AJAX

Hi Jordan, I've been out foxing a couple of times a week over the last 3 months and I've tried many different shot sizes and weights over different ranges. I found 5s and 6s work ok up to about 20 yards but didn't always kill outright and a second shot is often needed. SGs very good up to 20 yards but pattern poorly and I would not take on shots past this. AAA 36gm very good to 25 but also pattern poorly at range. 42 gm 1s good up to 30 and my favourite load so far is 3" 50 gm BB which easily out perform anything else that I've tried out to 40 yards. I always try to get the head in the centre of the pattern and seldom need a second shot. I personaly consider 40 yards long range for foxes. In my experience so far no shot size kills cleanly and consistantly past 30 yards other than BBs or 1s ( I haven't tried 2s yet) AAA and SG will kill well past that but its luck to get a pellet in the head with such poor patterns. 3/4 and full choke work for me with BB and 1s Hope this helps. regards Ajax

Good luck mate. If you are shooting under a flight line it is often worth leaving a couple where they fall, they definately seem to attract other crows. Ajax

Hi Whitebridges, I've been doing a fair bit of crow shooting lately and I have found them to be very tough birds much more so than pigeons. I started shooting 30 and 32 gram 6s and found that close up these were fine but I hit loads that just didn't drop or flew on a long way before they came down. I changed to 32 gm 5s and found them to be spot on and knocked them down much better. I will say though that I find it difficult to hit the ******* and I prefer a tight choke usually half and full. Regards Ajax

I've never used hevishot before but it seems logical that it would be more effective than lead at range if it patterns tightly. hevishot BBs must have much more energy if its heavier than lead BBs and I'd assumed it would give a better range. I'm not too fussed about the price as I'd only fire 20 or 30 per year and the sheer enjoyment I get from calling in and shooting is more than worth £2. a fox. Apparently in the states its often used for coyotes with good results ! Regards Ajax

Cheers Henry, I was Feeling a bit nervous after being told by a couple of people that to shoot AAA or bigger through anymore than 1/2 choke would result in the barrels bursting !!! S*d that ! I'm also thinking that hevishot in a BB type size should be pretty good on foxes. Have you ever tried it ? Best regards Ajax

High Velocity, I was told in a gun shop 1/4 and 1/2 for 'everything' I dont use a shooting ground and so hence 'I am' using this forum to get some advice from experiensed shooters ! regards Ajax

Hi Henry, I meant various shot sizes and load as in the weight of shot contained in a factory loaded cartridge. I will be shooting mainly rabbits, pigeons, corvids, squirrels and a large number of foxes. I'm particularly keen to find the ultimate fox cartridge and choke combination and to generally find out how my gun shoots. I want to be safe as I have had some very conflicting advice recently from other shooters I know. Regards Ajax

I've had my gun a while now and I've never done any patterning with the multi chokes supplied. So I've got some targets and a large range of cartridges, shot sizes and loads. I dont want to take any chances with safety so can anyone advize me on what is the biggest shot size and load I can safely shoot through a full choke. I have carts from No 9 shot to BB, AAA, SG. All are lead, my gun is a 12 bore Beretta with 3" chambers. the BBs are 50 gram magnums. I'm especially keen to find the heaviest pellet that will pattern tightly at 35/40 yards. but dont want to blow myself or the gun up !!! Ajax

Hi Maggie, I'm also relatively new to shotgunning and I had some issues with recoil when I first started. The first few times I went shooting I got pretty beat up around the cheek and gum line. I soon found that this was entirely due to incorrect gun mount and stance. I first had my gun fit checked and was lucky that it fit me pretty well straight out of the box. But whilst having the fit checked I was asked if I did any rifle shooting and replied yes, I've been shooting air rifles seriously for 20 years. His response was ' yep - thougth so ' apparently it can take some getting used to shotgunning after shooting rifles. I've had my 12 bore a while now and it still dont feel quite right when mounted not like my rifle does. My advice to you is stay positive, what ever is causing your problem is nothing that cant be sorted out by an instructor. dont think too much about it, once you start expecting it to hurt - it will ! Dont hold on to the gun too tightly, keep your face down on the stock and keep your weight over your leading foot. I got well battered just because my weight wasn't forward ! handle your gun as often as you can and you will soon get used to the feel of it. I do agree with the others in that an o/u may be a better choice for clays, sporters are generally a little bit heavier than game guns which helps reduce the felt recoil. Have fun mate and enjoy. Regards Ajax

Cheers fellas, guess I need to find a dealer that will let me try before I buy !

