Catamong Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 That 87% is bang on my average, which is just that, an average score, not a winning score. That's why I left early without finishing the course, I don't do that very often, and it wasn't an easy decision to make, I just knew that if I left it any later I wouldn't get home till midnight. Still, your posse were a great bunch of folks, OK, they all talk with funny accents, but putting that aside, they were a great laugh to be with. B) Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 I shot the Colchester Gun Club at Radcliffes shooting ground tonight and to be honest I firmly believe it was set up by a Sadistical masochist, if that is possible. The birds were incredibly difficult and most of them were into the setting evening sun. I struggled to a half respectable 30/40 and to bo honest I was quite glad when a trap broke so we had to shoot following pairs of overhead droppers. (I straighted that one) Someone in their wisdom decided to throw a pair of rabbits down a ditch that quarters away. It was a complete lottery where they went as it was a manual trap with a deaf guy who couldn't hear you shout pull, and let them go at any point. I am off for a lesson with Tracey at the Fennes on thursday evening as the Essex Gun Masters knocked my usual undeterred optimism and confidence. I need to do a lot of work on long crossers and dolly droppers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 I shot the Colchester Gun Club at Radcliffes shooting ground tonight and to be honest I firmly believe it was set up by a Sadistical masochist, if that is possible. The birds were incredibly difficult and most of them were into the setting evening sun. Someone in their wisdom decided to throw a pair of rabbits down a ditch that quarters away. It was a complete lottery where they went as it was a manual trap with a deaf guy who couldn't hear you shout pull, and let them go at any point. Martin do you find more now than ever,cource setters are making targets more and more dificult ?? the veiw here for a while has been to stop the game changing to a visual game from a shooting game, all to often i see elderly guys going up to stations to see a pair and "not see either" sometimes the target is going like a balistic missile, others its a black target in the trees and cant be seen for 3/4's of its intended path, the skill in shooting is being tested more by eyesight clarity and not target shootability. the call of "did anyone see it" rings out more. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 TLE, You have hit the nail on the head completely. It almost seems the way they justify there own bad scores is by making the course so hard that everyone puts in a bad score. Last night instead of the top guns posting scores of 36-38/40 they post 32. The guys who are still coming up through the classes are posting 10 instead of 20. I am all for testing targets and even deceptive ones but ones which are impossible are just not on. And to top it all off we spend most of the night hanging around because the batteries for the traps haven't been charged up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 That's why I like my local - all the targets are hittable and there will be a couple of testing / tricky stands but nothing "ridiculous". Stuff you can hit helps develop your eye and your confidence. My only complaint of my local is that they don't throw Battus. There's no fun in firing 30 out of 50 carts into the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 My local shoot has become bloody hard this year. My last few attempts have seen scores of 14 & 17. It's frustrating because while i'm no top shot i can hit targets but screaming crossers off in the distance and clays showing themselves for 2 foot above a tree aren't much fun for a relative newcomer like me. My problem is that with the course changing each session and if i can't 'find' the target how will i learn? I'll keep plugging and once i find them i'll build up some sight pictures for the tricky shots and hopefully more scores will improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkBoy Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Interesting stuff - a ground local to me actually apologized in writing to participants of a recent registered event. "We sincerely apologize for the level of difficulty of the targets. We appreciate the feeback that you offered. We learned a great deal from our mistakes in setting up the tournament targets. Rest assured we will not make these mistakes again. Thank you for your understanding and your business." Must have ruffled some feathers as the top score was 76. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 the call of "did anyone see it" rings out more. heheheh At munglers shoot the other day there was a yellow crossing from right to left, i thought the guy didnt here me call pull, but it had already landed in the dirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 TLE, You have hit the nail on the head completely. It almost seems the way they justify there own bad scores is by making the course so hard that everyone puts in a bad score. Last night instead of the top guns posting scores of 36-38/40 they post 32. The guys who are still coming up through the classes are posting 10 instead of 20. I am all for testing targets and even deceptive ones but ones which are impossible are just not on. And to top it all off we spend most of the night hanging around because the batteries for the traps haven't been charged up. its kinda sad when it happens, but its all to often in our provincials that targets become visual chalenging. im a fast shooter and with a good friend of mine we both test each other constantly, now when i say fast i mean i pick up the target sooner than most, why i dont know, i think its the amount of targets ive shot over the years has given me a good understanding of target setting and sighting, all this considered, im a fan as you are of deceptive birds, adding terrain to mess your depth perception, setting a target below your feet to give your eyes something else to consider other than the bird, its great fun all round, but the main thing is to keep it real, not everyone is blessed with 20-20 peepers, to hit a target one first has to see it, faster birds and shorter windows become detrimental to the enjoyment of the sport, often older guys wont compete fr fear of being shown up, we all have our ego right, i shot with one old fella by the name of Ken Smith, he's probably shot more trap than i could shake a stick at, but now in his twilight years his eyes arent as good as they once were, many times he looks over to me with that beaten look, he just didnt see the bird. my own opinion is this, agree or not your call when setting the field all targets must be visable to shoot (setting hazzards is ok as long as its still a fair bird to shoot B) ) all stands must be set as equal as possible for both left and right handers (all to often i aproach stands only to find a bar set where i cant swing onto a target, 50/50 please setters ) all targets must be set in a safe way so-as not to endanger any other shooter or trapper when being attempted ( again as a lefty, how often have you set up to shoot only to realise your just about to put your muzzles on the trapper ) once a cource is set, it should be classed and posted to the degree of difficulty it presents, people who cant shoot a dificult cource should have the choice of shooting or not, not finding out half way round they are throwing money away. in general everyone likes a chalenge, no-one likes the imposible, the sport should be kept a sport, promoting the enjoyment and love of shooting, dont drive people away, encouragment is the key. