Nial Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) I have volunteered to take a few of the older Scouts from the local troop clay pigeon shooting. The ground we're probably going to has two options... 1) They'll let me take a small group round under my supervision. This is relatively cheap, I only need to cover the cartridges and clays we use. 2) Pay £35/head for an instructor to take the group, everyone gets 25 shots. There's a cheaper option where they get 12 shots but I's rather give them a proper go at a few different targets, 12 'practice shots' then a small competition over 13 odd. (This is quite expensive for some of them, even if I 'sponsor' things a bit). I've only been shooting ~5 years and although I think I'm a safe shot and can take them round safely I'm not sure about how to introduce all the different aspects of shooting/ mounting the gun/ lead etc. Has anyone got any tips or pointers for taking a group of newbies round? Thanks in advance, Nial. Edited July 31, 2012 by Nial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 PM sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Hi Nial, I'm a scout leader myself have done the same thing. I opted for paying a bit extra to have coaches/instructors on each stand for a bit of guidance. You will have enough on your mind looking after them and making sure they're not running amuck. You concentrate on crowd controlling them and let somebody else do the tuition/basic instruction. If you go more regularly, you can relax a bit more when they are more competent and you have more confidence in them. Before we got to the ground, I sat them down at HQ and ran through the obvious stuff. No shouting, no running, no touching anything. Basic muzzle control, don't point it at anything you don't want to kill and watch where the barrels are waving (regardless of being loaded or not). Respect everybody else there and most importantly, respect the weapons and ammo. It's not cowboys and indians, it's not water pistols or nerf. These are real guns that really go bang and really will injure, mame and kill. Listen to what people say, especially the coach and don't accept sweets from strangers. Also, keep the plugs/eardeffs on or in at ALL times regardless of whether you are shooting or not!!!!! I was pleasantly surprised with my lot, they took it all very seriously and to be honest, some of them shoot better than me (but that's not saying much). It teaches them respect and discipline in a fun environment, so fits perfectly with what Scouting is all about. Smaller groups of the older lot are best. Let us know how it goes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) I've had interest from the Scout section in my group (although I'm a cub leader) to go clay shooting, and pressed it forward myself, but the DC is reluctant to even consider it and when it was preposed on my behalf at a meeting it hit a flat no. :( I'd get the instructor in if its only you, as even just 3 or 4 scouts can cause problems if not under almost constant supervision, which is not possible when teaching someone to shoot. Its best you either get some extra shooting savy hands to help, obviously CRB'd and cleared for attending a Scouting event or let the instructo intruct while you talk basics through with the others and keep them occupied. Edited July 31, 2012 by cant hit rabbits 123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nial Posted July 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Thanks for the feedback huffhuff, I think it's only 6-8 of the oldest ones that are going so hopefully they'll behave themselves. There will be at least one leader with them so I would be able to concentrate on the shooting side of things. The problem with the instructor is the £35 a head is more than some of them can afford. I'd put £10/head towards it but it's still quite expensive. How did you organise things? As I said I'm thinking 25 shots each, might this be too many for some of them? I presume you'd start with the gun up shooting incomers or going aways with some simple crossers? As before, any feedback is very welcome. Nial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nial Posted July 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 I've had interest from the Scout section in my group (although I'm a cub leader) to go clay shooting, and pressed it forward myself, but the DC is reluctant to even consider it and when it was preposed on my behalf at a meeting it hit a flat no. On what basis? I googled PRO after Unclestuffy's PM and clay shooting's listed as an approved activity. Also interestingly you can't shoot at animal shaped targets but there's nothing I could see in the shooting rules that say you can't shoot at real animals. You should take them pigeon shooting Nial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) Thanks for the feedback huffhuff, I think it's only 6-8 of the oldest ones that are going so hopefully they'll behave themselves. There will be at least one leader with them so I would be able to concentrate on the shooting side of things. The problem with the instructor is the £35 a head is more than some of them can afford. I'd put £10/head towards it but it's still quite expensive. How did you organise things? As I said I'm thinking 25 shots each, might this be too many for some of them? I presume you'd start with the gun up shooting incomers or going aways with some simple crossers? As before, any feedback is very welcome. Nial. I'd start them off shooting gun up, one eye closed shooting a slow, rising out goer. you can almost shoot directly at it, and the dusted clays will build thier confidence for crossers or the like later on. If you try to start them gun down, two eyes open (confusing for first timers, esspecially if they have shot air rifles or the like with one eye closed.) or with a tricky target they will be disconcerted and not enjoy it, which defeats the point in going! Good luck! I was never told why it was refused, but was discouraged from asking again. I think they are just wary about 'real' guns, even though were a quite rural group. I pointed out all the guidance notes etc and I'm a member of the CPSA but it looks like its just not going to happen. :( Cant shoot animal shaped targets is also general considered to mean actual animals too from what I was told. We got in trouble for even putting rabbit on the menu for a survival camp! I have a feeling there is an anti in a seat of power somewhere in the system, but I've never tracked the issue back to its source. Edited July 31, 2012 by cant hit rabbits 123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Another alternative is to find a local 'hay baler' shoot with a section 11. The benefit of this would be they can put on some real easy targets (simple going away to get the kids hitting them and not dampening spirits by missing) and you might even get it a bit cheaper. The only problem would be 'official' instruction - but i'm sure they'd be happy to help there too. I think I even took a BBQ and made a morning out if it. The friendly farmer was exactly that and only charged us for the cartridges in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robl Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 I’m a new shooter, but a Queen’s Scout, so might be able to offer a comment or two. If some of them can’t afford £35 for a session then it’s unlikely they’ll be taking it up as a sport. That’s fair enough, but it does mean you’re perhaps looking at making it a fun day out rather than an introduction to the sport. It’s always going to be a competition. From the very first shot to the very last – no point in pretending some of them are warm up or practice shots. There all going to be counted by the scouts – so may as well make it official. So, I’d suggest lots of easy close targets – more like a stag night shoot than any sort of real lesson or introduction. If possible, I would suggest trying to get an instructor or mate to come round too. The inclusion of a stranger in the group leadership will make the scouts be on their best behaviour. I know we’d often play silly ******* with our leaders, but we would be more sensible around a ‘real’ instructor or if their was a guest we didn’t know. They will want to talk so will remove their ear protection– I would suggest you either borrow a whole load of mic-headphones – or you make the rest of the group stand a good distance from the shooter. Alternatively, perhaps try and find some quieter rounds – if such things exist. Your scouts may be different to scouts in my day, so some of this may not be all that useful, but I hope some of it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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