How did we all do today

[Catamong]

Hey Mungler,

 

If there's nothing going on in seedy Essex on Sunday, I'm going down to real carrot crunching land on Sunday, Wylye Valley SG, it's going to be a real toughie, good practice for the Essex Masters, Pin's up for it, (subject to an official sanction from the head of forward planning & finance..!!)

 

Jonesy's going to be there.. , so it's worth the effort..??, Why don't you come along..??

 

Cat.

[pin]

I've got a provisional pass for it, just need to work out if I can be chewed with the drive..

[Catamong]

No worries, I'm driving, I've been there so many times I'll be on Autopilot..!!

 

Cat.

[tosspot]

This is a ground i'd like to do at some point, but working this Sun

 

next time maybe

 

shoot straight lads (and laddess)

[MC]

I met up with BTMS and Suffolk Shooter at Parkford this morning, SS went off for his coaching and Brian and myself went and shot some sporting.

 

We shot a couple of rounds of 25 neither of which were scored which was just as well as both of us struggled on one particular bird.

 

We then shot a round using Brians new toy, A Hatsan escort semi in fullo cammo. Smashed a few with that before a tea break and debrief with SS.

 

Richard Ford only reinforced what everyone else has been telling him for weeks, apart from one obvious problem but I'll let SS tell you about that.

 

We then shot 2 rounds of skeet, I don't know what the others finished on but I shot 21/25 and 19/25.

 

All in all a good morning .

 

Oh yes and Markio showed up and shot some skeet on his own, we must have smelled or something

[Suffolk shooter]

MC,

 

When you say everyone else, why don't you just admit it, it was you that told me

 

Richard Ford, I have to say first time I met the guy today, but he is just like his brother Alistair. Both are amiable coaches who have all the time and patience in the world and make it simple, fun and enjoyable.

 

The one big thing I found out today was the type of glasses I wear are of no use to me for shooting, and I now have to get myself a set of large lens glasses (Aviator style). When I first start my glasses are fine, but on doubles/second bird the recoil is tending to make the glasses drop on my nose and therefore distort the sight picture. Richard stated that this was 90% of my problem.

 

One of the other things he noticed was the tightness of my grip on the stock grip. It wasn't tight enough causing the stock to move in my shoulder on recoil and this had a tendancy to flip the muzzles up meaning I miss over the top on second birds.

 

He stated that my stance, and hold positions were good, with only one or two lapses during the two hour lesson. I must practise dry mounting although in the main it was pretty good.

 

My swing was good for the majority except when I had a tendancy to rush, which I know I do, but find hard to slow it down.

 

The above was all done on the skeet range as this is what I have asked him to coach me in. He also stated that the O/U Sporter I have had recently cast to fit me is too low, and this is why I have been getting hit on the cheek. This was disappointing really as I had a lesson booked with a try gun when I had this altered, and feel that I have been done over somewhat especially seeing as I never had this problem before I had it cast

 

I got Richard to explain to MC what my faults wer, so that when we go shooting together he can correct me and remind me. As Richard said, when I missed I knew where I missed, but didn't know the reason for it. Now I do, so with a bit of time and effort I can eliminate these errors and get down to some real score making.

 

After the lesson the two rounds with BTMS and MC I didn't keep score, only because I wanted to try and focus on what I was just taught and ensuring as best as possible I did those things. No surprise I didn't straight either round, but came away feeling better about why I missed, because I knew the reason.

 

Have to say that BTMS shot like a demon in the first round, what the hell he could have become if he took it serious god only knows. Well done chap

 

SS

[MC]

SS,

 

OK It was me that told you what you are doing wrong, maybe I should charge you £50 then you might take notice

 

I certainly don't think you should feel done over, one thing is for certain is that Bob Radcliffe will not do anything that isn't necessary.

 

The one thing that doesn't make any sense is that your sporter is heavily cast to the right and even you have said that you now look straight down the rib. Your skeet gun has had nothing done to it yet Richard said it is better suited to you. The comb can be raised easily by using one of the plastic combs that I have on my .410 which you are welcome to try whenever you like.

 

I have a feeling that a skeet gun will be as much use at the Essex Masters as a chocolate teapot.

 

Come out on sunday and shoot at tollesbury and the Local YFC shoot and get used to your sporter.

