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Any shooters here?

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Barrett M95

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I don't know if it's been asked before, but I'm quite new, so forgive me.

I've shot here in the UK and in the USA (benefit of dual nationality) for sport, competition and a brief spell in service.

I like the UK scene mostly - good attitudes to the technical and sporting side of it, but it seems the vast majority of shooters in the UK are much older than the US average age.

So - any other shooters here? Doesn't matter what you shoot:

Clays
Sporting shotgun
Target rifle
Practical rifle
Practical pistol (although I guess not in the UK)
Air weapons (field target etc)
Black Powder

Even archers?

I don't want this to become a debate on firearm legislation (or the 2nd Amendment!), and I know from experience this becomes a heated argument quickly, but I'm not intending on starting that - just want to see if there are any others who enjoy our activity for sport.
 
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chris89

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Have done a bit of target shooting with Air powered pistols and rifles. Especially when i lived at a place with a large garden.

Currently got no where to use them, but have an CO2 power pistol that looks very simular to an Walther P38, and G10 single shot spring pistol, and my dad's high powered air-rifle (Underslung built in pump)

Chris
 

HST Power

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I have done quite a bit of archery. When I am in practice, I'm a fair shot to!
 

CarterUSM

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I don't know if it's been asked before, but I'm quite new, so forgive me.

I've shot here in the UK and in the USA (benefit of dual nationality) for sport, competition and a brief spell in service.

I like the UK scene mostly - good attitudes to the technical and sporting side of it, but it seems the vast majority of shooters in the UK are much older than the US average age.

So - any other shooters here? Doesn't matter what you shoot:

Clays
Sporting shotgun
Target rifle
Practical rifle
Practical pistol (although I guess not in the UK)
Air weapons (field target etc)
Black Powder

Even archers?

I don't want this to become a debate on firearm legislation (or the 2nd Amendment!), and I know from experience this becomes a heated argument quickly, but I'm not intending on starting that - just want to see if there are any others who enjoy our activity for sport.



Done clay shooting with my father as a teenager, also pheasant once in a while. Air rifled as a youngster too, under supervision of course, with the sea cadets and at home. Used a 2.2 version of the SA80 as a cadet also, single shot and reload, if I remember it had no gas regulator? Drilled with old useless lead barrelled Lee Enfield mark IV 's. Would have loved to have had a "proper shot" of one though. My father was more of a rifleman than me anyway , but I'm pretty sure he had a revolver he used at the gun club years ago. I done archery at high school, and I'm sure my father did a bit as well, but not with me unfortunately.
 

chris89

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Also forgot to add, have done quite a bit of archery as well, and was a rather good shot at it, at some old school events, was the only person getting very close groupings etc

Chris
 

Barrett M95

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I have tried archery before - really enjoyable sport. I got pretty good scores so I was doing something right, but on the other hand (literally) I was getting bad blisters, so I guess I was also doing something wrong.

In terms of firearms, I've shot too many to list. Everything from a tiny lightweight Browning .22 semi-auto to a .50BMG rifle at 1200yd ranges. I fulfilled a long time ambition of shooting a SMLE MkIII .303 recently at Bisley. Fantastic weapon. The one I shot was over 60 years old but the bolt was as smooth as any I've used. Quicker than a Mauser action. No wonder the British did so well with these in the early 20th century.

Personally, although I've shot some massive sniper rifles (see photo to the left!), my favourite gun (that I owned) was a Marlin 1894 carbine. Underlever in .44 Magnum (could also take .44 Special, but I only ever loaded my own Magnums). Fast fast action, and with hot loads and because it weighed basically nothing with open sights, it kicked more than the big .50 despite having 1/10th the muzzle energy - felt like a damn elephant gun!

Great sport - my dad took me shooting when I was 7 (30 years ago... damn, I feel old), only with an air rifle, then a .22. Some might think that too young but it teaches discipline, safety and respect early.
 
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chris89

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Some rifles i would love to own include Lee Enfield No4 Mark 1 or SMLE MIII or an Mosi-gant 91/30 or M44 also a Mauser 98Karbine and finially an Walther G41.

For firearms even though just Air-rifles etc, been taught upmost respect with them, how to carry etc when i was a lot younger my parents refused to get my or allow me to play with toy guns.

Chris
 

Barrett M95

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That's good to hear Chris. I know that if I messed around when I was younger under the supervision of my dad, he'd have kicked my ass! I'm sure he did on a few occasions too.

If anyone is thinking about trying shooting or archery, have a go - it is a great sport, and has a good community - just remember that nobody cares how good a shot you are (that's up to you to set your expectations), but EVERYBODY there cares how SAFE you are.
 

Nym

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Lets see....

Lee Enfeild .303 (Converted to .22)
L98a1
L85a1, a2
L86a1, a2
GPMG
AWE .308
Browning 9mm
Numerous air rifiles

And outside of the MoD

Over & Under on clay pidgons, not done any paintballing or anything yet, and I always win at lazerquest...

Theres many a firearm I'd like to get me paws on, but it would mean going to the US or CZ to be allowed to play with them as a member of joe public, the likes of the MP5, AS50, most of the iconic ones really.

Would quite like to get my licence back in the UK, but I couldn't afford the rifle I want...
 

