Well this week I took the plunge and bought my first two guns (I'm from the UK originally and new to this legal firearms stuff). Eventually opted for Benelli Nova 12Guage 3.5" Camo with a 26" barrel, and a Rem 700 ADL Synthetic in 30-06 fitted with a Simmons Aetec 3.8-12x44 on Leupold rings and base.
Haven't shot the Benelli yet, but the 700 is really nice. Took about 10-12 shots at my local range to get it zeroed at 100yds and to get used to the rifle. Then managed a 1.5" group of 5 and a 1" group of three before I ran out of ammo. I was pretty happy with that for a novice (apart from some shooting I did in the military cadets when I was a kid), albeit shot from a bench and not under field conditions. First impressions are that the 700 is a great no frills rifle, and it even looks pretty good for a synthetic.
Now just have to figure out this shotgun stuff, which could take a little longer as I seem to have trouble sighting through both eyes.
Anyway sorry to babble, but just thought I'd announce another member of the gun owning brotherhood. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

with the shot gun shoot it like a rifle..at least the style and form....for for moving targets like rabbits and birds just point and shoot it. one eye is all you need to sight it with, the other, non dominant eyes is just there for a better field of view and better depth perseption...practice quicky drawing your gun on stuff...make sur eits empty..what i do when i get a new gun is just shoulder it repeatable at thinks like light fixtures, door knobs and stuff to get used to pointing it nice and quick....make sure the action is open and empty and noone else is around..also when doing that aim at exterior walls in case someone is in the other room....it never hurts to be too safe

I am OK if I close my left eye, its when I try to keep both eyes open I get a double image of the gun and target. Its as though I dont have a dominant eye, or maybe I'm left eye dominant (how does that work if you're right handed like me?)?? I guess I could just shoot with one eye closed, that should be OK for Turkey and static shots I guess, but I'm not sure how well it would work on fast moving targets? Anyone else have this problem?

To find out which is your dominant eye; with both eyes open and facing your target point at a picture on your wall. Keep pointing at the picture and close your eyes one at a time. Your finger should be dead center on the picture with one of your eyes (dominant) and off center with the other eye.

Orb,
If you're still trying to determine your dominant eye, try this.

Lookin at a picture or similar thing across a room or even a tree, put your two thumbs together while putting your two index fingers together was well to form a circle. Hold the circle out in front of you and look at the object you decided on. Then bring the circle towards your face. As it gets near, the hands will automatically favor the dominant side and the circle will land over the good eye. It could take a couple tries but you will get it right.

My son is right handed but left eyed. He has learned to shoot left handed all of his life. I, on the other hand, am left handed but right eyed. I therefore shoot right handed.

you are supposed to keep both eyes open, but there is really no harm in closing one eye...

Nice post Blain...I mean Quilly. OOPS!
LMAO

Greets,
First let me congratulate you on a couple of fine shooting Irons! I do not have access to a proper shooting bench, but your first shots off the bench are better than my avgs shot braced, fine shooting.


Just my uneducated opinion!
Terry

Its hard to tell but I think I must be left eye dominant (and right handed). Looks like I'll have to shoot the shotgun with the left eye closed because I dont fancy trying to learn to shoot left handed! Thanks for the tips though guys.
Adui13, yeah I was pretty happy with those groupings for a first time, thanks, although I think shooting from a nice stable bench makes a big difference. One thing not in doubt though is the accuracy of the rifle, even with standard cheapo factory ammo. I have no doubt that in the hands of a really good shot the groupings could be sub half inch at 100 yds. That aint bad for a rifle costing less than $500, at least in my limited opinion! Only problem is I dont think I will get to use the damn thing to hunt when I move to MA in a couple of weeks, its shotguns only. Better get a NH big game permit I think!