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New to Shooting & the Forum (Nottingham)


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Hi There,

 

New to the forum and new to shooting, done the occasional group clay shooting but tonight I'm off for my first proper lesson at Nottingham & District Gun Club.

 

Going to have a few more lessons whilst I await my shotgun certificate to process (will this really take up to the 90 days that seems to be the average for Nottingham according to BASC's study?)

 

I will be storing my gun at the club so hoping this may speed up the process?

 

In the meantime I'm browsing this forum (love some of the shooting clips)

 

I'm trying to read and grow my knowledge generally as I've grown a rather quick fondness and interest since moving to a more rural area.

 

Wanting to eventually (once I'm at a competent level) to do a bit of pigeon decoying, hopefully with someone experienced to show me the ropes, even be happy to come and watch whilst .

 

In the mean time I'm trying to acquire gear excluding that required to have SC1 to prepare me for the field :)

 

I was looking at trying to do some reloading but it just seems so expensive, I'll be having a 12gauge once I have my certificate and I calculated that to reload cartridges would cost me circa £350 per 1000.

 

Whereas I could buy 1000 clay pigeon 7.5 shot cartridges and 1000 eley pigeon select 6 shot for not much more than £400?

 

Am i getting this wrong, I calculated the following? Or is reloading really only cost effective for rifle ammo?

 

£90 - 1000 x 12ga 3 Inch Cartridges with primer

£60 - 2kg of Maxam CSB5

£18 - 1000 Nitro Cards

£54 - Capped Fibre Wads

£134 - *6 Lead Shot

 

= £360

 

Plus cost of a reloader machine which i've seen for £250 for a 12ga MEC reloader.

 

Sorry for rambling, glad to be here :)

 

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Not an expert reloader but from what I understand it's not really cost effective outside of heavy game loads.

 

Stick to shop bought cartridges, you'll have enough to concentrate on without the added complication of home loads.

 

Also I don't think you need 3" shells for clay or pigeon shooting.

Edited by Cosd
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Thanks for the welcome and feedback much appreciated :)

 

Cosd

 

Thank You for that, I just assumed as the shotgun I'm looking at takes 3 inch cartridges I guess thats just a maximum figure so 2 3/4 cartridges will suffice and run fine is that correct? You just can't exceed the 3 inch cartridge size?

 

I'm here to learn so thank you very much :)

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Thanks for the welcome and feedback much appreciated :)

 

Cosd

 

Thank You for that, I just assumed as the shotgun I'm looking at takes 3 inch cartridges I guess thats just a maximum figure so 2 3/4 cartridges will suffice and run fine is that correct? You just can't exceed the 3 inch cartridge size?

 

I'm here to learn so thank you very much :)

Have a read on the BASC website:

 

https://basc.org.uk/shooting/shot-sizes-2/

 

Note it doesn't talk about the cartridge length, but you won't need a 3" cartridge for either of the two disciplines you have mentioned.

 

Your shotgun, presumably an over and under, will take up to a 3" cartridge and will happily cycle anything below. If you're looking at an auto, depending on the gun, these can be a little fussy on cartridge length; Most are happy with 2.75 and above, some won't cycle less than 2.75 and that is to say you may get jams or the cartridges wont ekect.

Edited by Cosd
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Cheers I'll have a read.

 

As a first gun I was actually looking at the Winchester SXP Pump Field so i'll have to look a little further into it.

 

Heard a lot of good reviews for the price so was looking at them more closely than anything else for the time being as a first gun, would look to get something better as I get better myself.

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Pumps are great guns to shoot but probably not the best option to start claybashing with.

 

 

 

Is this due to the additional action/distraction involved pumping between shooting the clays?

 

Just thought of the potential safety ramifications also! Thanks I best check that one out tonight during my lesson, don't want to get off on the wrong foot. May be best to buy an over and under...

Edited by evolution380
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Is this due to the additional action/distraction involved pumping between shooting the clays?

 

I think it's more to do with tradition. Over and under is the preferred. There is also the safety aspect, an O/U which is broken is visibly safe, an empty auto or pump is not so obvious and can make people more nervous. I've used an auto at a clay ground, but I tend to put back in it's case when not in use as good practice. It's more inconvenient than breaking an O/U and throwing it over your shoulder.

 

Ideally, an O/U for clays and for me it's a semi auto for the pigeons but this is down to the individual and preference.

 

Again just my opinion, but the pump action is a little "Rambo"; I don't understand why anyone would want one other than to add to their collection and as a bit of a novelty.

The semi auto on the pigeons has the 3rd cartridge advantage for those really busy days and the ease of loading of not having to break the gun in a confined space.

 

Think about what you will be doing more of, from the sounds of it and the fact you don't have shooting permision for pigeons, you will be doing more clay, I would go for an O/U which is also fine on the pigeons. You will find after some time you will make up your own mind on what to shoot with regardless what anyone else says, or more than likely, you'll end up with more than one gun to suit every occasion!!

Edited by Cosd
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Thanks that is most helpful. The safety implications dawned on me afterwards I must admit.

 

Being new to the sport I don't want to come across in the wrong manor to existing members of the club, I guess its not a very traditional choice. I just want to fit in, progress my skill and understanding and get to know some of the existing members which may/may not open up other opportunities on the field.

 

May be best getting an under and over initially which will cover all areas and I can always invest in an auto/pump for when on the field in the future should I wish.

 

I'll discuss it during my lesson later, may well be frowned upon but may also be a few members who also adopt the pump at that particular club.

 

 

I have some time to consider anyway as my application for SC1 was only a couple of days ago.

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Welcome to PW.

 

I would also suggest avoiding a pump for your first gun. You will have enough on your mind figuring out the targets without the extra distraction of working the action of a pump.

 

Not that they aren't fun to shoot, because they are. I have one and it's been used on both clays and pigeons but I definitely wouldn't have wanted it as my first gun.

 

Have fun at Nottingham, it's a nice place to shoot. I'm generally up there at least once a month.

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Had my first lesson there tonight with Lee, absolutely lovely guy, patient and a great teacher.

 

Definitely going to get an over and under for my first gun once I can buy one legally. May get a pump in the future out on the field once more experienced.

 

I need to stop over complicating it, let too much whirl through my head at the time of shooting. Lee got me well set up and breaking a few clays but I need to switch my brain off a little as I talk myself out of the shot and look for broken clays before I've even pulled the trigger.

 

Lee was great though, just going to work at it with a few more lessons and I'm sure it will click as It becomes more natural. Lovely set-up there Though and I look forward to getting a little better and spending a considerable amount of time there as I only live 5 minutes away.

 

Had a good 40 mins talking about the shotguns, general safety, cartridges etc. Before getting through a fair amount of cartridges with the 20ga.

 

Thanks for the welcome!

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