Barrett M95

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Over & Under on clay pidgons, not done any paintballing or anything yet, and I always win at lazerquest...

Theres many a firearm I'd like to get me paws on, but it would mean going to the US or CZ to be allowed to play with them as a member of joe public, the likes of the MP5, AS50, most of the iconic ones really.

Would quite like to get my licence back in the UK, but I couldn't afford the rifle I want...

MP5 is worth a shot if you get a chance. Well balanced and fantastic sights. Of course there are more variations of that weapon than just about any other I can think of, but I think they all handle just as well. I haven't shot the larger calibre MP5/10 or/40 - either of which are on my wish-list.

Paintball doesn't appeal to me. I have my reasons.

I have a space for a .223 on my ticket - but have the same financial hurdle as you. I know what I want, but my wallet says no.
 

Nym

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I want a large calibre Accuracy International, my wallet says thats a year's wages, before I left work!

TBH, if I end up working in some of the places I'm applying for, I'll be playing with many firearms...
 

Barrett M95

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I'm sure when you say "playing", you mean "using in a responsible manner..."

What I enjoy "playing" with is experimenting with hand-loads. I wrote my own ballistic tables for my loads after HOURS and HOURS of tweaking powder loads, bullet weights, seat-depths and of course the hard part - going down the range and putting all that lead into the backstop.

Large calibre guns are actually easy to shoot as long as you can stand the recoil - which if a muzzle brake is fitted - ain't too bad. Like I said above, my old .44 (without brake) kicked more than a .50 BMG (with brake), but then I was firing the .44 standing and the .50 prone which also helps.

Air rifle shot in high wind though - THAT takes skill!!!
 

Nym

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Hitting a man at 700m with battlesights on an L85a2 takes skill too though...
It is fun watching pepole with optics get beaten by me without any optics ;)
 

Barrett M95

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I can think of many situations where sights beat scopes. I shot a practical comp a few years back where the RI didn't tell us the range of targets in advance - just that there were 3 of them. Turns out they were 100, 200 and 400yds.

I gambled on my .308 Steyr with a fixed 8x Schmidt on top hoping for 600yds+ . I got thrashed by a guy with an Armalite .223 wearing a red-dot (with 1x mag and half my muzzle energy!). Live n' learn. Good job we weren't in the field for real.
 

deltic1989

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Ive used

L98 a1
L85 a1 and 2
L86 LSW
GPMG
AK 47
Styer AUG
and
Browning 9mm

mainly at targets but sometimes at other things (though I can't elaborate on a public forum)
 

Nym

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Yeah, the difference being, it was the others using a SUSAT, and I was using iron sights... They couldn't hit with SUSAT or Iron, I hit with Iron... (Trying to boast here!)
 

Barrett M95

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With a SUSAT they were probably holding over too much and obscuring or part obscuring the target with the reticle. I think you made a wise choice! I don't like those thick "post" reticles.

Although it's only 2x or 4x I'd not call it an true scope, but I will honorably accept your boast!
 

Nym

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Remember the theoretical maximum range for an L85 is 500m and the iron sights are set to work out to 300m (I was on the new type), SUSAT is effective to 800m, and they didn't even get close on any of them, zeroed on a 200m grouping so they where aiming in the right place, just couldn't hit the target at 700m...

Multi-Range steel targets... would be a hell of a lot of walking otherwise...
 

Barrett M95

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Yeah. Zeroed at 200 and shooting at 700, I'll bet not one of them held over enough because they couldn't see it past the post if they did.

The irons on the Lee-Enfield I recently shot were also impressively accurate. Aperture sights can be phenominally accurate as long as you know what your target looks like, and are at a nice pre-determined range that you know.
 

Nym

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The old ones on the L85 where much much better for accurate shots, but they dropped them in favour of 200m set wide/narrow flip down sights, used to have 100 - 500m at 100m intervals, on them ones I could consistantly get good shots at 500m.
 

Hydro

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Used to shoot service rifle discipline at Bisley when I was in the TA, at Battalion and Divisional level. Ended up representing the TA in the inter-service Methuen Cup. Would've shot internationally the year after I left, but no time to commit once I joined the railway = no more TA :(

I have used:

L85A1/2, irons and SUSAT
L86A1/2, irons and SUSAT
L7A2 GPMG
HK416 10 inch
HK417 16 inch and 20 inch
HK33E
G36CV
L9A1 9mm
Lee Enfield No.5
MP5A3
MP7A1
 

Hydro

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That was a reference to the Terminator YouTube clip. My own personal list is a little more extensive, few posts up...
 

GB

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Not a shooter as such but do have a little collection of air powered pistols though it severly trails in comparison to the real steel you lot have been shooting!

PC172768.JPG


RAM5-1.JPG
 

deltic1989

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Barrett M95:841408 said:
Ive used

Styer AUG

9mm or 5.56? What was it like? (if you can say). PM me if you feel it's appropriate.

Not one I've shot before - be interested in hearing.
it was a 5.56. it was when i was on the falklands a couple of years ago (the AUG is standard to the Falkland Islands Defence Force) its pretty good very accurate once you get used to the fore grip (id never had on before just supported the barrel in the usual manner with an SA 80) its a dream to use plus it has the added advantage of being able to be fired left and right handed, which my oppo loved as being a lefty he used to struggle with the right handed limitations of the SA80.
 
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