elmer_fudd Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Slightly off topic, but having a shooter stood to your left with a Semi-Auto at DTL can make you jump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Its tradition and nothing to do with snobbery or a class thing at all. Obviously safety is more of an issue on game days simply because you have beaters but it is far less of an issue. Semis are also slower to load so if you have lots of birds about they are a disadvantage believe it or not. Its the same as turning up to shoot on a traditional day in jeans or cammo it just isn't done. If its a small knock about syndicate with mates then use what you like but there is something really nice about dressing up for the occasion for a proper game day. Personally I hope game shooting doesn't just become the same as any old day out doing vermin control Absolutely spot on there al4x, and long may the tradition continue. If you can afford to shoot driven game, you can certainly afford a decent S/S or O/U and leave the semi auto in the cabinet. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Its tradition and nothing to do with snobbery or a class thing at all. Obviously safety is more of an issue on game days simply because you have beaters but it is far less of an issue. Semis are also slower to load so if you have lots of birds about they are a disadvantage believe it or not. Its the same as turning up to shoot on a traditional day in jeans or cammo it just isn't done. If its a small knock about syndicate with mates then use what you like but there is something really nice about dressing up for the occasion for a proper game day. Personally I hope game shooting doesn't just become the same as any old day out doing vermin control Absolutely spot on there al4x, and long may the tradition continue. If you can afford to shoot driven game, you can certainly afford a decent S/S or O/U and leave the semi auto in the cabinet. Cat. Agreed. I can however think of a few exceptions where most syndicates / shoots would overlook the tradition to cater for a shooters disability. Not too long ago I was contemplating shooting from a quad, fortunatley, it now looks like I will be able to stand at the peg, but use the quad to get around. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 I guess if you like to keep things traditional on a shoot then obviously that's fair enough but I questioned the safety aspect as that was being cited as one of the reasons not to use a semi. Personally i couldn't do the tradition element because i couldn't bring myself to dress up in tweed and chequed shirt. My idea of casual is jeans and t-shirt, my idea of smart is a cleaner pair of jeans and t-shirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Slightly off topic, but having a shooter stood to your left with a Semi-Auto at DTL can make you jump That can make your rectum relax ill agree...... no paint involved just a minor heart attack.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 snobbery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkfooty Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Yes - it is pure snobbery. 50 years ago you would not even have dared taking an O/U on some driven pheasant shoots and certainly never on a driven grouse shoot. Now O/Us are seen everywhere. The snobs just don't like you shooting with a gun that didn't cost £-thousands. Tests have repeatedly proved that a competent shot can keep up a faster sustained rate of fire of aimed shots with a double-barrel gun than with a 3-shot semi-auto. And what about the really posh snobs that shoot driven game with a pair of guns and a servant to load for them? Yep - sheer unbridled snobbery of exactly the kind that will eventually see shooting banned in this country unless we kick the snobs out of the sport pronto. End of rant!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trussman Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Its tradition and nothing to do with snobbery or a class thing at all. Obviously safety is more of an issue on game days simply because you have beaters but it is far less of an issue. Semis are also slower to load so if you have lots of birds about they are a disadvantage believe it or not. Its the same as turning up to shoot on a traditional day in jeans or cammo it just isn't done. If its a small knock about syndicate with mates then use what you like but there is something really nice about dressing up for the occasion for a proper game day. Personally I hope game shooting doesn't just become the same as any old day out doing vermin control I totally agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Yes - it is pure snobbery. 