Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2020 i Clay Shooting

Christmas is upon us, and as a festive treat we’ve got not one but two gun tests for you this month. One is a gun that many readers will seriously consider as a claybusting tool, the excellent Caesar Guerini Invictus I Ascent. In his usual style, Richard Atkins gives it a thorough going-over on page 30. Our second gun this month is more in the realms of “when I win the lottery” for most of us – our cover star, the new Purdey Sporting Clays O/U, costs a cool £75 grand! It’s a beauty though, and Mike Yardley has been lucky enough to try it out on clays. Read his assessment on page 42. Also in this issue we turn the spotlight on some inspirational shooters, not least Compak ladies…

The first Saturday in October I travelled to Mid Wales Shooting Centre to use some of my Laporte-CPC sponsored clays. I worked on perfecting my technique and my timing ready for the competitions that I will be shooting over the winter. I want to get some good scores in for the England selection shoots for 2020, where I will be trying to make the World Championship team. The following day I went to shoot the first DTL Winter Series at East Yorkshire Clay Shooting Ground – which brought the mileage for the weekend up to nearly 500! The last time I shot at this ground, it was for the England selection shoots around 18 months ago. This time it rained all day, but thankfully the layouts have covers! I shot…

Richard Atkins Clay Shooting’s resident technical expert, Richard has decades of experience reviewing guns, cartridges and accessories. He’s well equipped to solve problems on everything from shot sizes to stock dimensions. Ed Lyons Director of Flint & Partners, Ed’s optometry work has helped top-level athletes reach their goals on domestic and international level. Countless shooters rely on him to keep their vision in top shape. Stuart Farr A lawyer specialising in the shooting sports, Stuart has extensive experience in all things legal – from solving civil disputes relating to firearms ownership, to helping a governing body draft its code of ethics.…

“Some guns require a bit of time to settle in with, but the Ascent and I were soon well acquainted” We have featured several Caesar Guerini guns in these pages and they have so far proven very well received. This month’s test gun is from the increasingly popular Invictus range, and is engraved with the designation ‘Invictus I’ on the underside of the receiver. There are several variations of the Invictus I; this is the Ascent, although that title is not actually engraved on the gun. Being part of the Invictus line, the gun has replaceable hinges and locking lugs. If you remove the barrels, you can see this for yourself. Look at the hinge points either side of the monobloc. The arrangement is unlike any other, and actually reverses…

The season is now over, and a month on from taking the junior gold medal at the British Shooting Grand Final, I’ve had a lot to think about, as well as many other commitments to fulfill. My 2019 season certainly ended on a high at Fauxdegla Shooting Ground, but after that I decided to put the gun away for a while and focus on preparing for my first real GCSE exam. This first exam was English Language; thankfully that’s a subject I don’t struggle with, but during my preparation I was surprised how much it affected me mentally. I had always looked at other students and wondered why they got so stressed about exams. Of course I understood they’re important, but students were panicking as if it was the defining…

Looking back on my journey as a novice shooter, the words of the late blues guitarist, Stevie Ray Vaughan, struck a chord: “Your sound is in your hands as much as anything. It’s the way you pick, and the way you hold the guitar, more than it is the amp or the guitar you use.” It’s tempting to blame the gun for my shortcomings as a shooter, but I have to be brutally honest – it’s all down to me. I’m glad I shot so many different guns before purchasing my Caesar Guerini Summit. The process enabled me to learn which guns suit me and which don’t. I prefer an adjustable comb, a rifle-like grip with a good amount of palm swell and an English style fore-end. Having distracted myself…

I know some people don’t like to see semi-autos on the clay ground – but a ban? Seriously? Yet that’s what one chap suggested to me recently. To save his blushes I won’t name him, but he’s not alone; there are plenty of people who aren’t exactly fans of semi-autos for one reason or another. There are several reasons why you might feel that way. The first is simple prejudice, the idea that a semi-auto just doesn’t look ‘right’. Call it snobbery if you like, but if you like your guns elegant and traditional, with nice woodwork and fine engraving, then you might find a semi-auto a bit ‘tactical’ or even ‘agricultural’ for your taste. It’s subjective, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Then there are the safety considerations.…

Merry shooting Xmas Grounds around the country are planning special Christmas shoots with a festive atmosphere, with many grounds opening on Boxing Day for those who are longing for a bit of fresh air after the Christmas festivities. Check your local grounds’ web pages or search on the CPSA website cpsa.co.uk. Plus sign up for the weekly Clay Shooting magazine email to receive an up to date fixture list every Friday at www.clay-shooting.com/subscribe/ University Challenge Oxford University Clay Pigeon Shooting Club hosted its annual Oxford Challenge shoot at EJ Churchill Shooting Ground. The event was well attended by several university teams who demonstrated great enthusiasm for the sport as well as considerable skill. The event was sponsored by EJ Churchill, The Field magazine, CPSA, BASC, Sporting Hares, Cens Digital, House…

