Basingstoke Air Rifle and Pistol Club

John Milewski – Club Treasurer

I have always enjoyed a healthy interest in guns. When I got too old for my Lone Star cap guns, they were replaced by a chrome plated GAT. This pistol gave me the impression of pure power when I shot my first dart into a wooden background at the tender age of 12. By 14, I had acquired my first boxed Webley, when I inherited it from an Uncle and I still have this pistol today. I spent the next 25 years with anorak firmly zipped, learning as much about Webley’s as I possibly could and even had the privilege of testing rifles and pellets for the Webley factory at one stage.

I joined BARPC in 1988 and was soon encouraged to enter 10 Meter pistol competitions, which I shot initially with a Webley Hurricane. Don’t laugh – that pistol earned me a Bronze Medal in the first open competition that I entered in Alton. Upgrades followed and I eventually upgraded to a SAM K11 Precharged Match pistol that earned me my first of many possibles (a possible is a perfect score with no dropped points at 10 Metres). The club gave me the opportunity to enter open competitions at other venues such as Fareham and Yeovil, which in turn helped me to meet many new friends, although I think they considered themselves rivals for some reason! I also enjoyed shooting FT for a while with my BSA Big 50 sighted Webley Axsor as well as Hunters, when they first started in our Region during the late 1990s. A highlight was winning the NSRA Sophie Trophy in FT at Bisley, during which my Axsor was fitted with a 3-9 x 40 scope! I was in a shoot off with a very capable shooter using a Sportsmatch GC2 but beat him in the wind. I think this shows I’m either very lucky or all that homework and practice pays off sometimes and equipment comes second. At the time, I spent a lot of time practicing in the Walled Garden, trying new techniques and noting my results as well as conditions on the day during competitions rather than simply shooting and forgetting them. I think I still have my notebook somewhere. I also won top shot in the Regional Winter League and was runner up twice but far more rewarding was meeting so many new friends from different clubs and enjoying a day’s shooting in the woods in like minded company.

I don’t shoot competitively any longer as a knee weakness put paid to attempting some of the contorted positions that are required if you want to do well but I do enjoy shooting and reviewing vintage airguns for Airgun World. Some of these oldies shoot as well as more modern airguns and some even better, particularly when using open sights. Rifles like the Webley Mark 3 and BSA under levers were intended for open sight use and as such, offer a superior sight picture and quality of build to modern open sights in my view. I’m not sure how many of today’s airguns will stand the test of time as well as a 1905 BSA air rifle. These rifles were made to the same standards as firearms and after over a Century, they still shoot to point of aim.

The best advice I can offer new and not so new club members is don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice. No question is too silly and no-one knows it all. A club, which is as long standing as Basingstoke has a wealth of knowledgeable members and I have learnt a considerable amount from other members over the years. I’ve shot all the different disciplines the club offers: 10 Metre, FT, Hunter, Pistol and even plinking. If you have only shot one or two of these, why not have a go at another? It’s easy to become hooked, if my experience is anything to go by.

John Milewski
Club Treasurer
barpc@barpc.org.uk






		John Milewski – Club Treasurer I have always enjoyed a healthy interest in guns. When I got too old for my Lone Star cap guns, they were replaced by a chrome plated GAT. This pistol gave me the impression of pure power when I shot my first dart into a wooden background at the tender age of 12. By 14, I had acquired my first boxed Webley, when I inherited it from an Uncle and I still have this pistol today. I spent the next 25 years with anorak firmly zipped, learning as much about Webley’s as I possibly could and even had the privilege of testing rifles and pellets for the Webley factory at one stage. I joined BARPC in 1988 and was soon encouraged to enter 10 Meter pistol competitions, which I shot initially with a Webley Hurricane. Don’t laugh – that pistol earned me a Bronze Medal in the first open competition that I entered in Alton. Upgrades followed and I eventually upgraded to a SAM K11 Precharged Match pistol that earned me my first of many possibles (a possible is a perfect score with no dropped points at 10 Metres). The club gave me the opportunity to enter open competitions at other venues such as Fareham and Yeovil, which in turn helped me to meet many new friends, although I think they considered themselves rivals for some reason! I also enjoyed shooting FT for a while with my BSA Big 50 sighted Webley Axsor as well as Hunters, when they first started in our Region during the late 1990s. A highlight was winning the NSRA Sophie Trophy in FT at Bisley, during which my Axsor was fitted with a 3-9 x 40 scope! I was in a shoot off with a very capable shooter using a Sportsmatch GC2 but beat him in the wind. I think this shows I’m either very lucky or all that homework and practice pays off sometimes and equipment comes second. At the time, I spent a lot of time practicing in the Walled Garden, trying new techniques and noting my results as well as conditions on the day during competitions rather than simply shooting and forgetting them. I think I still have my notebook somewhere. I also won top shot in the Regional Winter League and was runner up twice but far more rewarding was meeting so many new friends from different clubs and enjoying a day’s shooting in the woods in like minded company. I don’t shoot competitively any longer as a knee weakness put paid to attempting some of the contorted positions that are required if you want to do well but I do enjoy shooting and reviewing vintage airguns for Airgun World. Some of these oldies shoot as well as more modern airguns and some even better, particularly when using open sights. Rifles like the Webley Mark 3 and BSA under levers were intended for open sight use and as such, offer a superior sight picture and quality of build to modern open sights in my view. I’m not sure how many of today’s airguns will stand the test of time as well as a 1905 BSA air rifle. These rifles were made to the same standards as firearms and after over a Century, they still shoot to point of aim. The best advice I can offer new and not so new club members is don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice. No question is too silly and no-one knows it all. A club, which is as long standing as Basingstoke has a wealth of knowledgeable members and I have learnt a considerable amount from other members over the years. I’ve shot all the different disciplines the club offers: 10 Metre, FT, Hunter, Pistol and even plinking. If you have only shot one or two of these, why not have a go at another? It’s easy to become hooked, if my experience is anything to go by. John Milewski Club Treasurer barpc@barpc.org.uk