[pin]

I think, and I don't have the experience to say this but will say it anyway, you look for reasons for missing in your kit, not your head.

 

Stick with something for 6 months and then think about changing it.

 

With the best will in the world people who sell services are duty bound to find something wrong with your kit.

 

Shooting sporting clays gun down is a waste of time and probably most of the reason you hit 70% rather than 85%.

 

You are a capable shooter, we have all seen you shoot extremely well, your problem is consistency, not your kit.

[Suffolk shooter]

Can't do sunday mate as its my youngest's 1st b'day and we plan to go to thrigby Wildlife park for the day.

Instead I'll be dreaming that I am on Safari hunting the tigers, lions etc

 

I must admit it struck me as odd too about the skeet/sporter cast/not altered thing, but then again I always thought the problem with the sporter was the length of the stock which I seem to remember that more than one erson commented on at the Monday madness shoot ::

 

Shot the YFC shoot at Stowlangtoft this afternoon, course was tricky as always but more so than the last couple of years. Decided to shoot with the skeet having shot 200 odd in the morning with it and got used to it.

Did 16 ex 40 first round and then got the sporter out and did 18ex40 on the second round. When I left it was being led with 39 ex 40 and the closest other was a 33 and 34 ex 40. Some good shots were there as always and it surprised me to find that they didn't figure?

 

Same old same old though, the good shots turned up early did a round and then sat back and waited until just before the end to see what was needed to win ensuring that nobody else could then beat their score.

i watched one bloke straight three stands before I left and then he was off over the road to the last stand. Don't know how he finished up, but watching him was good. Such a relaxed, smooth style, let the gun do the work and resulted in good clean kills every time. No chips, front/back edges etc.

 

Shot there with Mick from Wattisham who only carded a 25 ex 40 and then a 19 ex 40, so you can see it wasn't easy. Good fun though.

 

SS

[MC]

I was waiting for Jamie's reply but I haven't got all night.

 

PIN,

 

Shooting sporting clays gun up restrcts movement and ability to react to the birds flight. Most people who shoot gun up will miss a clay if if deviates from it's path.

 

If you read and understand John Bidwell's book Move, mount, shoot then it will all become clear.

 

When you are pigeon shooting do you sit in a hide with the gun in your shoulder? No of course you don't. I now that clays and live quarry are 2 different things but the ability to bring the gun to your shoulder in the correct position ahead of the clay and fire in one fluid movement is, I believe the secret to successful clay shooting.

 

Premounting in Skeet and trap is accepted although I still do not do it as the birds all fly exactly the same path everytime. If they don't a no bird is called.

[Suffolk shooter]

I think, and I don't have the experience to say this but will say it anyway, you look for reasons for missing in your kit, not your head.

 

Stick with something for 6 months and then think about changing it.

 

With the best will in the world people who sell services are duty bound to find something wrong with your kit.

 

Shooting sporting clays gun down is a waste of time and probably most of the reason you hit 70% rather than 85%.

 

You are a capable shooter, we have all seen you shoot extremely well, your problem is consistency, not your kit.

 

Pin, your not wrong and infact Richard didn't try to sell me anything, declining other lessons until I sorted out the glasses problem. Both MC and BTMS were there when he mentioned it and BTMS even checked it for himself.

 

With regards to the Head thing, you're spot on again. As I said to MC, I know its what we've all been saying, but with all due respect to everyone I shoot with, they're not qualified coaches, and it was good to get it enforced by a recognised Coach and a GB Team coach to boot.

 

The good thing is it seems that it's not an awful lot to change and it needs me and MC stood behind me to hammer it home and ensure I correct those errors. I don't want excuses, I want results and I'm not going to stop till I get there.

 

With regards to gun down/gun up, I can shoot gun down extremely well as today proved, but I have a tendancy to rush especially on the doubles (Remember this was predominantly a skeet lesson, although the same lessons can be carried over to sporting, DTL, ABT etc.), where I'm thinking about the second bird before I've killed the first.

 

Hopefully a bit more practise and I could post abetter score each time

 

SS

[pin]

Shooting English skeet gun down is a waste of time, completely and utterly. The birds come when you call for them and they come at a known speed and distance, there is absolutely no advantage to be had not pre-mounting the gun.

