bighit1985 Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Hi i'm Gravesend. Kent and have been shooting shotguns for only the last few months and have applied for my license, 2 months and still waiting.. But am getting some shooting in the forms of some clays and some rough shooting thanks for another member on here. I have always liked guns which i'm sure most on here can relate to. I would have to also get into shooting full on rifles, I've shot airguns for years, But where to start, when I wanted to start shooting shotguns it was fairly easy to find somewhere to go and try it and to get practise at etc. But when i've looked for the same for rifles I can't really find anywhere and the ones that I've seen seem to be very complicated and Im just not sure where to go. Can anyone help. whether its putting me in contact with some local clubs that have easy access for newbies or If someone can let me go out shooting them live quarry, even if its just as an observer and to allow me get some info and experience. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest topshot_2k Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) Unless you have your own permission for getting a rifle a local club is your only real choice. Find one and just ring up, explain you want to get into the sport and try and get on a range to try it out. Also enquire in your local gunshop Good luck, rifle shooting is an excellent sport Edited January 12, 2012 by topshot_2k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linny Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 even if its just as an observer I SHOULD THINK SO at least you asked good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikky Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 i went up to my local gun club asked to speak to who was in charge,was made very welcome,went back a week later,stayed out of the way and just watched,asked about various guns people were shooting,joined the club as a probationary member,went every week,eventually people asked me if i fancied a shot with their guns,had the odd shot eventually became a full member...been skint ever since mikky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighit1985 Posted January 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 even if its just as an observer I SHOULD THINK SO at least you asked good luck What I mean is that some people may have their own land that they have practise targets or something that I might try or watch. i went up to my local gun club asked to speak to who was in charge,was made very welcome,went back a week later,stayed out of the way and just watched,asked about various guns people were shooting,joined the club as a probationary member,went every week,eventually people asked me if i fancied a shot with their guns,had the odd shot eventually became a full member...been skint ever since mikky Thats the biggest problem I'm, I dont know about around where you all live but around near me, there doesn't seem to be any clubs at least not very well advertised, even on the web, that what Im mainly trying to find out is where are these clubs??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest topshot_2k Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 What I mean is that some people may have their own land that they have practise targets or something that I might try or watch. Thats the biggest problem I'm, I dont know about around where you all live but around near me, there doesn't seem to be any clubs at least not very well advertised, even on the web, that what Im mainly trying to find out is where are these clubs??? As said your local gunshops should point you the right direction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 The NRA and NSRA should have lists of clubs locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 there might be a club nearer to you than you might think,my club is less than 5 minutes from my house but i didn't know anything about it for years.like folk say,go into your local gun shops and ask if they know where any clubs are.good luck in finding one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 If I were you I would forget about rifles for now. You have SGC pending, so find a friendly farmer and do some good work with the shotgun for a while. Once he trusts you, and you have learned some gun-handling, ask him if he will allow you to use a rifle. The FEO will contact him to verify permission. Don't rush in, take your time and build the landowners trust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willy1 Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 If I were you I would forget about rifles for now. You have SGC pending, so find a friendly farmer and do some good work with the shotgun for a while. Once he trusts you, and you have learned some gun-handling, ask him if he will allow you to use a rifle. The FEO will contact him to verify permission. Don't rush in, take your time and build the landowners trust. There speaks a truth,I started out shooting shotgun on Steves land,and hopefully did a good job on the squirrels,now I can use rifles as well, Thanks Steve, :good: Alan Steve, seen a few pigeons about,maybe soon get after them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradders Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Probably the nearest club to you is St Nicholas Rifle and Pistol Club. Not far from the A20 Sidcup bypass (Hospital Exit). They do air rifle, light sporting rifle, gallery rifle, and also full bore stuff at Bisley. its quite friendly, as with all home office approved clubs there are rules, probabtion etc...... http://www.snrpc.org.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Steve, seen a few pigeons about,maybe soon get after them? That would be good. Has Malcolm contacted you yet ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighit1985 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 If I were you I would forget about rifles for now. You have SGC pending, so find a friendly farmer and do some good work with the shotgun for a while. Once he trusts you, and you have learned some gun-handling, ask him if he will allow you to use a rifle. The FEO will contact him to verify permission. Don't rush in, take your time and build the landowners trust. I get what your saying, Im mainly looking for rifle shooting to shoot targets at first and get some more knowledge rather than going into the field with one at the moment. Correct me if im wrong, but shotguns, are relatively easy to understand and use and ammunition is varied but fairly easy to understand what you want and need and having done some clay shooting and reading mags and asking questions Ive learnt more and more, and its this sort of thing Im looking for with rifles, so I dont expect to go out and apply for my FAC next week but with a few months practising and learning the basics I can then see whether its actually want to continue or just stay with the shotgun. As for permissions, you have already mentioned to me that around this area it is extremely hard to find a farm that isnt already got shooters on it or farmers willing to let shooters onto their fields. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 As for permissions, you have already mentioned to me that around this area it is extremely hard to find a farm that isnt already got shooters on it or farmers willing to let shooters onto their fields.Cheers You'll find a shoot a bit further into the sticks, think about Sheppey or Grain - thousands of acres running alive with rabbits. I honestly think this is your best approach, get some land for shotgun and air rifle then progress to rimfire. HMR is a piece of cake compared to shooting rabbits with an air rifle. When ( if ) the pigeons finally arrive come out on a shoot with me, maybe tag along on a rabbit shoot too. We can have a mooch around and look at crop damage, so you can "talk the talk" to farmers when you go knocking on doors. I would ask that you don't go knocking on the doors we go to though, I'm not the only shooter there and I feel it would be unfair for me to introduce new shooters without their agreement, I'm sure you understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 so I dont expect to go out and apply for my FAC next week but with a few months practising and learning the basics I can then see whether its actually want to continue or just stay with the shotgun. Most clubs have a 6 month+ probationary period before they would counter your application anyway. IF you apply for a probationary at a club they inform police to get clearance for you to join the club anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighit1985 Posted January 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 You'll find a shoot a bit further into the sticks, think about Sheppey or Grain - thousands of acres running alive with rabbits. I honestly think this is your best approach, get some land for shotgun and air rifle then progress to rimfire. HMR is a piece of cake compared to shooting rabbits with an air rifle. When ( if ) the pigeons finally arrive come out on a shoot with me, maybe tag along on a rabbit shoot too. We can have a mooch around and look at crop damage, so you can "talk the talk" to farmers when you go knocking on doors. I would ask that you don't go knocking on the doors we go to though, I'm not the only shooter there and I feel it would be unfair for me to introduce new shooters without their agreement, I'm sure you understand. Cool well i'll appreciate you taking the time to take me out and or course I wouldn't take the **** by asking permission for farms I go as a guest on,certainly not without your permission to do so beforehand. But would certainly love to try some rabbit shooting, never tried it even with an air rifle, So that would be great if you wouldn't mind taking me out with you. cheers Most clubs have a 6 month+ probationary period before they would counter your application anyway. IF you apply for a probationary at a club they inform police to get clearance for you to join the club anyway. Thanks for that, didn't know that. Well I've emailed a couple of local clubs and we will see what the outcome is. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin128 Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Have a read thru this and stay safe... http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/173038-safe-shooting/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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