Carson

I took the HMR out for some target shooting yesterday an put some 70 odd rounds through it. On 3 occasions I experienced a slight hang-fire where the round went off around 1/2 second later than the firing pin striking. Having never experienced this before with my rifle I inspected the ammunition to see if I could spot anything obvious that might be a cause. The 3 rounds that hang-fired and 3 others all had a split down one side of the neck of the casing. By the way, the ammunition in question is Remmington 17Grain Accutip. Here is a pic of the split im talking about Can anyone explain whats going on?

Its been a week or so since I started this thread, and since then I have saved myself a lot of money and hassle and made a new firing pin. So for the sake of those that have or may ever have a similar issue to me, this is what I did... Bought a length of Silver Steel for £6 (the closest equivalent we have in the UK to Drill Rod in the US). I've actually got enough steel to make another 2 firing pins if I really need to!!! Using a hobby lathe, turned the steel to make a new firing pin. Took about 5-6 hours to make but could have been done in half that time if I wasn't so paranoid about screwing it up and having to start over! (Metal this hard and this thin is rather trick to work with!) Here you can see the original firing pin with its broken tip and the almost finished shiny new one. (They look different sizes but I assure you they are not!) The final thing was to heat treat the steel. Since silver steel is naturally a very hard tool steel, I probably could have left it in an untreated state and it would have worked fine; But being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted to be 100% certain the new firing pin was as tough as it could be and I would never have to make another. The steel was heated up to a dull red to medium-bright orange with an oxy-acetylene torch and then quickly quenched in oil (Hardening). It was then cleaned up with a scourer before being heated up evenly just to the point where the steel turned a blue colour and then left to cool gradually (Tempering). The result of all this hard work, one working firing pin costing no more than £6 and a few hours work....Result!!! Time will tell how long this firing pin will last but if it ever fails, I still have the rest of the steel to make another one.

No, i never dry fire it. I've always been well aware of the consequences of letting a firing pin strike forward without hitting anything as it puts abnormal stress on the firing pin that its not designed for. I do have access to a lathe so this is an option, problem is i'm missing the bit that's broken off so I have no means of knowing how long the firing pin should be. Unless anyone can give me this at all??? I believe it is an exact copy of the benelli firing pin, the ones i linked too look absolutely identical to the one in my franchi. I may try and source one through a gun shop or gunsmiths first and see whats what, failing that I'll make one.

So I went out with the shotgun today, loaded some cartridges and eventually went to take a shot...pulled the trigger and ......click, nothing :( After a quick field disassembly I discovered that the tip of the firing pin was missing. No idea when or how it broke as im sure it was intact when i last cleaned it. Either way, I need a new firing pin but I have no idea how to go about getting one. Has anyone had this happen to them? If so, can I just purchase a new firing pin or do i have to get a gunsmith to get one for me? I've found a couple of places with what i believe is the correct firing pin (since the Franchi uses Benelli's inertia system)... http://www.midwayuk.com/Benelli-Firing-Pin-Super-Black-Eagle-II-M1-M2-Montefeltro-12-Gauge-Montefeltro-20-Gauge http://www.brownells.com/shotgun-parts/bolt-parts/firing-pin-parts/firing-pins/firing-pin-after-s-n-m104801-sku301000048-6200-15326.aspx http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/60180

Put the application in the post today, and given the references their forms, etc so they should both be in the post shortly also....fingers crossed i've not forgotten anything and everything works nicely. Thanks for all of your help with the application, hope i get everything I've asked for Now need to buy a safe for the ammo, does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking of getting one of these: http://www.screwfix.com/p/security-safe-16-3ltr/70942?source=aw&awc=1228_1378164649_10ffdb824821175d1c142bfacd612edc&cm_mmc=AffiliateWindow-_-DeepLink-_-Na-_-Na#aid#85386 Im keeping an eye out for a decent second hand break down brattonsound shotgun cabinet near me, then I can just put shelves in it for all of the ammo, bolts, etc... Shouldn't ever run out of space with one of those!!

