Hammergun

Not really. I used to do it the odd time when there were competitions at the game fairs, but I haven't heard of one for a while. To me, airguns are only really for ratting and getting pigeons and doves inside barns and around buildings. I can't get all excited about shooting paper targets or bean cans. Most of the time, my airgun just sits in the feed room when I am on the farm in the off chance something came scampering along. I would still enjoy the odd target shooting session now and again for fun, but wouldn't be on for joining a club.

Here's one I was told last week by an old farmer. Sorry William, but it's not about pigeons. This chap said that when he used to go rat shooting, you get some house bricks, some with the hollow in the top, and some with the holes. Put the hollow topped one down first where rats run, and place some stinking cheese (such as an old camembert or stilton rind), old bacon rind or similar strong smelling food in the hollow. Next put the holed brick over the top. Keep coming back to look and if you get it right, the rats will stick their heads down the holes to get at the food and will be oblivious to you sneaking up on them to shoot them! Sounds good. Has anyone tried this?

I used to get cold feet, but now put on a pair of woolen shooting stockings, then a pair of gun socks over the top. I have felt insoles in my boots and seldom get cold feet anymore.

I expect you will find your Westley Richards is at least some 25 years older than you think, as Damascus barrels had long ceased being made by 1925. If you care to email me images of the proof marking, I can tell you more. I have a few Damascus barrelled guns and before I discovered Clear Pigeon, were shooting Express Pigeon Special (fibre). Perfectly OK for all my guns. I only ever use 2 1/2 inch shells - Nearly all game cartridges are 2 1/2" anyway. Sporting cartridges tend to be 2 3/4" to pack in more propellant for longer shots (which aren't sporting for live game)

Anyone know what sort of paint you should use on the PVC Flexi decoys? My experience with PVC is that it is difficult stuff to paint.

It's no cheaper than my local shooting shop, in fact some products are more expensive.

My mate was looking at getting a FAC air rifle to begin with. He says forget getting a FAC air rifle and go for a .22 rimfire - they are much cheaper than a decent FAC air rifle, no harder to get a cert for and better for the job.

Just bought 250 Gamebore Clear Pigeon 30g, fibre. Wow - what a kick! I am impressed and think I will use these on pigeons from now on!

Was told on Friday there's "loads of pigeons gobbling up the rape" Set out, and waited, and waited, and waited. Nothing in the bag but a foolish cock pheasant which flew in front of my hide. No pigeons at all. Not even anything flying about.

I seem to remember that Iain Duncan Smith HAS said that they would repeal any ban. Correct me if I am wrong.

If we do this, does it matter if we have different types of decoys. I have the full body type, and my mate has the PVC flexi type. Will this put the pigeons off?

You can soon tell by looking at the proof marks.

I sometimes use a pattern similar to Predator, but I place a few decoys at random inside the horseshoe, and the odd one in front. Where I am shooting at the moment, the pigeons feed facing different directions, and so I tend to place the decoys out like this, copying the formation the pigeons make themselves.

Until now, I have only ever done decoying on my own, or with a friend behind the same hide. However, there is a big rape field, where there are often several groups of pigeons flying onto it, often from different directions. So... is it any good to have other guns positioned in hides elsewhere around the field with their own decoys out, or is this counter-productive? What experience have you had?

You need a length of stiff wire attached to the bottom of the decoy, bent in an arc underneath and hang a weight on the bottom (such as a fishing weight or a 3/4" nut). This works as a counterbalance to keep the decoy sat upright, rather like those rocking desk gadgets which everyone had in the 80s! That way, the decoys stay put even in strong wind. I will post a picture later.

Here's the picture of the cast.

[Title should be Gun Fit - it won't let me correct it somehow] To try the fit, mount the gun with your left hand (assuming you are right handed) at the top of the fore-end so that it is half gripping the barrels. This should stretch too much. Next try mounting the gun with the left hand right up against the trigger guard. This should feel too long. Don't rely on the elbow-to-trigger measurement too much as most people who are shorter or longer in the arm are so in the upper arm rather than the lower arm. Anyway, here's the picture as promised. Each of the measurements are specific to the user, but the most important is from A to C

Yeah, but it's the space in the gun cabinet too. Anyway, my next venture is going to be a pigeon rotor. I'm making it myself and I've started accumulating the parts.

As I said, I only know about ENGLISH guns!!!!! (The gun is in proof and with good wall thickness and sound barrels and action - I know all that.) But regarding foreign guns, I haven't a clue!!

Hubertus - if you read this, it has "Geco" and "Elektrostahl" on it. There are a number of distinguishing proof marks, but I don't have descriptions of all the foreign ones.

Top view

I've been offered an old German hammer 12 bore for only £50. It's in not bad nick, but I only have bought English guns so far. What do you reckon? Should I get it?

12 bore gives you more shot and a wider shot pattern, so you have more room for error, but I would still persevere with your 20 bore as It will improve your accuracy. A 16 bore is halfway house and one of my mates is a committed 16 bore man! 12 bore does give you more choice of cartridges.

When I look down the barrels with my master eye, I see straight down the rib without having to duck or stretch. You could also look at the cast on your stock (the amount of bend to the right / left depending on whether you are left or right handed) as this will affect your view down the barrels. Compare the cast of your new gun with your .410. If you miss by shooting consistently above or below your target, this is an indication of the stock being too short or too long respectively. If you are hurting your knuckles on the trigger guard, the stock is too short. Compare the stock lengths of both guns. These are measured from the centre of the front trigger to the centre of the back end of the stock. I will post some pictures in the appropriate section later if I get chance.

Hubertus - it's really "courting". By the time they get to Deako's stage I don't expect they'd be doing much calling.