Wharf Rat

Why not download a free ballistics program and have a play with different calibres and power levels? .177 at 18/19ft-lbs is a useful rifle and is available as a springer, if that's your thing. .22 running at the mid-20s ft-lb wise can get the same trajectory as your .177 HFT or FT rifle and lets you shoot to well known holdover points. .22 at 30 or 40 odd ft-lbs is a whole different animal to a 12ft-lb rifle as Villaman says. .303 at 100 ft-lbs an eye opener too. Of course you could go the whole hog...

I have hunted with my CZ Slavia 630 before. The breech was so worn in 1988 when I bought it that you could deform pellets by loading them at an angle. The sights never quite lined up, but I learned to aim off slightly. The finish made it look like a skip diver had rejected it. Lord knows how old it is. I shot that extremely well for years. I rebuilt it a few years back and couldn't shoot it the way that I could when I did nothing else but shoot for six weeks school holidays, and for hours after getting home at 3.30 with hours of daylight. Funny that! I bought a new CZ Slavia 634 which I tuned, and now go out with that or my HW97K tuned by Venom with the single stage match trigger. The CZ is far easier on the back.

Mossberg did a bolt action with adjustable choke. The removable mag makes them section 1.

I seem to recall that Savage pumps were sold under more than one name? They were certainly on the cheap and neglect end of the spectrum.

I like the Franchi too, but if you want a gun for PSG, look into the extended mag options etc. There may not be too many go faster bits for them. Like Impala says, whatever you choose is great fun. Old modded Remmy 1100s still win events I am sure, and they make great rough shooting and pigeon guns. Beretta 300 series are very solid, and have been for about 40 years, as are A5s. Benellis are excellent in extended mag layout. We are spoiled for autos these days tbh. Try a few and see what you like. I had several autos and settled on a Mosberg 500 pump instead. Different class for PSG, but great for all types of shooting. I have even used it on local informal driven days after asking the shoot captain. Excellent in the hide. Great at clays. Low round count for serious PSG. Loads of options to play around with. The choke tube threads were a bit rough so I had them cleaned up and use extended Browning chokes instead of the cheap Mossy ones. If you are set on an auto, why not look at the Mossberg 930. A true all rounder.

I made some great 24g 20 bore cartridges with Longshot for pigeons. Its a great powder and gives good shot speed. Longshot can be used for 32g loads in 12 bore but its one expensive powder from memory. I got wonderful patterns using Red Dot, Green Dot and AS, with Red Dot going all the way from 21g to 32g. Red Dot would be my go to pigeon load powder.

Cheap springers are a good way to learn how to tune. Any springer benefits from a good internal polish, careful lube etc.

I prefer the Mossberg with a lifter tang extended an extra 1/4"ish. No jams on overhead shots with 2 1/2" carts and you don't get your thumb stuck in a lifter. The Franchi and the Remington were horrible to load fast, I preferred getting the hang of controlling the second cartridge and letting it push the first (most of the time)!

The Bill is horrendous. I wasted time writing to my MP, pointing out that in the case cited in the formation of the Bill, multiple existing laws had been broken. I also asked why a bill was being drawn up on a 'whatabout' basis, when the only definite result was the curtailment of law abiding persons rights. I received a reply that regurgitated statements already made, and which did nothing to engage with my concerns. Come election time, I still expect to see a picture of of said MP standing in a field with a wax jacket on stating that he is concerned with the countryside and fieldsports.

I use an FAC .22 PCP at around 24 ft-lbs. I do not use it all the time, but it is very useful when required. Don't dismiss springers though. A .177 HW80 at 19-20 ft-lbs is a handy bit of kit.

Get yourself over to Norwich HFT Club Harnser, you can safely test your accuracy out to 45 yards on targets with a kill zone equal to that of rabbits. They are a friendly bunch and it is not a bad morning out at all.

I take my HW passed 50 yards. If you can hit it, its sensible range. With the HW I can...

I have seen a couple of Greener trap guns in the UK, also a factory made Greener with a conventional rib. Several 2 1/2 chambered guns around.

If you want to play with the standard 'bike.' Raise the exhaust port 1mm, widen it so only far that the rings don't distort or catch and polish the port to death. Don't do the inlet as you need some swirl. Advance the ignition a gnats nadgers and see what she does. That K&N style filter in the pic will raise top speed but ruin acceleration, better to cut a larger hole in the airbox intake. Do all that and it may crack 35mph...

There are three models, so make sure that you order the right bits. I would also always change the cocking shoe on an old 77, they are a weak (compared to the general build quality of the rest of the gun!) spot, and are only about a tenner. The thread on the rear of the trigger mechanism goes for it, glue a nut in place rather than trying to re-thread if it has fretted. The cylinder was standardised to 26mm from 25mm. The serial number from which this occurred alters from source to source, so just get your calipers out. They are a great rifle. I inherited my MK II 77. It had been 'tuned' by an amateur. It survived to shoot well again and I expect my daughter to have mine. Good luck with yours mate. Look forward to seeing it on here.

No expert, but happy to help. Is your first question, 'How do I remove the bolt?'

PM sent scales.

What mag is your scope set at...

My absolute favourite HFT event all year. Lie in freezing mud in positions that a yoga expert would balk at and shoot (at) 10mm kill targets mounted in a wildly swinging treetop about 50 yards away. If you can keep a straight face shooting this event you are seriously strange. If you actually go year after year you are probably stranger... Well recommended.

I have an A Wright Lambsfoot rosewood handle knife. Poor fit on the liners to spine, very hard blade that holds a good edge, but expensive for the quality. The £6 from a show cheapy I have has a similar blade but terrible fit and finish. Had the Wright for years so I can't complain, not sure I would buy another, but doubt I will ever need to unless I loose it!

PM sent.

I have a pair of very large lensed aviator style glasses. The side protection on the arms is about £10 from e-bay. They look awful but they work well and cost less than £25 all in. For PSG and taking the boy to airsoft, I gave up on glasses and went with cheap disposable contacts and Bolle fog proof sealed safety specs or Nu-Prol mesh goggles. Far better in rain or when you get hot.

Cheers mate. The website says bait at Whittle Dean, but no shop at all when I arrived! In the end I went to Carleton Hill Fishery south of Carlisle. Brilliant shop, ace service, fresh bait and cheap day ticket. Bought a few pints of maggots so back to Whittle Dean Tomorrow. Thoroughly recommend Carleton if you fancy a ride out.

Anyone know of a decent tackle shop that does maggots within an hour of Hexham? Lovely coarse lake 20 minutes away and no bait. Cheers for any help.

My son has had a Yildiz 28 bore for the past few months. Seems like a well made thing for the money, nice fit and finish for certain. Looked at a Revo at the same time, it certainly looked like a cheaper gun complete with tooling marks and gaps. I couldn't comment on long term reliability though. I thought about the .410 version but since the 28 takes 14g to 28g loads it looked the better option; very light 2 1/2" .410 weight loads for clays and the lad learning to shoot, with the option of a full ounce load for game. the 24g loads he used rabbiting were certainly effective.