wildfowler.250

Cheers folks for all the replies! I’m very tempted by the BSA R10. Or would you say air arms are generally better? Are there any reputable airgun shops in England? Doesn’t seem to be much in Scotland. Might get a better price private but a shop might throw some warranty in

Folks I’m going to move across from my weihrauch springer to a pcp. I just think I’ll get more accuracy at longer distances and a quieter gun so will probably use it more. Loathed to fork out lots. Maybe £700 at a guess. I have scopes I can use so really it’s rifle and dive tank. What rifle would you suggest? I like the look of the HW 100 but are air arms or bsa better? I think the HW has a small ish tank. i basically want a buy once, cry once multi shot. It won’t be used a lot but it won’t go wrong either. ive thought about buying a silencer for the 77K and having it serviced but the silencer alone is about £90 and I suspect it still won’t be able to match a pcp as good as it is . Appreciate any opinions!

I’ve an old 77k,(probably could do with a service actually if anyone can recommend anywhere?). My real question is that I’ve noted Weihrauch have a silencer for the underleaver that you can buy. Will this make any real difference? I know pcps are silent but will it make the underleaver noticeably quieter when I fire it? thanks!

Doesn’t sound like there’s many ways around it then so far!

Lord it’s not that bad! He’ll eat the cow muck though.. Any suggestions around it? It’s bloody rank. I’ve trained him out of marking on everything so I’m determined this will go the same way! 😂

Well folks, I’m looking for ideas on how best to stop this. Probably the first dog out of about 8 or 9 that will roll on something dead. He goes absolutely daft once he’s rolled on something because he knows he’s done wrong. *But* I don’t want to tell him off once he’s come back in to me. Chasing him would only make it worse and you’d never catch him anyway. Is it something you can train out of them? On the whole he’s actually very well behaved but scavenging and rolling is his one flaw at the moment.

Cheers guys, I’ll try the cage traps. Do they need a licence from Nature Scot like the Larsen traps? I’ve just tried the standard rat traps with chicken feed and peanut butter in them. Can you use snares for them? There’s a path starting to go through the grass now which would probably work although again, not quite my skill set but can learn. Sadly think this is going to be an ongoing problem as long as the hens are here. Took years at a previous house before one turned up but we’re only a mile and a half from a farm so that probably doesn’t help.

Well folks, I’m being properly outsmarted. I’ve got a rat,(possibly more) that’s going into my hen run. About 5 metres from the hen run there’s a couple of rat holes in the ground where it’s staying. He’s digging under the hen run to get in. I’ve seen it only once in the daytime in 3 or 4 months so it’s probably more on the go at night. So: Airgun is out as the run is between myself and the neighbours. Rat poison is out. Our lab will eat anything. The worse, the better. Also, I would never know if I’d gotten it with poison? Now I’ve tried traps literally almost half way down the tunnel,(so it would have to walk over it) but no joy. Both tried empty and baited with this method. I’ve tried traps around the run with peanut butter. Nothing.. except the occasional mouse. I’ve even tried using stones around the rat hole and a block of wood to tunnel/funnel him over the traps. He just dug a new hole under the funnel to make an alternative route. Well outsmarted! Any suggestions? I’m also spending half my time trying not to tempt the local robin. Got up at 6am today to take the traps in before the birds got onto it. Mice are far easier! Any tips very much appreciated.

Folks, is there anywhere that sells peanuts online for reasonable cash? Or is there an equally good alternative for baiting greys? I don’t grudge the costs entirely as the feeder is shared between reds and greys. It’s nice to see the reds and shoot the few greys that turn up. But they’re going through KGs in no time,(I think it must be a combination of eating and hiding them). Im sure folk on here who shoot airguns more regularly will have a reasonable place to buy from or a better/cheaper alternative so thought it was worth asking. Thanks in advance!

Cheers guys, appreciate the links as well! It’s a CZ model that wasn’t run in big numbers over here and as usual, they’ve change to new models fairly quickly - nothing going second hand. It’s probably not worth it in truth. I always feel bad asking dealers about RFDs when they’ve got loads of options on shelf gathering dust but I guess that’s just the way of it I suppose. Thanks again!

I’m not too surprised and assuming from the lack of replies it’s as uncommon as I thought 😂 Hoped it might be an RFD to RFD idea but I think you may need to have an import licence. Maybe one to quiz basc. Cheers!

