motty

If anyone shoots at a low bird and doesn't know what is beyond that, then they are an idiot.

Noooooooo!

I would go further than that and say a 12 with the newer shot types will easily out shoot an 8 with lead or bismuth. I would only consider an 8 for a bit of history etc. For me, other than that, it isn't really worth it.

It helps if you read through the thread before commenting.

I have put steel and heavy tungsten through my moderated 20. I don't think it has been damaged.

Loads on ebay.

As a rule, lead wads are not up to the job with harder shot types. You may well get away with it with smaller, more "fluid' shot sizes.

I want to shoot one with the .410, but need the right cartridges. Yes, you can rob some of your wads back!! 😂

Quite!

I would eat my hat (and indeed yours!) if they are not also suitable through full. Excellent stuff, Jim. I may start using smaller gauges a bit more. I took my moderated 20 out on Monday to try for some inland pinks - having never fired a shot at geese with a 20 before. I managed to get at least one with it, using some 36gm hw13 4s. I also fulfilled a challenge to myself of killing pinks with a 10 and a 12 that morning. I scored a triple of pinks with the 10 and large steel, whilst some 30-32gm tss 7s made easy work of high pinks with the 12. Thank god I found those pinks feeding locally whilst I was out dog training!!

I don't think those days are exactly gone. I quite often see a chap on his bicycle, slipped gun over his shoulder and donned in camouflage, coming back from culling a few pigeons. Noone seems to bat an eyelid.

Why not reload your own practice cartridges? Easy!

One is very talented when merely looking at a pheasant can bring about its demise!

I never carry a torch on the marsh. I am also not overkeen on those that use head torches. I have been on one flight this season where another gun was walking out to my spot, in almost full daylight with a bright head torch on. God knows why he needed to be using it. I would have had a stern word if I got the chance. He may have seen/heard me and stopped 300 yards back. In the end, he may have learned his lesson. He walked away gooseless while I had a couple of nice pinks.

This is incorrect.

You're not thinking of using TSS in lead wads I hope.

I don't like double triggers. For starters, you can smack your fingers on the triggers. Gloved hands don't fit too well. The length of pull is altered. These are all reasons why double triggers aren't particularly popular these days.

It would have been nice to get to 400, but maybe one day. Gertrude was not there on the first day. He was there for the second day and a bag of 212. On the third day, neither of the brothers Grimm were available, so Brad (widgeonman) helped me to a bag of 240. Am I a natural shot? Not sure!

😄 👍

With what I have seen this year/recently, pigeons certainly aren't in decline. I get yearly totals of between 2000 and 4000 birds. This year has been no different.

Glad you liked it! I only posted it to show a certain someone that it is possible to shoot good numbers of birds in a short space of time. I really should have recorded more that day. Thanks! It was really enjoyable shooting. We shot over 800 in total in 3 sessions over 3 weekends on that field. I really didn't do it justice with the filming, though. Feel free to check out any of my other videos on YouTube. 😄

For once, I totally agree with you!!

Mr Balotelli. Watch the first portion of this video. It was taken from my biggest bag day of 391. You can see that there are plenty of pigeons to go at. We were regularly shooting, but it would be easy to shoot more if the birds cooperate.

Two guns. One day.

How do you know what the patterns would be like?