Hobber Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Hi, I am hoping to get into clay shooting. I live near Reading, Berkshire and I am 17. Two nearby shooting grounds that I know of are Bisley and EJ Churchill. Bisley's prices are too high, to be honest. I worked out that at EJ Churchill I can get three lessons, including clays and cartridges, for £250 (and also a...free cartridge bag with my initials :(). I can then become a member for £95 which gains me discounts and a free lesson (which would be my fourth). After my lessons, a two hour, caddied, session of DTL or skeet would cost me £78 including clays and club cartridges. So, my first question is: are there any other good shooting grounds nearby where I can learn to shoot for less? I'm thinking within a 45 minute drive, though the closer the better, or accesible by public transport (I don't mind a bit of a walk at the end of it, I could use the excercise). Is EJ Churchill a good place to learn to shoot? Their prices for lessons and caddied sessions seem reasonable to me (in my vast experience ) but the prices of their cartridges are extortionate (£30 for 100, for member). I thought that I could drastically cut the cost of practice sessions by buying my own cartridges (is £110 per 1000 a good price?). Unfortunately, I do not have a SGC so (I think) it would be illegal for me to buy my own cartridges from a shop. Is it possible to get a SGC just for cartridges? I am going to university next year and moving to the US after that so there seems little point in buying my own gun. I expect the answer will be "it depends" but: how long would my SGC, should I apply for one, take to be granted? I would have thought that a SGC purely for cartridges wouldn't be much bother and would get waved through but I'm probably kidding myself. That is assuming EJ Churchill allow the use of non-club ammunition in their club guns which, thinking about it, seems unlikely. I'll give them a call tommorow but in the mean time, does anyone know? My main concerns are price and accesibility. I can't travel very far and, being a student, I have little money. Any help you can give would be much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Hobber, Firstly, you can hold an SGc without buying a gun, therefore you could use it just for buying cartridges. Albeit, if you want to improve at shooting clays then your own gun is a must. On the clay ground front I would send a PM to Apbuild as your are on his doorstep and he runs a small clay shoot and will probably be able to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Another way of getting lessons is to go with somebody you know who shoots and doesn't mind you borrowing a gun and teaching you the basics. But lessons with a qualified instructor will help no end. Practice, practice, practice is the only true way to get good at it, some of the top guns shoot 3-4000 cartridges a week. £30 for 100 cartridges is extortion, those things want to be heat seeking missiles at that price As for your SGC, I think I am right in saying that you would still need to have in place a cabinet even though you might only want the SGC for cartridges, as the SGC can't be processed for cartridges only. The two grounds you mentioned do cost more for lessons but EJ Churchills has a good rep, albeit a bit elitist same as Bisley. But you get what you pay for same with everything in life. Cost at Lakenheath for an half hour lesson including cartridges and clays is £40, but I take my own cartridges and gun so get it for about £25.00. Hope this helps :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 I shoot at Bisley regularly, and have shot at EJ Churchill's ground quite often too. I'd opt for Bisley any day. It's much more varied and spacious, and it's better value. However I have bought a gun through Matt Hunt at Churchills, and it was superb and friendly service. Try APBuild, or any other smaller and more local shooting ground? £30 for 100 cartridges is ludicrous - another incentive to apply for your SGC!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 I have NEVER took any lessons in Clay pigeon shooting and to be perfectly honest i think untill you have a go at Clays first to see how good you are and even if you NEED lessons it's wasted money If you know someone who goes clay shooting ask if you can go along for the day and shoot about 50 clays each. Pay for the clays and carts inc theirs for the day (cheaper than a lesson) and ask for pointers etc too they will be happy to help. Even with the coffees thrown in it's cheaper than a lesson Take a trip or two a week if possible and see how you get on. THEN if your not improving perhaps get a few lessons. If you were closer to Me i would take you to the club myself. Perhaps if there is a PW Member near you they can help you out?? LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 i agree with LG, whats the fun if you are good straight away? as long as you are safe then thats the important thing ive only had one lesson and that was 15 minutes long and free at the cla game fair when i was 14. just enjoy your shooting and dont be afraid to ask someone where you are going wrong, anybody who wont help you isnt worth listening to anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dicko Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Give these people a try http://www.happyvalleyclays.co.uk/ they are local to you. Dicko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 EJ Churchill is an expensive place, it is aimed fairly and squarely at the 'shooting golfer' market, with 'caddies' and their membership offerings. As advised , you would be better off seeking local clay shoots and having a go with some other shooters. Happy Valley is a good little ground but won't be very easy to get to by public transport, but it must be the nearest ground to you. Four Counties is another good ground over towards Newbury: http://www.fourcountiesctc.