An acceptable score ?

[Kes]

A bit of advice please - how good a shot does one have to be to consider entering competitions ?

Give an example of a clay ground and score.

I'll have a go and see if I am anywhere near at one of these grounds - Mickley Hall, Catton Hall (nr Frodsham - Cheshire), Sealand - possibly West Mid Shooting Ground - done know if and when thats open ?

Need to improve my shooting so give me (and others) a target to chase.

Thanks for your input.

Edited August 21, 2014 by Kes

[Sian]

There'll be lots of people who won't go near a competition until they are well up in the scores but I didn't care. Right from the very beginning of my shooting the main bulk of my shooting was competitions from registered to big competitions. My scores were carp of course and still are but in the main you get really good courses and a steep learning curve and you tend not to live in a world of thinking you are quite good at the little straw baler when in reality you are not. Nothing wrong with straw balers it's just that it's quite a big and varied world out there if you are prepared to travel around a bit and also shooting at the same club all the time really isn't great in the long run.

 

I really would not care too much about your score - go for the experience. If you don't want to pay for the competition part just go birds only. There'll only be a few where you don't get to choose.

[grrclark]

Will be interested to see the answers to this as well Kes, although the shooting grounds in question wouldn't mean anything to me.

 

I was really disappointed I couldn't make the PW charity shoot as would have been a nice benchmark.

Sian, I think you are right, competition really focuses you on improving, I should just take the plunge and do the same thing.

[V8 90]

Just go along & enjoy it - don't worry about your score mate - we all started somewhere In April this year I shot my first 100 DTL - I went to Beverly Clay Ground & had a go, loved it & now it's all I shoot.

[Guest stevo]

Kes ,

 

what about having a look a CPSA Reg shoot scores , would that not tell you what your after mate ?

 

just a thought .

 

regards stevo

[Guest stevo]

Kes ,

 

these are the results of the 100 bird shoot at Catton Hall on the 27th july 2014 . that should tell you what you want to know

 

regards stevo

 

 

 

 

 

High Gun

B.Davies 99

AA.

1. G Stirzaker 95

2. K Clarke 88

T Oldham 88

 

A.

1. D Wincott 92

J Bridges 92

2. P Ibbotson 89

B.

1. D Whitehead 82

2. W Mellor 80

M Colclough 80

 

C.

1. JR Faulkner 65

2. D Turner 63

F Peel 63

G Jones 63

[Hamster]

If you can safely use a shotgun you're good to go simple as that. It is unlikely your score would be that low that anyone would even care or notice and the only real danger you're in is people wanting to talk to you and offer some advice but somehow don't think you'll embarras yourself.

[MAL S]

just enter a few comps and forget about the scores

[Dougy]

  On 21/08/2014 at 20:14, MAL S said:

just enter a few comps and forget about the scores

+1 last time I entered I was with a couple of AA shooters, I didn't expect to match there scores or even get in the same street. But a couple of stands I actually beat them on kills, as a novice you should be happy with 50% then just try and improve on that.

 

Just remember we are supposed to be enjoying ourselves its our hobby.

[HDAV]

Just get out there and enjoy (you don't have to hand the card in but no harm in doing so) its a good record to see how you improve. CPSA clubman membership will cove ryou for a "nominated" ground.. but almost all will let you shoot Birds only (im not a fan of birds only personally)

[Jega]

Just get out there shoot the bloody things and .ENJOY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ryle]

Dont expect to be shooting scores like people who have shot for years and years and who shoot more than once or even twice a week if you have not shot for all too long.

 

There is no acceptable score. You will always be better than someone. You will always be worse than someone. Thats life!

[welshwarrior]

My wife can and shoot a few with me when she was first shooting (before a baby) she never cared what she scored until she came third in the C Class and got £20! lots people where there just for fun, of course there are some who want to beat George.

 

At the end of the day this meant to be a fun hobby.

[Kes]

The reason I ask is because I shoot maybe 70-80 out of a hundred but have never been competitive really. I would like to beat Mr Digweed but thats not going to happen. Last round I tried harder and shot 84 %. Time is of the essence because for me from here, its all downhill - so I'd like to be the best shot I can be.

I have only ever had one lesson to start game shooting 20 odd years ago, perhaps I should consider having an hour or two? As for pleasure - every time I go out with the gun and/or a friend so i'm already rather lucky.

Are there sporting competitions ? I'm bad at unnatural clay targets but sporting/DTL would be interesting - any competitions of either near Chester/ in the NW?

Thanks chaps.

[Will Poon]

This will help you find various comps in areas https://www.cpsa.co.uk/fixtures

[ehb102]

  On 22/08/2014 at 06:15, Kes said:

The reason I ask is because I shoot maybe 70-80 out of a hundred but have never been competitive really. I would like to beat Mr Digweed but thats not going to happen. Last round I tried harder and shot 84 %. Time is of the essence because for me from here, its all downhill - so I'd like to be the best shot I can be.

I have only ever had one lesson to start game shooting 20 odd years ago, perhaps I should consider having an hour or two? As for pleasure - every time I go out with the gun and/or a friend so i'm already rather lucky.

Are there sporting competitions ? I'm bad at unnatural clay targets but sporting/DTL would be interesting - any competitions of either near Chester/ in the NW?

Thanks chaps.

