Scully

Yep, segregated by adults. Tragic really.

5's or 6's through Full.

Have the Primos Power call on the recommendation of Steve b, and was astonished at the results. As he says, ignore the instructions on the packing and just listen to the calls. Mate was very sceptical at first but once I'd got the hang of it (took a couple of outings before I started getting it anywhere near) he was very impressed when we both looked up from the hide one time to realise two Jackdaws had skimmed over us and completely ignored our deeks. Gave them a few calls and I was as surprised as him when they turned from about 60 yds away and came back over. He got the left and I got the right. Amazing.

Good post.

Following on from one or two posts on here about percentages of ethnic races making up the greater percentage of pupils in British school, when I was growing up in this very rural part of Britain in the '70's, there were no incomers, and none of us had actually seen a black person in the flesh, never mind know or talked to one. The nearest we came to mixing with other races was a night out in the local Chinese takeaway 13 miles away. There are now kids of African origin in our primary and secondary school, there are Chinese (these were great as my son was in the same class as the owners of the local takeaway and birthday parties were great for bringing home 'doggie bags') Polish, and Indians. Their parents ALL have jobs, and their children are integrated with ours in school, but the point I would like to make is that their grandchildren will be as British as you or I regardless of their parents origins, wont they? I think it's brilliant; I really do, and I'm a UKIP supporter. On our recent hol's to Turkey my kids played beach volleyball and Boules nearly everyday with Turks, Russians, Iranians and Germans ( the Israelis wouldn't play, but sat on the beach in their suits! ) it was brilliant, the language problem was short-lived as everyone started cheating and no one was keeping score anyhow, but my kids had a great time. We also met another couple from Birmingham, of Asian origin, the woman of whom said in perfect English (with a Brummie accent) 'it's so nice to meet another English couple; there's only us here'. They regard themselves as English as you or I, and why wouldn't they; they are English. I think the integration of ALL races into our schools is very important; the reverse is where problems arise in my opinion. Chuck 'em all in together and let 'em get on with it. I think the shortcomings of immigration occur when different races refuse to integrate into mainstream society of that country. Having the right to worship the deity of your choice is perfectly fine, but when for example, Muslim schools are built for no other children but of Muslim faith, then the problems start. But we're still no better; we still have RC and C of E schools even in these rural parts. Agendas will occur of course, but I doubt ethnic minorities have the monopoly on these. I often wonder if the troubles in N.Ireland would have lasted as long if their children had been allowed to mix. Kids don't care who is what race or what colour; racism and ethnic hatred is cultivated by adults and indoctrinated into their children. No one is born a racist. Anyhow, I'm well off topic by now and have rambled far beyond the point I was trying to make, so apologies for that.

Gun manufacturers need 'trends' as much as any other business. Just shoot whatever you feel most comfortable with. When I choose a gun it's because I want that particular gun. There are several factors which could potentially put me off, but barrel length isn't one of them. I shoot with a 27", a 28" and a 32", but their respective lengths had absolutely nothing to do with my decision to buy them. Some RFD's will happily tell you a 28" barrelled gun is all you need if you show you're hesitant about it, but the same RFD will offer you less money for it as a trade in as '28" barrels aren't popular at the moment'.

Many thanks David. I can agree with many of the sentiments above, and appreciate it must be difficult at times as I imagine you must feel your hands are tied. Speaking to some on here I think a lot of frustration arises when evasive and noncommittal answers are given ; especially those of a political 'type' quoting party policy and little else, but like I say, I can understand why it happens as it leaves little scope for argument or interpretation, but much scope for speculation, which in turn causes frustration and annoyance. Anyhow, I do appreciate your presence, and many thanks again.

I have enjoyed reading some of his blogs.

