jonno

I like the idea of the liquid bait, that's got to help keep them still.

I used H&N Green (also very expensive!). The animals are free range chickens. He said one farm has lost its contract to supply eggs to a supermarket because of high lead content in their eggs and they put that down to shotgun pellets. He is paying but, at £5 to shoot 4 rats, that puts the cost way up.

Has anyone with a Hushpower Baikal 410 tried any lead free cartridges? The Eley VIP EVO Bismuth look gun safe but are *VERY* expensive at £1.25 per shot! Also, they are not sub-sonic so will that make the Hushpower bit pointless? I need to use it for rats in a zone with animals so I need a quiet solution and lead free. We tried air rifles but it is all outside and the little devils don't stay still long enough for a good shot. The land owner doesn't want to use poison and the traps he tried only caught one in a month! Buying a Hushpower 410 is a last resort but I only want to do that if it will work.

I have used CCI Quiet-22 in the US and they were very accurate to 20 yards - 45ft-lbs, segmenting and a heavier bullet than the CB Longs. (I haven't seen them in the UK but I'm sure someone on PW will know if they are available here). A springer air rifle would be much louder! If you use a moderator (not allowed where I was in the US) none of the neighbours would even know what you were doing!

Before I ask a crazy question, is there a 'Beginners Guide' to reloading 410's written anywhere I could read? Thanks.

My first FAC is due to be renewed in December and I'm based in Hampshire. Does anyone know if the 'only on land' condition is automatically removed to make it open or is that discussed at the renewal interview?

Make that +2 for Adrian Flux. £450 from them, £650 for a renewal from NFU. It's a shame as NFU seem a really good company to deal with - if it had only been £100 difference I would have stayed with them for total peace of mind.

I thought only armed police in the UK were trained to use Tasers?

Put me down for one of those as well please!

I'll second that!

Have you tried target shooting in the Lightweight Sporting Rifle leagues? One rifle will do both jobs then. Jonno

Do you have to specifically ask for an open ticket when you renew your licence? I'm about to put in my renewal so do you have to bring it up during the FEO's visit or request it in writing or do you get it automatically? (I can hear the laughter already!) Thanks.

And the cost of diesel, and the cost to buy and service the van, and the cost of the high pressure pump & other kit, and the cost to buy into the franchise, and the percentage paid to the franchise owner!

I made one of these, sized to use with a standard trap. It worked very well without any bait. http://www.protrapper.co.uk/mink-raft.php Jonno

Just to say I have heard back from H&N and they are planning to release H&N Baracuda Green pellets in .22 in a few months time. I look forward to trying them!