Recent convert to single projectile weapons

[shugie]

Actually I'm a fairly recent arrival to shooting in general, having started clay pigeon shooting a couple of years ago, at which I'm not at all good, but I'm happy persisting at for a while yet. It'll be quite hard to get worse, all things considered. I found out my shotgun club had a rifle side, and first started going to Bisley last September. Using the club Lee Envoy quickly showed I was better at rifle shooting than clays, and so I've put in for my FAC. Which should be here soon, as I've been 'visited'.

I managed, by some fluke, to come joint first in our Christmas competition, to my considerable amazement, so I'm contemplating selling one of my motorbikes to fund the purchase of a couple of rifles to get started with. One will be for use at Melville, a .357 lever action, the club has one and I was happily banging away with it this morning, in the dry until target patching time. Every time I wandered up to the end of the range the water on it seemed to be getting deeper, and I could hear people on Stickledown shooting. Rather them than me to be honest, although I did make it to Melville in the snow, just, so can cope with crap weather. But the idea of shooting lying in a puddle is not that appealing.

Other purchase will be a .308, probably a Howa 1500, but I'm open to suggestions. I think I'll join the NRA for the insurance and the ability to hire ranges, although how often I will be able to afford that in time and money terms is anyone's guess. My club shoots at various Bisley ranges every third Sunday.

I'm also interested in other expensive hobbies like sailing, I've a modest share in an elderly yacht based in Poole, still expensive even as a share though. My eldest daughter can get seasick by looking at a boat, so family sailing holidays, which once seemed like a good idea, are not at all practical. She will go a narrowboat though.

Work is sorting out network problems for the smaller business enterprise, which I've been doing as my own business since 1994. Time flies by when you're having fun (and kids).

[20series]

Welcome to the forum, lots of friendly advice is always available :cheers:

My advice regarding the purchase of new toys is try as many different rifles as you can and don't rush out and buy the first thing you find as soon as your FAC hits the door mat!

Alan

[ovenpaa]

Welcome to the F-B(UK) and fullbore shooting, it sounds like you are getting into the swing of things already. The Howa 1500 is a good start and a pleasant change from the R700, it should see you well for a while. As far as .357 Under levers go I have no idea.

Are you still running BM's? I must admit my days of GS's has been and gone and somewhere along the line I ended up with an R1100S but it has two wheels so I am happy.

[shugie]

Welcome to the F-B(UK) and fullbore shooting, it sounds like you are getting into the swing of things already. The Howa 1500 is a good start and a pleasant change from the R700, it should see you well for a while. As far as .357 Under levers go I have no idea.

Are you still running BM's? I must admit my days of GS's has been and gone and somewhere along the line I ended up with an R1100S but it has two wheels so I am happy.

Presently got an early 1200GS and a G650 XCountry, which is quite fun, but will probably get sold if I want to spend much on guns, money has to come from somewhere. If the wife sees a bike go and guns come in, financial question will be less problematic.

I'm glad that I live near Bisley, I hadn't grasped how few and far between ranges are. I wonder how practical it is to take a rifle there on my GS?

[Christel]

Welcome to the forum, hope you will join in.

[ovenpaa]

Presently got an early 1200GS and a G650 XCountry, which is quite fun, but will probably get sold if I want to spend much on guns, money has to come from somewhere. If the wife sees a bike go and guns come in, financial question will be less problematic.

I'm glad that I live near Bisley, I hadn't grasped how few and far between ranges are. I wonder how practical it is to take a rifle there on my GS?

Well you could always look at a .223 AR type rifle which breaks into two parts so pop them in a short rifle bag/Kriega or similar. Add some cans and ammunition and you are good to go and no worries about carrying waterproofs as you will probably be wearing them. I was running an R1200R, probably the nicest bike I have ever owned, sadly someone needed it more than I did, so they took it. I found a 2003 R1100S with under 4k on the clock for an incredibly low price so I grabbed it as stop gap for the commute to work and I am still using it over a year later. I ran an XCountry as a loaner for a while whilst my HP2 was being repaired and really liked it.

[dromia]

Hello, again.

[dromia]

I'm also interested in other expensive hobbies like sailing, I've a modest share in an elderly yacht based in Poole, still expensive even as a share though. My eldest daughter can get seasick by looking at a boat, so family sailing holidays, which once seemed like a good idea, are not at all practical. She will go a narrowboat though.

Ah the lure of the sea.

Long long ago when faeries dwelt in the land and there were gnomes at the bottom of garden. I was single and free with no kids, mortgage or ties and had loads of money, I used to have a Sailfish 25 that I sailed out of Warsash on the Hamble.

Crewed on some bigger vessels, longer trips too. Also spent a couple of seasons at the lobsters and salmon back home. Seems like another world now. :shock:

[John25]

Please stop all this talk of motorbikes ("You are not getting one at your age!") and life on the oggin ("Don't turn into one of those silly old sods who start conversations with- When I was on the Agamemnon.-)

You'll have me thinking wishfully.

I almost bought a 900S when they were new but got married instead.

:?

Anyway, welcome, make yourself known when you come to Bisley.

[shugie]

Well you could always look at a .223 AR type rifle which breaks into two parts so pop them in a short rifle bag/Kriega or similar. Add some cans and ammunition and you are good to go and no worries about carrying waterproofs as you will probably be wearing them. I was running an R1200R, probably the nicest bike I have ever owned, sadly someone needed it more than I did, so they took it. I found a 2003 R1100S with under 4k on the clock for an incredibly low price so I grabbed it as stop gap for the commute to work and I am still using it over a year later. I ran an XCountry as a loaner for a while whilst my HP2 was being repaired and really liked it.

Now that's a cunning plan that might come together. I have a butchered hard case for a broken down shotgun which bolts to the rack on the XCountry, and a slot on my licence for a .223 as well. Does that sound like an excuse not to sell the XCountry too soon? Reckon so.

Dromia - still chuckling over your avatar, I was frequently requested in my formative years to "haud yer wheesht", but living as I do in Southern England, it's not an expression I encounter now. But I'm going to nick that phrase as a signature for use elsewhere I think.

I appreciate that advice from 20series about not rushing out and buying the first thing I find, I did that with my shotgun and my Baikal 12g, while perfectly serviceable, is as as rough as a rough thing on a rough day, with blemishes craftily concealed in the sale photographs. Still, unless some knows to the contrary, I reckon a dealer selling me a gun has to meet the Sale of Goods Act constraints as much as any other business selling to consumers.

Next newb question is - what rifle clubs are good to join to increase the number of chances of shooting at Bisley (or anywhere else not too distant)? As my club only shoots every third Sunday, I only need to be busy one weekend to have six weeks between shoots.