When Jess went clay shooting
Young Shots Journalist Jess Smith takes us along with her as she embarks on clay shooting lessons with BASC Central officer Matt Dutton.
- - Features
- - Features
Meet the 2023 BASC World .410 Champion: Nick Beavis
Nick Beavis has been shooting since he was seven and at 53 years old, he has won the BASC World .410 Champion five times (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023). He has been a gamekeeper at Checkley Wood Shoot, Staffordshire, since he left school and became a director in 2022.
Nick started shooting clays competitively at the age of 30 and enjoys all kinds of shooting, from game to pest control.
How it all began
Both of Nick’s parents were involved in shooting and he quickly followed in their footsteps. Nick said: “My father probably got me into shooting more than anything. He gave me my first airgun at seven years old.” He started shooting targets with open sights at first, before learning to shoot without using any sights or scopes at all. Even the barrel end sight was removed and Nick shot driven clays with an airgun. He then progressed to a 20 bore shotgun on clays and shot his first pigeons over decoys at 11 years old.
The .410 adventure
Nick remembers that there has always been a .410 in the cabinet at home. It was usually a folding side-by-side hammer gun with 2.5-inch chamber. However, his love for this bore really took off when he borrowed a Browning o/u from a friend: “I soon bought my own Browning 525. I now use the .410 for many types of shooting, from driven game to clays and pest control. I really enjoy the challenge of shooting a .410.”
How are .410s different to other shotguns?
Nick said that the main difference is the size of the pattern: “There are 18-19 grams of shot in a 3″ .410, while bigger 20-21 bores shoot 1-ounce (around 28-29 grams) loads. This means many more pellets and a wider bore means a larger pattern, too. There’s a lot less room for error with a .410 – you need to be really accurate.”
Nick also mentioned that the weight of the gun is another factor as the .410 will weigh around 5-6lbs (under 3kg). Meanwhile, a 12 bore will be at least 3 to 4 pounds heavier (around 4kg). Nick said:
“When you swing a 12 bore shotgun, its weight will keep it moving. It’s all down to the shooter to keep the .410 moving with the target.”
As the .410 seem to be getting more popular with shooters, Nick recommends trying one and not underestimating its potential. These little guns have a truly endless potential in the hands of a shooter who is ready to put in the time to practise, be responsible and shoot within their ability.
More about the .410 and the World Championships
Do you fancy being our next BASC .410 World Champion and challenging Nick?
Find out more about the competition and join us at Fauxdegla, Wrexham, at 10am on Sunday 6 October. There is no need to pre-book, you can turn up on the day and shoot but you’ll need a to bring a .410.
You can also read Bill Harriman’s opinion piece about this curious small-bore gun.
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Marta Jacyna
Marta Jacyna is BASC’s communications officer. She is passionate about the countryside and enjoys deer stalking and foraging for food.
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