DSC1 and generally learning to be a respectable user of a centrefire.

[TomBettle]

I am sure this has been asked a million times, but I am new, please put up with me.

I plan to get myself on a DSC1 course as soon as I can raise the funds after buying my .243 (and a baby coming in July!).
I am assuming that DSC1 is generally considered a good option by other forum members?

I've just received my grant for .243 with the condition I have a sponsor. My sponsor is someone I truly respect and will be tailing whenever I get the chance.

BUT

What tips, tricks, general advice etc etc can you give someone brand new to centrefire?

Thanks all, I know that's a bit vague, but you all started at some point.

Tom

 

[Eric the Red]

Tom,

Welcome to the forum. Jelen Deer Services operate a DSCL1 course on a monthly basis and have a good reputation and excellent pass rate. The team will be able to help and advise you - as they did me and several others on here - and they aren't too far away from you. People like Ian F on here are also excellent role models and will give you good advice.

I'd say get out on some stalks as it's the best (only) way to really learn.

E t R

 

[timbrayford]

I am sure this has been asked a million times, but I am new, please put up with me.

I plan to get myself on a DSC1 course as soon as I can raise the funds after buying my .243 (and a baby coming in July!).
I am assuming that DSC1 is generally considered a good option by other forum members?

I've just received my grant for .243 with the condition I have a sponsor. My sponsor is someone I truly respect and will be tailing whenever I get the chance.

BUT

What tips, tricks, general advice etc etc can you give someone brand new to centrefire?

Thanks all, I know that's a bit vague, but you all started at some point.

Tom

If you are not already a member of a rifle club join one. It will give you the opportunity of using a range to zero your rifle and also socialise with and get advice from more experienced shots and generally helps to keep the police happy.

Regarding the DSC1 this will mean getting hold of the manual and learning it before going on your course & assessments. In respect of the shooting test get plenty of practice to develop comfortable, movement free positions, these are illustrated on the "Deer Initiative" website and elsewhere. I found about 10 minutes a day dry firing particularly useful. Also find a round that suits your rifle (90grn-95grn will suit your .243 and is legal for all deer and the test in England), check the tightness of your barrel to the stock, scope & scope mounts. The greater preparation you do prior to the course & assessments significantly improves your chances of success and if you are well prepared you will find the whole process enjoyable and easy. Good luck. Tim

 

[TomBettle]

Thanks guys for the really fast answers.
I have got hold of the DSC1 prep DVD which I plan to digest prior to doing anything more.
I have thought about joining a club, but I am struggling to find anywhere with a decent range relatively locally.
The Tunnel just this side of Axminster (hour or so) seems the closest? Does anyone know of somewhere more local? We have lots of clubs, but they seem to specialise in shotgun, air rifle and small bore.

Thanks again chaps... it's all being noted.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Tom

A long time ago, my Dad said to me to join the BDS, and as it turned out it was an excellent order.

Good luck. JCS

 

[HME]

Tom
It may be a bit far but I do have quite a few people come up from Dorset and we can cater for all your stalking requirements.

HME

Welcome to Corinium Rifle Range

 

[Tackleberry270]

Joining the BDS if you are not already a member is a good move. They run range days once in a while. They ran one on on East Holme range not so long ago which isn't far from you. There are also other (target) shooting clubs that shoot on East Holme fairly regularly. Some others on here might know the name of the one I am thinking of. Time on the range is never wasted! Just don't be drawn into the target shooters world of bigger scopes and heavier rifles. There is nothing wrong with light stalking rifle with a respectable 6x42 on the top. Stick with it, find some ammo it likes, get it zeroed, and then over time learn (and record) how it shoots over different distances and how different firing positions effect the point of impact. You don't have to be an expert to pass the DSC 1 shooting test though so don't worry about that. Just get some practice in before hand. I am just down the road from you, but I don't think your conditions will allow you to shoot on my makeshift range! PM me if you need anything though. Always willing to help if I can.

