If you want a useful team member for a pub quiz, I’m your woman. As an editor, you read thousands of words and along the way amass a mine of general knowledge. Everything from knowing the capital of Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou) to when Lego was invented (1932).
However, I’ve always felt my knowledge fell down when it came to the finer points of rifle shooting. I’ve been puzzled by the sheer amount of different calibres available and the different names given to rounds in Europe, England and the US. So when I was invited to review an introduction to rifles course at the West London Shooting School (WLSS) it took me about 30 seconds to email back, “Yes, please.”
Arriving at the WLSS, you are greeted by an atmosphere of purposeful activity, tradition, lived-in comfort and a couple of spaniels pottering about the large hallway.
I was shown upstairs to the Purdey room, which was set out as a classroom, with a large screen at the front – good for the
