ellebarto

Anyone have any expereinece with swapping the barrel on the Mossberg 500? I picked up a hushpower last week for certain parts of my permission that required less noise and it does a good job and works fine. Other parts of my permission are out of the way and I dont need the moderator and the huge can that does hinder my shooting slightly. In theory then I just need to buy another barrel but I dont seem to be able to find a UK supplier or any sources of information. Is it as simple as just buying a 2nd barrel and are there any laws governing this? I mean could I get a few if I wanted different options? The Mossberg is a cheap and cheerful gun but quite enjoying the simplicity and the 'racking' Any input or advice appreciated!

I've had a Franchi. Many of them use the Benelli mechanism and its always been my opinion that they are the most reliable auto. Beretta are also good but in my opinion not as good! Never knowne them to be ammo fussy to be honest! Its like anything, you will get good and bad but as long as you avoid Hatsan you should be fine. Worth considering a pump though. If you can get on with remembering to rack it between shots you can get a lot of gun for a very low price! I mean its £500 brand new for a lot of top range names!

I've done reccys on my permissions the last 3 weeks running to find those kind of numbers down in the stubble but when I put them up they seem to go up and then not come back. When I setup on the same place a day or two after I'm getting the odd pair coming over and taking a look at my decoys but only a few coming in and nothing like in the numbers I've seen on the ground in previous days! Bags are still mostly Crow's! Would kill for a good pigeon bag right now!

Shot pigeon with it yesterday for the first time an found it excellent if a little rattley an very front heavy! The moderated barrel was for night time bunnies. I think I'll have to try an get an unmoderated barrel for daytime pigeons!

Yeah thats a top and pretty clever setup mate! Dont suppose you can list the bits youve used and how you went about setting it up? I wouldnt mind having a go at that but its always helpful to get the model names of the kit someone else has used before you! I assume you shoot using the digital screen now then?

I've just picked up the Hushpower version of this gun today and I was already in the market for a non moderated 3 shot pigeon gun and I wondered if I got on well with this gun could it simply be a matter of buying a second unmoderated barrel for it so that I get the best of both worlds? Does a 2nd set of barrels need some kind of permisison or recording on your licence? I did hear that some people buying this gun got 2 sets of barrels from new but mine didnt!

Got mine 18 months ago, used it 4 times! Its alright, gets it on the paper when your struggling with a dodgy mount or new scope but generally given the decision again I wouldnt have bought it!

You wont know until you try both. Most people find it unatural to pump mid swing or between shots and its takes a while to get it into your head. If you havent had a 3 shot before then an auto will give you best results but you need to spend reasonable money to get hassle free no jam results (or get lucky with the gun) You can get many top line pumps for half the price that will feed forever with no jams!

When I first fired a semi the biggest issue for me was the distraction of the shell being ejected! After I got over that it was a pain in the *** to clean it 'properly' All small issues though and other than these I love the easy light swing and very small recoil and they make excellent pigeon guns! My brother always makes the point that he shoot as well with his over and under clay gun and I almost never fire the 3rd shell but to be honest I like to own one of everything anyway as everything has its use!

Interesting. Its gonna be a rough shoot gun for me and I wanted 26" but they told me it only came in 28". Time for more research!

Be really interested to hear what you think when you use it in real life mate so be sure to report back! I havent actually ordered one so may have missed the boat but if you have good things to say I will probably do something about ordering one myself! How much did you pay if you dont mind me asking? I want the camo FAC verison 28" and have been quoted £780

Thinking of my permission and the lay of the land with good backstops I would have thought sub 200 yards with few exceptions!

I asked my Gunsmith to source me one of these last week in FAC flavour and was told there were 4 left in Belgium and I should order quick if I wanted one. By all accounts its a fantastic gun for the money. I think there is a glowing report for it in gunmart!! Ah here it is! http://gunmart.net/gun_review/browning_phoenix_topcote/

Doh!! Lots of good advice but creating more questions than answers!! :( Just checking my licence its says both .22rf and .17hmr to be used for vermin control so I guess that does cover me for foxes or do you have to specifically ask for foxes on your FAC? I mean I'm as sure as I can be that they dont licence you to shoot fox with a .22 so perhaps thats an oversight on there part!

Woahhhh!! Sounding complex now! I'm 12 months away from reloading my own stuff (house move) so small, simple, experience building is probably the level I am at. 223 or Hornet are the fron runners for me so far! Why cant I find new Hornets? Is that a slang for the calibre or a brand name?

I need to do more research but it was this kind of thought process I was going through! I want to do the job properly and humanely and whilst I'm not adverse to having a gun that is rarely used, I am a firm believer that you have to build up your experience with a gun to be fully competent! I'm on the Cheshire borders and atually covered by GMP. I dont suppose anyone knows for sure if GMP allow HMR for foxes or where I'm best going to find out other than calling them? I know you can take a fox with a .17 or even a .22 but I dont want to put them on notice I might do that by asking!

Cheers for that setup!!! He's obviously not a fan!!! Lol

It never occurred to me I would use mine in low light. I range in when I'm zeroing but then I have favourite shooting spots on my land so during daylight I have ranged various banks, bluffs and hedgerows and ballpark it from there. Having said that, I'm mainly bunny shooting and its kind predictable I guess!

Cheers Done.

Dont think your going to achieve that with a £200 range finder mate! I think your gonna need much better quality!

This one will ping off just about anything. Not like a tree branch at 150 yards but anything you can firmly fix on it will range accurately. In fact when the guy in the shop was showing me it was pinging a good 200 yards beyond what it said it did on the packet. Completely wasted on me to be honest as I dont shoot anything over 200 yards!

I'm not familar with Howa but I see at my local gunsmith you can almost custom build the rifle and there are some very interesting stocks to be had! I had 223 REM in my head but the Howa is a good looking gun. You finding it accurate and general solid? Any down sides to it?

I've got the older version of this one. It does what its supposed too and Ive always found it very accurate! http://www.guns.gb.com/redfield-range-find...50-17901-0.html Cock all use once the sun gets low but thats why you pay more than double for better makes

Thanks chaps. Food for thought!

I guess there might be various answers to this question but if you are used to shooting .17HMR and .22 and want something to 'legally' go after a fox with, whats the best option? I'm never likely to want to shoot anything bigger. The chance to shoot a fox is rare so ideally not looking to spend mega bucks and I dont want to go overkill with some monster calibre! Any thoughts or recommendations based on what you guys currently use?