gazzer

looks great MM....im gonna be spraying mine matt black when the conversion is complete...altho i do like nthe nato green in matt..im gettin my vitara (exactly same as yours) converted to pick up as we speak...all chequer plated linings,panels boot etc...even gonna build in a gun safe and cartridge store boxes.....how much did thew paint cost ya mate??

hi thanks for the reply.....i had lots of work originally but what im saying is that it has dried up around here...the folk i went ratting with (around 4-8 people with dogs) we had a lot of land between us...most have been ratting for years with very good dogs...my dog seemed to be doing great then the invites for the ratting just stopped...not my fault or my dogs....to keep him active i tried to take him along shooting..gradually introducing him to the game and the noise...he wont even go near a gun..soon as its out the cabinet he's back in his bed....just doesnt like the noise..what im saying is now,i got him for ratting,thats what he enjoys,and id rather him do that...its just not happening around here...most farms are immaculate and a lot of work is involved all day long for a very small handfull of rat.....a lot of our local farms now leave bait/poison down so its off limits.i didnt get my dog for a pet which is whats gonna happen if he doesnt work......i am merely wanting whats best for my dog..not taking any easy options hence me asking advice here. As for money..i know how much it costs to keep a dog...i have ample supply of quality food,treatments,worming tabs etc etc...and now have a top quality kennel...i set aside money in my budget for my dogs so its not an issue....realistically...time is my biggest issue...when i shoot my woods or farmland i can be up there for 5am....hunt til late morning and still carry on with work etc after....my concern with a new pup is the time it takes to train and bring on.....i am making sure i get it right by asking advice..i have made mistakes like everyone else but dont wish to make anymore....i will happily pay the right money for the right dog...but i dont have an abundance of cash to wave about...i am really putting the feelers out there to see whats what....i have owned dogs most my life but not a gundog.....anyhow..i appreciate your reply and get where your coming from.

Hi folks.....i am fortunate enough now to have a fair amount of land to shoot on..lots of woodland and a 500 acre farm with lots of hedgerows....i have a plummer terrier that i bought for ratting but as daft as it sounds there just isnt any quality ratting around here anymore..farmers are always saying they have loads but when you get there mob handed with pack of dogs,smokers etc theres the odd one...i feel my terrier isnt getting the work he craves....as does happen i have naturally moved on to rough shoots and pigeon shooting...i have tried to use my plummer as much as poss for flushing but hes just not getting it and i dont have the time to train him......now....i have managed to talk the missus around as she has refused to allow me another dog..but i now have a huge kennel being given me by a friend to house a new dog....i would really like a spaniel,pref ESS ...the missus as i said has come round to the idea but i really dont have any serious money to spend.....now....here is my dialemma...........i am aware for a quality dog that i will have to pay decent money....but its been mentioned to me that some dog owners/breeder may have a similar problem and want a swap for a ratting dog.....to me this seems a little unfair on my dog (he near 3 yrs old now)..however i would prefer him to do what he likes best....i cant take him shooting with me as he becomes a pain,doesnt like the noise etc.....but i need a gundog.....what do you experts advise??........would a swap be a decent thing to do??.....also...if i was to buy a spaniel....bearing in mind i have limited time to train....should i buy a pup or one thats partially trained to flush/retrieve???.....if so, how much should i expect to pay.....any sensible advice will be greatly appreciated...thanks guys.

ok thanks dougall.that was kinda my thinking too...semiautolee on this forum has kindly offeredn me the number of a reliable gunsmith although im on a very tight budget (stoneybroke) so i think the extra carraige up north may just slow the process down and cost too much....ill nip it into the local gunsmith see what they say..i have a 12g on trial as of midweek so will use that until i can afford a proper inspection/repair of my old 20g...better safe than sorry i guess...thanks again for all your advice guys.

