Clay snobbery....and an excuse to buy a new shotty

[pin]

To be honest I don't like trap shooting, its dull as hell. However I respect that people find it enjoyable and each to their own. I am sure a good few trap shooters dislike sporting, compact sporting or whatever.

 

That said, if someone using an auto can put you off then you are not going to get anywhere, you need complete focus and concentration, its a mind game and if that kind of thing annoys you and disrupts concentration then you need to look at ways to block it. If its not that its someone playing silly ******* and all it takes is one dropped shot or a second barrel at the top level.

[the last engineer]

When I'm shooting next to someone using an auto I'm always wondering when the next cartridge is going to hit me in the head or arm, so yes it does affect my concentration, instead of clearing my mind between shots im thinking about that. Everytime I have shot next to an auto user I have never shot anywhere near my average , It may not be a problem for everyone but for me it is. I don't disagree with the use of autos but they should be used in disciplines where they will not annoy other competitors eg. sporting, I even use my auto occasionally for sporting, but i have seen some idiots load 3 cartridges and use them . As for the safety aspect, I believe you should have some trust in the other people you are shooting with, I am a lot more nervous when I see 12-13 year olds swinging loaded o/u's around (has happened at my local club) than when I see people walking around with an auto.

 

 

somehow i find it hard to beleive all you say, if its all true then im sorry,,,take up crib or some other sport that dosent upset you.

 

i have shot with some great shooters, as indeed others on this site, im just on the other side of the pond, its nothing out of the ordinary realy, international champion shooters, olympic champion shooters, skeet, trap, sporting, it dont matter, the name of the game is concentration regardless of anything else, ive had shells dropped at my feet, ejected at my back, blah blah blah, when you stop tuning out distractions its over, why do you think int'l guns wear blinkers ?? do you think they're shy , not realy, i've watched these guys shoot under conditions that could make a guy cry, and they dont blink, thats why they make it to the top.

 

i wonder how you do if the gun next to you was painted a bright pink or some other colour you dont like, or his/her clothing upset you, i think you need to worry about your game not the other guy's.

 

i hope when you seen those "12-13" year olds swinging loaded guns around you sorted it out imediately and notified the club and their parents of their actions, me id be all over that "like a fat kid on a smartie"

 

i hope you learn to get by the nervous distractions you suffer from, and enjoy the sport more, good luck buddy.

 

 

Martin

[oozelumbird]

As a very new member i hope no one will take offensive at what i have to say on Autos.

I think they are great, my first decent shotgun was an Escort semi auto. You can get a better gun for little money if you go down the route of buying a semi auto.

I used it and it never failed me, but everytime i had it in the gun rack in the club house, someone would pick it up to check the bolt was back. No one was keen on shooting DTL with me. I changed to the 525 and no one ever checked my gun and people dont mind shooting DTL with me. I shoot next to someone with a semi and got my barrel marked due to his cartridges ejecting on me. Not happy but i new the risks so its my problem.

 

This is true though, an O/U with its breech broken is a safe gun, it cant fire, i would hold mine to my head and the pull the trigger and know it was safe, can you say the same about a semi?. They normally hold 3 shoots and i dont know any Semi auto owner who would not check his gun before doing the above.

 

Its an extreme example and would be stupid to do, but it does highlight the only fault of a semi. Not all owners are aware of the added danger of the third shoot. and the issue of barrel blockage which almost killed my friend.

[the last engineer]

As a very new member i hope no one will take offensive at what i have to say on Autos.

I think they are great, my first decent shotgun was an Escort semi auto. You can get a better gun for little money if you go down the route of buying a semi auto.

I used it and it never failed me, but everytime i had it in the gun rack in the club house, someone would pick it up to check the bolt was back. No one was keen on shooting DTL with me. I changed to the 525 and no one ever checked my gun and people dont mind shooting DTL with me. I shoot next to someone with a semi and got my barrel marked due to his cartridges ejecting on me. Not happy but i new the risks so its my problem.

 

This is true though, an O/U with its breech broken is a safe gun, it cant fire, i would hold mine to my head and the pull the trigger and know it was safe, can you say the same about a semi?. They normally hold 3 shoots and i dont know any Semi auto owner who would not check his gun before doing the above.

 

Its an extreme example and would be stupid to do, but it does highlight the only fault of a semi. Not all owners are aware of the added danger of the third shoot. and the issue of barrel blockage which almost killed my friend.

