobbies) but is it affordable after that? Looking at the prices I'm allowing around £500 ballpark for the gun (or guns if the missus wants to start, either new of 2nd hand) and about £125/1000 shells after that.
Local club charges about £25 per 100 clays.

Thanks in anticipation
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Chriss]

No real help, but I do know that the armoury on base here will allow you to keep fire arms there, so it might help bring down the start up costs a bit, at least til you can afford that antique gun cabinet. Might be worth asking your local armed forces base?

Other than that, why anyone wants to handle a gun is beyond me.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[map]

[SlimRick]

When I had a visit re. the license, they just came round and checked the gun cabinet - mine's bolted to the floor in our understairs cupboard. Had a quick chat and that was that.
I started off and stuck with one of these from Lanber:

https://www.a2kda.com/pics/kit/2097.jpg

Not an amazing gun, but does the job nicely and not stupidly priced.

[Chriss]

[karoshi]

from what i remember from years back the police visit was just to check that you have a suitable cabinet in a suitable position.. i.e. proper steel cabinet bolted to a solid wall

at my parent's place my father has a seperate locking safe in the garage that he uses for shotgun cartridges and the bolt actions for his rifles.. this went over fairly well with the inspector

always wear ear protection for shooting clays, the damage can start to build up pretty quickly.. the little stick-in earbuds are fine, decent defenders with a head-strap are better provided theydont' get in the way of the gun-stock.

in terms of sizing up a gun, a quick way to see if something should be about right is to hold the trigger handgrip part as you normally would, with your trigger finger extended to rest on the trigger guard.. the guard edge should be at or further away than the first joint in your index finger..

..with it held in your trigger hand, bend your arm 90degrees at the elbow and try to rest the butt into the inside of your elbow joint, if it doesn't rest up against the inside of the top part of your arm (elbow end of the bicep) chances are the stock is too short for you.

If you've got big / thick fingers try to steer away from double-barrel guns with two triggers, the ones with an auto-selecting single trigger are easier to move your trigger finger around, the downside being you're locked into shooting one barrel before the other

with double-barrels for clays, you can play with the choke settings also, my last gun was set up with 3/4choke on the lower, full choke on the upper.. the higher the choke amount the closer together your shot pattern will be at a set distance, on clays this translates into higher chokes getting 'kills' from a longer range but you have to be more accurate.

try moving about with the gun in the shop for a bit, check it for weight balance, if it's very nose heavy you'll get tired quickly hoiking it around for 60-100 clays.

no idea about the legality of taking a gun on a bike.. most slip covers hold the gun in a single piece which would be far too long.. maybe if you break one down it'd go in the sa80 case on an mt500?
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Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it. - Elwood P. Dowd

[ZRX61]

I just use my 9shot pumpaction Mossberg 590 for clays. Nothing pisses off the Ruperts with their $3500+ clay guns more than some oik with a $300 riot gun hitting the clays while shooting from the hip.

[smegbrains]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu965sVymMs

Turn up with one of those.

On a serious note, speak to people at the shooting range where you went. They will give you great advice and a lot of it will be local too as Firearms Inspectors get well known
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Current Bike: Honda CBR 600F
Ex Bikes: Suzuki GX 125

[Johnny GSX-R]

MAP

If you get ya permit sorted i have 2 for sale CHEAP

Got a 3 shot 12 bore 'MAGTECH' pump action and
a 'SPANISH' 12 bore side by side.

Both fixed choke, Magtech has only had 100 through it, Spanish has newly french polished woodwork and blued barrels.

£250 for the pair.

[Robby]

You can get started shooting clays very cheaply.

The ugly steel cabinets are good, hide it behind a curtain is the woman is being difficult, or just push her down the stairs. The cabinet should be well out of view of windows, so an alcove in an upstairs room is ideal.
When I had mine inspected the firearms officer just gave it a few good tugs to see if he could pull it off the wall. Don't fit it with rawl plugs, we used some long wood screws to screw mine into fresh putty in the brickwork I think. Set good and solid.

The inspector will ask what you're going to use it for (shooting women, children and coppers, obviously), and he'll probably ask if you belong to a club or have friends that shoot. You don't need to belong to a club for a shotgun licence, but it's worth it. You won't find out about cheap shoots any other way.

I think I paid about £40 for my old shotgun, with a couple of boxes of cartridges. It was a nasty cheap old side by side, farmer gun, but it did the job. Much like riding a bike, there's no point buying something nice until you learn how to shoot. Learning with something shit will make you a better shot, you have to work at it more.

It's not worth going for pump action or semi auto over here - I think you're only allowed legally to load 3 cartridges, and when shooting clays they'll only let you load two, same as the double barrelled boys. Go for 12 gauge.

[Grendel]

I wandered about trying Clay shooting since theres a fair few clubs in Hampshire but i wandered if i would be allowed to use a combat shotgun like any of these:

https://www.rusmilitary.com/html/firearms_saiga12.htm

https://www.rusmilitary.com/html/firearms_saiga410.htm

https://www.rusmilitary.com/html/firearms_safir410.htm

Or would it be seen as unsporting and find not many clubs would except me with such a gun?

Or would it just be cheaper to buy a 2nd sporting shotgun?
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Past bike: 2004 Hyosung Comet
Current bike: 1993 Honda Transalp
Transalp Page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=11418462079

[tatters]

[ZRX61]

[Grendel]

[map]

[Grendel]

Thanks for that MAP

As for the Ural bikes i nearly bough the Ural Solo Classic:

https://www.mcasta.ru/eng/motorcycle/imz-solo2.html

But they ended up not bringing it into production.
____________________
Past bike: 2004 Hyosung Comet
Current bike: 1993 Honda Transalp
Transalp Page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=11418462079

[dgo1212]

[Johnny GSX-R]

[quote="robby"]
It's not worth going for pump action or semi auto over here - I think you're only allowed legally to load 3 cartridges, and when shooting clays they'll only let you load two, same as the double barrelled boys. Go for 12 gauge.[/quote]

AND????

You can put just 2 in the pump action.... How can ya say its a waste of time when i shot clays for years with my old 'Stevens Savage Arms' 3 shot pump ??
I used to shoot at a private ground and could / often did shoot with 3 shots / 3 clays.

My gun is a former 5 shot USA spec downrated to 3 shots with a tube to prevent the extra 2 being utilised.

[Robby]

This is why I hesitated before writing that. I knew someone be along willy waving about a pump action or semi auto.

Two reasons.

First off, the only people I've known with pump actions or semi autos have been wannabe soldiers playing Mad Max.

The second is a practical problem. A beginner wants to just pan across and pull the trigger(s). Having to pump halfway through interrupts your aim, and won't teach you to be smooth.

I've never gone in for trying to be cool or fashionable when shooting. I keep it cheap, simple, and smooth. The only thing I get anal about it is a smooth, sharp, clean action on a rifle, firing a left hander with a shit action is horrible.

Your point about shooting three clays is valid, but a beginner isn't going to shoot three in a row. Nor are the rest of the people on the shoot, with their double barrels.

[karoshi]

[ZRX61]

[zephyrgirl]

Surely, the only thing we should be discussing is reload speed.


If we're working on the approximate zombie staggering speed of 3ft/sec then you will need a gun you can reload at least 3 times/min to keep on top of a pack of 20.

Obviously you'll be taking out 3 or more with each shot as they are pretty fragile with their rotting flesh and all.

Die, Zombies, Die!
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Fly away on my Zephyr?
I bloody wish.

[karoshi]

[D O G]

[pickled]

buy the cheaper cabinate and put it in a wardrobe or cupboard and bolt the whole lot to the wall?