Wagtail

Thanks again all, there's been a bit of a delay in so much that the wife fell in a ditch walking the dogs and badly broke her wrist so it's going to have to take a back seat for a day or two but thanks for your suggestions hopefully I'll be able to get on the case this weekend and will let you know how I get on

Thanks for all your replys folks, really very much appreciated I'll get on to it this afternoon and let you know how I get on

Thanks for that I will thank you Quite possibly the ejector is on the right hand side of the bolt I'll try to get one tomorrow thanks Thanks for you advice so far please keep them coming

Hi Al l'm after an ejector spring for a .410 Sportsman (the 3 shot version) which I am told is different to one for the more common single shot if anyone can help please? Happy to pay reasonable price thanks. Rich

Hi All I'm hoping one of you fine folks may be able to help me please? I have a Webley & Scott Sportsman the 3 shot version of the old single shot bolt action. It has stopped ejecting and was returned from the gunsmiths today with a verdict of a broken ejector spring (the small spring which sits in behind the ejector pin). As new parts are long gone the solution offered was to manufacture one but at a cost of £100 plus at which it was righty suggested wasn't worth it given the value of the gun. They suggested I try to get hold of an old 'scrap' gun to cannibalise the part. I was told it would need to be one from a sportsman . Would anyone know where I may try to get a hold of one or a spring please?

I just got one last week and have to say that first impressions are very good. Well put together and feels solid. Actually very accurate over the iron sights!. It came with a horrendous scope which I gave to my 11 year old to play with and I've just got a 3-9 x 40 which I haven't got to try it yet. Being gas ram it's very smooth to shoot and the trigger is a world on from gamo triggers of old. I bought this because it popped up at a bargain price and I couldn't not buy it for the money, but I've also got a Stoeger X20S which is a very capable springer. I fitted a Charlie da Tuner trigger upgrade and it now shoots very well so may also be worth a look. In my humble opinion both are often underrated and offer brilliant value for the money.

It's a personal choice and semis won't be for everyone. It does wind me up that people look down their noses at them but at the end of the day a gun's a gun and a good shooter will hit with a cheap old semi what a bad one would miss with the finest Purdey. I used semi auto weapons for nine years in the army so when looking for my first shotgun a semi auto was an instinctive choice. I also own both an O/U and a SBS but prefer the semi but that's just me. I take on board your points around picking up empties (nine years on military ranges makes that instinctive too) and agree that more people could invest in a safety flag, I use mine religiously! As for using them on clays at the end of the day you need to be competent and safe with what you're using in the field and that's what I though clay grounds were for. At the end of the day in my opinion (and I'm not saying this is the case here) it often comes down to snobbery.

I started my collection with a brand new Hatsan Escort. I use it for pigeons and clays and it's never missed a beat. Can't understand some peoples issues around semi autos and it does wind me up that some people look down their noses at them. Being ex military I'm more than comfortable with them and it was my first choice when I looked to buy my first shotgun. Easy reloads and three shots what's not to like? I also own an over and under, side by side and a .410 bolt action but still use the Hatsan as a first choice on most outings.

I've only got a shotgun licence but there were .22 rifles going for considerably less than the value of the scopes on them yet air rifles were going for daft money? Does anyone know of any other auctions in the Hant's, Wilts, Dorset area?

They're more than welcome there's always a couple at the auctions . Have to say there's a place for everyone. I've always been on a tight budget for my shooting (ask the wife!!!) although I did buy my Hatsan brand new from Avalon Guns who were very keenly priced and gave first class service but at those prices £80 for an O/U who wouldn't?

A version of this popped up in a mates pics and couple of former colleagues who used the Sig 552 commando as pmc contractors in Iraq said they loved it, reliable, easy to shoot and proved to be popular with those using it. If it's good enough for work I've no doubt it's up to sorting out bunnies. as has been said it is a Sig, definitely different and looks good too

Had my first outing this morning with my Mirocchi O/U 12 bore (on clays) bought for the princely sum of £80 at Netherhampton sporting goods auction (Salisbury)last weekend. It's 27.5" barrels, single trigger and an ejector in good overall condition with good woodwork and clean bores. Even allowing for the fact it had me behind it, it shot well enough for me to know that those missed were down to me not the gun. The last gun I bought there was a Spanish box lock sbs for £25 which everyone that's shot it says is a great little gun so overall two cracking bargains. Neither expensive guns in the first place I know but they both seem to perform well enough so no moans. So to my question do you need to spend a lot for a reasonable / good gun and what's the cheapest gun in your collection?

