motty

70mm is 2 3/4". Also, it is you that is pricking the birds, not the cartridges.

I understand if people want to lay birds out in rows, but many of us probably can't be bothered. If I had only ever shot a couple of ton bags I would probably present the birds differently for a photo, but after a good day I generally want to pack up and get gone.

😆

I think you'll find they do.

Driving around and at work this weekend, I have seen a lot more youngsters. I am expecting some good decoying very soon.

I personally consider pigeons to be pretty stupid birds.

There will be some very big bags shot on harvested beans this year, don't you worry.

I bet there are plenty of people in Leicestershire shooting big bags consistently. It isn't a small place. I have no idea how you think this could be even slightly plausible.

The loads I have made are 36gm hw13 4s. That should prove plenty good enough for a few pinks on the marsh this season. The 3/4 and full choking is if no concern to me. I was slightly concerned by the thicker wads that encase steel shot (maybe a bit of plastic could get caught in the ports or baffles), but that soon passed after I had fired a few.

He didn't develop the gun. He put a tin can on the outside of it. Anyhow, it sounds like more unfounded scaremongering or ignorance. I spoke to a chap who puts over 3000 steel shells a year through his moderated 20. That's proof enough for me! I have now put several through my 20, too, and have made myself some heavy tungsten cartridges for the marsh.

There can be a change in the equation which means pigeons turn up where you have been looking for a long time. If you don't look, you won't know for sure. One example of this that immediately springs to mind is from 11 years ago. I kept passing a late cut bean field every day, waiting and hoping for pigeons to take an interest. After 10 days or so, they had finally got on there. They may not have, but they did. The resultant bag was 246.

I am of the same mind as marsh man. We are allowed to do it because pigeons need controlling. If it were a case of firing a net over a field to catch and then kill them, I don't think many would bother! I shoot pigeons for the same reasons I shoot ducks, geese or pheasants. The fact that pigeons are on the GL is of no significance to me - it is all about sport/enjoyment .

If you're happy to limit your range to 60 yards, then steel is fine.

The lead and toxicity argument to me is moot. Steel is plenty effective enough. How far do you want to shoot?

As much as I enjoy the whole wildfowling experience, for me, it would not be so good if shooting something was rare.

You can get lucky, but hours of driving and watching will always pay off in the end.

I like steel, so that doesn't bother me.

In my opinion, those guns are choked just right. I haven't smashed up any close birds.

For ducks I tend to use 2s, 3s or 4s. For geese I usually use BB or hw13 loads in size 2 or 4.

Good start to the season. Hopefully Conor will get a few pinks on the shore this season with the new gun.

I am hoping with all the uncut cereals in the area, that there may be a few big bags to come. The recent explosion of juvenile birds on the wing is one reason why so many are being seen.

I don't understand this post.

I would buy second hand. Plenty of good gear that quickly gets sold on by part time shooters.

I would rarely consider shooting on a freshly drilled rape field, unless it was direct drilled and the old cereal grains were left behind (and obviously the pigeons were also interested). I had a nice bag of around 250 about 6 years ago in those circumstances.

I rarely get called by farmers to tell me about pigeon problems, but I do ok from my own observations and experience. As far as I am aware, the counties you mention are quite well stocked with pigeons.