kippylawkid

Yes, I must admit that's my gut feeling. I'm curious if any PW members have experienced this.

Recently bought a brand new Browning Maxus. Initially very impressed with the gun, fits well and the recoil is hardly noticeable. However, I was shooting pigeons this weekend and on Saturday I was unable to fire the second shot on 3 occasions.. The cartridge recycles fine (32g No 5) but i couldn't fire the second shot. Went on Sunday and exactly the same thing happened, except more regularly. It is as if the safety was on. I double checked I wasn't inadvertently catching the safety but definitely wasn't. I cleared the gun and started again, only for the same problem to come back after 5 or 6 shots. Gun is spotless, only had a maximum of 300 shells through. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you remedy? As I say, I really like the gun but can't put up with this - particularly when pigeons are piling into the decoys! TIA

What a pic that is. Proper dogs.

I like the look of that! Thanks for the tip.

Thanks for the replies guys - I'm pleased others bought the Shooting Developments bags too. If packed correctly I can get 25 pigeons in one. I used to think nothing of carrying 3 full bags over a muddy plough - those days are gone now!

Thanks for the pointers gents. I think the gun fits me just fine - the poor shooting was lack of skill on my behalf! I'll stick with it though as the recoil was hardly noticeable and the gun points very nicely.

Looking for recommendations from the PW massive. My current game bags are very hard up and am looking to replace them. Many years ago I bought 3 green canvas bags from Shooting Developments (Fife) and they have proved to be great value. I'd like something similar without spending daft money. TIA

Great report again. The birds must be really set on the field when they have been shot at as much.

The syndicate I’m a member of has a long strip of mixed, mature hard and softwoods that currently borders a huge expanse of rape. Large numbers of pigeons had been building up over the past week and were using the hardwoods as sitty trees before feeding on the rape. The wind was right on Saturday so I took the opportunity to christen my new Maxus. (Purchased as I my Silver Pigeon was starting to knock me about with recoil on a decent day) The sport was top notch, with big packs of birds flighting the length of the tall trees. I shot moderately with the Maxus but killed enough high birds to make me keen to persevere with it - I particularly like the slim fore end and it points very nicely. Stan worked hard as ever and picked 32

Nice one lads! I thought you'd packed in for the fowling! Green eyed monster is back up North!

No need Motty, it's all cycles. We are usually a month or so behind you boys down south for harvest. I was the green eyed monster during July and August when you and Muncher were slaying them! He's a good pal of mine and lets me have run of the 3 farms our syndicate is located on. It's a massive perk for me as I know I can let fields build up without worrying another shooter gets there first. So yes, he does get repaid in pints of beer!

Sometimes it's like other areas and we are sparse for pigeons but It's one of those times of the year when pigeons are in abundance on my patch and I am spoilt for choice. I had intended shooting the stubble where I had a good day last Saturday but a call from the keeper on our syndicate put me onto a block of bean stubbles. I left it another day as the 20mph west wind was forecast to be perfect for the fields and so it proved. I started out at 11am with 20 dead bird carcases on cradles, a whirly and 2 flappers as the organic stubble was very dense with weeds and I needed to make the pattern stand out in such a large block of stubble. They came quietly to start but the fields are normally "afternoon" fields and between 2 and 4pm it was constant traffic. I shot moderately compared to my recent trips but the birds were testers in the strong wind. (That's what I think any way!) Stan worked hard again and we picked 140. Cracking days sport with hopefully another day to be had next week. If I'd shot the day before on a calm day I don't think I'd have made half that.

On Saturday I shot the stubble field that I had success flighting on Wed night during Hurricane Ali (Talk from the field). Having shot this field many times before, I knew the flighlines and set up in the middle of the field using 3 bales and nets with the wind behind me, and 12 dead birds on cradles and an FF5 flapper in the pattern. I shot my first bird at 1pm and they decoyed readily all afternoon. Stan did his stuff again and I picked 102. Hopeful of another day as there is plenty spill and the stubble is being left for a few weeks.

Cracking day. I agree with Matty on the lack of birds on bean stubbles. Usual banker fields here are devoid of activity. I still have 2 organic farms that won’t harvest for another 2 weeks to look forward to.

Cheers lads, still buzzing! Shooting the stubble tomorrow, quite hopeful.

I called off my lad's football training last night as Hurricane Ali was uprooting trees all over Northumberland, and I thought I'd take the opportunity to head out about 5pm. There's something special about being out in a storm. I thought I'd get a shot or 2 on a known flightline between a holding wood and a wheat stubble. The winds were exceptionally strong and were funnelling the birds directly along a dip in the land with a stream in the bottom, so I hid myself in there and waited. I was straight into action as 2 pigeons seemed to be stationary above me and I had them both down. I then had 2 hours of exhilarating sport. It ranged from fairly easy birds hedge hopping along the stream into the wind, to absolute screamers going with the wind to the stubble. These were similar what I would imagine driven grouse to be. I often just had to laugh as they were far too good for me, but I did manage to hit a good few. I had to dash back to the jeep for cartridges after an hour as I had only expected the odd shot. Stan my lab worked his socks off to pick 47.We had a proper mooch about tonight which resulted in a further 5 picked. Not the biggest bag but one that I hope I don't forget for a long time.

Brilliant. Enjoyed that.

You can see the fields from where you walked your dogs on the beach! ?

I have been out fairly regularly last 3 weeks but my area has had such a great volume of drilling in a short time that there is just too much choice for pigeons to make serious bags. Nevertheless I have had steady bags of 38, 42, 45 and 52 (along with a few single figure efforts, so I won't get a place in Muncher's England team!) On Sunday I saw a big lot of birds on 3 bean fields and the wind was funneling the line along a strip of firs in the centre of the fields. I set up on the downwind end of the strip with 12 dead birds on cradles and a magnet. The decoys stuck out like sore thumbs and the birds decoyed like a dream, a refreshing change from skittish birds skirting the pattern. I had great sport for 3 hours before they dried up around 5pm and I picked 73. The same farm has drilled 2 fields of peas for the first time in 25 years. I cut my pigeon teeth on pea fields grown on this farm many years ago, regularly making 100+ bags from drill to harvest. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they will provide similar sport.

Great persistence again. I feel your pain with the holiday lets. I currently have 2 fields with potential 100+ bags. I can't shoot one rape field as it's "near" a holiday cottage and another clover field that has lambs on and the farmer wants me to wait until they're fully bonded with the ewes. It's their train sets!

Yes he can certainly shoot. A dog would have given him more shooting time though, less disturbance too.

The lazy sod hasn’t bothered himself. Reckons it will be a few shots and they’ll move to next farm. He’s not hard core like us lads!

Pigeons thin on the ground in my bit of Northumberland at the minute - gorging on ivy and mostly leaving the rape alone. I'd spotted a few flighting to a hardwood strip in the middle of a big block of rape so decided to have a couple of hours this morning as it was forecast a decent wind. Just set up the rotary by itself and did pull a few. Picked up only 4 pigeons but also had over 1000 pinkfeet flight to a neighbouring field, 5 roe walk past me no more than 5 yards away, grey partridge calling in all the rape, countless small birds and numerous hares galloping around. Sometimes it doesn't really matter if you're pulling the trigger.

I enjoyed that, you are obviously an organised guy! I suspect many of us can only dream of a decoying session like that at the minute - unless they have maize strips to shoot. of course.

Great film. You made the shooting look very easy when I'm sure it wasn't.