Scully Posted September 2, 2022 Report Share Posted September 2, 2022 We enjoy going here on a Wednesday as if you get there while most folk are still working it’s very quiet, and we almost had the ground to ourselves. It was a glorious early afternoon, and I’d taken my Winchester 8500 trap gun and Benelli M1 Super 90, and mate his Miroku Mk 38 and his Beretta 1301. OU’s out first and we made our way up from the clubhouse. I’ve given up trying to figure out what my 8500 is choked at; it is stamped at full and extra full, but according to my cheapo brass choke gauge it is 3/4 and full, and someone else reckoned it was more like 1/2 and full, but whatever it is, as one bloke who tried the old stuffing a finger in the muzzle technique, it is ‘tight and ******* tight’! So who knows? Anyhow, it simply obliterates clays to the extent that on one lazy incomer the remaining dust drifted into our faces following each shot!😀 We saved most of our cartridges for the grouse butt at the hill top which is just about the best fun you can have with your keks on! I think I grew tired on this stand as my shooting deteriorated the more I shot it, with continually missing one out of the six, which was frustrating, made even more so as it was a different bird each time! Just a lack of concentration probably. Great fun though! Mate grew frustrated as he missed the same bird each time, but hit it each time when presented with this bird only in report. Footwork? 🤷♂️ The rabbit stand adjacent this one is good fun too with a trap gun. 🙂 Anyhow, that was 100 cartridges got through, so back down to vehicle where we swapped for the autos and headed this time downhill from the clubhouse. We spent most of our time in another stand with six traps, quite a bit trickier than the grouse butt as you need to change your footwork a bit quicker. The first bird is a long (midi?) parallel crosser, which took me a while to find, but I found it twice before losing it again. It can be done even with 3/8ths, and I though it would require a tight choke. Mate couldn’t find it at all. There is a good combination of fairly fast driven, side on going away loopers and all sorts on this stand, and we had great fun; it was only the appearance of three other folk wanting a go which moved us on. 🙂 Finished off on the sport trap, which we both straighted, and I had a few go’s with his Beretta. As fond as I am of my Benelli, the 1301 is simply the slickest and nicest handling self loader I’ve ever come across, and I want one. My right thumb was sore from work, and pushing a shell into the Benelli mag’ was uncomfortable, but no problem at all with the Beretta. If anyone is out there considering a new auto, I urge you to try the Beretta, it is just divine to shoot. What a piece of kit. Anyhow, as a heads up, having the craic in the clubhouse with Jonty while we settled up, mate and him had bumped into each other at Westlands over the weekend. Both mentioned the fact that Westlands were from now in insisting that all shooters show their tickets prior to shooting. They have had a ticking off from Police Scotland apparently, so if you’re planning a trip up there, bear in mind, no ticky no shooty! 🙂 BIG day out there planned for October! Trade stands etc etc; should be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted September 2, 2022 Report Share Posted September 2, 2022 A memorable day by the sound of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2022 2 minutes ago, islandgun said: A memorable day by the sound of it Thankyou. I know it’s just a clay ground, but it really is one of my favourites. There’s something for most folk no matter what their capability, even covered airgun points for kids. 👍 As we were leaving it was good to see a sizeable group of lasses being escorted up the hill with a tutor for a have a go session. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted September 2, 2022 Report Share Posted September 2, 2022 Does it still get packed when the University is back from jollies ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2022 12 hours ago, Westley said: Does it still get packed when the University is back from jollies ? Now and again, it’s not too bad at all really. Lancaster uni’ has its own club as you’ll know, some good kids amongst it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted September 3, 2022 Report Share Posted September 3, 2022 (edited) I am all for encouraging youngsters into the sport and take every opportunity to carry that out, but on the last occasion I went up to Crabtree it was packed with students. Its a long journey to make to find you can not get onto some stands because of an Instructor with a group. Catton Hall at Frodsham have even stopped people shooting on a Saturday between April and October, due to corporate groups. I understand the need and of course the money coming in from corporate days, but NOT at the expense of the guys who go week after week in all weather's, all year round. We have been to Paintmine a few times on a Thursday, normally via Malmo Guns. I am shooting game at a shoot called 'Archolme' in November, a friend has a gun in the syndicate there. A walk and stand day, excellent day out in good company. Take care, Regards, Keith. Sorry, Archolme is near Carnforth. Edited September 3, 2022 by Westley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2022 Every time we leave Crabtree we say we must get down to Paintmine Woods at some point, but for some reason we still haven't done so. I think I've only ever seen a lot of students at Crabtree on two occasions, but it didn't cause a queue. Those from Lancs uni' sometimes show up at Southwaite also. One in particular owns a mint 3200 skeet gun. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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