 

You are bang on, we are not coaches and again with the best will in the world we won't say something if we don't think its right - we (I?) don't have any ground to stand on when "coaching". I can tell if a newbie is way behind a target, I can tell if he stops the gun and I can tell if he lifts his head - beyond that I should keep my mouth shut

 

Proof of the head thing is my two performances at Lakenheath. First time there I shot 81% of close to 200 clays. I shot those with the same chokes as the second time round, the only difference being the first time I thought I had 1/4 and 1/2. The second time I knew I actually had 1/2 and 3/4 and I shot just over 70% or something.

 

Shouldn't have made a blind bit of difference, I was only 2% behind tosspot who is an extremely capable shooter who is shooting way over his B classification and I am sure it won't be long until he wins something significant.

 

All in the head mate

[Suffolk shooter]

Without making an excuse up, I feel that the weather last time we were there had a lot to do with it as well PIN. It was an extremley Cold and windy day. Just so you don't feel it was you and the 1/2, 3/4 choke thing we all dropped more birds than the previous time. It was equal for all of us and we all dropped, so I think its fair to say that is the reason more than a head thing.

 

Must admit I was impressed with TP's shooting and as you say it would be nice if he can go and win something signifcant, GO ON TOSSPOT!

 

On the ESK pre mount thing, its what you feel comfortable with. I always used to shoot gun up, but now feel comfortable shooting gun down except on High One and Low Seven. When I have a crisis of confidence I go back to premounting, but feel as MC said just now, that the move, mount, shoot technique does have its advantageous. BUT Big George and **** Faulds will argue as they shoot gun up and win major trophies that thats the way to go, but surely John Bidwell can't be wrong.

 

SS

[pin]

If I am honest about the second Lakenheath shoot I was furious with myself. I shot like a complete **** and I could have done 20 birds better, easily. I was making simple mistakes and using the weather as an excuse.

 

I proved the weather isn't a factor if you are "in the zone", at Hornet last month. I shot terribly until I wandered off before the last two stands and gave myself a sound kicking, mentally.

 

The last two stands people were not fairing well on, I watched enough of them to know they found them tricky. There were 25-30mph winds and it was cold.

 

The guy who won it shot 7ex10 on the second last stand, I shot 9ex10. Horrible close in low crosser about 4ft off the deck with wind helping it on. The trap was only 15ft to your right and you had a restricted view to get on it. The second bird was a quartering incoming battue which I watched shooter after shooter blank.

 

Mental attitude has so much more to do with it, regardless of technique or equipment. Watch Catamong shoot if you need proof of this, he's won a lot of things and he's always thereabouts if he doesn't, England sporting team shot to boot.

 

He won't take anything as a given, you can see it in his face, when he moves to the stand he has a gameplan and he's focussed - you could drop a hand grenade in the stand and he wouldn't notice. He makes every single target as easy as he can and nothing is a given.

 

That's what's required, tosspot is the same, he deserves his "ice man" nickname.

[Markio]

Well apart from the bizarre smell emanating from Parkford SG i had reasonable productive day. As anyone who has shot with me knows i'm not a good sporting shot but i'm an even poorer skeet shot. Well since trying skeet at Parkford i've warmed to the game and today after 50 practice shots managed what i think is a respectable 17 ex 25.

 

I thought i did ok on my practice laps till my lovely assistant (not SS) was scoring and the pressure (cough cough) got to me and i cocked up in the text book manner by giving stand 2 high bird lead and royally ******* up stand 3, 4 & 5. Still it gives me some indication of where to practice on. Slightly frustrating as i thought i knew what the lead pictures on those stands were.

 

Not all to concerned as a i still enjoyed the round so there.

 

P.S. I saw a Golden Retriever roaming the car park looking lost. Jamie, can you help with our enquiries?

[Suffolk shooter]

I thought i did ok on my practice laps till my lovely assistant (not SS). I should hope not my hairs not that long

 

P.S. I saw a Golden Retriever roaming the car park looking lost. Jamie, can you help with our enquiries? Sorry mate explain that one, after all I didn't choke on pressure of me being th eonly one there

 

 

SS

 

PS, hope you kiddie free day went well Mark, Personally I can think of better things to be doing when we haven't got the kids

[Markio]

I thought i did ok on my practice laps till my lovely assistant (not SS). I should hope not my hairs not that long

 

P.S. I saw a Golden Retriever roaming the car park looking lost. Jamie, can you help with our enquiries? Sorry mate explain that one, after all I didn't choke on pressure of me being th eonly one there

 

 

SS

 

PS, hope you kiddie free day went well Mark, Personally I can think of better things to be doing when we haven't got the kids

 

Hahahahaha! I'll get my coat!

