Chicken or Egg?

[StangGT]

Firstly, I'm a total newbie, so please forgive the newbie style question, hope this is the right place!

My question is, which way round do most shooters do things?:

A) choose a discipline and then select the right rifle/calibre for the job
Or
B) choose a rifle they like and then find a discipline that suits it?

For example, I'm very taken with the Steyr Aug Z, but I have literally no idea what they're used for!

Cheers

StangGT

[Steve E]

What do you want to get out of shooting? And why do you want to do it? Think very carefully about the answers to those questions and the answers may point you in the right direction.
Try as many of the shooting disciplines as possible using club guns before you buy your own and you may find what you are looking for.

I shoot TR at the highest level and it is the best feeling in the world when you put in a possible at 1000yds in a competition with your peers. I also shoot classic rifle to a high standard and most of, if not all of my shooting is in competitions. I don't just plink away like some but each to their own. For me it is all about competition shooting and the social aspect after the match.

[StangGT]

Well I'm coming from shotguns, clays and game, and now getting into PSG, but I like the look of this Section 1 malarky. I guess I'm more into the 'action' side of it, but I will give anything a go! I have my intro course at Bisley in a couple of weeks, then who knows... I like the sound of practical rifle and gallery rifle but will try whatever I can...

[judders]

Try as many of the shooting disciplines as possible using club guns before you buy your own and you may find what you are looking for.

This is good advice.

If you're a member of Phoenix, they have an affiliation with LPSC http://www.lpsc.co.uk so you should come along to a few LPSC shoots. We shoot a few different disciplines but they are all along the lines of practical, gallery, etc so I think you'll enjoy them. There are club rifles and also plenty of people who will let you try out various different rifles, if you show an interest and ask.

[StangGT]

sign92 Thanks Judders, will check it out!

[paulbradley]

Civilian service rifle would be worth a go. Very active style of shooting using rifles such as the Aug, AR and AK. A bit of physical exercise involved which is a good thing in my book. The CSR chaps are very friendly. They have an upcoming match at Bisley. Details are on the NRA website. Go along and check it out..

[StangGT]

Cheers chaps, it certainly looks like the sort of thing. I'm probationary at Phoenix (Ron Flint's club) and also with the NRA... I'm a v long way off FAC etc... What would you advise as a next step? My shooting time is rather limited by family and job, so I don't have lots of free days...

Thanks again

[mag41uk]

A few of the newer members at my club go to the NRA open days to have a look and shoot.
Might be worth a thought.
Next one is in May.
Tony

[JS569]

Sounds like some good advice above! You'll generally find shooters are a friendly bunch and are more than happy to give you a go with their rifle, I've lost count at the amount of poeple I've let have a go. This should help you define what sort of shooting you want to take up.

I probably fall into the plinker catagory, I'm more interested in the historic aspect of firearms but I do shoot game so I guess i get my accuracy hit (no pun intended) from that aspect of rifle shooting.

[HALODIN]

I did it the other way, I knew which rifles I wanted and when I start to compete, I'll enter which ever competitions are appropriate to the rifles I've bought. You can always put in a variation later for something that fits the competition if that's what you choose.