I thought I’d pick some opinions on here but I imagine it’s probably too expensive / too much hassle to be practical. I’ve seen a rifle I’m tempted by but it’s in Europe. How easy is it to RFD/import from abroad? I imagine it’s a complete faff and likely worse since brexit but thought it was worth asking? It’s from one gun shop to another but I assume it’s not a case of £25 RFD at each end! Thanks!

Cheers gents. I’m sold on the pcp idea now. I can shoot well with the springer. But the off the bipod, pellet on pellet repeatability seems a no brainier. The springer can come out for plinking

Right chaps. To a compete novice in this department. Where is the best place / site to source dive bottles from? Are they all equal? What sort of size are you generally looking at for a hunting rifle / occasional use? Do they arrive full? Are most of you filling up through gun shops or is it easier to try and find a dive shop for a refill? This has been an area that’s always put me off the pcp’s rather than the actual gun outlay so figured I’d pick the bones out of it and go for it. Thanks!

Thanks guys! Appreciate! Really helpful and good to know about the QD stud. Think I’ll fork out for one and the Weihrauch pump and “upgrade” to a bottle depending on how much I’m using it / refilling it Any other feedback is always appreciated!

Thanks! I’ll have a good look. Is the 100 full length more expensive? I’m seeing the standard version second hand for £900 without a scope.. and some shops are listing new karbines at that sort of money What’s the difference exactly? I’ve heard the 110 has more plastic? I assume everyone has just attached a QD stud at the front end themselves after purchasing if desired? It’s about the only thing I can find missing on the rifle. I do love a bipod for ambush hunting and being rock steady. Thanks for the replies!

Firstly thanks for all the replies, very appreciated! I was going to say that everyone on here seems to be listing the karbine. This might explain why. Possibly the shorter barrel is more user friendly in a hide too. I need to find somewhere that has the KT version for a handle then before committing to a purchase. Shame you can post them any more. Everyone I find seems to be the other end of the country

Cheers gents. What I’ll do is service the 77k but I think I’ll pluck for a pcp as well. I can use one for plinking and one for hunting.

Right gents I’m going to take a plunge and go for a HW100 thumbhole. What I can’t decide is, am I better going for the regular length or the Karbine? I was going to pluck for a .177 for a change of scenery from my springer unless anyone can convince me otherwise. Whats a sensible price for the bare rifle through a shop second hand. Seen a few locally at £900 but there’s been full kits for £650-£700. Are these likely older models or is £900 quite steep? Any thoughts pro or con on the rifle will be appreciated. I love the 77k so keen to stick with the brand as they seem well made. Thanks!

Cheers guys, already very helpful! So I’ve already narrowed it down to .177 as it definitely seems to be the popular choice on here. Pump wise, is there a “best pump” ? Do they tend to be brand specific or does a weihrauch pump work well for say, an air arms? Happy to look into the air arms range as well as they do seem popular. I could go new which would give me a warranty although seems daft with so many second hand options about.

So here’s my dilemma. I’ve a HW77K which is fine. I can shoot grey squirrels off a feeder with it and close range rats etc. What I struggle to do is (repeatedly) is head shoot crows/woodies etc further out. Now I’m by no means a bad shot and feel like the pellet on pellet accuracy with a pcp should make this a lot more achievable? I’m really tempted by the hw100. Is there any reason not to get one? Everyone seems to go air arms. Is there much difference between a .22 and a .177? My only comparison would be that I find the flatter trajectory calibers in CF rifles a lot easier. Over airgun range, is there much in it? Lastly, dive bottles. Am I going to hate pumping the gun back up to full? My head and wallet say that a pump would be easier than driving back and forth to the gun shop or are they totally impractical? I feel like I would get use out of a pcp but it’s just a bit daunting the whole field. I’ve got plenty other CF rifles but they seem to be in their own little world when it comes to refills and options etc. Thanks!

