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sako243

Member Since: 26 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 608

2011 Range Rover Vogue TDV8 Santorini Black

comports wrote:
Sorry Sako - missed your comment
Would be great to meet up with you in Surry for an hour at a shoot... We can park like twins in the carpark and then you can show me how a pro shoots..!

Based on yesterday not particularly well - 75%... Funnily enough one of the problems I had was with a going away rabbit. (I generally dislike going away targets).

I'd be up for a meeting - as I said JJ's near Darenth Wood is a great little shoot and I know the team there quite well since my University team used to shoot there more or less every week. It'd have to be mid-April though I'm afraid - out of the country for a couple of weeks.

Pilgrimmick wrote:
Just re-read that. 4500ft/s! That is going some, the barrel will not like that.

They're great little rounds, particularly for foxes. Cross-winds? What're they? I don't think the ones I have lying around are quite up there, something like 1250m/s which equates to ~4100ft/s. The old rounds made by Sako were up at that sort of speed.

In all seriousness I've shot the .243 at Bisley, zeroed at 100 yards, shoot progressing backwards to 600. At the start of the 600 shoot the wind was ~20mph right to left (but only from 600 to 300) and the zero wasn't affected. Then later on the wind shifted and was ~5mph but from the target to 100 yards, then the zero was shifted, significantly.

Shows how hot the .243 is and how little momentum it has - kinetic energy tonnes of it, momentum not so much. Ed

13th Mar 2016 4:29pm

comports

Member Since: 20 Dec 2010
Location: Colchester
Posts: 1698

2016 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Mariana Black

Thanks Sako

I phoned the FEO today for an update and it seems mid April my not be that bad for me... Having waited a year already was told to ring back about 6 weeks if I had;t heard anything..!!!

Getting fed up now as that will be nearly 14 months after applying...

Is there anything else I can do to get this moving..?? I don;t want to rock the boat but I also don't want to wait another 4 months until I can get a cert...

Thanks Ash
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14th Mar 2016 9:18pm

sako243

Member Since: 26 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 608

Worth a call to BASC? Not used them personally but their collection of lawyers is supposed to be top notch.

Might be worth asking them if there are any known issues in Essex at the moment? Ed

14th Mar 2016 9:43pm

comports

Member Since: 20 Dec 2010
Location: Colchester
Posts: 1698

cool - the known issues are that Essex are short staffed and only dealing with renewals on a urgent basis - They are bringing in a temp FEO to deal just with the backlog of new applications but these have built up to such an extent that folks from Feb last year are still waiting.

Coupled with the fact the our Police and Crime commissioner apparently has issues with folks having guns in Essex he has not put any effort into sorting the problem. Ash
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14th Mar 2016 9:59pm

Giantlandyman

Member Since: 25 Nov 2015
Location: Essex
Posts: 800

2012 Range Rover Autobiography TDV8 Santorini Black

sako - have you used Dartford http://www.dartfordclayshootingclub.com/facilities/ recently? They have very comprehensive facilities in comparison to JJs. Only being across the bridge from me, it was my local ground and CPSA accredited.

comports - have you tried http://www.fennesclays.co.uk in Braintree? A nice little ground. It's been a while so can't remember her full name but Tracey, the owner, is ex-GB ladies if I remember correctly. I've heard good things about her coaching. Essex Gun have a shop there; I've bought every gun I've owned over the years from them, albeit their other branch. The only reason I mention them is because they always used to have a policy of allowing people to try before buying.

I've also had lots of fun at Cambridge http://www.cambridgegunclub.co.uk but it's a real shame Lakenheath closed a while back because that was my favourite.

If it helps at all, I have a Beretta 682 Gold E m/c Sporting and a Browning 525 f/c Trap, both with 32" barrels. I started out with a Miroku MK10 m/c Sporting and had a Beretta semi-auto for a while as well. When it comes to buying a shotgun, I would wholeheartedly suggest you go for the best you can with your money.

By that I mean, a good condition used Browning/Beretta/Miroku etc is a better prospect than a new gun of the same price from a 'cheaper' brand in my view. Basically, better to buy a gun that will cope with your progress than one that you will look to sell after a while…..some will say it is better to spend money on a 'starter gun' even if you end up losing money on it but not me.

