New Member Intro

[Swamphog]

:flag5:

Good evening, peeps - new member intro.

I'm a retired engineer, living about 1300 feet asl, just outside Buxton, in the Peak District. In the past, I did a fair bit of rifle shooting; starting at 14 in the Army Cadet Force at school with a No.8 Lee-Enfield trainer, working up to a No.4 Lee-Enfield (which I thought was going to rip my puny shoulder off!). Spent a few years later on in the RAF, and used an SLR - which I thought was an unreliable piece of junk, and ridiculously over-powered for the job it was intended for. That view was confirmed by friends who served in Ulster during 'the troubles', and said it was a nightmare trying to avoid unintentionally killing people by it putting bullets through brick walls.

Also did a bit of shooting in an RAF club with BSA Martini Internationals, but, unfortunately, just missed out on doing a course on the GP Machine Gun, due to a sudden posting.

After I left the RAF, did some clay pigeon shooting (not competition, just for fun), whilst working as a blacksmith. Filled in some more time working as a heavy horse driver, trainer and stallion man, steam loco fitter, and qualified as a fireman working steam locos on the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

At the other end of the spectrum, worked as a design draughtsman for companies making industrial instruments; crane safe load indicators and instruments measuring gas pressure and flow rates - the latter built around on an original device used to stabilise the German flying bombs in flight.

I got back into shooting about 25 years ago, shooting pistol in the Hastings & District RPC, and very much enjoyed that, using a Britarms .22 semi-auto, and had lined up the purchase of a S & W .38 SP when Blair's iniquitous firearms bill went through. Along with many others, I was so disgusted about the way pistol shooters were made scapegoats that I quit shooting altogether for years, not returning to it until last November, when I found a very friendly club in Stafford, and took up rifle shooting.

Having tried prone, sitting and standing, I've plumped for the standing position. I've had a great deal of help and encouragement from other club members, in sorting out what works best for me. One point in particular was about the length of barrel. I tried a very nice CZ .22 semi-auto, but found the muzzle wobbling all over the place, and no matter how I tried positioning my left arm, the bicep kept twitching under the load. The chief coach pointed out that it had a 24" heavy barrel, which put a lot of the load well out in front, and borrowed another .22 rifle from another club member for me to try - and I found I could hold it steady without struggling! The coach pointed out that, firstly, it had a 20" barrel, and secondly, it was a standard weight of barrel.

Words of wisdom from Ed:

"There's nothing wrong with that CZ; it's a very well made rifle - but what you need to find is a rifle which suits yourself! The fit of the rifle to you is just as important as it is in a made to measure suit."

And the way my grouping tightened up proved his point beyond all doubt.

The other night, I tried one of the club's full-bore rifles; a Marlin under-lever, chambered for .44 ammunition. Never shot a rifle like this before, and I was WELL impressed - so that is on the shopping list for when I get my FAC.
:)

Looking forward to picking your brains, and learning as much as I can about my new sport!

Cheers to all,
Jack

[Les]

Hi Jack .... welcome to FBUK!

[20series]

Excellent intro Jack

Welcome to the forum, it's not a bad place to be

Alan

[Christel]

Hi Jack, welcome to F-B, thank you for the intro

[ovenpaa]

Welcome to the forum Jack, I lived on the Chesterfield side of the Peak for many years and shot pistol at the Derbyshire Shooting Centre at Via Gellia Mills, Bonsall. I quit shooting for a while when it was forced up on me and eventually moved South. I spent many happy hours in the Buxton area as a keen caver and climber and my old climbing partner lives in Buxton to this day, if the weather was looking good we would head out to the Staffordshire Grit and if it was grim head East to the Peak edges.

I still miss the place.

[redcat]

Welcome aboard, Jack. That lever action would certainly suit your avatar!.

Redcat

[snayperskaya]

Hello and welcome Comrade

[Swamphog]

Many thanks to you all for the friendly welcome - I'm very much enjoying the forum already! (and some of the wisecracks in various posts had me choking on my coffee last night!)
:)

With best regards,

Jack

[Mattnall]

Hello and welcome