[Suffolk shooter]

Going to shoot at Radcliffes on Tuesday night with MC if you're up for it

 

SS

[Markio]

Going to shoot at Radcliffes on Tuesday night with MC if you're up for it

 

SS

 

Who me? Thanks for the offer mate but apart from my usual 50 bird tendring shoot next week i'm all done till i get paid on 20th. After that i'm all yours! :angry:

[tosspot]

Guys

 

been reading the last few posts with interest

 

if i may chip in my two penneth worth on the shooting gun up debate

 

been shooting clays gun fully mounted for only the last 5/6 months, those at the monday madness can testify to that

 

in fact when i first shot with Catamong it was one of the first things i picked his brains about cos he does and reassuringly said it's one less thing to worry about, knowing before you take the shot that the gun is snug and correct

 

i can honestly say that by premounting my scores have improved by a fair margin, it works for me

 

just gotta throw that all out the window for FITASC lol

 

SS

 

i've come to the conclusion that this clay lark is soo much in your head, especially skeet and DTL and you must be "happy" and confident in yourself, style, gun ect PMA is a must

 

as pin has already said you know you can shoot we know it we've seen you

 

you just gotta nail it all down and keep your head straight for 100 birds

 

Markio

 

Well apart from the bizarre smell emanating from Parkford SG i had reasonable productive day.

 

****

 

 

TP

[Mungler]

SS,

 

Sounds to me your instructor doesn't know what he's talking about if he didn't menion midichlorians or have some very dark glasses / a blaster shield for you to shoot with.

 

Seriously though, if you know you have a "knack" for shooting but its all gone to **** and your head is full of doubt, then ditch all your guns, get the best one you can lay your hands on that feels good in the shoulder, get a set of Teagues and then be done with it. The rest will be down to you and Specsavers.

 

For me it was relaxing whilst shooting, not rushing and trying to enjoy more of it - if you head is full of nonsense, must check specs, must check gun mount, must close / open eye, what choke should I use, must straight this stand and then must get at least 6 before the last 2 stands to tie.... then it's all too much.

[MC]

Mungler,

 

You are spot on, it is all in your head and no ammount of coaching etc will change that, even Pin had said he went off and gave himself a mental kicking.

 

And as for relaxing that has helped me no end in the last few months, as well as the Blaser, World Cup cartridges and the jedi code.

 

It is all down to personal preference whether you shoot gun up or down but like tosspot says what are you going to do if you ever decide to shoot FITASC or Olympic disciplines?

[Mungler]

Okay, just got back from the Sunday local, got 49 ex 50 today on second round out - happy and ****** off all at the same time.

 

Dropped the 1st one out of stand 4 which was a pair of fast crossers, one high and one low - was probably a matter of inches short on the first one - not quite enough lead, but there we go

[MC]

Never mind mate,

 

At least it wasn't a sitter that you dropped, better luck next time.

 

You really need to get out and shoot some difficult clays though

 

What did you get first time out?

 

I really must come and shoot with you one sunday. when is your next one?

[Suffolk shooter]

Never mind mate,

 

At least it wasn't a sitter that you dropped, better luck next time.

 

You really need to get out and shoot some difficult clays though

 

What did you get first time out?

 

I really must come and shoot with you one sunday. when is your next one?

 

 

Enough about that MC, what happened today at Tollesbury?? You're keeping quite so I assume not to good

 

Mungler, just for the record I have never really bothered about chokes using whats in the gun at the time, however I have to thank MC for putting me on the right track with regards to Ctlinder and 1/4 when we shot at the Fenns. Must admit though bit disappointed when the coach didn't ask to go into the lotus position and starting Hoooommmming as a pre-requiste to shooting

 

I kept thinking be the clay, be the clay though

 

Guys cheers for all comments, duly noted and move on.

 

NEXT...........

 

SS