Erik Hamburger

Try the Land Registry online service , just £3.50 to find out the name of te land owner(s)

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 doughter, 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 a customers 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 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 neigbouring 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, equistrian businesses, schools' sportsgrounds 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 tattoes, removing any metal body art from you face, not wearing camo when visiting a landowner, not turning up in an old banger of a car, and generally being polity, kind, safety-concious, considerate etc is always helpful. Good luck

I bought a .17HMR yesterday and the shop manager recommended to go for a SAK at £35. Some say the SAK burns out quickly - this shop manager countered that by suggesting to put a new one on each year. His advice was to go for the cheaper SAK. Nice to have a salesman recommmed a cheap option for a change! As opinions differ so widely which moderator is the best, I am inclined to go for the budget (SAK) option myself. Other often recommended moderators for .17HMR are: Wildcat Whisper (£120), DM-80 (£80) , and the ASE Utra (£??)

If it is for hunting only I recommend a fixed magnification of x6 or x8 And you don't need illuminated recticles. That saves money on gimmicks you don't need - spent it on the best quality optics and coatings instead.

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 doughter, or by buying their produce!) Apart from the earlier advice to become a beater on a shoot, which is good advice, I suggest you you should become a 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 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 neigbouring 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, equistrian businesses, schools' sportsgrounds 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 tattoes, 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

Thanks for the reply guys. Since I posted I found out that CZ now offers a new version, the .17HMR Sillhouette. It ticks all the boxes: CZ, 16" option, polymer stock. Currently available for £345-£375 depending on retailer. One problem: From the 1st. January 2009 all CZ prices will increase by some 20% - due to the weak Pound. So that will make it £415 - £450 Waiting for FAC to be granted....

Hi, I recommend you buy a Harris 9"-13" SLM - they are available around £65-£70 Excellent engineered piece of kit. Note you do need to fit a QD stud to the rifle first. You can get cheaper bipods but as they will not last they are actually more expensive.

Hi Younggunner, You don't say what you will use the rifle for. If it is JUST for hunting, I recommend to go for a fixed magnification scope, such as x4, x6 or at most x 8. Other air gun hunters I have met generally have their scope on x4 (including me) - it gives you a wide field of view, lets in a lot of light, and the fixed magnification helps you to learn to judge distances. Also, don't pay money for illuminated recticles - your battery will always run out, and the illumination is of little use in most hunting situations, even in bad light conditions. My next scope will be a 6x56 or 8x56 - it will do the job and you don't pay for fancy bits bolted on by clever marketing-men at an inflated price.

If you put them in your pocket, you will find after sitting on them or laying prone at least 1 in 5 will be deformed - and therefore not shoot straight. If you keep them in the tin they will rattle and spook your quary at the wrong moment, and they all fall out when you open the tin. If you keep them in a pellet pouch around your neck it gets mixed up with your glasses and bino's and catches under your scope when you go prone Nothing is ever easy

Hi, While waiting for my FAC to be granted I have to decide which .17HMR to go for. Could somebody please explain the difference between a CZ 452 and CZ 453? Useage will be almost exclusively rabbit hunting. My preferences are for: * Synthetic Stock * Short barrel * Varmint / Heavy barrel models CZ doesn't do a .17HMR Varmint with synthetic stock, but Mossberg do.... There is little information and no reviews about the new Mossberg 817 Bolt Action .17HMR - it seems very good value - any views / recommendations much appreciated.

If you usually come home with one you are doing well. I usually come home with nothing! The wood piegeons are happy to sit on the fence of my garden, looking at me, when I read a newspaper and enjoy a coffee. However when I am all geared up on my permission they spot me from 100yards+ and fly away. Very unsporty of them!

If used for hunting: 3-8x50 is the best choice. Most people who hunt with air rifles would use a magn. of x4 or maybe x6. Don't forget if you use a magn. of say x12 or x24 your field of view is very narrow - you may be peeping through your scope and don't spot rabbits popping in and out of the hedge just yards away. OK am still relatively inexperienced - only been hunting for a year - but if I would buy a new HUNTING scope today I would go for a fixed maginification of x4 or x6, don't bother with illuminated recticles, and buy the widest tube (30mm or more); the largest objective lens (50mm or more); and the best mounts you can afford for your money.

Hi, I am currently completing my FAC application - and will go for a CZ .17HMR. Just a few questions: 1. Is a standard CZ .17 HMR also suitable for the .17 Mach2 cartridge? - or do you need a different rifle? 2. Is it correct that on my FAC I just specify ".17 calibre" and don't have to specify if I will use .17HMR or Mach 2 ammunition? Thank you

Hi, One of my shooting permissions is next to a village cricket field, it is overrun by rabbits, but difficult to shoot. I promised to put up a post looking for someone with ferrets in the North Cotswold area, with a view to put you in touch with the landowner. Please PM me if you can help and are interested - thanks

Just like you will not attract more women by wearing an expensive after-shave, shootmore will not attract more rabbits when out hunting. The only way to shootmore it to pull the trigger more often

Hi, For hunting you need no more magnification than x4 or x6. Therefore, in my view, any scope with a magnification up to x12 or even x24 is a waste of your money. Also, I believe very few people who hunt with air rifles actually use the illimunated recticle - I certainly don't. Therefore, as above, the IR is a gimmick and a waste of money. What is important is how much light you can capture (buy the largest aparture you can affort) so 50mm or more. And the build quality of course...

