badsworth

yes I agree - I have always found Dorset FEOs to be very helpful and accomodating - and there are'nt many of them to cover the number of shooters in the county. They get my vote! B

Thanks everyone - top class info. I knew someone could help! B

Thanks for the info about the squirrels - I bought my boy a .410 and he would love to go 'Squirrelin' - the info will be handy. We'll have to explore the copse next door. Well done! B

Thanks for the help so far folks - looks like 50g or heavier for me. There seem to be a number of options available in terms of twist rate. Does anyone know the relative advantages of going for one option rather than another? Thanks B

I am seriously thinking of buying a Steyr Scout in .223 with a 1 in 9" twist barrel. What weight of bullet works best with this twist rate? I have heard that some .223 rounds actually have a .224" bullet. Is this true and can any .223 rifle fire them safely? Anyone got any experience of the Steyr?? Thanks folks Badsworth

Squeeky toys work especially well when you are shooting a field where the crop has just been gathered - the foxes are out looking for mice and voles and the squeeky toy sends them wild. B

I think you will when you have spent a couple of hours with your eyes glued to the back of a top quality scope in low light. It is there that the difference in performance is the most noticeable. Try to spend about as much on the scope as on the rifle - though be careful - CZ have made it possible to spend very little on top quality rifles , but you still need to spend good money on the scope. Buy cheap and buy twice - I know, I did! B

No - Foxes breed for about three weeks in January (linked to the vixens estrous) - this years cubs will be mature enough to breed by then. Foxes will pair up and be fairly inseperable for a few weeks. The new cubs arrive 7 weeks after breeding. B

Don't agree - you cannot SILENCE them - but you can MODERATE them. My Savage with an ASE UTRA mod is very acceptable. Don't forget that a moderated round that sounds really loud from 6" away often sounds very different 100 yards away - and that is what counts. I Know - I know - I promised to shut up on this topic after my previous, but so many 'experts' keep coming out of the woodwork I cannot help it. I'm done! B

snotty or what! How do any of us know what level of knowledge other members have? This forum is just a nicer place to visit when folks listen and do not jump down each others throats. B

I think you are missing my point (ok it is my fault for not making it clearer!!!) - we all have a right to express differing opinions here. Those who don't like diverse views need not log in. The number of posts is irrelevant. If you are starting to count them as a measure of someones ability to comment you need therapy! B

From your comments here, G.M., you probably don't deserve any. The object of joining a forum like this is to benefit from the opinions of others. It doesn't matter if you agree with them or not. I've learned a lot from being a member of this forum and if you check back on this thread you will see that I have had my *** chewed by a few who don't like what I have said about .17 HMR. It doesn't matter - I am grateful for their feedback - you need to develop a thicker skin mate (or not - your choice). If you cannot put up with the contradictory views of fellow shooters how are you going to cope with the tree huggers? Best wishes to ALL on PW - keep your powder dry! Badsworth

I have a Savage 93R17FVSS (.17 HMR) which I have owned for about a year. In general I am delighted with it. It shoots better than I do, and I like the functional weatherproof finish. Today however I discovered a problem. The pressed metal retaining lugs on the magazine had become worn (or more likely had had a knock-) and the result was that when I took out the mag it sprayed 5 rounds onto the floor. It was easily remedied - a couple of light taps with a hammer moved the lugs back into the proper position and the gun works fine again. It is less than a year old and has fired about 3-400 rounds only. It has not been dropped or abused. Has anyone else had a similar problem with these guns/magazines? I would like to know if it is a one off or a common complaint. Thanks B

Fox is considered to be vermin by the firearms department here in Dorset. When they say vermin they mean including foxes. B

Sounds like Mxy - but don't despair the local population recovers quickly. Rabbits produce 6-10 young every 28 days. We had it bad here in West Dorset last November and now you would never know. I've just been to Inverness - they have it bad there 'The Noo' - but things will get back to normal soon. Normally around 40% of the rabbits effected survive and produce more young. B

I have shot foxes out to 185 yards with my .17 but I would not claim it to be a purely foxing round - for that I will be getting a .223 soon. .17 is great except when the wind blows - then I tend to leave it at home. I like it because it will do just about anything. I wouldn't say the same about .223 because of the meat damage. I'd happily use my .17 on foxes out to 125 yards - the 185 yard shot was a a unique opportunity on a totally static fox shot at my leisure on a downhill incline. I would not have taken the shot in any other cicumstances. i won't be selling my .17 when I get the .223. B

My CZ hates Winchester Subs (and they don't eject properly unless fired). Try Elay or CCI subs (mine loves them). B

Crow 210 yards (we were both rather surprised!) Fox 183 yards (and boy haven't I heard all about it on this forum). The fox was completely static listening for mice. I was prone using a bi-pod with all the time in the world. My Savage is zeroed in at 100 yards and I use a Leica Rangemaster 900. I use Premier Accutip - but only because it is so accurate. Other ounds might be even better. If it is windy stay at home! B

There is nothing wrong with them - as long as you have a FAC, SG choked 'True Cylinder' and with appropriate sights. B

Does anyone know who imports Sauer Rifles? - I like the look of them and would like to study a catalogue. Badsworth

I have a 12g Hushpower too - and a gun cabinet with a top box. It is easy to store the hushpower broken down - just a couple of twists. It stores in behind the guns in the cabinet and is thus in addition to the seven gun spaces the gun cabinet allegedly caters for. Yes it is very long - but that is really not a problem. B

Fill the tail with 'Domestic Borax' - available from Boots for about £2.20 for a big box. Push the powder down the tail with a thin stick and hang it up to cure. It will take several months. A better way of stripping them is to buy a 'tail stripper' on Ebay. It will probably have to come from Aus or the USA, but should cost about £8.00 including postage. Dont bother with the plastic ones - they work fine but can snap. The price quoted is for a metal one. They are quite easy to make - but I am not very handy! B

Lyalvale do a 3", 50 gram, BB round called 'Max Game Magnums' which are designed for longer range foxing. They give one hell of a kick (don't shoot them in the prone position!!!) but I have used them successfully with a 3/4 or full choke out to 60-70 yards for a slow aimed shot on Charlies that were standing still and had not seen me. I don't think you could go beyond that range or hit a running fox - but these cartridges are the db's. If you only have a shotgun these are the best you will get and cost about £5.00 per box of 25. Otherwise get yourself a .17 HMR. They used to do this round in 53grammes - but you don't see them anymore, just 50g. Does anyone know why? Did somebodies gun blow up or something? B

No - 'self loading' means a semi auto - not a pump actioned SG. You can have one (its not a prohibited weapon as defined under Section 5) - but you need a FAC. And if it is a slugster it will be bored 'True Cylinder' - therefore absolutely no choke. Not very useful unless very close - or using slugs. B

Before I make a fool of myself at the gun shop - do I need any kind of licence or certificate to purchase propellant and components for making SG Shells? I am pretty sure I don't - but I know that someone on this forum will have the definitive answer. Thanks Badsworth