Emotive topics, especially those some feel are unresolved, will of course resurface time after time. The lead shot issue and, as you mention, medical forms are as yet unresolved, and perfect examples of this, and BASC (among others) play the part of mediator in these issues. That is the role they wanted; they actively pursue our revenue with advertising of various ways in which they can protect our shooting and actively compete with each other for that revenue. I don't care about the insurance; I can buy insurance from BASC's underwriters cheaper than I can from BASC. I pay my shooting organisation (now the NGO) for results. Have you considered contacting the NGO, CA, CPSA, NPA, BFSS etc etc and ask if they'll put in an appearance on here? It would certainly liven things up. David doesn't have to come on here; he does it of his own free will. If some feel let down then they will complain, as we do about anything and everything in life, for example: GP not giving us the treatment we need; politicians not delivering on promises they made; someone selling us a shoddy bit of kit; poor teaching in school etc etc. There is a 42 page thread on this forum where BASC, and of course David ( as BASC's PW representative) in particular has been bashed over the period of that long thread, but I'm not aware of either you or Evo jumping to his defence on that thread.

Absolutely brilliant! A real gem. Thanks for that.

I thought this thread had mostly been a police bashing thread (and in particular Durham constabulary) rather than a BASC bashing one, so had a browse back through all six pages, and indeed it has been.

An 'all round shotgun' in my opinion would be a multi choked over and under 12 bore 'Sporter' with either 28" or 30" inch barrels. If it's JUST for clays and pigeons then I'd be equally happy with an auto, but it may not be welcome on a driven game shoot if you happened to get an invite, so as an 'all rounder', the O/U is the most versatile.

Spot on.

As far as I'm aware the 101 was never made with chambers less than 2 and 3/4", but many were made with 3" chambers, so yes, 70mm cartridges will be fine. Someone on here very recently posted a site for dating Winchester guns, but I have done a search and can't find it, sorry.

I sincerely hope he stays leader of Labour for may years to come. He is doing a great job.

Good for you, that's how it should be. When we start hiding, they've won.

Wow, thanks for that Phaedra. What a catalogue of events. It beggars belief that Durham didn't revoke, but also returned his firearms ! Little wonder they are acting as they now are. Incredible.

On a lighter note, a bloke I know well, at the age of 15, slipped and fell in his farmyard behind a tractor his Dad was reversing. His Dad, completely unaware he was there, reversed the tractor over his head. Apparently the ground was so soft his head was squashed into the ground and this is what saved his life. Nevertheless, he was in hospital for almost eight months and the entire school said prayers for him in assembly each morning for the entirety of his hospitalisation. He survived but never came back to school and has no recollection of the accident. His features were somewhat altered, but only apparent to those who knew what he looked like before the accident. He has his own business as a dry stone waller nowadays and recently married.

I was told by Mike Eveleigh that neither the BMA, ACPO nor our organisations could come to an agreement on who should pay for the GP's report so the HO decided not to stipulate it in new guidance, and so this is now why our licensing authorities request an applicant pays; because the new guidance doesn't say they can't. He also told me that a GP's report will, in the future, become the norm for any and all applications/renewals etc and that there is nothing our shooting organisations can do to prevent it. ACPO are pressing for this due to the Atherton case ( of which, he told me, his GP had knowledge of his alcohol filled abuse but didn't inform the police ) the case down South some years ago when a firearms owner shot his family, his horses, dogs etc before setting fire to his property and then shooting himself, and the fatal shooting of a police officer, the latter of which I have no knowledge of, and as it must have been carried out by a legitimate firearms owner, I couldn't think how I had missed it, and told him so. Nevertheless, those were the reasons he gave, and also added, amongst other things, that BASC were pushing for a 10 year certificate as a compromise in the hope this would go some way to placate shooters. Is this latter the 'more news' which it is hoped 'will be perfectly acceptable to shooters' ?

As safe as houses. Bear in mind though that even a steel proofed barrel will not withstand damage if the steel shot leaves the wad before the wad leaves the muzzle. Having a steel proofed gun is no guarantee the barrels wont be damaged by steel shot.