Thank goodness we weren’t doing this yesterday! That was the abiding feeling at the big final of the 2019 Rizzini Series, held at Honesberie Shooting School’s competition ground at Hill Farm, Watergall, six miles down the road from their main ground. The previous day had seen hurricane force winds and driving rain, but that seemed like a bad memory as finals day, Sunday 3 November, dawned calm and dry. Before long the sun burst through and shooters were reaching for their shades as they tackled the 24-target Sportrap final layout. There were some very attractive prizes on offer – unusually the class and category prizes are every bit as valuable as the top level prizes, with a Rizzini BR110 gun to be won in every category and class, along with…

What’s your favourite shooting ground near you? What about the best one for Trap, or Skeet? And what’s the best one full stop? Everyone has their personal picks, and we all know that barely anyone agrees on which ground truly is the best. That’s why our Nation’s Favourite Shooting Ground poll has been so enduringly popular – it’s voted for by the clay shooting public, which means you can have your say and help your favourite ground win. Plus, it gives crucial recognition to the ground owners and managers who work hard at all hours of day and night to put on excellent shoots and keep us coming back week after week. Of course, a good clay ground is about more than targets. It’s about the quality of the facilities,…

When you’re getting started in shooting, one of the most important things to get right is your equipment. That’s especially important at a competitive level. Factors like gun fit and barrel weight are all crucial to performance – and preferences and shape will vary from person to person. As someone starting out in shooting, or even just looking for a new gun, it can seem very daunting – but it needn’t be. When I chose my first gun, I did plenty of research and comparison to make sure I found the right one for me. The sheer volume of guidance I was given was overwhelming to say the least. What I’ve realised is that everyone has an opinion. It is almost always intended to be a help rather than hindrance,…

2017 South Area Skeet Champion Scottish Open Skeet Ladies High Gun Skeet Home International Scottish Lady High Gun First 100 ex-100 at Skeet – Cluny Clays Scottish Open Sporting Ladies runner up 2018 Second 100 ex-100 at Skeet – Nottingham & District One Hundred Straight Club Ladies High Gun Ulster Open Skeet Ladies Champion Irish Open Skeet Ladies Champion English Open Skeet Ladies third Welsh Open Skeet Ladies runner up Scottish Open Skeet Ladies High Gun Skeet Home International Scottish Lady High Gun Skeet Home International Ladies High Gun Scottish Open Sporting Ladies runner up Skeet Challenge Ladies High Gun Third 100 ex-100 at Skeet – Nottingham & District 2019 Wilson Skeet Winter Cup Overall Champion & Ladies Champion One Hundred Straight Club Ladies runner up English Open Skeet Ladies…

At the end of last year Cheryl and I decided that we were exhausted and needed a break from clay shooting. This was due to the huge number of competitions that we’d done, including five trips to shoot in international events. We were shot out and mentally drained, so we put our guns away for a while. Neither of us had ever done this before so we were unsure how it would go – but it proved to be a great benefit to both of us. We both came back keen, the motivation was back at its peak again and we both really enjoyed pulling the trigger. Cheryl was a lot quicker to get back into it, while I struggled to regain some form for quite some time. I remember…

Ben Killian Ben started shooting with father Wayne at the age of eight, and progressed from a bolt-action .410 to a 20-bore semi-auto. He won Junior Men’s gold at the British Shooting Shotgun Series in August 2019, and has achieved success in international Helice competitions – Junior gold in the Italian Grand Prix in 2018, and Junior team silver at the 2019 World Championships in Rome. Ultimately, he wants to represent Great Britain at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. “I enjoy the challenge of hitting every target and improving each time I compete. I like the way I can be shooting next to an Olympic gold medallist one day and a World Champion the next. There is a community spirit in the sport – everyone is so approachable and…

The Promatic Grand Prix provided a friendly competition to round off the clay season at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground over the weekend of 19 and 20 October. The weekend was also British Shooting Talent Pathway Championships, which has become a regular fixture held at the end of the year’s block of training for shooters on the Pathway. This competition is of particular interest to me, as I have been coaching on the Pathway for four years and have a particular interest in getting more groups established around the country. This year also saw shooters from the British Army Olympic development squads take this opportunity to test some of the skills they have been working on during the year. For some shooters it was their first ever competition in their chosen Olympic…

The Martin Barker Memorial Shoot was held at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground on Sunday 3 November. It was the third memorial shoot for a man who gave so much to shooting, writes Anita North. The main part of the day was a 100 Olympic Trap registered shoot, and there was also a very popular pigeon flush. Winner of the OT competition and the Martin Barker Trophy was Nathan Hales, who was also the winner last year. However, the main reason to get together was to raise money for the Hertfordshire and Essex Air Ambulance. In addition, there was a cake stall with sales in aid of Macmillan. There was a raffle with lots of donated prizes to raise money. All prize winners in the competition donated their winnings into the donations…