Im in the process of converting mine into a pickup..looking awesome at the mo....i got ran off the road in mine and beat it up pretty bad...ended up on my side with buckled wheels,no bumpers etc....got it dragged home...let it rest a couple days,key in and bang...always starts 1st time,totally reliable,cheap insurance,not too bad on fuel..considering what the car has been thru it just never ceases.....get some good all terrain tyres,whip the back seats and belts out (lot of weight in these) and away ya go....i would recommend a regular service as they are old engines,...you will probably find they tick over loud and fast on startup..this is just the automatic choke..it will rev at upto 2000 in idle then drop drop down to normal in 5 mins...always warm the engine up in the morning especially in winter..always leave mine running for 5 mins before driving off.enjoy it mate....look after it and it will last you a lifetime.

thanks guys..im guessing from the response and the fact that you are also still alive that this problem isnt exactly life threatening???

hahah..bit slow on that one.

deepheat???

we have one for sale m8 if your interested..although you in stafford (just noticed) a bit far away..we have the td4 in green on a 53/54 plate..mint inside and out...lots of work been done,runs like a dream ,low milage and reliable,great in the snow but missus is downsizing now to my old saab convertable....you are a fair distance away but more than free to view and test drive.worth 5 grand all day long but we want 4 for a quick sell.

thanks TJ...i only pull with my index finger,the others sit under the trigger guard...hence my confidence that im not hitting both trigger..i would really have to hook my index finger around to clip the back trigger..if that makes sense.

Hi folks....i am relatively new to shooting...well..on my own anyhow.I was handed down a lovely old joseph defourny 20g sxs belgium game gun.......its the only gun i use and although im not the best shot with it its very comfortable for rough shoots and i use it for over decoys for pigeon.I went for my 1st lesson at the clay shooting range and took said gun...the instructor was watching over me...on the 5th or 6th shot the gun jolted near out of my hands...he stopped me and took the gun and showed me that both cartridges have gone at same time....i was confident i didnt hit both triggers at the same time but he said i must have....anyway it hasnt happened again until last week...whilst in the hide..the gun works fine and then just randomly fired both again..gives one hell of a kick when it does....after wards it was fine again.....its totally confusing me....do you think it is actually me just clipping the back trigger or maybe an intermittant fault with the gun...i was considering getting it checked out but dont have much money free due to an extortionate mortgage and a moaning missus....i dont want to use an unsafe gun...it was last serviced around 5 yrs ago but not used much since....i clean the pipes after every use,and have greased the breaks etc..any help or advice will be appreciated folks.

Thanks Kermit thats a great help ...think i paid roughly just over 300 for it thinking i only needed the throwing arm so at least i didnt get ripped off then.?

hi guys...aquired a dtl base for clay traps at the last dorset game/countryfair...all working....no makers name etc just base and motors..just want to make sure i didnt get ripped off price wise as i am new to clay pigeon shooting i actually thought i was buying entire trap...naive i know....any one got idea of rough value?thanks guys.

love the little suzuki there.....i recently got ran off the road in my vitara by some doughnut using his phone came straight at me....anyway...stuck it my mates workshop for a few repairs etc and he decided we should convert it into a pick up....still a way to go yet but its taking shape now..the roll frame is place and the back has been cut out....soon be time to start the chequer plating..cant wait...once i find out how ill put the progress update photos here if anyones interested.

me too Budice....where to?..and thanks for the warm welcome folks.

hi, thanks....im near bath but out in the sticks.

hi folks....gary from the southwest here just signing and introducing myself.....been shooting a lot lately and have found myself naturally drawn to pigeon shooting....i have a 500 acre farm and nice fair chunk of woodland to shoot on....the woods are full of pigeon but the farm is a tough nut to crack...i consider myself a novice altho ive been shooting on and off for most my life..only now have i took it really seriously..i have a 20g belgium game gun..plenty decoys and cammo netting and am trying to learn my way into this fustrating sport...hopefully get to know many of you and pick up some very helpful hints/tips.....cheers folks.