Thats a very good point and something I hadn't thought about actually, better still I'd say thats applicable to the land I have permission on also. Think i'll fill out the remainder of the paperwork this evening including the photo and get it all sent off then. Thank you all for your help, fingers crossed I get everything and it's a nice smooth process.

Thank you, I shall speak to him and look at getting a signed letter of permission. Might be tricky right this minute as the old Freelander is off the road due to engine problems at the moment but should be able to get one prior to his visit if you think that will sufice? As far as expanding ammunition goes, would I just put something like this? .17 HMR Expanding - 600 keep - 500 buy .22 LR Expanding - 600 keep - 500 buy

Thank you all for your input, I really do appreciate it!! I often forget what I great community this forum is I think I will put down both caliber's on the application then, along with a separate line for the 2 moderators. Would you say a good justification for needing both caliber's would be: .17 HMR - Longer range daytime pest control rifle. .22 LR - Short range and almost silent night time rifle using sub sonic rounds so as not to disturb the neighbors when out lamping. Am i right in thinking that if anything on the application is not clear enough for the FLO (Land, reasoning, etc), that they will ask for more information when they visit me? Do I also need to provide signed proof of permission or will they ring the farmer and ask them to confirm that I have permission? Finally, does anyone know how strict or otherwise Cambridgeshire FLO's based in Huntingdon are? Many thanks again and apologies for all the questions, there is a lot to think about.

Firstly, I apologise as this has probably been asked many times before and whilst I have done a lot of research and read up on a lot of guides, opinions, etc I have not been able to get enough advise I believe I need to fill out the application. I'm a current SGC holder with approx 1500 acres of permission split over 3 locations (all owned by the same farmer who conveniently is my father's best friend). I have been mulling over the idea of getting a rifle for quite some time as its something I have always been keen to take up since shooting with the Air cadets many many years ago!! Just a few days ago I discussed the possibility of getting a rifle and using it on his land which he was absolutely fine with and has kind said get rid of as many rabbits as you can. I'm currently in the process of filling out my FAC application and need some guidance as a first time FAC application. My questions are as follows: How would I designate where I have obtained permission to shoot since there is very little space on the application and I have 3 areas of the farm (each a few miles apart) to put down? I've created a word document with a Map on it and pins marking the locations of the 3 areas, and then 3 more detailed maps showing the borders of each permission. Would this be ok if I attach it to the application and if so, what would I put down in the 'Where' box? I'm keen to get a moderated .17 HMR due to its extremely flat tradjectory and long range capability (there are quite a lot of large open fields in the areas I have permission and also a few foxes too) but I also like the idea of a cheaper (ammo mostly), quieter and shorter range moderated .22LR but a colleague at work who has receltly applied for a FAC for deer and foxes says he doesn't think I will be able to justify putting down both a .22LR and .17 HMR for shooting rabbits. I'll almost certainly end up buying a .17 HMR first and then a year or two down the line, buy a .22LR. What would you suggest I do? Would I be able to get away with both? And is there a chane I would get declined a license if they weren't happy with this? With the above calibres in mind (assuming I can get both on the license) what quantity of ammo would you suggest i get? Many big thanks in advance for any help on this, I really appreciate it! (This is much more complicated than a SGC!!!)

Signed, what a stupid and uninformed decision WHSmith decided to make!!!

Thanks everyone! I've decided to take the plunge and buy it. Fingers crossed it'll do what I want it to...Well its certainly got to be better than not recording anything at all anyway!

I've come across this book online but it seems like quite a lot. What do the pages look like? and is it worth the money?

Hi everyone, I'm trying to find myself a decent journal/diary for me to keep a log of all of my outings in. I'd like to record things like; date, time, location, weather conditions, bag and anything else I might need to log. I dont want a plain bank a5 book as i like things to be organised and i dont want to have to "template" each page to ensure consistency. Does anyone know of or has come across a book or method of recording their shoot days they could recommend? (I mainly do Pigeon shooting, but also lamping, a bit of wildfowling when i get the chance). Thanks in advance!

