JJsDad

From the FAQ on the BASC website, answer to the question "Can I shoot over stubble ?" Yes. Defra’s general licences allow preventative action to be taken and there is no restriction on using decoys, shooting on stubbles, roost shooting etc.

20 bore shotguns can be prone to sluggish ejection as a result of fouling towards the front of the chamber. I would give the chamber a good scrub out with some solvent and a phos-bronze brush before running off seeking a re-fund. As already indicated, a change in cartridge may also cure the problem.

I needed one for my AL390 and bought mine from John Knibbs International. It clears the spring loaded detent that retains the end-cap. It was a very tight fit and needed a bit of work with a half-round file to get it to fit the end-cap properly.

This ! 👍

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. I am not sure if there is such a thing as a `best one`. If you want a lightweigt version with slim line motor, telescopic arms, a telescopic mounting system so the magnet can be raised up above standing crops, the prices creep up to around £160 - £170. I believe there are now versions with a remote where the magnet can be swtched off & on from 30 - 40 yards away. In my opinion they can get over used to the extent birds become wary of them. I am on my second one, as my basic version purchased from A1 Decoys about 7 or 8 years ago had fixed length arms which were a pain getting into / out of the car; in addition it was a fixed height model. I flogged that to a shooting mate and bought another (£55) that had telescopic arms and the height can also be adjusted. In the light I am always prepared to stop using it if birds seem wary of coming in, the top end spec ones at £160 seem a luxury I can do without. I have 3 bouncer poles that I use with `Hypa-Flaps` and providing there is a bit of breeze to get them going, I will often use them to provide some movement in the pattern rather than lugging a magnet and battery if I have a bit of a walk to get to my chosen position. A1 Decoy and UK Shoot Warehouse both do a good range, depends what you are prepared to spend and how often you intend using it.

The various models of Beretta tend to have a very good reliability record and tend to hold their value. Spares, even for the early models are readily obtainable in the UK, and if all else fails you can obtain them from Beretta eu on the web. I picked up a very good AL390 for £300 off Gun Trader from a private seller. I missed out on an Outlander that was also a private sale, that went within a couple of hours of being advertised. Left hookers are obtainable but you need to be quick off the mark if they are priced to sell. As Scarecrow243 has indicated, right side ejection from the left shoulder is in my view not the best way to go.

John Knibbs International (on the web) is the place for all things BSA.

This is a mirror image of my weather outlook. The Saturday down in this area was unbearable and it was feet up in front of the TV with two fans going. On Sunday the temp went down a bit and a breeze picked up. Two of us sat out on a soya field from 3-00 pm till 7-30 that has been well hammered over the last few weeks. We managed 15 picked, with another 3 down in an adjacent barley field that we left as we didnt take our dogs. It was worth the trip as it gave us chance to pin-point flight lines and the areas they are using for our next visit. The highlight of the day was a Peregrine who came stooging past and was evidently attracted to my bouncer mounted hypa-flap, I thought on one pass he was going to stoop on it but its lack of forward movement evidently spooked him and he glided off.

They were primarily earmarked for artic use, but we had them for jungle use in the far east, due to the number of `blown` flash eliminators as a result muck, mud or other debris getting in. They were supposed to be secured to the rifle using a short lanyard, this never got used due to it catching every branch or plant you walked past. As Tightchoke indicated above, they were made from a black rubber type compound. Ignore the Durex stories, we needed them for other pursuits !

If `your day` refers to the 7.62mm LiA1 (SLR), they did !

I am just up the A2 near Meopham. However, I think you are going to have to do a bit of phoning around. Most NHS practices are pretty well subscribed and tend to have catchment areas based on your post code. If you fall outside their catchment area it is highly unlikely they will not take you on. You can avoid the practice at the village of Shorne; that is part of the practice that do not respond to Police requests for info and will not produce or sign letters. If you get totally stuck PM me. I will let you have details of the private practice in Chatham who will produce the necessary, but at a cost. You need to establish which surgey`s cover your new post code and then contact the Practice Manager to see what their policy is.

