akey Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 So a recent post on facebook and several of the replies got me thinking about how we secure guns at clay grounds. I will admit I am a complete anal nut job and always carry my gun around with me (usually in the slip), I go in for breakfast and take my gun with me etc etc. I don't know if its the ex Military bit of me that wants it always within arms reach or if I am just overly risk adverse. Anyway the answers to the facebook post varied from people leave them in racks, but keep an eye on them, to just lock it in your car when you are done and heading to the club house, so I thought I would get a view from this fine group: How do you store / look after your gun while at a shooting ground, but not actively shooting or on the layout? (I am genuinely interested in peoples thoughts on this btw) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicW Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 I used to leave my gun in the rack in the clubhouse until I found a total stranger had picked it up and was going to shoot a round with it, he thought that they all belonged to the shooting ground. I asked him if that were the case why are they all in gunslips? After that I always left my gun locked in my car between rounds. Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Leave mine locked in the boot of the car till needed then it’s never out of my site when we start shooting as previous comment there has been a few times when people have taken other people’s gun by mistake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 More guns are stolen from clay grounds than any where else . Mine are in the slip with me at all times . harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK421 Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 6 minutes ago, Harnser said: More guns are stolen from clay grounds than any where else . Mine are in the slip with me at all times . harnser Same here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Locked in the car unless I'm using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 If mine's not in my hand it's because it's either locked in the gun safe or locked in the boot because I'm travelling. The exceptions are, if someone asks politely to look at it or I allow someone in my family to fire it. Either way it's never out of reach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 35 minutes ago, Harnser said: More guns are stolen from clay grounds than any where else . Mine are in the slip with me at all times . harnser Really? I’d be very interested in learning where you found this info’. Mine are always locked in a vehicle when not in use, but at three grounds I frequent there are racks which always contain unslipped guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoozer Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 33 minutes ago, PhilR said: Locked in the car unless I'm using it. Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Welcome to the forum 😊 you should find most members are very security conscious as some have very valuable guns with lots of time and expense put into getting them fitted and set up for competition shooting best plan for a novice is leave in locked boot with fore end removed and with you sign on and have a brew then go and get your slipped gun shortly before your squad departs enjoy the round of clays keeping the gun with you end of the round either keep the slipped gun with you or back into the locked boot obviously a lot depending upon the ground some have cctv and or rules for gun storage enjoy your clay shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 6 minutes ago, Scully said: Really? I’d be very interested in learning where you found this info’. Mine are always locked in a vehicle when not in use, but at three grounds I frequent there are racks which always contain unslipped guns. Speak to your FEO harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 I must be honest and say that I do NOT like guns in a clubhouse. This is due entirely to having had the misfortune of witnessing TWO accidental discharges of shotguns in clubhouses. IF ever I am putting an unslipped gun into, or removing it from a gun rack, whilst the barrels are still pointing at the ceiling, I open or close the gun and then complete the operation. EVERY week, at whatever ground I happen to be at, I witness some of the worst gun handling imaginable. Most of which is by, dare I say, game shooters who seem to think it perfectly acceptable to wave a closed gun around the room, prior to opening it. My gun remains locked in my car when I am in the clubhouse. As the car park is ALWAYS the busiest place on the ground and my car is fitted with an excellent alarm system, I think the gun is safer there, than in a gun rack. Having run a shooting ground for some 17 years, I suppose it was inevitable that I would encounter most things concerning guns and their misuse. However, I have never encountered a 'stolen' gun, 3 'misplaced' guns, yes (those taking the wrong gun home) but thankfully never a stolen gun. That may have been in no small part due to being on a Military Range, where MOD security were on site. For all of these 'stolen' guns from gun clubs and shooting grounds, only something around 0.02% end up in the hands of criminals, but I doubt your FEO would admit to that one ! I suggest that maybe Criminals find it difficult to procure a Doctors Letter ? 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 (edited) If you are shooting you need your gun with you.' If you are eating surely you don't need it with you. Where do you put it? Lock it in the car. My heart goes out to the ex serviceman who has to have a gun beside him at all times. Edited November 25, 2019 by DUNKS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akey Posted November 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 (edited) 24 minutes ago, DUNKS said: If you are shooting you need your gun with you.' If you are eating surely you don't need it with you. Where do you put it? Lock it in the car. My heart goes out to the ex serviceman who has to have a gun beside him at all times. Cheers Dunks, just difficult to break 21 years of habit I guess, either that or I am just paranoid about leaving anything in my car, I wont leave a laptop in my car either. I assume you are the same Dunks for other forums, if so we should catch up at a ground soon (coffee's on me) Edited November 25, 2019 by akey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 When I'm not using it, the barrels and action are locked in the boot with the forend locked in the glove box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 At the clay ground I visit now and again the car park is a couple of hundred yards away from the club house (shed) / ground and not visible but its only 5 yards from the access track, no one leaves anything in their cars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Couple of weeks ago stepped out of the Hut at my local clay ground and there was a small drone at waist height , filming guns in a rack close by the front door ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akey Posted November 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 20 minutes ago, Dogs said: Couple of weeks ago stepped out of the Hut at my local clay ground and there was a small drone at waist height , filming guns in a rack close by the front door ! Any idea where the operator was? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 1 hour ago, Harnser said: Speak to your FEO harnser I have many a time. You’d think he would have mentioned it wouldn’t you, if that’s where most guns are stolen from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centrepin Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 I beg to differ, you either fire deliberately or handle a gun so negligently as to cause it to be discharged in the presence of others. No such thing as an accidental discharge. 1 hour ago, Westley said: accidental discharges of shotguns 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 There are thieves amongst shooters, just like anywhere else. I had a double set of chokes stolen during a National Intercounties. I was lulled into being careless by the sense of community and the "most law abiding people in the country" spiel. It was amazing how certain high profile people felt I shouldn't say anything about this. It was Pigeon Watch kindness that set me back up with at least some chokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 1 hour ago, akey said: Any idea where the operator was? It set of back to a car park about 3/4 mile away, one lad set off to see if he could pin point it, but found nothing, except several cars unattended of course ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 36 minutes ago, Centrepin said: I beg to differ, you either fire deliberately or handle a gun so negligently as to cause it to be discharged in the presence of others. No such thing as an accidental discharge. So you’re in the stand shot your first pair unload check barrels are clear reload close the gun and it goes off because a fireing pin broke and jammed causing the gun to fire on closing is that negligence or deliberate? or maybe accidental ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 I presume the weapon stolen from Orston Shooting Ground started this post. The woman concerned seemed to show very little regard for the security of her weapon. I wonder if she will keep her SGC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akey Posted November 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 36 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: I presume the weapon stolen from Orston Shooting Ground started this post. The woman concerned seemed to show very little regard for the security of her weapon. I wonder if she will keep her SGC? Yes, thats the one. I thought the same, but also the varied responses about security at grounds got me thinking and was interested in others views. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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