50 years ago you would not even have dared taking an O/U on some driven pheasant shoots and certainly never on a driven grouse shoot. Now O/Us are seen everywhere. The snobs just don't like you shooting with a gun that didn't cost £-thousands. Tests have repeatedly proved that a competent shot can keep up a faster sustained rate of fire of aimed shots with a double-barrel gun than with a 3-shot semi-auto. And what about the really posh snobs that shoot driven game with a pair of guns and a servant to load for them? Yep - sheer unbridled snobbery of exactly the kind that will eventually see shooting banned in this country unless we kick the snobs out of the sport pronto. End of rant!! Somebody who talks a lot of sense. One shoot I beat on there is always a guy who shoots with a semi auto. And while the shoot is not at Gleneagles there is never a mention of it at all. He just shoots pheasants in the same way as everyone else. (In fact better than everyone else) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Yes - it is pure snobbery. 50 years ago you would not even have dared taking an O/U on some driven pheasant shoots and certainly never on a driven grouse shoot. Now O/Us are seen everywhere. The snobs just don't like you shooting with a gun that didn't cost £-thousands. Tests have repeatedly proved that a competent shot can keep up a faster sustained rate of fire of aimed shots with a double-barrel gun than with a 3-shot semi-auto. And what about the really posh snobs that shoot driven game with a pair of guns and a servant to load for them? Yep - sheer unbridled snobbery of exactly the kind that will eventually see shooting banned in this country unless we kick the snobs out of the sport pronto. End of rant!! Somebody who talks a lot of sense. One shoot I beat on there is always a guy who shoots with a semi auto. And while the shoot is not at Gleneagles there is never a mention of it at all. He just shoots pheasants in the same way as everyone else. (In fact better than everyone else) Thank you Martin, very kind of you to say so, just don't mention that I keep one in the chamber and 4 in the mag at all times, school is out and we don't want the PW police pouncing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil smith Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 "Tests have repeatedly proved that a competent shot can keep up a faster sustained rate of fire of aimed shots with a double-barrel gun than with a 3-shot semi-auto." This is only true when people use traditional cartridge belts to load from, there are shell carriers & 2X2 clips that alow for much faster loading methods with the auto, no S/S or O/U could outload an auto when the right tecnique's are used. Tradition has dictated that some form of double gun be used for driven shoots, to my mind as has been mentioned earlier its more about how safe the shooter is rather than which gun he chooses to use, I have seen some unsafe people using traditional guns, I beleive its very much like golf, you are expected to honour the traditional dress & codes of conduct even if you dont like it, that may change in coming years as the older shooters give up or pass on & people with different opinions take it on, we are seeing that already on smaller shoots & it will be the way of things eventually as in the USA. N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Its tradition and nothing to do with snobbery or a class thing at all. Obviously safety is more of an issue on game days simply because you have beaters but it is far less of an issue. Semis are also slower to load so if you have lots of birds about they are a disadvantage believe it or not. Its the same as turning up to shoot on a traditional day in jeans or cammo it just isn't done. If its a small knock about syndicate with mates then use what you like but there is something really nice about dressing up for the occasion for a proper game day. Personally I hope game shooting doesn't just become the same as any old day out doing vermin control I totally agree Me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Its tradition and nothing to do with snobbery or a class thing at all. Obviously safety is more of an issue on game days simply because you have beaters but it is far less of an issue. Semis are also slower to load so if you have lots of birds about they are a disadvantage believe it or not. Its the same as turning up to shoot on a traditional day in jeans or cammo it just isn't done. If its a small knock about syndicate with mates then use what you like but there is something really nice about dressing up for the occasion for a proper game day. Personally I hope game shooting doesn't just become the same as any old day out doing vermin control I totally agree Me too! And me. Tradition is what has made British game shooting the best in the world, why on earth would one wish to change it. You would not wear jeans and a T shirt in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot, so why would you wish to spend many hundreds even thousands of pounds on a days shooting and not enjoy and take part in the tradition. Thank goodness the guns on our shoot don't have a chip on their shoulder about perceived "snobbery" and just enjoy our tradition and heritage. The others we don't want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkfooty Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 There is one big disadvantage to slavishly following blind tradition - it discourages young people from entering the sport. That does not just apply to shooting - I am trying to get my bowling club to give up the "school uniform" of