Erik Hamburger

Never wee against an electric fence!

Hi, While waiting for my SGC looking into what gun to buy - very keen on the synthetic Baikal single barrel .410 fully moderated. During my short time in shooting (2 years now) I've already met too many people with hearing problems, so that is one reason. The other reason of course the very favourable write-ups about this quit little gun. Can somebody please tell me the total length - so I can check it will fit in my current gun/rifle safe? Many thanks.

I agree with your point that you shouldn't have to report that you are going to pursue a legal activity. However you are slightly missing the point - if a member of the public reports that someone is spotted with a rifle it may result in a visit by the police to the reported "incident" site which requires manpower and is expensive. Those officers would be better employed fighting crime and violence and the (tax payers') money would be better spent elswhere. My view is that by phoning in advance giving the time, location, type of rifle and quary I am likely to prevent a visit by the Police, if a member of the public reports me. I also display the police "incident" log no. in my car window, together with my mobile number, if my car is parked on or near the place where I shoot. I also feel a lot less vunerable if, for example, I meet a party of ramblers - I don't have to hide in a hedge "just in case" - , I am happy to meet and great people in the field and promote shooting by being approachable and open about my activities. When I phone in to report planned shooting activities, and phone to close the "incident" log after have finished, the incident room staff is always extremely pleasant and gratefull for the way handle it, and they often say that if only all shooting activities would be logged like that it would prevent a a lot of wasted effort and time and money from their side. Saying all that, when I go out with the non-FAC air rifle or use a shotgun I don't report it to the police, only when using a FAC rated rifle. So my argument is not 100% watertight - I realise that.

Never, never wee against an electric fence

I have only recently purchased a (used) CZ 453 Varmint in .17HMR - it works fine for me. If you have the budget I would say go for a CZ 453 instead of a 452 as you get the set trigger. Expect to pay around £300 for the rifle (used) and no more than 1 year old.

£25 per 100 from Bredon Hill Shooting Supplies, Kemerton, Glos, both for the 17g ballistic tip and the 20g hollow point.

Have you considered installing your safe and then camouflaging it? She will never know it is there!

Hi, Once you have sorted out where the actual boundaries of your permission are, have a look at this: http://wheresthepath.googlepages.com/wheresthepath.htm This shows 2 maps of the same bit of land side-by-side, one as a satellite view, the other as an OS map, showing al the footpaths. Very, very handy...

Niko Sterling Nighteater 8x56 Works OK but with the benefit of hindsight I should have gone for a x10 or x12 fixed magn.

Since I have a FAC I always phone the Police in advance of a shooting outing and get a call log no. and the name of the operator I speak to. They always take my details, mobile phone. no. where I will shoot, approx. times on site, what calibre, and if I will be alone or not. Oddly they never ask me for my FAC No. I enter the Police call log No. in a simple spreadsheet and keep a note of it on me during my outing - in case I get stopped/questioned (also by members of the public) such details will put them at ease quiclkly I think. I also leave a note under my car window with the Police call log No., the date, and my mobile No. My permission for the .17HMR has a lot of footpaths over it, a main road, and a private steam railway, and it is fairly close to a small town. Therefore I consider this good practice and due diligance. I predict that in the next few years this will become standard practice if not a legal requirement, and that BASC will adopt it in the shooting codes of practise.

I am 49, a newby to shooting, half blind , inexperienced, and a foreigner as well. I have had no difficulties getting permission at all - been refused twice but given permission on 6 locations. Try this: You should approach getting permission as a long-term "sales and marketing " campaign. No sensible landowner is going to give you permission to shoot on their land without knowing you and your skills level and experience. In my view, the standard "permission letters" you find on these forums do not work as an initial approach - you have to personalise a relationship first! (be it over a pint in the Pub, by chatting up the farmers daughter, or by buying their produce!) Apart from the earlier advice to become a beater on a shoot, which is good advice, I suggest you should become the customer of a farmer who sells his produce directly to the public. Built a relationship, become trusted paying customers, become friendly with them, and then - and only then- pop the question asking for permission while chatting about the damage done by pests. During your "research" period you could find out about local shoot syndicates, footpaths, rights of way, if land has been cleared for fire-arms, etc etc. Target 2 or 3 local farms at the same time - with a bit of luck you may get shooting permission on one by the late Spring/Summer. Accept that each landowner will have their own view on what is vermin and what is not! For example on one of my permissions I can shoot anything classed as vermin and suitable for air rifles, and on a neighbouring property I can only shoot grey squirrels and magpies, as the lady who owns the land likes to see the rabbits play on her lawn, and she loves the "chatting" of the rooks in her mature trees..." Also, permission leads to more permission. Start with a small local smallholder with 5 acres who sells some eggs, move on to a larger farm quoting your experience, results and existing permission next year. And don't forget there are many people with large houses and very large gardens who are delighted with some help clearing rabbits and grey squirrels - in fact some of the best shooting is to be found in private gardens as the bio-diversity is often better than on large intensively farmed estates. And these locations are often only suitable for air rifles as a shotgun or FAC rifle would be unsafe. Golf courses, industrial units, equestrian businesses, schools' sports grounds etc are also good places to look for permission. And if there is any commercial woodland in your area you may get permission for grey squirrels. Try to find a responsible "buddy" in your area who is prepared to take you out on his permission (with the landowners permission of course) and will show you the ropes. Many people are happy to share their experience -but do not try to get permission on land you have been invited to shoot as a guest, unless it is offered to you. You may upset the current permission holder and get a bad name. It may be worthwhile to contact your local office of the NFU or CLA. Also talk to people at FWAG or the local Wildlife trust: Many people working in conservation are involved in shooting/hunting themselves and will be sympathetic and understand the issues. It is not a bad thing to be aware of conservation issues and "sell" your shooting as "conservation shooting" instead of "pest control" - providing of course you really feel strongly about conservation. Finally, being well dressed, not showing tattoos, removing any metal body art from you face, not wearing camo when visiting a landowner, and generally being polity, kind, safety-concious, considerate etc is always helpful. Good luck

