ADVICE

George Gives It To You Straight

Each month George will answer a couple of questions posed by the Georgedigweed.com website editor...

Question - George, what would you say is best for a novice shooter to start with? Clay pigeon shooting or game shooting?

Answer - "If you're just taking up shooting I would firstly have lessons with a professional and then go to a professional shooting school. Here you can shoot targets and learn how to shoot yourself to a discipline - ie, shooting Skeet or track - and get into a situation where the targets are exacting and you are doing the same thing every time. And once you've got to that scenario and you're doing the same thing every time, then you can go and enjoy clay shooting and game shooting equally because you've become a more proficient shot. But you need to be fairly consistent on a clay pigeon certainly before you start shooting at live animals because if you don't really know what you're doing there's an element of wounding. And the last thing we want is anyone wounding birds."

- For more information on this matter, see our guide to Shooting In The UK

Question - "George, what cartridges would you recommend a new shooter using?"

Answer - "I would recommend a cartridge that is not the cheapest on their pocket. I would recommend that they use quality products. I would recommend that they use Gamebore, but that's a personal preference, but I think they need to spend money. If you buy a cheap quality product, you get what you pay for."

- Please visit the HiDefSpex website

Question - George, I'm new here, how do I get started in shooting?

Answer - "First you need to go to your local Police Station and pick up an application form for a shotgun certificate. When your application has been approved you need to search the web for a local shooting club. I strongly recommend you book yourself in for a shooting lesson with a qualified instructor, who will explain all the safety procedures and the matters regarding the safe handling of a gun."

- For more information on this matter, see our guide to Shooting In The UK

Question - "George, what eyewear would you recommend for a novice shooter?"

Answer - "There's no definitive answer on this. However, I would recommend a visit to the HiDefSpex website, HiDefSpex have provided all my professional eyewear. They have a full range of precision shooting glasses which can be tailored specifically to you, and what you want from your glasses. Everyone's face shapes are different, some people want to look good whilst shooting, others want glasses that include a nose-piece meaning the glasses sit slightly away from the face. You need to have a good look at the options open to you and seek the advice of the experts."

- Please visit the HiDefSpex website