Six Mile Bottom - unmitigated fun

Sim shooting seems to be having something of a golden year in 2021. Perhaps it's because we’ve all been cooped up for such a long time, perhaps it is because we didn’t get much of a season in… who can say? With this in mind, when I was invited to visit Six Mile Bottom I was delighted - I’ve heard a great deal about their simulated game set up, and about sim shooting in general, and I have been itching to give it a try. 

Located in Cambridgeshire, just over an hour from my front door in South East London, Six Mile Bottom is a name that has been associated with game shooting of the feathered variety for some time. Richard, who runs the simulated shoot, also runs a game shoot on the same ground, but over the years, as his landlords have sold off parcels of land, the game shoot has shrunk and his focus has been on laying on entertaining simulated shooting. That focus appears to have paid off big time.

Upon arrival at Wadlow Farm, the hub for the day, Digby and I were greeted by Jackie, Richard’s other half, and by Richard himself, and offered a much needed coffee and an excellent bacon roll. We met the other guns - sixteen of us in total - and were given a briefing on what to expect from the day: four ‘drives” broken up with elevenses, that would include a grouse drive and a mysterious “novelty” drive. 

Does simulated game compare to feathered game shooting?

Now, obviously I’ve heard plenty about simulated game shooting. Some speak highly of it, others are somewhat dismissive, but I always like to make my own mind up. Did I know what to expect? I’d been warned to take plenty of cartridges, and that I was likely to get pretty warm barrels, so should take a glove, as well as protective eyewear and a hat. Beyond that, I didn’t really know how this would compare to either a day at the clay ground or a feathered game day.

The sixteen guns were split into teams of two, and on each drive one gun would shoot, with the other loading, then, upon the sounding of the whistle, swap roles for the second half of the drive. This being my first sim day, Digby insisted that I go first. I should say, at this point, that our team was in fact a team of three, as we had been joined by James from Shooting Chauffeur (more on that in another article!), who would act as our loader, so whichever of Digby and I wasn’t shooting was able to take a few photos. 

First drive nerves: familiar feeling

I’ve hardly picked up my gun since December, so when the whistle blew to signal the start of the first drive I felt the familiar fluttering in my stomach that I associate with the start of the first drive on any shoot day. And it was here that I noticed the first major difference between a “real” game day and a sim day. On a traditional shoot you may have five or ten minutes of nerves before a shot presents itself and you can get into the swing. But about 30 seconds after the whistle blew, clouds of clays filled the sky and the peaceful Cambridgeshire countryside was rent by the sound of shotguns. 

The red mist decends

I can’t recall if I hit the first clay I shot at, such was the frenetic pace with which more and more clays were flung over the line. I confess that the red mist descended upon me somewhat. Shards of clay rained down, and some time later - it could have been five minutes, it could have been fifteen, I really have no idea - the whistle sounded once more to signal for us to swap. I sleeved my gun, and while I watched Digby shoot, I set about trying to shake a bit of blood back into my left arm, slow my heart rate and stop my hands from shaking. If this was sim shooting, I was an immediate convert.

Driven 'grouse' in Cambridgeshire?

Little did I know that this was just the start, as next up we would be on the “grouse drive”. This was the part of the day that I had most been looking forward to, and now that my nerves were somewhat back to normal I was keen to see how I would fare. Since neither Digby or I had shot driven grouse before, we asked James to step in and show us how it was done while Digby loaded and I took some pictures. I was particularly interested to see how he addressed the clays, which were sent over a low bank lined with shrubs from a variety of traps. 

When it came to my turn I tried to emulate James as best I could, and to my great surprise, this form of shooting seemed to suit me - perhaps I’m a born grouse shot? Invitations to the moors this coming season gladly received from those who would like to burst my bubble on this score.

Unsophisticated, but hilarious

After a tasty elevenses we were taken to the “novelty” drive. A scaffold platform some 20m long had stands for all 8 teams of guns. Richard explained that a variety of targets would be shown - some going away, released from traps below the platform, some crossers, and some rabbits. Of all the ‘drives’ this was undoubtedly the most memorable. Since the Guns were all so close together, almost every clay was in range for every gun, meaning that it was as much an exercise in pulling the trigger before someone else broke the clay as it was about accuracy. It was a veritable barrage. After a breathless few minutes, in which I loosed off at least a box and a half of shells, the whistle blew once more. “Well,” I said to Digby as I sleeved my gun, “it wasn’t sophisticated, but it sure was fun.”

The smile says it all

On the final drive I attempted to be somewhat more sensible. One of the many great things about simulated shooting is that you can use it to improve - or at least try to improve - your shooting. Earlier in the day I had noticed that I was struggling with clays over my right shoulder, so on the final drive I decided to focus on these. The advantage that sim shooting has over heading to the clay ground is that no two clays are the same in terms of height, speed and line, meaning you can’t simply groove a particular target and think you’ve solved the problem. I can’t say that I did improve noticeably, but I think that a few more sessions like that would show dividends.

Warm, friendly hosting and hospitality

The day concluded with a simple but tasty lunch with the other guns. We were joined at our table by Richard, and with the day’s activity over and done with he was able to relax a little. Richard is an avuncular, entertaining host with a twinkle in his eye and an air about him that is very similar to that of his good mate Vinnie Jones. 

Having given sim shooting a go, I’d now choose it over a day at the clay ground every time, both in terms of enjoyment and in terms of practicality. Until they invent sentient clays it will never quite be able to match the challenge of a game day, but it comes bloody close. This is particularly so at Six Mile Bottom, I imagine; as you'll have guessed from the wind turbines, its a windy spot, which means there's an element of the unknown to every clay.

In case you’ve not been able to tell, I had an absolute hoot at Six Mile Bottom. The shooting was fast-paced, challenging and fun, all at the same time. The hosting and hospitality were relaxed and friendly. I left with a huge smile on my face, a somewhat tired left arm, and slightly singed fingers - a sure sign of a great day out. 

Six Mile Bottom runs simulated game days for full teams of 16, individual guns or smaller groups, as well as corporate days, birthday parties and stag parties. The drives and difficulty level can be tailored to suit all abilities, and instruction is available for novice guns. You can see available dates here.