Why not tell your partner that it will be a shotgun OR a motorbike? She will agree to the shotgun

If you prefer to shoot at night, lamping: The .22 If you prefer to shoot during dawn and dusk, long distance sniping: .17HMR

Used .17 HMR say CZ less than 1 year old approx £250-£300 Moderator say DM-80 £40 or £15/£20 if Sako Scope £50-£150 but could be a lot more if you go for big brand name Bipod harris £35-£40 Second magazine £15 .17HMR Boresnake £10 And don't forget you need a gunslip and maybe also a rifle sling? If you are lucky the seller may throw in cartridges at a discount - new you pay approx £25 for 100. You will also need greases and oils...brushes and scope covers - So realistically you are looking at around £500 as a minimum to start shooting.

Always being thrifty, I recommend a pair of ex-special forces Gore-Tex lined boots which you can get for just £15 + P&P - a steal, in very good almost new condition, and worth every penny. The best, warmest and dryest boots I have ever had. Weblink: http://www.britishmilitarysurplus.co.uk/is...shopscr181.html

I bought a CZ 453 Varmint in .17HMR 10 days ago. Haven't managed to zero it properly yet - currently groups bad. Must be my shooting/setup/ tuning. However I did get a rabbit at my first zero-ing session so it does the job. It was sold to me for £300 - still has a few months of the 1-year retailer warranty on it. Note the Varmint is heavy - compared to non-varmint models. Could be a issue if you stalk a lot.

Just paid £25 for 100 - 17 grains Federal.

Yes, the "sack" or "blister" filled with clear liquid and lots of oval eggs is a parasitic infection of a type of worm. I have had it once in a rabbit I shot and it put me off eating rabbits for weeks. The other thing to check for is the liver - if it has white threats or white spots is is likely to be infected with liver fluke. In both cases I would not eat the meat nor feed it to any pets. And another reason why you should not paunch rabbits in the dark - the entrails need a good inspection before I would "clear" the meat for human consumption.

Hmm. I am pleased you are enjoying it - and I hope you will eat the birds you kill. However, I just wondered if you are aware that it is illegal to shoot woodpigeons in your back garden unless they are causing economic damage to you, and you have tried all possible other methods to chase them off your land first, before shooting them? I would be the last person to cause trouble for you - however in the event a neighbour, postman or visitor or "friend" takes offence and reports you to, for example, the RSPB, you may well find that the WILL try to collect evidence, and that they WILL try to prosecute you. I would be interested to hear from anybody if you think I am wrong.

If you are 15 I will assume you are on a budget so look for Baikal (Russian) or Mossberg (USA) or Hatsan (Turkey). All are a lot cheaper than than the English/Western European guns - and as they are proofed I assume they are safe and do the job. Unless you like beautiful wood and gold inlay engravings (Would that improve your shooting?) - you can't go wrong with any of these - or so I am told.

I recommend to buy a pair of second hand ex-Special Forces boots (Gore-Tex lined) from: http://www.britishmilitarysurplus.co.uk/ Mine cost £15 + £7.50 P&P - they are hardly worn, looked as new, very confortable, warm and dry. Use the money you save to buy a nice Valentine's Day present!

Assuming you will only use it for hunting: A fixed magnification of x6 or x8. Experienced people who have advised me are all in favour of a fixed magnification. I am a beginner myself so I don't speak from experience - just get that clear! These guys (professionals) use 6x42 on their deer stalking rifles, and 8x56 on a .17HMR. I use x4 (and never change it-although my scope can go up to x12) on my air rifle. After all, the lower the magnification, the greater the field of view - and that is a distinct advantage for target acquisition. And safety. If you do target shooting it is a different story.

I hope you will try eating them as well! I shot a few last week, and just took off the bag legs and served them up to my wife and son, and they loved it! Then I am an excellent cook...

Hi, I have tried decoying with my air rifle and found it really difficult. If your decoy pattern is OK the birds will show an interest and come in to your pattern, however once they land they are normally gone again within 4-5 seconds. So you have little or no time to take your shot with an air rifle. Once they are on the ground, just mounting your air rifle can make them fly off, however well your hide is camouflaged. When decoying with a shotgun you shoot the birds as they are coming in to land, so it is totally different. Saying that, I would find it most satisfying to decoy successfully using an air rifle – and I would be pleased to get 2 or 3 birds in a session. I haven't managed yet – but will keep trying. There is good sport to be had if you find a good spot 25-30 yards away from a sitty tree, hide as best as you can, and take the birds when they land in the tree. In summer, when the trees are in leaf, try to find a dead tree or a tree with a few dead branches, so you have a clear view. However, so have they Again, you don't talk huge quantities - you should congratulate yourself if you manage to bag 2 or 3. This is still pretty difficult – woodpigeons on the farm appear to me to be much more alert than those that feed in residential gardens. Just getting within 25-30 yards is not easy.

I have bought a pair of used ex-army boots (Goretex) as used by Special Forces - for £15! (+ £7.50 P&P) The best and warmest and dryest walking boots I have ever had - I can recommend them. They were hardly worn - will give me years of service. Weblink: http://www.britishmilitarysurplus.co.uk