marklestrange

The chap in the shop said 'it looks like 15mm' but that isn't that helpful. Is yours an Escort Magnum new type?

Got a new Hatsan Escort Magnum on order. Can someone enlighten me as to the width of the dovetail on top of the Hatsan. How can I mount my weaver/picatinny equipped red dot onto it? Do I need a converter or something? Thanks,

One fell in my lap - and I thought it was easy ....until I tried to get another

Hi Gary, In the 6 months it's taken me to think "I need my own rifle" to now, I've done a lot of reading, originally about 10/22s and more recently the CZ4**'s. I'm an IT lecturer and major geek- it's what i do. Please remember (Faulty Towers Emmanuelle voice) "I know noooothing" just what I've read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but fyi: There are a lot of methods of tuning - just bedding an action can be achieved in about half a dozen ways, from damning to blobbing, partial, full, with or without pillars. Barrel tuning from lapping, free float, part free float, fully supported, supported at balance point, supported at rear with a moveable support sliding down barrel and it goes on... and that's before barrel extensions, shrouds sliding weights etc. This stuff applies to any rifle but if you want specific stuff for the CZ here is a link: http://rimfireshooting.com/index.php?showtopic=10333 Sorbothane is the 'pro' stuff but inner tube seems to work for many. There are hundreds of such articles across dozens of sites though, this is just the first I looked up for you (last one I read). I have noticed a massive difference between the UK and the US shooters and oddly enough it's exactly the same difference as with motorcycles. [Warning: Gross generalisations to follow] The Americans want their bike to perform to the max and be as personal to themselves as possible. To that end they will customise, tune, replace, tweak a new motorcycle from the day they get it, even before, but having it partially pre-customised by the dealer. Often you will look at a bike and say - well that "$^$^$^" cost as much as a "$^£^£&" so why didn't you buy one of those in the first place? That is very British - we seem to just want the vanilla flavour from the dealer. A 'Standard bike' is a selling point, in the US the opposite is true. I'm often seen as being anti-american (which I am not) but in this case they really have it - they are not afraid to experiment. improve and innovate - we just consume what we are given. The rifle version of that is "Well you can't use a CZ for that you have to buy an Arnie" Well the Americans don't think that way, even if starting with a CZ is a harder route. God we are a negative miserable bunch of *****s in this country sometimes. USA USA USA lol

Thanks Dekers, no offence taken ...and yes I'm aware I'm WELL over thinking this lol. My .17hmr slot was granted for foxing/rabbit/target in addition to the .22lr. I have just got myself a batch lot of 6 scopes of ebay as a job lot for £36 quid all in, and on initial sighting seem to have scored as I've got a Simmons that seems great and a Nicko sterling that also seems pretty good as well as two more that look promising - two don't focus right and one of them the cross hairs look out, but I've only just got them (15 mins ago) so need to go play! Thanks for your input mate, it is appreciated Back from playing and I have 4 capable .22 scopes with a beaten one and a rubbish one. All that was needed was adjustment of the OL to focus them

So for the club/target use you would get standard CZ .17hmr? Getting an alternate .17hmr barrel will cost a LOT less than another rifle and tons less than getting an Arnie as a second rifle which is out of my price range (I have the slots available). I thought that using the same stock and the same SST trigger would help me with some consistency. I'm not into competition shooting, (unless it's competing with myself) just on improving as much as I can with a useable tool at say 200m Have you an alternative solution considering my two separate goals, (field bunnies and centerfire 'trainer') but bearing in mind I'm a new fac with a very small budget.

Dekers thanks for the reply. I need a .22lr for bunnies for the table. I want a .17hmr for: I'm in the process of joining a 'centerfire' club with a looooooong range. I'm not sure they really want members with .22lr, but I'm keen to get on board because of the range and depth of experience in this particular club. The 17hmr would primarily be for target use (100m - 200m) with a single shot adapter and sling, the aim being to get experience of windage etc and improve my skills on my route to getting a centerfire and eventually do some stalking. I'd like to learn how to 'fettle' a rifle for the best accuracy too. I'll be playing with bedding, pillars and bike inner tubes etc to barrel tune anyway - I wont be able to help myself lol. Does that make more sense now? (all advice welcome :-) ) From advice received from a couple of shooting forums I'm going to get the CZ455TH SST in .22lr (which I now have on pre-order). I enjoy 'fiddling' (I ride a Ducati - if you don't fiddle they don't work lol) and have more time than money so I don't mind messing about changing barrels.

Lewis: They are selling them in the US as a 'user changeable kit' of multiple calibered barrels matched to the receiver. In the UK the 'kit' isn't being sold, but you can (or will be able to) get any of the available calibers of replacement barrel. Lapping would fit them better than the best 'fit from a batch' anyway from what I have read. Because of this they are saying for the UK that first fitment of a different barrel should be done by a gunsmith. I think this is to do with checking go/no-go on the headspace on initial fitment, as this will not have been checked at the factory for a new barrel not sold with the new rifle. Thanks CharlieT, I have to say I think you are pretty much right, but if I'm going to get a new barrel in a different caliber anyway (rather than replace a perfectly good one) then that argument isn't that strong. If it were a replacement barrel I have to say at least at my level of shooting it won't make a lot of difference and I'd agree totally, not a good return on investment. A lilja at $385US is I presume quite a bit more than a new CZ factory barrel (?) but reading the US threads can tighten up a group by up to half at 50m. with some receiver bedding/pillars and a bit of diligent experimentation...admittedly at a fair cost.