Cheers gents, interesting replies and varied as expected. What I will say is that he will fetch absolutely fine if he is sat out, dummy placed between us. And he has to fetch towards me. And it’s about 50:50 if I throw it from feet what he will do. He usually sprints about daft and tries to make a game of chase of it. Got bored of it today after 1 minute and brought it in but he knows he’s done wrong. I don’t fully understand why running towards me guarantees success and he’s excellent. But when he has to go out and turn around with the dummy, he decides to run off. This is the first dog that I’ve used treats for,(grudgingly). He does get some fuss - but not a lot as it’s reining in he seems to need. He just seems quite erratic and it might be a case of time and it will all click. I’ve heard of some top trainers not really starting until a year and a half. I’d happily have him away with a trainer but my partner would prefer to do 1 on 1’s,(although in the end she’ll go with whatever I suggest). He’s had a lot more time and effort out in than any of my other previous dogs and yet I feel for the least return. Thanks again for the replies! With any luck he might be mentally mature by 2024..

It’s a fair point. I don’t think I did in as much as I’ve always limited it to 2 per day. Maybe did this most days of the week. Few months ago he was fab. Retrieving with dummy launcher and straight back. Then he got bored of it after about a week and started being a tool in the field instead. Brought it right back in for a couple of months and he’s been a lot better. But what I can’t get my head around is this thing of him knowing he has something of high value - in this case the pigeon - and wanting to run around me and back and forth near me but not give it over. He knows he’s being bad. And his recall is really good unless he gets over stimulated. He’ll be great in a field. Then one day just a slight raised voice at the wrong time and he’ll have a fit of laps where he knows he’s been bad but short term it’s worth it. Then you’ll have 5 days of butter wouldn’t melt but I just can’t seem to turn the real life situations in my favour. I can’t decide if I should have done today on a long line or should I have waited until 2. But some dogs will retrieve well at a year. He loves to cause a wind up and I don’t know why. All I’ve learned is to not to get myself wound up because it’s feeding into the game.

Well gents . I thought I’d put this up for a debate on here. I appreciate with dogs, everyone has a different opinion and people never see eye to eye so I’m expecting a fair range of replies. I’m getting fairly downbeat with my lab who is 1 year 7 months, male neutered. Since day 1, his default has been to grab things and run off. Slippers, tissues - whatever. Now this has gotten significantly better in house and it’s more or less resolved,(unless he’s worked up at the folks when we’re visiting). He’s never been chased to encourage this apart from occasionally being put away to bed. Retrieving has been so difficult. Has been much better in the past month. Sitting him out, dropping the dummy between us and then getting him to fetch towards us. Sometimes with a throw and fetch from feet, he would get to the dummy, then veer off at right angles rather than coming back. Yesterday he was 10/10 on both retrieves. And he had been fairly reliable. Tried him out shooting today in an ‘easy’ setting. Pigeon out of tree, folded it. 20 yards. Sent dog. Dog goes out to bird, hesitates picking it,(despite picking cold game in garden). Then starts mouthing/chewing away at it. If he gets the slightest notion you’re going to come take it off him, it’s laps and laps with the bird on mouth and a huge game. No interest in taking it to you. I’ve never had a dog that doesn’t want to bring things to you and work with you? Did the usual, walked away and gave up encouraging him in eventually - it wasn’t going to happen after 10 mins. He eventually got bored of the bird and traded it for cow muck. He only came back in because he thought there might be something better in the game bag -> then back on lead. Even in the house, he wants to mouth,(despite never been played with) and chew firewood blocks constantly. He’s well walked but if he can gnaw on sticks or grass he will. I get it was obviously too much too soon today. And a case of back to the drawing board. But I can’t believe how long this dog is taking to mature. He’ll sit for ages, even when you’re out of site, normally recall to whistle even in the field, will walk at heel. But my god he makes fetching difficult. Do I just hold off for another 6 months and stick to the basics in the hope that he’ll mentally settle down? He still wants to do everything at 100mph once he’s told to stop sitting. The partner isn’t for sending him away with a trainer for boarding. This is selfishly to also give me a break from him. 1 on 1 classes are an option. But I’ve varied a ton of different things and he just wants to cause trouble rather than work with you when there is an exciting situation. The 6 previous dogs we’ve had were a relative breeze by comparison and he’s had the most time put into him. Suggestions welcome from a mentally exhausted owner. I think patience might be key. However my folks have held onto my other two dogs and they’re a good 3 hours away so it really is limiting the shooting as well as being a huge stress. The days in the field seem further away than ever.

Lordy you’d get more information driving along the road on a Saturday morning and just noting where every 4x4 is parked 😂