My biggest regret was allowing myself to be steered towards right-handed guns because of an old injury to my left shoulder. I am ambidextrous but with a very strong left eye dominance and this still causes lots of problems. Nowadays, it's more about the craic than the result so have held off making the switch to left handed.

The only reason I mention this is as a warning; the sport has it's fair share of qualified experts who can lead you down the wrong path……mostly for their own monetary gain, it would seem.

Hopefully we will all have the opportunity to meet up at a suitable venue and have a good laugh 'advising' each other on how to shoot a particular stand and give 'encouragement'!

14th Mar 2016 11:33pm

comports

Member Since: 20 Dec 2010
Location: Colchester
Posts: 1698

Thanks GiantLandy...

As it happens - I got a call from my local FEO today and they are coming out on Monday for my interview etc..!!!!

Cabinet is fitted, key safe for cabinet is fitted somewhere else in the house and I have a good spot for the cartridges (but will talk to him on Monday about it)

As it also happens - I have been going to Fennes and have had a couple of lessons from Tracey herself. Very nice lady and certainly knows her stuff. Talked to her about left vs Right and she told me I should shoot off my left if it feels more comfortable as I am also very left eye dominant.

Have seen a few guns in Essex Gun as I pop in there each time I go shooting. Have also been to Eastern Sporting in Baddow. Very nice guys in there and they have a good selection of Left Handers as well. I need to try a couple more before I decide and as long as they are used, both have said I can "borrow" one to try if I want to. Hopefully will get my cert soon so on the look out now.

Do you still go to Fennes.? Would be good to meet up down there one day soon.

(I have a bit more of a smile now after my phone call today)

Cheers all Ash
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15th Mar 2016 6:48pm

Giantlandyman

Member Since: 25 Nov 2015
Location: Essex
Posts: 800

That's great news, Ash; no wonder you're smiling!

Because of one thing or another, I've not been to any ground for a while (for various reasons that life throws at you) but have been promising myself to go back to it…I guess I only need the opportunity.

I would happily meet you at Fennes…..I'm retired now so pretty much anytime. The only 'rule' I have about when is that I don't allow my guns to get wet. My view is that they charge the same price for a dry day as a rainy day but there's not much fun struggling in the rain. Different with game shooting, of course, but that's a whole other thing.

That's one of the reasons I used Lakenheath and Dartford so much. The former had plenty of tree cover and Dartford has several covered stands.

Have a think about what "soon" means with regards to your schedule and let me know your thoughts.

ATB, Kevin

15th Mar 2016 8:34pm

comports

Member Since: 20 Dec 2010
Location: Colchester
Posts: 1698

Thanks Kevin

I'd agree with the rain scenario - not much fun at a range in the wet to be honest so would not really fancy that anyway. (supposed to be a fun sport - right?)

unfortunately I was born too late so not quite got to retiring yet (another 15 or 20 years I guess) so limited ta the moment to Saturday mornings or the odd day off.

Let me get my interview out of the way and hopefully get a cert in my hand I will ping you and agree on when might be a mutually convenient day/time.

I can drool over your 2012 while we're there as well

Look forward to it.!

Ash Ash
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15th Mar 2016 8:46pm

Giantlandyman

Member Since: 25 Nov 2015
Location: Essex
Posts: 800

Sounds like a plan, Ash, and I look forward to it.

Shame I don't still have the semi-auto because that was a left hander. Oh well.

Cheers for now, Kevin.

15th Mar 2016 8:52pm

sako243

Member Since: 26 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 608

Giantlandyman wrote:
sako - have you used Dartford http://www.dartfordclayshootingclub.com/facilities/ recently? They have very comprehensive facilities in comparison to JJs. Only being across the bridge from me, it was my local ground and CPSA accredited.

I have but my history shooting clays in the south east has mainly revolved around university shooting clubs. Dartford weren't particularly welcoming to university groups. And I didn't find their targets particularly interesting at the time, there wasn't much of a variety (sporting wise).

