I often refer to being or becoming a ‘well-rounded’ shot. You might ask what that means. Writing this during isolation at a time of unprecedented uncertainty and worry for the future led me to think about my own shooting life in search of answers. I hope it helps my fellow shooters relate to their own experiences and perhaps pick up a thing or two. In most cases, when we are learning a skill we need to go through the process of experiencing the rights, wrongs and the ups and downs for ourselves. Yes, we can glean a huge amount of information from the internet and books but it is not the same as first-hand experiences.
How I started
It all started for me at 19, when I moved from Tooting in south-west London to the Midlands. I was always fascinated with guns and shooting (not seen too much on Tooting High Street) and a visit to the local shop in Albrighton found me putting a deposit on my first gun. It was a single-barrelled 12-bore made by the Firearms Company, Bridgwater and I paid the grand sum of £12 10/6d (£12.53p) for it. At this stage, I couldn’t possess it as I didn’t have a licence but that was soon to follow.
The policeman who eventually issued my licence introduced me to a local keeper on the Weston Park estate. He was tasked with getting me into the sport, which involved him putting me in a hedge line, where I stood for hours waiting for an unlucky pigeon to come my way. I can’t remember ever shooting one.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 2020-Ausgabe von Sporting Gun.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 2020-Ausgabe von Sporting Gun.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Thermal spectrum
Paul Austin explores both ends of the thermal market with latest high-end release from Zeiss alongside a surprising entry-level offering from Xinfrared
Roe, rucks and new ground
Jon Snowdon and his team have much to keep them busy and a new tool to help them
Tales from a lifetime of foxing
Join Mike Powell as he explores the evolving world of fox shooting, drawing from a career that spans seven decades
Fox rot about Charlie
Patrick Hook responds to claims that fox numbers are dangerously on the wane
The sniff of success
Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion
Adventures of Nick & Ted
A new chapter in the histories of Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter has Nick Ridley reflecting on the dogs he has trained over the years he has been associated with the magazines
The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system
Vet's advice
Gundogs Q&A
No problem goes unsolved as Sporting Gun puts your questions to the gundog experts
Stop-start!
Fran Ardley continues her training tips on disciplining your dog to the stop whistle and the exercises you need to do
Gundogs at the Game Fair
Organising the Game Fair's prestigious gundog competitions: behind-the-scenes with Francesca Prentice