Clay Shooting...Norfolk Style

This weekend I took full advantage of the gale force winds and took the 12 bore/gauge out with my friend Penny. He was using the Hatsan Escort semi-auto and I had the Midland Gun Co over and under. We were shooting random targets all different sizes to see how we got on with the conditions.

Clay Shooting In Beeston, Norfolk at Fair Clay Targets

I do enjoy clay shooting but unfortunately struggle to find the time to go, the shoot we go on is in a small village called Beeston in Norfolk. The day is ran by a company called Fair Clay Targets and it's a very popular trap venue which is ran every two weeks.  The shoot offers a variety of locations such a woodland, quarries and open land where they set up various layouts.  We done a 100 bird shoot with some of the guys getting some good scores but I will reveal the results at the end. Here is a few photos from the day:

Jonny with his Miroku

Open traps

Quite the audience

Beautiful Norfolk countryside

Beretta semi auto

Doddy with his Nikko 12 gauge over and under

Taking aim

Woodland trap

Glenn with his Beretta Silver Pigeon

Woodland edge

Well the results are as follows:

Glenn: 77/100
Jonny: 76/100
Doddy: 64/100
Myself: 60/100

Not the best day I've had in terms of results but I've not been for a long time and I started off very slow ..well that's my excuse anyway. I was shooting with my Midland Gun Co 12 gauge, she's a bit of a golden oldie and never skips a beat. For clays I use the Gamebore 'velocity' cartridges they are 28g and cost around £39 for 250. For clays I don't particularly think it matters what cartridges you use and usually just go the cheapest and the Velocities come up best for price.

Tom

Outdoor & More

Morning Wander In The Fog

Last night I had spontaneous moment and decided to get up early to go for a walk around some land I shoot. The land is nicknamed 'The Hill' for obvious reasons, it has a large area of over gown rough with a woodland which is heaving with pigeons, pheasants, magpies and the odd rabbit. I like going there because you never know what you're going to come across and it offers a great variety of game. Today I brought my younger brother along who hasn't shot very much and is more of a fisherman, but I think he enjoyed himself.

Can't beat taking a flask out on these cold days

I was shooting my Midlands Gun Co over and under whilst he took the Hatsan semi auto both 12 gauge. Due to the thick fog the visibility wasn't great but I think it helped because the quarry couldn't see us as well.  The only trouble was we didn't have as much time to react to them.

My brother 

The first hour was very quiet with only a few pigeons but as the day went on it started to pick up a lot more. We were using Gamebore 'clear pigeons' 32g cartridges which I have mentioned previously in my blog but they are fantastic cartridges and would recommend them. 

Gamebore 'Clear Pigeon'

Beautiful morning

Using straw bales as cover

Taking aim (to miss)

Tea break

After shooting for 3 hours we managed 17 pigeons and 2 rabbits which in the conditions wasn't bad going but to be honest we did have a lot of misses. Whilst we were there the game keeper was at the bottom of the land  also pigeon shooting and he got 11 so not a bad total for the day. 

Hatsan Escort semi-auto shotgun

The Hatsan Escort semi-auto shotgun is a Turkish-built semi automatic that is a top contender for the best semi automatic under £500.

In the hide with the Hatsan

Want to hear about one of the best semi autos for under £500.  It comes in the shape of Hatsan’s gas operated Escort semi-auto.  Some may say that its not as reliable as a Beretta or Browning but I have to disagree, considering you can buy three for the same price and any replacement parts so readily available you cant go wrong.

Mine came with a three year warranty covering mechanical defects which was included in the price. I basically wanted something I could take pigeon shooting that was rugged, simple and reliable that could take a few knocks and dents. But on a budget, when I came across this for £450! That’s nearly a third of the price of a Browning Maxus. 

The Escort has done nothing but impress me, I’ve had over 3,000 cartridges through it and I’ve never had a jam. Unlike some semi auto the gun isn’t cartridge fussy. I’ve had 28g loads all the way to 34g load and it still cycles like a dream. Obviously with most gas operated semi-autos the smooth cycling of the gun is largely down to it being kept clean so that all the parts move as

freely as possible. The rule of thumb for cleaning semi autos I always do after I’ve used it. I always think if you look after your shotgun it looks after you.

The Hatsan also came with 5 chokes and a choke key. Mod, Imp Mod, Skeet, Full and cylinder.

My version is 12 gauge 28” inch barrel and has a black synthetic stock.  The gun comes with a standard magazine capacity of 2 + 1, which you can hold on a basic UK shotgun license. They are also available to FAC holders with extended seven shot magazines. I’m also pretty sure they make a left hand version also.

The verdict and marks out of 10

I personally think this is the best value and performing semi auto under £500 on  the market. I've had so many good days out with it and touch wood its never let me down. With that in mind time for my marks out of 10.

Build Quality: 9

Handling: 9

Styling: 7

Value for money: 10

Average: 8.75/10

Coming soon 'Hatsan Escort' review

I am going to be doing a review of the Turkish made Hatsan Escort. Ive had this gun for over a year and online there some real mixed reviews. So I'm going to do my own and I'm really excited!

Coming soon

Pheasant season is here...at last

Well as you all know the pheasant season is well underway, and I've got quite a few shoots lined up. At the minute the weather here in the UK for this time of year as been extremely mild. This Saturday when i went pigeon shooting it was 17C, and for November thats unheard of.

Im sure you will all agree there nothings better then a cold Saturday morning with your 12 bore resting in your arm ready for the days shoot. This is the first year I've been invited on a shoot which is in a small village call East Harling. Due to other commitments I've able to attend the first few but i am going to do my first soon.

For the shoot I'm going to take my Midlands Gun Co over and under which is a golden oldie that i love to shoot with that was given to me by a friend who is now working abroad. So watch this space and i will fill you in on how i go.

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