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonsey Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 Met up with Catamong today for the 100 sporting registered shoot at Weston Wood in Oxfordshire. Not the easiest shoot I've ever been to I have to say. Lots of deceiving targets and a clever use of the Wood made both of us work really hard for our final scores. Met Gully half way round, nice to meet you Gully. I only saw you shoot a couple of pairs on one stand but you seemed to have it all sewn up I started badly, too many Pinot Grigio's the night before I just couldn't find it at all on the first 2 stands but then settled into my steady and familiar drop 2 drop 1 as we went along. I only straighted one stand in the end but if I'd kept my wits about me it could have been more. Cat shot steady all the way round only missing daft ones on the odd stand to finish on 86 which was high gun but I don't know if any one else scored better. I finished on 72, could easily have been more. As usual a mixture of being hungover and not paying attention cost me at least 6 targets. Still that's my average so all in all not too bad. I think everyone struggled judging by the scores. The wind was blowing and Steve hadn't been kind setting the targets May shoot longridge tomorrow but I haven't decided. Gully, how did you finish? Jonsey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 Yes, it was a real toughie, there was a heck of a lot of sky around some of those birds, Jonsey as usual was being pretty modest, she humbled me on most of the stands and shot some seriously long birds like a real pro, but we both missed a few "easy" birds, (as Pin would say.. ), I certainly didn't deserve to win it on an 86.. , still, it was good practice for the English next weekend..!! Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 Nice to meet you Jonesy and you again Cat. I started on stand 11 by the carpark and shot 9/10 which I was upset with. I thought I was on for a good day with sensible targets. Asked the trapper which way to go and he pointed me backwards round the rest of the stands. The second one (10) I shot 0, then met with you on my third where I got 7/8. After that it went badly. I don't think I've ever seen clays like that before. Even the rabbits didn't help me today. Finished on 47 or 49, can't remember which. I was chatting to a guy in the clubhouse who said he usually shot 80+ and took top gun at his local clubs - they thought they'd have a day out at a registered shoot - he shot 58. Weston Woods is a very nice ground though, can't wait to try it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 7, 2007 Report Share Posted May 7, 2007 Did my local shoot Sat and Sun. Top for Saturday and second on the Sunday but was shooting a new 20g Beretta which shoots very well and is ultra light in weight - it was under the guise of getting a gun for the missus but I have still yet to get her out for a days shooting. Shot the Purleigh Wood shoot today and was 4 off the top gun when I left - 8 stands, 10 birds each stand. 6 stands I shot with 9/10 but had a total disaster on 2 stands - 1 of which I was kicking myself because it was easy but I just didn't think enough and the other just got me - no idea who, what, why or where. Wanted to do the re-entry but not enough time - some serious log jams going round and a quick nip out turned into a 4 hour round trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagsy Posted May 7, 2007 Report Share Posted May 7, 2007 I shot at Purleigh Wood on the last bank holiday - nice shoot but only managed 46 Working today so couldn't make it, shame as I don't think they are having the August shoot there this year. Shot at Dartford on Saturday - shot 48 I really must get out and shoot difficult targets more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tosspot Posted May 7, 2007 Report Share Posted May 7, 2007 Shot the Sussex CPSA Sporting champs today absolutely blowing a hooey but at least stayed dry ended up on 99ex120 which was good enough to cover the costs of the day High gun went to Tom Bury on 116 an outstanding score in those conditions, and he's still a junior Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 Did my local tuesday evening haunt tonight, finished on 23/30 so not as good as it should have been. High gun was only 25 though. Some real bitch of targets, something to do with the clay ground containers being broken into last night and the owner had got the hump. The people that broke in only took some wine that was there for prizes and started to mess around with an auto trap so with a bit of luck they got hurt. And they smashed up a few boxes of clays :unsure: So one thing is for sure, they didn't know what they were looking at as none of the traps went missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted May 8, 2007 Report Share Posted May 8, 2007 Shot my local shoot on Sunday, which was getting a bit dull. Bloke, bless him, who ran it is ill and laid up. He did a cracking job, just the layouts needed some variety. New blokes set up what I thought was one of the better shoots I have been to. The angles of fire and directions available are very restricted there (right to roam cut a big chunk out of the angles on offer). They did some great stuff, simo pairs of midi's off bowman double arms with the springs wound right up - no gimmies on those fellas I tell you :unsure: They balanced it well though as there are a lot of novices and inexperienced shots there. Ended up with 70 something, missed out on HG by one to the bloke who set the course. The good thing about it was there were a load of easier targets which kept the others interested and scoring well so they didn't feel out of it. Star of the day was a little 9 year old lad using an o/u 410 with 3" magnum shells. Only 18g of lead in there bless him, shot an incredible 31ex100. Some of the birds were not hittable with a 410 due to distance and patterning so I think that actually equated to more like 50% which is cracking going. He's going to be a great little shooter when he's big enough for a 20 bore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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