For those with an Android phone (though the specific location of the option differs with make and model) you need to do the following: Open up the Camera app Enter the settings menu. (On my phone its a cog icon on screen). In the options avaialble, look for the 'Geo-tag photos' option and make sure it is unticked. (This option may well be under another option, for example mine is under 'Camera options' in my settings menu. Personally, I prefer to leave the Geo-tagging of photos on. Why? Because I take photos of my decoy pattern, hide and a few throuhgout the day as a record on the conditions, pattern and bag. I can then look back through my photos and know where and when I did something that worked wonders and perhaps when I didn't.

Off the top of my head, about 300 hours. Lol, and the rest!!! Yea, was a bit surprised to say the least, hardly much to ask given the cost. Maybe I'll get a complimentary packed as an apology for forgetting the batteries.....Well, here's hoping anyway.

I've ordered 10 packs for £15 anyway, but will be contacting my hearing centre to try and get some anyway, especially given i should have got some with it.

Correct. I beleive they are designed as a backup for the electronic modules. Obviously you'd want to go with the electronic modules as much as possible, but if the batteries died in the field and you didn't have any spare, then the idea is you fit these. To swap them about, all you have to do is carefully pull out the modules. They're a pretty snug fit and kind of snap into place into their special slot. Here are both modules and an empty ear mold:

Yep, the hats nice but id prefer batteries...typical, lol! The white box is the passive modules. Wasn't expecting to get passive modules so i guess it makes up for the lack of batteries.

So after 3 weeks of waiting, my CENS Proflex+ 2 hearing protection has arrived, happy days!! I was expecting to get a set of batteries with them, but for some reason none came with them. Not so good given the cost Either way though, I've put them in without batteries in them to try the fit and see how comfortable they are. Very impressed indeed!!! Extremely comfortable and can't wait to give them a try later this week once I have some batteries.

They are a tad expensive, but I got mine in a bundle with the Ontario jacket and cap for £300 so worked out cheaper in reality. Either way, they are still VERY good trousers!

Being in the IT profession, I stumbled across a way of being able to save/capture very large zoomed in maps (larger and more detailed than what Google, Bing or OS normally allow you to print). By tricking the Google, Bing or OS map website into thinking its displaying on a HUGE internet browser instead of a small screen, you can get large scale A0 size maps fully zoomed in. Its a little hard to explain exactly how it works unless you understand the basics of Web page programming/coding, but you use whats called an iFrame set to the size of a map you want. So say I wanted an A1 sized map... A1 paper in landscape is 841mm x 594mm or 33.1" x 23.4", so... For prints at 150ppi, we set the iFrame to 4965 pixels by 3510 pixels; and for prints at 300ppi then we set the iFrame to 9930 pixels by 7020 pixels. (The same principal applies to all sizes of paper). We then set the iFrames source property to the home page of whatever mapping system we want, so we end up with something like this for Bing maps in landscape A1: <html> <head> </head> <body> <iframe src="http://www.bing.com/maps/" width="4965" height="3510"></iframe> </body> </html> This code is then saved as a plain text file using something like notepad on Windows and called, whatever.html...the .html bit being the most important! We can then open the large scale maps in a normal smaller web browser and use web page screenshot plugins (FireShot plugin for FireFox for exampele) to capture and save the full map.

I've got a pair of Harkila Ontario trousers which are fantastic! They're slightly insulated so get a bit too warm on hot days, but otherwise amazing trousers...Very comfortable, windproof and certainly waterproof!

With my audiologist appointment tomorrow afternoon, and a number of the comments people have left on here. I have pretty much decided on a selection of colour's to go with. I believe the Green and Blue modules are somewhat darker in real life, can anyone confirm this when compared to the picture? Would anyone advise against any of the colour's above? (For whatever reason).

Oooh, choices choices.... Still wondering whether subtle/minimalistic is the way to go or whether I go for something quite loud. @Dominicrobed, will PM you my email... Would love to see what Black and black look like!!

Hi all, I will be seeing an audiologist in a few days time on Friday to have some impressions taken and order myself a pair of CENS Proflex 2 hearing protection. For those that already have the CENS, what colours did you end up going with? I'm really struggling to decide on the best combination of colours!! :look: I know the website has a colour gallery but its very hard to get a lifelike representation of how they actually look, so if anyone has any photos of theirs I could have a nose at I would be very grateful!