Hi Henry. I want to use it for foxes primarily but I'd also like to get into wildfowling. I really like the beretta but I'm not sure how safe it is to shoot off the left shoulder. I've spoken to several gun dealers and half have said its no problem, the other half say its too dangerous with the cart and gasses ejecting the same side as your face. However, I've been watching an American wildfowling DVD and several of the shooters were left handed and firing right handed autos with no apparent worries. Cheers Ajax :blink:

I'm looking to buy an auto in the near future and after reading several posts here I've tried out the beretta extrema. Lovely gun, I really liked it. However I'm left handed and would prefer a true left hander. I like the look and reputation of the Benelli Super Black Eagle but I understand that it is recoil operated and not gas. Does this mean that it wont be as soft shooting as the Beretta or other gas operated autos ? Does anyone own and shoot one of these guns, and how do you rate it especially shooting 3 1/2" shells ? Ajax

Hi Dave, I'm in a similar situation to you and I've spent quite a while researching what will be the best auto to go for. I've used a Remy a few times in the past and it was nice to shoot and came well recommended. I'm drawn to the Beretta but Benelli I've been told are massive in America and a lot of people are claiming that the Super Black Eagle in particular is the best semi auto ever produced. I'm hoping to try both in the near future. regards Ajax

Only lead on the menu now, served piping hot !! chicken is definately off. best regards Ajax

Thanks Andy. Foxes are what i have in mind, the ******* are pinching my peacocks and chickens. I thought it was just the one but I've shot 11 in the last 4 weeks all in the same paddock just 60 yards from my house. seems the more I shoot the more appear ! I've shot most of them at the 15/20 yard mark some as close as 10 ! and up to now they seem to be suicidal. Now they are wising up to me and I cant call them any closer than about 30 yards and number 5 shot aint going to cut the mustard at that sort of range. I'm hoping that 50 gms of bb's will sort them out. I've also got some 42 gm 1's but as of yet I've not tried either. Hoping to to have a go tonight ! Cheers Ajax

thanks for the response fellas, yes the AAA has a roll top and the magnums are crimped. both measure only 67mm unfired. I hadn't realised that it was the length of the case after firing that equated to chamber size suitability, not that I would ever attempt to fire a cart quoted as being 3" in a gun with 2 3/4" chambers. I assumed that 3" meant that the cart would be 3" lomg before firing. As you are probably aware I'm a bit of a novice, can you fire a 50gm load of bb through a full choke ?

I've just bought some 3" solway magnum carts and was surprised to find that they are the same length as some 2 3/4" AAA alphamax that I already had. Ialso bought some 42gm carts which are marked 70mm and these are shorter than all the other carts marked 70mm. the boxes state that the magnums must only be used in guns with 3" chambers but they are the same length as those that should be 2 3/4". anyone know why none of the cartridges I have are actually the size stated ? AJAX

Cheers fellas, I think I'd best try them through cyl choke ! There is definately 12 pellets in each shell and they feel about the same weight as the AAA's in the hand and they appear to be in good condition. Any ideas as to what the intended use they would of been manufactured for ? Also what is the largest shot size/load weight that you would recommend shootind through chokes of any sort ? I currently shoot a silver pigeon 3 with 3 inch chambers and I'm keen to experiment with some of the heavier loads and shot sizes primarily for foxes at ranges past the 20 yard mark. Regards AJAX

I've recently been given some Eley 36gm AAA cartridges and some Gamebore special load SG's I'm unsure how heavy the load is, but each shell contains about 12 pellets. I've used a few of the AAA's on foxes at up to about 20 yards and they seem to work fine. I shot them through a half choke. I would like to try the SG's but the pellets are few and they are huge ! Can they be fired through half choke or more, or am I better off using less choke to keep some sort of pattern ? AJAX

I agree that the side on head shot is the norm and i wouldn't pass up the side on shot just to shoot from behind. I just like the shot from behind when its presented because it drops them without a twitch 9 times out of 10. I would also strongly agree that the head shot is the only sensible option certainly with legal limit airguns. I find that with the head shot you hit and kill cleanly or you miss cleanly. chest shots invariably dont stop rabbits instantly even if perfectly accurate, and can allow rabbits to get below ground before they can be picked up. Also there is a greater risk of injuring if the shot is misplaced. I have found had shots satisfactory out to 50 yards. Ajax

Cheers Dave, I'm going to book myself in for a lesson and a gun fitting. I'm left handed and although there is some cast, there is very little and I think I've got my face too hard against the stock. And I think that i feel it more when the gun is pre mounted or I'm shooting at a non moving target because I'm now expecting it to hurt and so moun it badly and holding on too tight ! regards Ajax

Fisherman Mike, when you say BB's for foxes, what do you consider to be maximum range ? and would full choke be a sensible choice specifically for foxes ? I've been knocking them down pretty well at 15 to 20 yards around my chicken and peacock aviarys with no 5 shot but its not that easy getting that close.

Its a silver pigeon 3, i bought it new a coupla months ago. it seems strange that it hurts more when shooting at targets that are not moving. when the target is running or flying it seems to happen less. it only takes 1 or 2 shots to hurt and it puts me right off. at the mo i'm using 30gm loads for most of my shooting. last week i made the mistake of shooting a fox with an eley 36gm sg load and my face is still swollen now ! I wont be doing that again !!

I think that portsmouth gun center is nearest to me. maybe chichester armoury. not too sure, will have to look in yellow pages.

I have also found that a shot to the neck which breaks the spine usually kills rabbits without a twich. I do find tho that it is very hard to make the shot consistently, especially over distance. it is my fave pellet placement when the rabbit is stood up and facing away. I generally go for the head shot and after shooting hundreds of bunnies with my S410 can honestly say that the same shot placement affects each rabbit differently although each one is dead just as instantly. back of the head from behind seems to work best for me.