 

ive not taken offence to what you posted but will pick up on a couple of points, never take offence to anyone who wants to check your gun is empty, any gun in a rack and left unattended "must and will be assumed loaded until prooven otherwise", any gun club ive shot at has that as rule one, the diffeence will be the semi is easier to see empty than the double, the block is locked back on the semi, the double will more than likely be closed, thereforew handling will be nessasary.

 

your example of putting any gun to your head, even in jest is a no no my friend......

 

 

Martin

[oozelumbird]

The gun to a head example is an extreme but proves a point i think, it was told to me by a CPSA instructor. As for gun checking your 100% right, but some people use it as an excuse for petty arguments. Being 25 i get the stick from some who are in there 50+ age group. Being refered to as Boy or lad gets your back up and its always been in the context of checking my gun!. Just checking your gun boy is what i use to get. Bloody rude when iam self emplyed and not doing too badly!.

 

Thanks for the comments though, i hope no one thinks i would stick a gun to my head or thinks that i would suggest it in a real life situation. But if people think about it then iam sure it highlights an issue with Semi Autos.

[the last engineer]

The gun to a head example is an extreme but proves a point i think, it was told to me by a CPSA instructor. As for gun checking your 100% right, but some people use it as an excuse for petty arguments. Being 25 i get the stick from some who are in there 50+ age group. Being refered to as Boy or lad gets your back up and its always been in the context of checking my gun!. Just checking your gun boy is what i use to get. Bloody rude when iam self emplyed and not doing too badly!.

 

Thanks for the comments though, i hope no one thinks i would stick a gun to my head or thinks that i would suggest it in a real life situation. But if people think about it then iam sure it highlights an issue with Semi Autos.

 

i can understand the cpsa muppet telling you that,,,,,,,, next time check his scores, that might explain why,, :( just kidding all those "cpsa superstars" , the next time someone takes your gun to check if its empty, offer them a go on it, making sure you tell them of the softer recoil bewing their age may hinder the enjoyment,, wont take long for them to naff off, do it with a smile though, i recall one cocky old *** here giving me greif over my ultra, that was untill the scores were tallied, 3 birds up i offered my "fence post" to him for practice , we use a lot of semis here, myself included, as with any gun in any hands it must be used safely, just make sure your the one following good protocol and rise above contemptuous remarks .

 

 

Martin

[richg]

I couldn't agree more Hot shot.

 

After all a shotgun is precisely that a shotgun. Some handle differently than others but essentially they all do the same job.

 

 

Providing your gun handling is safe and I believe it is as you have already mentioned a safe flag then don't worry about it.

 

If I use my semi on a clay shoot I either carry it in a slip between stands or put the butt in my skeet vest pocket and carry it pointing upwards.

 

But if you want a new gun then go and buy one but don't get one just because of a few funny looks

 

I have shot a Remi auto for thirty five years and the best way to stop the moaners is to shoot better scores than them. In 1994 I got into the England DTL team with mine, came 11th in the world championships,(500 competitors) won the English open single barrel championship with 100 straight and 25 straight in the shoot off, and was runner up in the British double rise, the only ones to complain about my gun were the ones I kept beating (funny that) Keep shooting your auto !!!! Richg

[jonnybgood]

For around that price you could get a goos second hand winchester 101-there a good allround gun.

[Lucent]

Although i am a relative new comer to clay shooting, i do enjoy a much greater leaning towards semi-autos and so i have really enjoyed everyones comments and thoughts.

 

I have just applied for my shotgun licence. As i am only really able to afford one gun, i am torn between buying what i like and would rather shoot with (Franchi Raptor) or bowing to 'peer' pressure and buying the Bettinsoli Diamond.

 

Although it is so tempting to stick it to those who would happily scorn due to their own percieved lofty standing, i can now see that this is not always the case and that the majority of people who grumble do actually have safety concerns and appear to be distracted by their neighbours ejected shells.

 

I am still torn but as i mentioned i am new to both the sport and club and dont want to ruffle anyones feathers. I fear i am swaying towards the Bettinsoli........

[Devon Fox]

No No No noOOOOOOOOO

 

Buy the gun that will give you the most pleasure, in my opinion the franchi is the better gun!, and who wants to conform anyways, semi users stand up and be counted!!

[njc110381]

In my opinion, a break open gun is better for a beginner. Everyone around you will know the gun is safe when open, and will be happier that way. A semi is no better or worse safety wise, but it's harder for others to see. An O/U will be accepted on any shoot, but an auto may not be on the posh ones. You're best off getting what you feel best with though, as you'll probably shoot better with it. If you want an auto, go for it, but the bloke standing next to you on the DTL stand may not be too happy if he gets belted by an empty!