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobber Posted October 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Thanks very much for your replies so far I have contacted APBuild and will give him a call tommorow. Happey Valley shooting club is very close, I'll definitely check them out. I did look at Four Counties Clay Club but it says they an SGC is required for membership. Is that correct? EJ Churchill told me that 3-4 lessons was the norm before you were allowed to shoot on your own so I had been going on that assumption. I'd like one lesson just to pick up the basic idea of how it works (well, beyond "shoot the clay thing" ) but beyond that I'd be happy to shoot on my own so long as the club allow it. I would shoot with someone I knew if only I knew someone who shot clays but I don't I'm afraid. If a PW member would be happy to shoot with me that'd be great. Also, a little clarification: EJ Chuchill charge £30 for 100 cartridges and clays, not just cartridges. It's £15 for 100 cartridges which isn't that terrible I don't think (again, in my vast experience ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 30 for 100 shells and clays, are you sure? I'll have to get down there, that's a right bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swanky Doodle Pigeon Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 The Happy Valley website looks pretty good. My lessons were at Howard Lindsay in Hants - A little more than 45 mins from Reading though: http://www.howardlindsay.co.uk/index.php?page_id=100014 It's £40 for an hours lesson. I had 3 lessons at Howard Lindsay before I joined the club at Grazeley just down the road from Reading. I've only been clay shooting half a dozen times, but one thing I have noticed is that everyone is very welcoming and willing to help with your shooting. My advice would be to get your lessons in and make sure your safe. At most small clubs I would imagine you'll need to have your own gun but at Howard Lindsay the website states they'll lend you one for a tenner. Also there a nice Go Shooting site which is part of the BASC site where you can search for shooting: http://www.basc.org.uk/content/shoot_searc...e&submit=go It's where I found out about Grazeley. Happy hunting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 To be honest, you shouldn't have too much trouble borrowing a gun at a smaller shoot. When I turned up at my local club a couple of months ago, a chap I've never met before loaned me his gun to use and give me some basic tuition. So far he wont take anything for it, even though I've used a few of his carts if my box runs out! I'll have to use Xmas as an excuse I think. If you don't have a cert, I think you have to have somebody with you at all times. Even at a club. Good luck with it, there's a lot of friendly people out there that wont cost you a fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 I did look at Four Counties Clay Club but it says they an SGC is required for membership. Is that correct? You don't need to join to shoot there. Joining normally brings cheaper enry to shoots, but means you have to shoot their regulary to get any use out of it. I prefer to go here, there and everywhere for the variety, so I get bored with a certain ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobber Posted October 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 I've contacted APBuild and I think I will go to his shoot and have a go - he has generously offered to let me borrow one of his guns but I wouldn't like to impose regularily so I need somewhere where I can use a club gun on a regular basis. It would also be nice to bring a friend occasionally. I've emailed Happy Valley CTSC asking for a phone number so I can ask about prices and things. Got a few questions: How much (in terms of price) is reasonable for: * A 1 hour lesson including clays and cartridges and gun rental * 50 clays worth of shooting time, including clays and cartridges and gun rental * 50 clays worth of shooting time including clays, but not cartridges or gun rental Does anyone know how much the would be at Happy Valley? How long is it normal to shoot for each day (for a beginner like me)? How long do you normally shoot for in order to see 50 clays i.e. if 50 clays is two rounds of DTL, how long would that take to do? I'm thinking about getting a SGC now. How long should it take for me to get one from Thames Valley police? Any advise? How much should I expect to pay for a suitable gun cabinet? Where should I go to look for cheap guns (I'm thinking about £250?)? Sorry for all the questions, I like to plan everything out and know what I'm doing. Especially when it involves money, the police and firearms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 I've contacted APBuild and I think I will go to his shoot and have a go - he has generously offered to let me borrow one of his guns but I wouldn't like to impose regularily so I need somewhere where I can use a club gun on a regular basis. It would also be nice to bring a friend occasionally. I've emailed Happy Valley CTSC asking for a phone number so I can ask about prices and things. I share my guns with people on a regular basis, they are shooting implements and a few more shells won't hurt, you will probably find most folks won't mind you doing this while you work out if its for you Got a few questions: A few? How much (in terms of price) is reasonable for: * A 1 hour lesson including clays and cartridges and gun rental * 50 clays worth of shooting time, including clays and cartridges and gun rental * 50 clays worth of shooting time including clays, but not cartridges or gun rental Vastly depends on area, quality of instruction and number of targets. Anything from £40-120 depending the above How long is it normal to shoot for each day (for a beginner like me)? I would try and not shoot more than 100 birds a day, lots to take in and it takes a while to get used to standing correctly. build up to more, most folks don't shoot more than 100 a day regularly. How long do you normally shoot for in order to see 50 clays i.e. if 50 clays is two rounds of DTL, how long would that take to do? Will vary a lot, perhaps 15 minutes for a round of DTL, if all the guns are experienced perhaps less, depends on the discipline really I'm thinking about getting a SGC now. How long should it take for me to get one from Thames Valley police? Any advise? How much should I expect to pay for a suitable gun cabinet? Where should I go to look for cheap guns (I'm thinking about �250?)? Apply, for SGC you don't (currently) need to show good reason, no harm in doing so now. It will help if you have shot a few places a few times and can provide a number for someone you have shot with. Just get the app in, a cab is anything from under a ton, waiting times will vary, someone in that area will be able to advise. You can pick up a reasonable gun for that money if you look hard enough, learn to shoot first and then buy one, use as many as you can. Until you shoot gun down the fit doesn't matter, within reason. If you start mounted you can shoot with just about everything, when you move to gun down fit is everything. Sorry for all the questions, I like to plan everything out and know what I'm doing. Especially when it involves money, the police and firearms Not at all, don't know how much at the ground for a lesson, or how long the area in question take to issue certs. There are lads on here who can help with the cabinet for a very cheap price, go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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