New Member Intro
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 11:37 pm
: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
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
