Piers Austin

I have said this before, but the production of steel shot has a bigger Carbon footprint than the production of lead shot. This is because of the higher melting point of iron plus more mechanical processes down the line to get to pellets. There are other components too such as transport across the globe etc. This fact will cause more harm and suffering to the planet and humanity than if we just continued using lead!! This is because of the higher contribution to global warming and the associated natural disasters going to occur. Secondly, as I understand it we should only use steel shot if the shot game etc is sold to a game dealer and ends up the the (supermarket) food chain. If we shoot game or pigeons etc to consume ourselves or to give away to friends, we can still use lead for ever. As we know, we don’t eat or prepare badly shot birds, for good examples if there is a pellet hole, dig out the shot and finally if we encounter a pellet in our mouths, spit it out. Very rarely do we ingest any. Now I believe there are kitchen type metal detectors so anyone really concerned can give their meat a quick scan! I do support however the ban on the use of lead shot over wetlands, where reportedly many wild bird deaths occur from the ingestion of lead shot. Will anyone take any notice of this? I doubt it. Cheers all.

Where can we log our kills? Thanks

Hi all, I also made a raised rib for my Hushpower 410. It was very disconcerting to look down the barrel and see the end of the moderator! I made mine from a 12mm hardwood strip, painted black. Now there is a clear line of sight down the barrel and on along the moderator to the bead. I had a thought and have asked David Connor at Highrib Co whether he might look at making some ‘pukka’ ones. A photo of my effort attached. cheers

Here’s a thought, the manufacturing process for steel (soft iron) shot is far more energy intensive than lead and will have a much bigger Carbon footprint, contributing more to climate change due to global warming. Iron has a higher melting point, has to be formed into billets and then drawn out into wire. The wire is then cut into short lengths and put through a rolling mill to form into balls. Steel shot is mostly manufactured in China using dirty coal powered energy and then transported all around the world. The impact on humanity will be more from the related natural disasters and loss of life than the over exaggerated risk of illness or any poisoning from Lead! Tell this to the environmental agencies and politicians!

Hi, please has anybody bought and used the Browning Legia spray for gun maintenance and used it? How do you rate it? Would or do you use it on the stock or wood work? I have always given my wood the traditional wipe over with linseed oil but maybe am old fashioned. As for metal work, barrels and action etc they say spray it on leave for 5 mins then wipe off, do we agree? Thanks and appreciate any feedback before I buy.

I sometimes get a left eye take dominance over my normal right. Can be caused by tiredness or stress. A simple fix which works for me is a triangle of opaque Scotch tape on the left lens of my glasses. When the gun is mounted only the right eye can see down the rib. Saw this in a shooting magazine some years ago. This is similar to the idea mentioned by Westley of using a blob or smear of Vaseline. 🙂

We were wondering the same! No pigeons in Hampshire and a mate has just come back from visiting family in Lincolnshire, same story. Two farms we shoot have 4 fields of peas , usually suicidal but nowt! Where are they all?

Pleased to say have got some roost shooting in these past weekends. The pigeons I have shot have had ivy berries or acorns in their crops. Some had maize, presumably from chopped game cover. Haven’t seen any with rape in. Cheers all

Great responses and dialogue between fellow shooters. Of course the days are lengthening now so roosting time gets later accordingly. Weather looks better next weekend and so hope to get out. Watch this space!

Thanks Jim, for taking the time to write such good advice. Definitely reconnaissance always pays off and a windy day better. Cheers

Thanks guys. I will take note and watch much earlier. Does anybody practise roost shooting this time of year? The leaves are off the trees etc. I have only ever done it in February after the game season is over. Cheers

Hi All, what time do pigeons come in to roost this time of year (end of November)? It is dark by 4.45pm. Might seem a silly question but I watched a wood 30 mins before and reckon they were all in! Cheers

Hi Davyo, Thanks for your reply to this topic. I assume from your in depth knowledge of the subject you are an HMRC employee as well as a pigeon shooter. The problem I face as I'm sure many hundreds of other members do is that (correct me if I'm wrong) being employed in full time jobs and on PAYE tax deductions, taking days off to go beating, we cannot be officially self-employed as well. This is even though the beating activity has nothing to do with our main job and we are effectively self employed, working from home when going beating! The self employed person can claim business mileage and I for example appear not to be able to. This is discriminatory. The other anomaly is that pickers up, who run a dog can claim all their expenses, again discriminatory as we are all key components of running a driven day shoot. Finally if beating is considered to be a job and income is taxable, one should be allowed to claim the expenses incurred in getting to the job to be able to do it. Theoretically too one should be able to claim for the cost of providing their own lunch if this is not provided and certain protective clothing which has to be replaced due to wear and tear doing the job. All this of course arose because the shoot I help out on has to report wages paid to beaters to HMRC against their NI number and I got a tax bill! This is however not all of the simplistic story or picture. Am I missing something here? Wishing you and all members a happy, healthy and prosperous 2017. Cheers P

Hi everybody. Does anyone have experience of claiming back expenses such as car mileage and protective clothing from HMRC as a beater? There is a Form P87 you can fill out and send in as long as your total earnings don't exceed £2500. Apparently pickers up are entitled to because they run a dog (any logic in that?) As a beater we are casual employees, non contractual and operate from home, taking our 'tools' i.e. sticks and flags driving to and from the job, which can be several different shoots etc. If you are already in full time employment and on PAYE, this sideline activity is not your main job, so different rules should apply. Even the employers tax code will be different. I tried it recently and they didn't seem to want to play ball, but often it is down to the individual. If there is anyone who has succeeded it would be good to know as we can build up a case law file. There can't be one rule for some and another for others! Wishing everyone a Happy New Year for 2017 and some great beaters days! Cheers P.

Hi, if you want to go down the fitting route and I highly recommend it. You will be very lucky to get an 'off the peg' gun that fits. Those of us who can't afford custom made bespoke stocks can do the next best thing. I got an adjustable comb fitted by Doveridge Claysports Club resident gunsmith Simon. You send him your stock and he cuts a piece out of the comb and fits Krieghoff metalwork. Does a superb job and the comb can be adjusted,raised or lowered in height and moved from left to right. You can get the sight line down the rib bang on. Cost is around £200.00 about the same as a 100 bird tuition lesson! Call Simon first to discuss tel. 07816 918301. Worth every penny, if the gun ain't shooting where you are looking you're waisting your time and ammo. Good luck and staright shooting! Piers