I've wanted to learn to shoot (with a shotgun) ever since I was in my teens - because why wouldn't you? But first of all dad refused to teach me on the grounds that it would bother the neighbours and I'd probably threaten my sister. It would have bothered the neighbours. I should probably have joined some sort of society at university, but the guys with guns seemed a bit weird at first glance, and I'd just discovered gin. Finally I had a go on a hen night and decided it was fun but opportunities to persue it further didn't really materialise until a few years ago when my mother really got into it.
She persuaded my partner that we should have a couple of lessons - one of the things I love about shooting is it demands no particular level of physical fitness or strength - so we did, and both enjoyed it but I'm the one who's carried on, but until this year in a very on off way. Recently however it's become a much more regular thing, mum's got a couple of competitions coming up so she's practicing, and mentoring me at the same time, it's something nice we can do together.
Until really very recently shooting hasn't been terribly welcoming towards women, but that's really starting to change which is a good thing because there's something particularly satisfying about smashing clays out of the sky. It's also very cathartic, and who doesn't need that some days.
Like any hobby/sport there are different levels and disciplines. For me the attraction is very much towards clays, the costs are manageable (which matters, it can be a very expensive hobby if you let it) and I have no moral qualms about shooting at ashtrays. Not that I have any particular issue about other people shooting game, but for myself the idea of shooting at more than you can eat doesn't make much sense, the idea of hitting something but not killing it quickly or cleanly doesn't work either.
It also helps that our local gun club is - democratic is probably the best description. It's very well run but the facilities are more greasy spoon than hunting lodge - which I like because you don't feel out of place if you're not head to toe tweed, but you wouldn't be out of place if you were either and that's how it should be. I do have some tweed, it's the biggest investment I've made so far (luckily I have the use of a gun) and it's a waistcoat, necessary for the just enough padding around the shoulders to stop me getting dramatic bruising from the gun recoiling. (Before the waistcoat I used to get bruises like tiger stripes from the combination of bra strap and gun butt) and useful for the pockets. I should say that as long as you hold the gun properly (and doing so was my main concern for a long time, never mind hitting anything) the recoil doesn't hurt, bruises were due to repeated pressure on the same spot! Some sort of ear defenders are also a must, as is eye protection. A hat is useful for keeping hair out of my eyes and just in case I get showered by shards of clay (this hasn't happened yet).
Starting out a gun club will provide a gun for initial lessons, as do groups like the Shotguns and Chelsea buns ladies so it's easy enough to get a feel for if its going to be worth making the considerable investment that is a gun of your own, plus licence and cabinet to keep it in.
Anyway, the point of all this is to say if shooting is something you've always liked the sound of - give it a go. It's much more enjoyable than I could ever have imagined.
I've done clay pigeon shooting a couple of times and loved it. I was useless, but it was fun. Ditto archery.
ReplyDeleteI really want to try archery. As for my level of skill with a shotgun - all I can say is that I'm getting better, but it is a lot of fun and I've finally found a 'sport' I really enjoy!
DeleteI learnt to shoot at school (CCF, don't ask) and was rather taken aback at how much fun it was. Because surely guns = bad? to my teenaged mind. But it depends what you do with them, can't say I'd want to kill/maim anything either, but there is great satisfaction in learning to hit a target accurately.
ReplyDelete'... and I'd just discovered gin'. That made me laugh a lot.
a lot of satisfaction so the prospect of shooting at 100 clays is appealing, but shooting at birds - not for me - though I'm quite happy to buy them off the market so I'm not judging any one else's choice there. I know what you mean about guns = bad, so again like the very safety conscious atmosphere of the gun club, and the strict etiquette around shotguns generally. Really I just like smashing inanimate objects which I think is harmless enough!
ReplyDeleteIf I have any regrets about university it's that I didn't join in with more things, but living in a city was a novelty for me then, and the gin was seductive.
I know the attraction of guns since I used to belong to a shooting range before the dreadful Tony Blair closed them all down. It was fun to see if you could hit the target in the right place and I liked the feel of the pistol in my hand but revolvers were a different matter, I didn't like them quite so much.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big believer in ranges/gun clubs, guns being properly licenced, and handled carefully in environments with strict rules. It's a shame to lose that.
DeleteI can very much see the appeal of that, though I suspect I would be hopeless at hitting anything. Perhaps a misspent life of arcade-style computer games might help.
ReplyDeleteI'm told it helps a lot. I was also told that the difference between men and women when it comes to shooting is that men are surprised when they miss, women when they hit something... Instructors make sure you hit something which helps with the confidence. Give it a go!
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