 

The CPSA runs the sporting competitions that people use to judge how good they are at clay shooting (known as "registered"). You don't have to be a member to shoot them. Check the CPSA website for fixtures. Often the registered shoots are squadded, so you might need to book in. They have strict criteria on how many birds a C class shooter should be able to hit, how many a B class shooter and so on. 75% is roughly where B class starts in sporting, but it depends on the shoot on the day. You can look at the spread of scores by ground or by individual. The classes are set by percentages so are an accurate reflection of how well people are doing compared to others. DTL is classified separately to sporting and they do competitions at different times.

 

Not all shooting coaches are equal and if some teach you how to shoot they may not teach you how to compete. I'm no great shakes at shooting but I learned to compete from my coach and in a sporting competition I definitely look better than I am as a general shooter. Most people squeak like hell when they find out how much a top sporting coach charges, but I've found my investment to have born fruit; people think I'm competitive even though I don't see it myself. One lesson with a really good coach is worth two with the cheap local guy IMHO. Also, a good coach will be candid about what you need to do to achieve a certain goal. Usually that will involve shooting a registered competition as often as possible.

[dougall]

An average sporting score at a club shoot I would think is @ 65%.The top 10 will be 85-95%.

At a registered at a larger ground/bigger event would be similar,however the targets are a good 10% harder,so if you average say 80% at your regular ground I would guesstimate your scores at Catton/EJ Churchills etc at 70%...Some folk like to do 'serious competition' alot don't.If you can hit 70%+ on the larger grounds you are a good shot,80%+ you are a very good shot to get in contention you really need to be shooting alot/verging on semi professional!!?...the Solomons/Childerhouses/Stirzakers of this world shoot I would guess 3 competitions a weekend every weekend it would be a rare talent that could compete with these boys without a similar commitment to time/practise/cartridge sponorships etc.......

[STOTTO]

  On 22/08/2014 at 06:15, Kes said:

The reason I ask is because I shoot maybe 70-80 out of a hundred but have never been competitive really. I would like to beat Mr Digweed but thats not going to happen. Last round I tried harder and shot 84 %. Time is of the essence because for me from here, its all downhill - so I'd like to be the best shot I can be.

I have only ever had one lesson to start game shooting 20 odd years ago, perhaps I should consider having an hour or two? As for pleasure - every time I go out with the gun and/or a friend so i'm already rather lucky.

Are there sporting competitions ? I'm bad at unnatural clay targets but sporting/DTL would be interesting - any competitions of either near Chester/ in the NW?

Thanks chaps.

 

If you are capable of shooting 84% at your local shoot there will probably be an obvious reason, (to a knowledgeable instructor) why a good percentage of the rest of the targets are eluding your gun. So if competition is part of your forthcoming agenda it might be a worthwhile exercise to invest in a couple of lessons from a recommended coach.

[Westward]

Because of other commitments my opportunities to shoot on Sundays is limited to about once every 6 weeks or so. I can then go to a local club as a guest and pay £14 per 50 clays, set as 5 stands of 10 and shooting in a squad where we trap and score each other. Some targets are okay although most are fairly close and with little variety. Those who want to shoot 100 pay £26 and just shoot the same stands twice. Alternatively I can go to a 100 bird registered shoot, set up as 12 stands, each with refs and shoot a much greater variety of mostly fairly testing targets. For this I pay £38 comp or £32/33 birds only. Most registered shoots will let non CPSA members shoot birds only and unregistered.

 

I'm never going be a contender but I have my own goals and enjoy being tested, so this Sunday I shan't be going to the club, instead I shall drop my wife off in Warminster to visit a friend then whizz over to Urchfont to have a go their registered 100 birder.

Edited August 22, 2014 by Westward

[TwoJackRussells]

It doesnt matter what you hit or what you miss as long as you do it safely and with a smile on your face!

[HSV_V8]

I'm pretty much a novice, only started late last year to the sport but already booked in to do the British open next weekend, I don't expect to hit more than 50-60% but I like the variation of going to different grounds with different settings and just enjoy it! Hopefully the scores will improve and keep setting a higher target for yourself.

[Gordon R]

If you want to improve - shoot a large variety of different grounds. It is easy to get comfortable at a local shoot and then come unstuck elsewhere.

 

On my avatar - 1988 (Although magazine was published in 1989) - I was in my prime. I travelled round to anywhere where they were dishing out prizes, money or better still - a pool shoot. My shooting improved, as did my confidence. I went to any ground expecting to win something. I now shoot mainly at a couple of grounds and my shooting has deteriorated. Age, a few injuries, worsening eyesight and a couple of near death experiences have all taken their toll.

 

Nowadays, 45/46 out of 50 would be my better scores. Anything below 40, I consider a disaster and sulk until the next shoot.

[Kes]

Thanks all for your perspectives - I'll try DTL first as I tend to get better results with that and then a couple of competitions, I'll try the one at Catton Hall (Frodsham) for a bit of fun.

Have to say I dont like 'trying', as it seems to take the fun out of it but will do a bit more and find a coach who perhaps can polish my style a bit for a little more success.

Thanks - good of you all to offer advice.

[pontbeck]

84% at sporting is excellent

84% at DTL is poor

[Gordon R]

You are in Cheshire - Beretta on here is one of the very best coaches - right on your doorstep. if you seriously want to get better - look no further.