So today. we're in Wales at WMS Firearms Training for the Blaser Academy and I'm here because
I want to become a more experienced rifle shooter and to get some training for later
in the year when I want to go Deer stalking in the UK.
If anyone sees anything at any stage thats a prerequisite to stopping just shout stop
and then if you're like that, finger off the trigger and rifle pointed in a safe direction
and we'll sort out what it is.
We started off with some smaller caliber rifles, we shot the .17 HMR, we shot a .22, just going
through the basics from holding the rifle, having a secure holding stance, to shooting
the rifle confidently and then moving up to the .270 and the .308.
Previously I've shot a .223, so today the .270 and the .308 were a completely new experience
and even the .17 HMR and the .22 were completely new to me as well, both were actually really
enjoyable and I think also the biggest thing that I have learnt today is that no matter
what caliber of rifle you were shooting, it's all about the control of the rifle and the
effect that that has on where the shot gets placed and how it's received in the shoulder.
You do get some recoil on the bigger rifles but today, the experience this morning of
securely holding the rifle, following the shot through until shot placement and just
the way you pull the trigger and hold the gun, I haven't had any recoil at all what
so ever, so that was perhaps a little bit of apprehension this morning I had was "How
am I going to be shooting?" but actually with Andrew going through all the processes from
start to finish and showing me the ropes first, it really teaches you to hold the rifle properly
so when you do pull the trigger there is no huge recoil or wincing or anything of that
nature where you feel like you're hurt but it's been really enjoyable and an experience
shooting the different rifles.
Most of our training reflects the fact that we want to produce safe, practiced, knowledgable,
effective hunters or target shooters and enable people to know their limitations rather than
read on forums that they can do X at Y or look on YouTube and see someone pulling off
a crazy shot at an animal really far away on take 34 probably, and then try and replicate
it. We're trying to produce people who know their limits and have enough spare capacity
and skill to sort out a mess should they ever get in one.
Andrew is great, he's so relaxed and laid back about the whole thing. He's very experienced
and knowledgeable about the whole thing and I think the really nice thing about today
is he doesn't instruct you per se, he almost guides you through the process, so this is
how you hold the rifle would you like to have a hold and then you hold it, you place it
comfortably and once you feel comfortably with dry firing he then offers you the ammunition
so its almost like building blocks, its like Lego, you start off with a couple of pieces
and then he helps you put them together so his whole teaching experience is just really
relaxed and calm.
Did I enjoy myself? Absolutely, yes! I can't actually wait to get home, get my firearms
certificate through and then plan my deer stalking and hopefully come back to Andrew
in a few months time and prepare for that so yeah, huge fun!