OddJob Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 As can be seen in a previous post, Im looking at getting my lady as semi auto shotgun as I've found a night light and cheap one. Now, I'm relatively new to the scene and have heard mutterings around semi-autos and the somewhat looking down the nose if people show up with them at shooting grounds. The Shooting Times even say 'in some people's eyes, it is about as socially desirable as introducing a well-known young lady of dubious repute to your ageing mother and then announcing you are engaged.' So what is all the fuss? Is it just being afraid of the unknown? Or just because they are 'different'? Or is there a more fuctional reason, such as safety or because they eject cartridges all over the place? I'm curious. Happy New Year to you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil smith Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 (edited) I suggest you buy whatever you like, when enough people have semi-auto's the fuss will go away. Some people try to claim that semi's are not as safe as O/U etc, but thats simply not true, as long as you know how to use it safely & can carry it safely between stands there is no problem, a safety flag is a good idea here. enjoy your shooting & dont worry about what others think. N Edited December 31, 2009 by neil smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicW Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Now, I'm relatively new to the scene and have heard mutterings around semi-autos and the somewhat looking down the nose if people show up with them at shooting grounds. The Shooting Times even say 'in some people's eyes, it is about as socially desirable as introducing a well-known young lady of dubious repute to your ageing mother and then announcing you are engaged.'So what is all the fuss? Is it just being afraid of the unknown? Or just because they are 'different'? Or is there a more fuctional reason, such as safety or because they eject cartridges all over the place? I'm curious. Happy New Year to you all. The usual comment about objections to autos is that they are not obviously safe whereas a break open gun is.If you carry an unloaded auto in the correct manner,barrel vertical muzzle up and open loading/ejection port facing forward,then you are as safe as an unloaded break open gun.Autos are acceptable at shooting grounds and I know of no ground that bans them.You will get the occasional shooter,usually a group of them,that look down their noses at autos.They are usually of the 'all the gear and no idea' brigade and who,usually,can't hit a cows bum with a banjo.The Shooting Times is largely concerned with game shooting and here an auto is frowned on.Remember,over and unders have only recently become acceptable to the game shooting fraternity.In my experience I have seen far more incidences of unsafe gun handling among the game shooters than I have among clay shooters. A good New Year to all. Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Nothing wrong with semi-auto's. As has been stated they're not really acceptable on more formal days but for clays, pigeon shooting, wildfowling etc. they're very practical. In fact i would hazard a guess the majority of people who use this site own or have owned a semi-auto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddJob Posted December 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Interesting, thanks chaps. It does seem to be a safety/snobbery as I roughly guessed. Not sure if my lady will go for one though, we'll see Thanks for the replies. Poontang, where do you shoot out of interest? Do you go to the Fennes in Braintree or is it not close enough for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Hi OddJob, I used to shoot clays regularly, mainly skeet, sportrap and all round at Parkford (St.Osyth) and Clacton GC. I've never shot at Fennes. I lost interest in clays for some reason, but went to High Lodge on Monday and really enjoyed it so may try and get about a bit more this year. If you fancy a meet up sometime let me know, i'm sure a few of the other Essex lads on here would pop over too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Nothing wrong with semi-auto's. As has been stated they're not really acceptable on more formal days but for clays, pigeon shooting, wildfowling etc. they're very practical. In fact i would hazard a guess the majority of people who use this site own or have owned a semi-auto. Very true. I'm a bona fide old gun lover, but there is still room in my cabinet for an auto. ZB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Zapp - I will second that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Nothing wrong with an auto. I've got a dodgy shoulder which plays up occasionally and the reduced recoil often makes the difference between going shooting or not.Also,as a pigeon gun i cant fault it due to loading from underneath and the third shot is handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddJob Posted December 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 If you fancy a meet up sometime let me know, i'm sure a few of the other Essex lads on here would pop over too. Might be something nice to do in the new year, I'll bear it in mind and maybe stick a post up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.