navy blazers and club ties. Average age in the club must be 65+ and they wonder why no kids want to join. Plus there is a world of difference between a "traditionalist" who chooses to use a side-by-side and wear fancy tweeds and, on the other hand, the outright snob who looks down his nose at someone who dares to be different by using an O/U and wearing a camo jacket. We should be trying to make our sport inclusive, not exclusive. I remember, back in the late 70s, volunteering to help on the WAGBI stand at the Game Fair. The then Director, an ex-Navy type called John Anderton threatened to send me off the stand because I was not wearing a tie. I had to buy one from the stand and put it on! I was astounded at such abysmal ignorance and never ceased to despise Anderton and all he stood for. Fortunately BASC is no longer ruled by snobs like that and goes out of its way to encourage the "ordinary man (and woman)". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 I have one of everything in my cabinet but I wouldn't take a semi auto out on a driven day and I wouldn't want to shoot with anyone on a driven day with a semi auto. Nothing snobby but I like to see a broken gun at all times. Loads of times I have fallen in a ditch or jumped a ditch and thrown the gun over etc. I trust me implicitly. I don't trust anyone else I shoot with, because they ain't me. That whole semi auto never knowing if there's one up the spout makes my blood run cold every time. My 2p. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 I will amit I am not too keen on semi-auto's on a shoot day, got a guy in my shoot who insists on using one cos he says its the only thing he's got for the duck flighting bit which is proofed for steel..... Fair enough but why not use something else until this specific part of the shoot? I am fairly easy going but rough shoots have alot more ditch jumping and bush work than a formal day don't they? The idea of a fella up behind possibly loaded is slightly un-nerving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Nothing snobby but I like to see a broken gun at all times. I trust me implicitly. I don't trust anyone else I shoot with, because they ain't me. I'm sure we all feel this way but there's always some cock to spoil it, and that is the sort of thing that really will bring an end to shooting That whole semi auto never knowing if there's one up the spout makes my blood run cold every time. These are pretty much the points I would have made if mungler had not of already done so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Caveman Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 I wouldn't take a semi-auto on a walked up or driven day. If other guns had concerns, however unfounded, about the safety of a semi auto I wouldn't like to think their day was ruined worrying about where it was pointed and whether it was loaded. It's good manners to use something else unless you're pigeoning, rough shooting or fowling on your own or unless you know your companions are comfortable with semi-autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I do a bit of game shooting, not a great many days per season compared to some people but I suppose it adds up over the years. The days I get are all small 'farm shoots' with bags anywhere from 6 to 40 and I also generally buy a few walk and stand days of up to 100 head. So I guess I have shot with a alot of different poeple using different types of shotgun, but I've only ever seen two auto's in the field. One was a friend of mine who used his for a couple of shoots whilst his O/U was in for repair, as soon as the gun was fixed he reverted to his O/U. The other guy was on a beaters day and it was the only shotgun he owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 in my opinion a gun is a gun oldboy you load 2 shells pull the trigger twice you now have a empty gun ? is it not sporting oldboy to not have a purdy or holland holland on a driven shoot .i use a semi and love it if i was refused entry anywhere so be it but i havent and i shoot with 3 other safe gun lads who use them and no mishaps now i have seen some s/b/s .o/u go off accidental ? then its the same for any gun but i would say its not sporting oldboy to use a gun that does not look the part bit like turning up for a very well known pheasant shoot in a lada .my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 You can't get round the fact that you can't "break open" a semi auto (unless you buy one of those new fangled gimmicky things currently advertised everywhere). I don't care what anyone says, semi autos are not as safe as an SBS or OU given all the circumstances and requirements of a driven day or a day rough shooting. I have a 9 shot semi auto which I love to bits but when someone says "break your gun" it takes me a good 60 seconds to clear the gun down and make it safe - yes I know you can't take a 9 shot auto out on game etc etc. You get the gist though. I don't think anyone has said that it's "down market" or "just not the right thing, what, what, what" but that is what most have inferred. Chip-on-shoulder-tastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.