badgerman

this summer i noticed a number of pigeons in very sorry states and i've never seen anything like it before. i'd be walking round where i live and on several occasions found a pigeon sat in the path not doing anything and looking pretty ill, i never inspected them but they did nothing to avoid me as i walked past them. a couple got up and then fell over sideways but they certainly couldn't fly and they were mature not young. first few times i thought they were just old and dying, but i must have seen a good few in this state and i don't know why that would be. any suggestions? BM

i was gonna say the same, looks perfect. i wants one of them. bM

this is the type of thing i could write several pages on so i'll stop now and just say i think its ******* outrageous. really gets to me that sort of thing. BM

yep loads of hares down here, don't really like to shoot them though. BM

great minds think alike are we now a crowd?

hello mate, welcome to the forum. suggest you fill in your personal details (where you're from etc) and you'll get more replies. you said you're from essex and although i haven't been personally i've heard good things about Essex Gun shop, i think Mungler (another member) might know about that. get yourself down there and they should be able to point you in the direction of a decent gun which fits, of course you won't really know til you start shooting but it's a good basis. good luck mate, all the best, BM

enjoyed that!

the escort's stock is ridiculously short apparently, even with extension pads on the back wouldn't be long enough for me. had a quick look at the franchi, looks pretty good to me, just wondering those of you who have one, what is the fore end like? is it quite thick in your hand or do u get on ok with it? can't really tell from the pictures. the action looks really long, is this the case or again are the photo's deceptive? any idea of stock length? cheers for all the info and help guys, much appreciated, gonna go have a look at some in the next couple of weeks, cheers, BM

enjoyed that

sounds good, how much did it cost if you don't mind me asking? BM ps, you should fill in your personal details mate

never tried it myself but i'd love to know how you get on, i live right near the sugar beet factory in suffolk and the fields are covered in the stuff round our way. never thought you could decoy over it though, as i say let us know how you do. cheers, BM

loving all these pics hubertus, scenery is stunning. BM

Well said Badgerman sounds like double standards to me. you cant one minute watch and think awh isnt that pigeon lovely and a beautiful bird and then go and shoot them dead you shoot them or u dont it's a shame it sounds like double standards to you, cos it aint!

one thing to consider is if you plan on doing much clay pigeon shooting, an advantage with some o/u's is they have a breaker between the top and bottom barrel, stops them getting so hot. obviously not the case on all o/u's at all, but you won't be able to get this with a sbs. not necessarily a decisions maker/breaker but might be something to consider. all the best, BM

cheers mike, and welcome to the forum mate BM

Have you the monday morning blues Badgerman? i amfraid this is something much deeper. BM

i want to be happy for you, i desperately do, but i just don't have it in me! it just looks fantastic, the scenery, the wildlife, and the camp you've got set up. absolutely perfect mate, fish look great too. one day maybe, one day.... BM

young airgunner, i shouldn't worry too much mate, you made a mistake and in my opinion some people have been a little harsh. if it were an adult making such a remark then certain comments would have been appropriate. however, taking your age and inexperience, (please don't take offence) into account i think it is more understandable. when you first enter shooting it can be quite exciting, but as has been said you must build up a respect for your quarry and appreciate the beauty of the animals we shoot. some comes with experience and some with age and like the other guys have said, if you're ever unsure just ask a more experienced shooter. All i can say mate is we all make mistakes and (hopefully) we all learn from them which is what you've done, so good luck to you. all the best, BM ps. with reference to your comment on how can you appreciate a pigeon in your garden then go and "cull" 50 birds in the field, this is the very difference between anti's and shooters in that that shooters can appreciate the beauty of nature and their quarry, but also recognise the neccessity to control populations such as pigeon, deer, rabbits etc.

how come you traded it in? i will look into the fabarm tho. cheers BM

since my original post asking for opinions on semi-auto's i have done a fair bit of research. i have now decided that it is in fact the way forward for me and will be my investment for the summer. however, here's where the celebrating stops, for i'm still at a loss! i reckon i've got it narrowed down, the beretta 303 for £300, or the a391 urika for £600? is the urika worth me putting an extra £300 into it? i've heard great things of the latter, but its really pushing my budget, would it make a good investment? i've used the 303 before briefly and remember the fore-end feeling quite thick and rather chunky, have i got that right? i'm a fan of beretta's and heard good things about their reliability, i see too few pigeons on too many occasions to be let down by reccurrent jamming. however, if anyone has had good experience with another make, i'm still open to suggestions, as i say price range really has to stop at £600 pretty much, all help appreciate guys, many thanks :yp: BM

where's these piccys then sam? :yp:

i'm still in hunters but no matter how many socks i put on in the winter, 20minutes after setting up the hide my feets are blocks of ice. i reckon if you can stretch to le chameau it could well be worth it, me old man has some as do all his mates and they love them, pricey but i reckon they last well. all the best, BM

pictures? BM

just a quick question, i remember someone not so long ago explained how some people can come up as anonymous users instead of just guests but i can't find the thread and i remember it was quite interesting so could anyone help me out with that? the reason i ask is becasue i'm on this site all day really and i never see anonymous users, but there were two on last night which made me think of the previous thread. don't worry i'm not starting a thread about anti's and our adresses or anything, just intrigued about how the guest/anonymous thing works. many thanks, BM