Seems so, I just find the 28" too long for me (I'm a short ****) but thanks anyway

Hi All I'm after a spare 24" barrel for a 12 bore Hatsan Escort, if anyone has or knows of one please get in touch thanks. WT

I'm still using the original oil from my SA80 cleaning kit I forgot to hand back when I left the army 19 years ago and haven't had a stoppage yet lol

I've got a couple of Buffalo River gun slips. They come in various shapes (scoped / non scoped) and sizes from 44 - 52". They're relitively cheap (on Amazon from £14.99) but offer very good protection, are very well made and in my oprinion very good value for money. I use them for my scoped air rifle and my shotguns and have been very happy http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_gnr_fkmr0?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abuffalo+river+gun&keywords=buffalo+river+gun&ie=UTF8&qid=1373384601

Following on from a post on here some time ago I asked for a number for a local Hampshire / Dorset gunsmith and Chrispti kindly passed on Geoff Wilshire's mobile number. After what seems like an age I was finally able to get over and see him this morning and get him to look at my .410 Webley & Scott Sportsman. the problem was that it was not retaining the two cartridges in the internal magazine and was then miss-feeding them so that they flew out the top rather than into the chamber. Geoff looked at it there and then and quickly identified a loose internal retaining screw as the culprit, five minutes later and it was functioning perfectly, a simple fix but one I was unaware of. On asking how much he said that it was a simple job and was on him, an absolute gent! I'll definitely use him again and can highly recommend his services so thanks to Chrispti

As has already been said, the reality is not only would many not want to be armed but I have to agree that many should not be armed for a number of reasons even if because some can't be trusted with a baton never mind a Glock? Seriously though the current apptitude and selection tests are pretty riguorous and in order to issue firearms on a wider basis it would either result in a two tier police service of 'those who can and thoses who can't' (which would result in all kind of internal problems - trust me), or lowering the standards which can't be good thing can it? On the armed forces - While I certainly do not advocate the routine arming of service men and women off duty it wasn't so long ago that every soldier in a certain part of the UK did carry a PPW (personal protection weapon) 24/7 whether on duty, mowing the lawn at home or out shopping with the wife and kids, on occasions I did the same. I understand this still to be the case in some circumstances and I have to say there were very few instances of (reported) abuse or misuse over there. That having been said in mainland UK given the severe post tour stress some of our service personnel are contending with I think the toys should remain firmly in the armoury. On armed civillians - I won't even go there the fact anyone with a FAC or SC would even consider turning themself in to a part time AFO it is frankly a bit frightening Finally on the routine of arming of police officers do not underestimate the absolutely monumental financial investment this would require in terms of procurement (equipment and training facilities) , initial training, continuation / requalification training, staff abstractions for all of the above etc etc. All this at a time when financially as a nation we're struggling to put a properly resourced service out in most places up and down the country!

We did a one day vehicle familiarisation on the new Discovery at Land Rover Experience Milton Keynes with work. I have to say it really opened my eyes as to the vehicles off road capabilities and in particular the use of the different terrain settings. They really do change the whole set up not only of the suspension but also the throttle, braking and general dynamics of the vehicle (really useful when you spend most of the day plodding up and down the motorway in one ). The instructors are on the ball and know their stuff. Your dad will have a cracking day and will no doubt spend most of it with a big smile on his face I know we did!

Sorry to hear that mate they must be snowed under??? As per the pm you're welcome to join me on some clays.

Just filled it in!

That's thanks for that Chrispti I'll give him a call next week, very much appreciated!

Thanks for the PM reply sent

Hi LRS - (guessing that given your avatar that'd be long range sinper?) I applied for my SGC last year in Dorset and got the whole process start to finish inside around three months tops, have to say I found them really efficient? I'm sure a polite enquiry wouldn't hurt. Always good to run into another gun bunny!

Thanks for that samh6. I'd heard that about Lambert and Wilshire and also got a snidey comment from them when collectiong an RFD'd gun to the effect of you could have got one here - Yes but not at your prices! I've got a webley & scott .410 sportsman which is the three shot bolt action. The problem is it won't hold the other two cartridges in the internal magazine and if it does it missfeeds them so it's a kind of bolt action problem? Do you have any contact details for the chap in Ringwood (pm me if you'd prefer) please?