Imperial College have a 30+ year relationship with John at JJ's which is why we go there. He's also incredibly supportive of new shooters, one particular incident sticks out in my mind. Basically start of the year and a Fresher's shoot. Despite John having no trouble with us just turning up we'd double checked if it was OK to go down with 2 minibus loads of Freshers and he had no problem because we'd arranged this for a Wednesday afternoon. We normally went down on a Saturday which is much busier.

Anyway we went down and there were a few members of the public there. One in particular took offence at being held up whilst three of us taught 30+ newbies how to shoot. He kicked off a bit and complained because he'd been a regular member coming every week for a number of years. John retorted that we'd been coming at least every fortnight during term time more or less since the ground opened. It was also pointed out that of the 100+ members the club had annually then at least half of them had never picked up a gun before. If only a couple of those kept up the sport then we were doing more each year for the sport than the chap could do in his lifetime. The chap didn't take that well and was then basically told to leave and they wouldn't miss him if he didn't come back.

Although I had a huge amount of respect for John and Mark beforehand it only increased after that event. Especially considering how the chap kicked off and they were threatening to get the police to come and escort him off the ground (quite a few used to call in for tea, coffee and burgers with Debbie - the lady who ran the burger van - on a daily basis).

We'd tried quite a few around London, being quite central meant we could head any direction out of London, but there have been relatively few as welcoming as JJ's. To be fair EJChurchill's have gone above and beyond as well - they've been hosting a few friendlies between LSE, RVC and IC. A1 have also been pretty decent - that's where RVC tend to shoot although they said last weekend there was a rumour they were selling up.

comports wrote:
As it also happens - I have been going to Fennes and have had a couple of lessons from Tracey herself. Very nice lady and certainly knows her stuff. Talked to her about left vs Right and she told me I should shoot off my left if it feels more comfortable as I am also very left eye dominant.

Is that Tracy Meston? She was one of the CPSA coaches when I did my course up in the West Midlands.

In fact on the subject of shotguns etc. she and one of the other instructees (a tall 6'5" Yorkshireman) tried out my MK38. The next time I saw Tracy she'd like the gun so much she'd gone off and bought one. Ed

19th Mar 2016 9:24am

Giantlandyman

Member Since: 25 Nov 2015
Location: Essex
Posts: 800

No, not Tracy Meston, Tracey Riddington.

Coincidentally, it was Tracey Meston who taught me the basics when I first started.

Judging by what you say about JJs, it sounds like I need to pay a visit at some stage. Perhaps we can arrange a small group and visit different grounds which is always good fun. There's only one ground I decline to give my business and that is the West Kent Shooting School. Lovely ground but made to feel very unwelcome by the head gun some years back.

19th Mar 2016 11:11am

comports

Member Since: 20 Dec 2010
Location: Colchester
Posts: 1698

Now a group shoot and breakfast might be a great idea... I'd be up for that but being a mere working chap it would have to be a Saturday morning for me in reality.

Now - fingers crossed for Monday when my local FEO comes round to discuss the small matter of a license and I'l be all good to go.!

I'll keep you posted. Ash
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19th Mar 2016 3:50pm

sako243

Member Since: 26 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 608

JJ's is a small ground but cracking targets and superb staff. Just honest, hard working people.

Would have to be a weekend for me too.

I might buck the trend a bit and turn up in the Defender instead Ed

20th Mar 2016 2:52pm

comports

Member Since: 20 Dec 2010
Location: Colchester
Posts: 1698

Quick Update - Just had my FEO visit - very straight forward he said and all fine - He will call my referee this afternoon (who is my neighbour that I have been shooting with so far) so all should be fine.

He will recommend that it gets granted and I should have the cert within a couple of weeks (although he would not commit to a date)

Happy days - Just need to wait for that I'll be all set.... Ash
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21st Mar 2016 3:55pm

stan
Site Moderator

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: a moderate moderated moderator moderating moderately in moderation
Posts: 35262

nice one Ash.. ... - .- -.

Y. O. L. O.
.

21st Mar 2016 4:05pm

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