Recommedations for Safari Shooting Schools

Hello All:

I just recently acquired a Krieghoff 470 NE D/R and had a chance to take it the range last week to shoot a box. All I can say is I'M HOOKED!!! I had never shot anything that big - 375H&H being the "biggest" up that point.

I can see the potential for developing real bad habits (flinches, fumbling reloads, etc). That being said, I'm thinking about whether a shooting school/instructor that focuses on DR training will be worth the $$$ and time. By way of context, I'm preparing for a Cape hunt next summer (2013); I just got back from a successful plains-game hunt in RSA and have otherwise been a life-long NA hunter and competitive shooter (rifles, handguns and skeet).

Any first hand experiences with a shooting school or training that focuses on doubles? Do they substantially improve your game with doubles?

Many thanks!

Sergio

Not sure where you live...

There are big bore shoots in Texas and Arizona..

Both Texas and Arizona have big bore shooting schools...

And you will pick up some good habits from these schools...

Originally Posted by gxsr-sarge

Hello All:

I just recently acquired a Krieghoff 470 NE D/R and had a chance to take it the range last week to shoot a box. All I can say is I'M HOOKED!!! I had never shot anything that big - 375H&H being the "biggest" up that point.

I can see the potential for developing real bad habits (flinches, fumbling reloads, etc). That being said, I'm thinking about whether a shooting school/instructor that focuses on DR training will be worth the $$$ and time. By way of context, I'm preparing for a Cape hunt next summer (2013); I just got back from a successful plains-game hunt in RSA and have otherwise been a life-long NA hunter and competitive shooter (rifles, handguns and skeet).

Any first hand experiences with a shooting school or training that focuses on doubles? Do they substantially improve your game with doubles?

Many thanks!

Sergio

having started of with a .177 air rifle and working up to shooting a .500 nitro as my biggest, without the benefit of going to a school to teach you how to shoot it i am a bit cynical about this question. i ran around a farm using iron sights on my air rifles, then .22 on school shooting team. since then i have used bolt action, semi auto, pump action , and doubles... think thats it, full auto a couple of times. so i love iron and peep sights. i am sure these schools are great if you can access them, but without being rude i think you can save yourself the money and spend it on ammunition practicing how you want. hunters from the rest of the world seem to manage by practicing themselves...

Having been to at least a half-dozen shooting schools (although none for double rifles) I can say that I thought I learned all I needed to know just growing up shooting and competing small-bore in college...

The problem with teaching yourself is that you don't even know what is possible. You get to a point where you think you are doing well and you kind of hit a wall that you don't even know exists. If Tiger Woods finds it helpful to work with a golf coach, I'm not too proud to work with a shooting coach.

If Gunsite in AZ doesn't have a class on offer, they should be able to put something together for you.

Originally Posted by Bert the Turtle

Having been to at least a half-dozen shooting schools (although none for double rifles) I can say that I thought I learned all I needed to know just growing up shooting and competing small-bore in college...

The problem with teaching yourself is that you don't even know what is possible. You get to a point where you think you are doing well and you kind of hit a wall that you don't even know exists. If Tiger Woods finds it helpful to work with a golf coach, I'm not too proud to work with a shooting coach.

If Gunsite in AZ doesn't have a class on offer, they should be able to put something together for you.

That was my exact thought. I have never been to a shooting school but I am not foolish enough to think that I have stumbled upon the best and most effective techniques. I am a good shot but there is plenty of room for improvement.

I would liken it to chores, having never studied as a mechanic yet I can tear an engine apart and fix it but had I gone to school to become a mechanic I would be 1000 times effective (and have fewer parts left over afterwards, where did that piece go???), the same goes for electronics, carpentry, etc, etc, etc. There is no replacement for real hands on learing with the pros, anything less is just getting by.

Originally Posted by spike.t

having started of with a .177 air rifle and working up to shooting a .500 nitro as my biggest, without the benefit of going to a school to teach you how to shoot it i am a bit cynical about this question. i ran around a farm using iron sights on my air rifles, then .22 on school shooting team. since then i have used bolt action, semi auto, pump action , and doubles... think thats it, full auto a couple of times. so i love iron and peep sights. i am sure these schools are great if you can access them, but without being rude i think you can save yourself the money and spend it on ammunition practicing how you want. hunters from the rest of the world seem to manage by practicing themselves...

I hear you! I've also attended my share of shooting schools or training where I left asking myself whether they were "value added". However, since the DR is in another category unto itself AND since placing the "first shot" is critical in a Cape scenario, I'd really like to maximize my chances of a great experience (i.e., NOT tracking a wounded Buffalo for three days in thick bush). That's why I'm asking...

So if anyone out there has attended any DR training - please come forth!!