Purdey men’s fleece gilet There are dozens of similar long sleeved fleece jackets – so Le Chameau went back to the drawing board and came up with the Blockley. Made from finely knitted Italian wool bonded to technical polyester fleece for warmth and breathability, the result is a quick-drying full-zip fleece jacket with class-leading heat retention and natural stretch. Available in grey, sage green, navy and brown. RRP: £245 Sizes: S-XXL www.lechameau.com AimCam Pro2i camera glasses AimCam glasses function as normal protective and tinted shooting glasses, and have a built-in camera to record the view from your aiming eye – ideal if you want to analyse each shot afterwards, or just like sharing your shooting adventures. The latest model, the Pro2i. has improved image quality and a useful vibration feedback…

New security rules Q I recently saw that the 2019 version of the Firearms Security October Handbook . The had previous been published version has in disappeared off the internet so I am to wondering do anything whether different I have with now in its order requirements to comply . Do security I need to ? upgrade Also, if I all do of change my how my security can I be at sure any that stage what the I am requirements buying complies set out with in the Handbook? A The Firearms Security Handbook was republished in October 2019. Even comparing the latest version to the one published in 2005, the Handbook has not evolved greatly. It is important to remember the Handbook is only a guide. It is not…

Shooting Apparel of the Year • Blaser Hybrid Suit • Deerhunter Pro Gamekeeper Jacket • Harkila Heat Jacket • Laksen Woodhay Smock • ShooterKing Huntflex Jacket Rifle Ammunition of the Year • Eley Subsonic Hollow • Federal Vital Shok • SGeco .243 105gn soft points • Hornady GMX bullets • Rigby .416 Rigby No.2 Shotgun Ammunition of the Year • Eley Hawk VIP Steel Pro Eco Wad • Gamebore Black Gold • Hull Cartridge Comp X • Hull Cartridge Pro Fibre • William Powell Blue Lightning Optics Product of the Year (Over £1,000) Sponsored by Real World International • Nightforce SHV 5-20x56 ILL scope • Swarovski SLC 8x42 binos • Swarovski DS 5-25x42 scope • Vortex Fury 5000 10x42 rangefinding binos • Zeiss Victory RF 10x42 binos Optics Product of…

“It’s a wonderful gun, and superbly made. If I had the money, I’d buy one” It takes quite a lot to get me excited, but the new Purdey Sporting Clays gun has managed to catch my attention. It is a big, beautiful, 8lb 9oz beast dedicated to modern Sporting competition without making any concessions whatsoever. The gun, into which there has been much R&D, is entirely London made and carries a price tag of £62K plus VAT. Yup, almost £75,000, give or take. That is an awful lot of cartridges and pitch discs. You could buy half a dozen or more top-flight clay guns for that. Indeed, in some parts of the country, you could still buy a house or flat with such a capital sum. Is any gun worth…

As the newest contributor to Clay Shooting magazine, let me introduce myself. I’m Rhys, and I am a 15-year-old clay shooter from Hertfordshire. My discipline of choice is English Sporting. I do manage to get underneath a few pheasants during the season, but I spend the majority of my time in the cage. I’ll tell you a bit about my journey since starting shooting six years ago. I started with my father at the age of nine, using a .410 at my local shooting ground, which is Atkin Grant & Lang. I soon realised that my shooting style leaned towards targets of a game flavour, and after a while we did diversify into shooting live quarry – but I soon came back to clays. I just love the competitive atmosphere…

Essex Master Ladies Champion FITASC European Ladies Champion FITASC European Cup Ladies Champion Compak European Championships Ladies Runner Up Compak European Cup Ladies Runner up Compak European Championships Team Ladies Runner up Compak World Cup Ladies Runner Up Compak World Championships Team Ladies Runner up English Sporting Championship Ladies Champion Compak UK Championship Ladies High Gun Compak Sporting British Masters Ladies Champion English Sporting English Open Lady Champion FITASC British Masters Grand Prix Ladies Champion FITASC British Masters Ladies Champion Compak British Grand Prix Ladies Champion Welsh Open Sport trap Ladies Champion FITASC British Grand Prix Ladies Champion Compak Sporting Portugal Grand Prix Ladies Runner Up Home international Sporting England Lady High Gun Home international Sporting Overall Lady High Gun Home international FITASC England Lady High Gun Home international Sporting…

Over the last few years, the major gun brands have answered the growing demand and come up with a variety of gun options dedicated to ladies. These commonly have a high comb, perhaps a Monte Carlo stock, a shorter length of pull and a condensed grip. These guns have made a dramatic difference to performance and comfort for lady shooters. The days are long gone when you had to stick on a rubber comb and chop a piece of wood off the butt. Each brand has found ways of differentiating themselves from the others, perhaps with stock measurements, engraving and wood quality. Here is our pick of the best sellers, including some of the most sought-after ladies' guns on the market. BERETTA VITTORIA  RRP from £2,145 Within the 690 series,…