Mr Majyk

well, i shall be spending my bank holiday monday blasting crows on a sheep farm where the crows are becoming a real pain in the backside! (I'm talking plague proportions here!) so was just wondering if anyone could offer some tips etc on whats best to do i.e. decoy pattern etc. I've only got a few crow decoys, 8 full bodied decoys, as I've always added a few to my pigeon decoy patterns and bagged a few crows as a result. but this time I'm out purely for crows which I've never done before. can anyone offer a bit of advice to help me out? any kinds of "bait" or similar such tricks i can use? also I've been given a few full bodied pigeon decoys which I've never used as they're a bit to bulky for my hide bag, could i get away with spraying them black and using them for the crows or would that just be a waste of time? ta all.

yes, the one with the "open" plastic clips. is it for a 12bore?

good man! you won't regret it.

Hi all, I've just got into practical shotgun (and I'm loving it) and I've been hunting round online for a prodec breakaway cartridge belt (or something similar) and i can't find one for love or money!! just wondering if anyone knows where on this green earth i can find one!!?? ta all!

Do i detect a hint of sarcasm there? My mates running a 700 and guess what, his is one of the ones affected. when he told me this my only reply was "glad i bought a Sako"

Hi all, I'm looking for a breakaway cartridge belt to use in practical shotgun. if anyone has one that they're not wanting anymore send me a message.

cheers for the info guys. next question, can anyone be kind enough to give me a link to somewhere i can buy it? as I'm having a fair bit of trouble finding anymore online? only got bout 30 heads left of what i was given and my rifle seems to like it. further testing gave me a 0.8 inch group at 150 yds. need the 52 grain heads as I'm using a 1in12 twist rifle. anyone know where i can get some?

ok, just a general question on other peoples opinions on the hornady a-max (in .223). apparently its a non expanding ammo but after being given a few heads to play with i mixed up some ballistic gel and did a couple of tests and i have to ask how the hell is the a-max not listed as an expanding ammo? it behaved just like an expanding round? i used three rounds for comparison on separate gelatine blocks, the first as a bench mark was a 52 grain FMJ with 25 grains of reloader 15 to send it down range (test range was 150 yds) and the damage was as expected relatively minimal, passed through with "minimal" damage. next round was a poly tip V-max 52 grain with same powder to send it on its way. as expected damage was catastrophic! gel everywhere!!! which had me and my mate chuckling away and last but not least up came the a-max 52 grain again same powder load and the damage down range was almost identical, expansion seemed a smidgeon slower but still more appeared to have rather rapid expansion and i can't make heads or tails of it? anyone offer some input? anyone ever tried an a-max on live game? I'm aware that any well placed shot from a .223 FMJ or expanding would drop what you were pointing it at but I'm just baffled how the a-max is listed as non expanding???

and another question, can you order powder through the post? (I'm guessing i can't?) as my local RFD's supplies are a bit intermittent?

ok if i can get some reloader 7 i'll give it a wirl, the lapua cases I've got are "on loan" from my friend. I've been chewing through the american eagle ammo just so i can re-use the cases and start loading them up.

update: I have my new rifle and she's a beaut! so tried some factory ammo (american eagle FMJ target rounds, they came with the rifle.) and was getting roughly 3.5-4 inch groups at 150 yds which is ok but i have a goal of getting a 1 inch group at 150 yds (maybe a bit ambitious but I'm gone try!) so did a bit of homeloading with a mate and tried the following load: -Hornady 52 grain A-max bullet -Lapua case -24.9 grains of reloader 15 powder -CCI 400 small rifle primer I tailored the bullet seating to be as shallow as possible whilst still easy to load into the rifle to engage with the rifling as soon as possible, acieved a 1.8 inch group at 150yds, now i just need to get rid of that .8inch could anyone recommend a change somewhere? i.e. different powder? or primer? I'm liking the idea of copper primers to be easier on the firing pin than the steel primers. cheers all!!

personally i think i'll stick to small things, rats and rabbits, with my catapult anything bigger and i'll get the proper tools for the job.

yep! seems to be doing the job quite well. leaves a slightly odd texture on the fabric but does seem to be effective. has kept me dry on a few soggy outing recently.

thats quite a good video! cheers for putting it on the thread!

ok so the whole mixed case thing is probably a bad idea? think maybe i'll make a "softer load" with that brass for "plinking" ammo and fork out the cash for some lapua brass?

well, it seems to be doing the job? i poured some water on it, it went into but not through the fabric. will be wearing it on a shoot tomorrow which is supposed to be pretty wet so it'll be getting a full field test tomorrow. fingers crossed i stay dry

Ok, heres an update, I got a load of free brass the other day from soneone who doesnt homeload, but its mixed I.e. Different brands etc how much will this effect shot consistency? Ive been told that different brass performs differently? Also after checking with my rfd what heads hes got in stock he said that he usually keeps nosler 50gr polymer tip boat tails in stock. Are these good heads to be using? Ive heard nosler are good but its good to ask the PW forum.

Will do Evo, gave the jacket a good wash yesterday and if its dry when i get home will be soaking it tonight and hanging it to dry over night and see how it turns out? fingers crossed for a bit more water resistance, which will be nice considering the weather lol

update: I've had "other legal quarry" added to the conditions on my licence, does this mean I'm now ok to go on an accompanied stalk? also a friend has informed me that they can get me a morning or afternoon stalk in hampshire for £120 is this a good price or am I being ripped off?

Well ive just bought sone of the thompsons water seal. Lets see how it does.

ok, this is the only thomsons water seal I've found? is this the stuff people are recommending???

and another question, how many times is it SAFE to use the same brass?

Ok next question, what would be the heaviest bullet my 1in12 twist rifle could sensibly fire?

Thankyou! i know of the top of my head i don't have deer or AOLQ on my licence. what does require a DSC1? I'm guessing un-accompanied stalks?

Hi All, fingers crossed in the next month or two i'll be getting my first .223 (when I've finished paying for it ) and when I've got a moderator i'll be hunting round for muntjac stalking in hampshire (i live on the isle of wight so its just across the water) and I'm wondering what do i need? pardon for asking the obviously dumb questions but i don't know where i start? do i need a DSC1 if i were going on a guided stalk? whats a reasonable price to pay? could anyone recommend somewhere/someone? I'm itching to do this! just thinking about it gets me very excited and i don't even have the rifle for it yet but i don't know whats required If anyone could put me in the right direction and answer a few questions that'd be great ta!