 

[DSC trainer]

Hi Tom, welcome to our community ans welcome to shooting. You seem to be taking a very good approach by looking to get training and pass your DSC level1. There are some good training aids around and some of these mentioned already. I did my DSC level 1 last year but built my own set of lessons to help me learn the theory and identification. I went on to develop a new website dedicated to this which is at

http://www.dsctraining.org

Whichever training route you choose, good luck with your test and good luck with the new baby!

Steve

 

[scrun63]

Hi Tom, welcome to our community ans welcome to shooting. You seem to be taking a very good approach by looking to get training and pass your DSC level1. There are some good training aids around and some of these mentioned already. I did my DSC level 1 last year but built my own set of lessons to help me learn the theory and identification. I went on to develop a new website dedicated to this which is at

http://www.dsctraining.org

Whichever training route you choose, good luck with your test and good luck with the new baby!

Steve

I second the above, but i'm not entirely without bias cos i know Steve and played around with the site when he was building it. We found a way of revising for the DSC which suited us - Steve only got one question wrong ! - and as a result wrote the site. Have a look and there's a free trial too

scrun

 

[HME]

DSC Trainer
I have three guys coming to me for the assessment only next Monday, when I was chatting to them I mentioned the safety questions to them, neither recognised what I was talking about, I assume they are there, I did tell them that it would be highly unlikely they would not be. Are they in a separate section?

Regards

HME

 

[DSC trainer]

Hi HME, yep, all of the safety questions are there. The members area holds many different lessons in 'bite sized chunks' and is set up so that you can work through the general questions or big game hygiene etc, you can opt to answer questions specifically about one species of deer, or just the dates so you can concentrate on your weaknesses. Also, you can opt to include or exclude the Northern Ireland questions.

The safety questions lesson is different to the others because there's no multiple choice - it's a matter of knowing as many of the relevant points as possible. It is, of course, necessary to keep this in perspective so all of the best practice guides for England are there and links to the Scottish guides to help people to 'flesh out' their knowledge.

Cheers, Steve

 

[HME]

Steve
As I thought. I tried to explain to the guys that they were different to the other modules/questions, there are always going to be potential issues when folks try to learn on line rather than in a classroom environment with hard copy. PM sent.

HME

 

[purdey24]

I managed to pass my Level 1 at the first attempt by doing a large amount of swotting from a Jelen dvd and by punching a lot of holes in paper targets but everyone I spoke to beforehand said that the largest number of failures is in the rifle accuracy test.
Interestingly enough when I sat mine there were four candidates back for the accuracy resit and two of them failed it for the second time.

 

[soulboy1957]

Same as Purdey when i did mine(last march but seems ages ago)there were 2 joined for the last day (shooting test)one failed this second attempt.
It just makes confidence in your set up and practise more important - theres enough distractions with the rest of the candidates being there.i got through mine first go,but 3 didnt and had to go again.

 

[bewsher500]

you dont mention about what experience of rifles you have already (if any)

find a range or someone who has ground you can zero on and spend time shooting.
reading will help, but it is not a substitute for shooting. doesnt matter what you shoot whether it is paper in a feild or targets at a range.
do it in every possible condition and position (sitting, kneeling, standing, prone, sticks, no sticks, use a tree trunk, a fence post the roof of our car etc etc) you can and get comfortable with your rifle.

any actual stalking you can do is obviously a bonus. stick with your mentor like glue and even fruitless stalks get you used to handling a rifle in the field

 

[bigshug]

I hadn't shot centrefire since I was a cadet so I did a BASC Pre-DSC day. It was great as a refresher on safety and basics of marksmanship; holding the rifle; body position; breathing control; trigger technique etc. We must have only fired about a dozen shots, but improvement in each shot was noticeable. I came away feeling safe and confident that I could hit a deer safely - don't stop the collywobbles on the first live target though! Now signed up for Part 1.
I did find a short document on the web that is an excellent primer on technique and accuracy: The Precision Shooting Program
DSC doesn't really cover this in detail. Good luck!