Winchcombe, Cheltenham, Glos

For hunting rabbits, from the prone position, a Harris SLM 9-13" notched. You could try Camo Supplies on Ebay. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CAMO-SUPPLY They sell them for around £58-£60 + £7.99 postage. However if you prefer you could buy it from a UK retailer for around £100-£110! Go for a swivel - tilt one - much better than a fixed one. Buying cheap is expensive - recommend you go for a quality piece of engineering every time - I have wasted money on cheap Bipods (The "clamb-on" for £12, or a "Logun" (Made in China) for £39.95 - both were a waste of money IMHO.

Hi, The farmer at my permission has asked me to clear out a feral pigeon infestation. There appear to be approx. 30 that fly around, sun themselves on the roofs, nests in the various outbuildings, and make a big mess in general. Now, you can't eat them, and I am not so keen on the job, but want to help for the sake of my permission. I shot some 15 a few days ago in a few hours, most taken from 30-35 yards off the roofs, but they quickly became very shy and shifty and disappeared. By hiding inside barns and sheds and shooting out of windows/gaps I could hide reasonably well and catch them off-guard to start with. If anybody has any tips how to deal with this quickly and efficiently I would be most grateful. Oh yes, some of them appear to be ringed - and some are 100% pure white but not ringed. I assume they are racing pigeons gone feral, and descendants of white racing pigeons gone feral? I am sure the owners would like them back - but how can you trace the owners if you cannot catch them alive? It is true that pigeon fanciers kill any birds that come back after having gone feral and missing, for example after a race, on the grounds of "bad blood lines"? Thanks again

Go for the Air Arms 400 in .22 but make sure it is the Carbine version. Even better stretch the budget and go for an Air Arms S410 (Multishot) .22 Carbine

You are perfectly within your right to do some target sooting in your own garden, providing the pellets never leave your boundary, which you can ensure by having a suitable backstop and by safe gun handling. However, instead of asking your neigbours for "permission" to shoot in your own garden, I would TELL them that you do some target shooting in your garden, that it is safe and legal, that you make sure there is a proper backstop, and that they shouldn't be unduely worried if they happen to spot you with a pistol! You will find most guys (and girls!) quite like a bit of plinking, or if they have teenage kids you could invite them with their dad for an hour shooting in your garden, most kids love that! Nothing works as well as a bit of diplomacy and tact. (*) Have fun. ** PS Unless it involves your wife of course

I have always understood that you typically find 1 fox per square kilometer on average. I shoot on a 350 acres mixed farm and always see a few, sometimes up to 5 or 6, when walking just a few fields. And I don't know about the ones I don't see....

Hi Malc, I recommend the following: Calibre: .22 Single shot or multiple shot: Multiple if you can afford it. Full lenghts or Carbine: Carbine - shorter is easier in a hide Moderator: Yes - essential Bipod: Yes - Harris is the best - don't waste money on something cheap. Harris SLM 9-13" notched would be a good choice. Sling: yes - makes walking long distances over fields easier Scope: For hunting use magn. 4 to 6; for low light the largest aparture you can afford, so a 4-8x50 or 4-8x56 would be good. Don't waste your money on a scope with a magn. of 12 (such as I use) or 24 - it is not very useful for hunting so you are paying for something you don't need. The IR scopes (Illuminated recticles) also add to the costs and have never used it yet even in bad light conditions. Note if you go for a multiple shot you need to buy a Pre Charged Pneumatic (PCP) - the charging gear will add another £150 or so to the total cost. However many hunters are happy and very successful with a springer - its your field craft that matters, not your bank balance. If I had some cash to burn my choices for a new hunting rifle would be limited to: Air Arms S410 .22 carbine BSA Scorpion T-10 And many air gunners swaer by Theoben Rapids for hunting, but I think they are ugly. Good hunting

Yes and when you rest your rifle on a fence make sure it is not a life electrical fence, as I did recently...

Hi, I am an air gun hunter (rabbits/grey squirrels) -and a beginner- and would like to learn more about pigeon decoying. Is there anyone in North-Glos. / South-Worcs. who would be prepared to show me what and how. And yes I accept that air gun hunting is different from hunting with a boom stick - however I assume the basic art of fieldcraft, observation, decoying and building a hide must be the same for both diciplines? I would be happy to travel - and /or I could arrange for permission for somebody to join me on my permission (mixed farm on the Cotswold escarpment) Please send me a pm if you are interested. - thanks