No, they are not obliged to. My current NHS practice that I have used for the past 28 years have an internal policy of not responding to Police requests and will not sign or provide letters. My choice was to obtain a print of my records under the FOI act and attend a consultation at a private Non-NHS) practice. The fee was £85 for the consultation plus £30 for the letter. I am in the process of transfering to another NHS practice, who will produce the required letter for £25.

It is a letter. Drafted and signed by your GP. The Kent Police firearms dept have a sample letter on their website. I should think most forces have a sample so that the GP knows what he is checking for when going through medical records. The letter must state the applicant is free from things like depression, mood swings, alcohol & drugs abuse etc etc.

Ridiculous it may be, but this self imposed rule by Chief Constables is spreading & totally unchecked by the Home Office (HO). My complaint to Kent Police about exceeding the HO guidelines was met by the glib response, "The Home Office Guidlines are exactly that. Guidlines only"

Correct ! Totally mind boggling in its stupidity; but that is the result of letting Chief Constables introduce their own laws as they go along. When I complained, Kent Police actually recommended the private practice !!!! Could it possibly be that someone on the police side is getting a little backhander for recommending that particular practice !!!! No, cant believe I even suggested that; our Police wouldnt do such a thing, or would they ?

Other forces may differ, however there are now a number of forces who will not accept a medical record print out. Kent Police state provide a sample letter showing what the GP needs to confirm and state categorically: "No letter, no renewal or initial issue of licence".

By independant, I assume you mean a non-NHS practice. I had one recommended by my FEO no less ! They will provide the required letter, but I would be required to provide a print out of my medical records supplied under the FOI act from my GPs surgery then attend a consultaion at a cost of £85. There was then an `admin` charge of £30 for producing the necessary letter. If someone local to you cant recommend one, you could try your FEO because he will undoubtedly know of one in your area. My option after phoning around was to change GPs practice. I am currently going through the process. Not something I particularly wanted to do, but I resent the £115 fee of going private to obtain the necessary letter. The new NHS practice charge £25 for the required letter.

I think I would find out the cost of a decent quality, suitable boot when you get there. On a trip to the US I saved over £60 on a pair of Rocky gortex lined boots. Bought them at a Bass Pro store for approx £72. When I got back home I checked around and found the best UK price for the same boots was through Uttings at £135. Dont know if Canada is the same, but worth finding out before squandering your hard earned.

Now there is a sensible and logical summary !

Interesting that the first `high Pheasant` was killed using a ladies specially developed skeet load, his shooting then went to pot and poor old Eley get the blame. Sounds like a case of bad workmen and their tools !

Well, this young lady seems to get on with them ok - Amber Hill - 2016 Olympian and World Champion Skeet shooter !

Just seen it on the web. The keeper (Ben Andrew Wilson) got 7 years and the other idiot 2 years.

I dont think its made much difference. A pal and I have been out 5 times now on a large field of soya with very mixed results since the first Pigeon licence was issued. They seem to have vacated it during the day, but return to top themselves up from about 4-30 pm onward. Not huge numbers, but enough for us to keep turning out. Stopped taking the magnet after our second trip, as it seemed to spook them when they were just out of range. Put 2 hypa flaps out, one on a bouncer and one on 1 ft high post made from a converted bivvy stick, and this seemed to do the business.

This seems to suggest that where the Police have a letter or documentation from a GP indicating that the applicant does not suffer from any ailment that is likely to bar him from having a firearm; where a licence was then issued and a subsequent offence was committed, the Police would then lay the blame at the GPs door. Little wonder that some GPs refuse to provide letters or respond to Police requests.

There has already quite a few comments on this subject under the post: `Rules for the many, not the few`. A number of forces have already adopted this policy, and it is evident that others will follow suit. Where you are registered with an NHS practice who will provide the required documentation, no problem, other than the cost. However, if the practice refuses to reply to the Police or provide a letter you can find yourself trapped between a rock & a hard place.