Touchstone

Thanks Peter, I'm intending on dropping in on Hopkins later today. Branthwaites also look good but are second on my list for no particular reason other than they aren't as local to me. Thanks all, Tim

Thanks Gents, I haven't been to Hopkins for years but it's the nearest to me being about 20 minutes away. Looking at the opening hours, I get the impression that he's semi-retired. Tim

The shotgun in question is a 425 with a standard factory finish. I'll bear Branthwaites in mind as I'll be working in Handforth over the next few days and so wouldn't be too far away. I was considering dropping in to Hopkins in Sandbach myself. Kind regards, Tim

Gents, I managed to ding my stock over the weekend. It's a very small indentation that hasn't broken the fibres but is disproportionately annoying as you will understand. Who would you recommend to raise it out in the Cheshire area? Thanks, Tim

This is the correct answer. For a youngster, it is not necessarily about hitting targets be they game or clays. It is about being able to hold and handle a shotgun for long enough periods to practise. Targets can be tailored to suit the gun's and shooter's ability to sustain enough interest. With a larger gauge, the weight also increases and little arms soon get tired. My son took a while to shoot some of the heavier loads from his Yildiz .410 as he wasn't keen on the recoil. At 13, he moved up to an Armsan 612 and loves it - lightweight and very soft recoiling. Kind regards, Tim

FH1, I have a pair of sticks in very good order if you're still interested? Kind regards, Tim

It's a nice resin Dave. I came close to buying a Conway Stewart Churchill in Honey Noire at one point but deferred to a blue chased Onoto Magna Classic at the time. I subsequently picked up a Churchill in Bracket Green at around the time Conway Stewart went bankrupt for the final time. Best of luck with your pens. Tim

Dave, Your workmanship appears to be excellent although I would say that the design is not for me with having that thin section. Are they made from Conway Stewart Honey Noire resin? Kind regards, Tim

I suspect McMillan might be your only option for a palm swell. Alternatively, I have had a few Bell & Carlson stocks on Remingtons and a Howa. They don't have a palm swell but are much better value overall than a McMillan and would be a significant improvement over the factory stock especially if you have the factory plastic which is truly dreadful in my opinion. I had two T3 Lite rifles once upon a time and they didn't stay around for long, mainly because of the stocks. You might be interested in the below websites as well for aftermarket parts if you don't know about them already: High Desert Rifle Works Home - Mountain Tactical Company (tikkaperformance.com) Kind regards, Tim

If the rifle means that much to you, the option above is the correct answer or buy a new bolt. Whichever works out to be the least expensive I suppose. Checking the headspace isn't an issue to a riflesmith. Headspacing would need to be checked whichever way you go. Tim

Yes, I believe they have been bankrupted a few times before. The interesting thing this time is that all products have been removed from its website excepting ammunition. I believe that Vista Group has bought the ammunition arm together with the name and trademarks whilst Roundhill Group has bought the firearm manufacturing. Various other parts have gone to other parties including Ruger that have taken Marlin as I understand it. Tim

Meanwhile back at the ranch and Centrepin’s question...... I would say you need an air rifle for the rats and a .22-250 or .243 for the foxes depending on whether you might get a chance at some small to medium deer as well. Good luck, Tim

Thanks for your opinions so far Gents. I'm inclined to stick with my 425, even with shooting more often at the moment, I don't think I could justify swapping out for a 30 incher. I'm following Matone and Chesterse's train of thought and just trying a pair of chokes, probably super extended and see what happens. You chaps may have saved me the extra expense of the ported jobs if they are a pain to clean properly as I was thinking if I was going to make the purchase of going with super extended ported. Thanks, Tim

Gents, I'm far from an expert shotgunner being principally a rifle shooter and would welcome views and advice on Teague extended chokes. Recently, I've started shooting clays far more frequently than I have done in the past as my 13 year old son as become very keen since acquiring an Armsan that he likes to use. The chokes will be for use in my Browning 425 28" Sporter for a few reasons: To improve performance and consistency. My brother has a 525 with 30" barrels that feels nicer on clays than my 28" gun and so the extended chokes might go some way to providing a 30" feel from a 28" gun. To attempt to protect the blueing on the end of my barrels whist the shotgun is put in and taken out of its slip now that it's getting more use. I'm uncertain whether to opt for the standard extended choke or whether to go for the super extended. I'm thinking that if I want to try and get a 30" feel then the super extended would fit the bill better. Additionally, would the ported chokes offer any significant advantage over unported? Thanks and regards, Tim

I'm a recreational deer stalker. I thought deer were classed as game but judging from the survey it would seem not. Overall, the survey was a load of cobblers. However, it would seem that I agree with many of you in that the use of lead is of little or no concern. It is plastic that is the enemy. Tim