Here is the question: IF you were you going to get a CZ455 with barrel swap facility would you with your initial purchase 1) Get it with a factory (varmint) barrel in .22 and then get a lilja barrel in .17hmr or 2) Get it with a factory barrel in .17hmr and purchase a Lilja in .22 Which caliber would be the better 'accuracy' upgrade and make the most difference. The cost is pretty much the same either way so .........? Lilja link: ( http://www.riflebarrels.com/products/cz_455.htm)

With your experience I'll take that as written then, cheers. I'll maybe phone the office and say the chap that runs the club said I can bring my own rifle as a probationer ...and is that OK?

Thanks longbower - I'll look up some 20g's, not a gun I have ever shot. The .17hmr will be a while away anyway...and yes they make quite a racket in my opinion too, and not the best if you want to eat the prey ..which I do (5 hungry mouths here). I think I'm possibly prejudiced against air rifles, from the many airguns and pistols I had as a kid (my 1st at 10 shhhhhhh!). Fca ones I know are a different kettle of fish altogether from for instance my .22 RElum break action. You are not the first person to tell me the same, thanks.

Uncle Albert thanks for your response. The tree rats would be 410 'ed. I do understand safety and the roles of both rimfire and shot. I would rather come away empty handed than take the chance of wounding any prey. It never hurts to hear this repeated though so thanks. My field skills could do with a lot of work I'm sure, but I took the FO to the permission so he could register it and I went through a test - 'What range to that? How is that bank? Is there access over there? etc etc and he seemed pleased with my responses as he only walked 10 m into the first field and I saw him mentally 'tick the box'. I have done a fair amount of lamping up'North and lived in the States for some time (not the sort of shooting for discussion on this site though). The FO said that because I had listed hollow point, solids were a given, and therefore did not have to be listed. The reason I was considering a .410 is it can be a Hush. There are paddocks 5 mins walk away all around the village where land owners would like me to take down the rabbit pop. I went for a walk with 3 small kids and the misses and got within 30 ft of two groups before they bolted.... they are brazen and everywhere. But the village isn't a true country village more of a dormitory village for commuters and my next door neighbour is a County councillor and a promoter of the 'League against cruel Sports', so I want to keep my shooting very quiet in all senses of quiet....and I've never heard a quiet 12 bore even though I know they can be moderated to a degree. Though my justification for the .17 hmr is foxing (which of course I will do) there is a second reason. With such a small fast round capable of longer ranges this will give me the sort of practice I need to allow for windage etc and I think is a better platform to progress (medium/long term) to centerfire .223 than just subsonic .22lr. [Always open to correction]. I was going to get the swap out barrel for the CZ455 to make it .17hmr when I was more confident in my .22lr skills. Dekers, again thank you also for your response. I shot a Bisley when I was a kid (under 16) :-) The FO (though often reported as 'laws unto themselves' on this site) seemed adamant that I would have to add it to my list of places I can shoot and they (police) would not do this until I had passed probation. Maybe it's a geographical thing? It does seem mad though for someone who would like to skill up as it's a much safer environment to take my own rifle than the open farmland I have been passed for. He said the 'office' would decide if that could just be added at that time as a location or whether a variation listing 'target shooting' would require the £26, though he heavily implied it would. The fella that runs the club was happy for me to bring my own rifle as soon as I got it - it was the FO said I couldn't. [Now I'm confused] My1st targets were quite good and I think he saw potential and was quite keen to sign me up.....that or they just need the subs lol. It wasn't that I COULDN'T use a CZ at the range, he was happy that I brought it, it was more the sucking of teeth and shaking of the head when I asked if it was at all suitable for (low level) competition. ​Questions? I have asked quite a few aye lol I'm a teacher. IMHO The best teachers are the ones that want to learn.

Thanks Livefast - I will check that out. My FO was very nice if a bit officious - required by the job of course, but not nice enough to stick the club on the ticket until after probation :-( A semi does sound like the most sensible to start with considering what I want to do with it - I'll check out the CZ semi too. Thanks :-)

Thanks Abacist, I liked Fonthill and will probably sign up properly soon, but for 'due diligence' I've popped over to Pinhoe already and will look at Exeter and Mid Devon as well as another one B.....? (up the M5 a bit) before I commit. As you see I try and leave no stone unturned before I make a choice. It's not just aspergers (joke?) it's a necessity because of poverty, I can't afford to make mistakes. Fonthill being warm in winter under a kilaton heatsink is an extra bonus lol. The Fac chap was adamant that I couldn't take my gun down to the club as it wasn't on my list of places I'm allowed to shoot until I had finished my 'probation' period with a club and then I would have to pay £26 and wait for a 'revision' to be passed. [That really does not seem to encourage people to learn more and is 'anti-safety' imho - as I said before it's a really stupid rule that one]. I'm a bit worried about getting a second hand Ruger. I'm into bikes and am very aware that unless you REALLY know what you are doing buying second hand you can very easily get burnt. I would have no idea if a used Ruger was any good, and buying from a dealer rather than a private sale the used prices then almost double so the difference to a new price on these 'value' rifles seems to be too slim to make 'used' a worthwhile choice. Please tell me if I'm wrong on this point - everything else I buy in life other than shoes and underwear is second hand so I have no problem with that in principle at all, just in my ability to judge. One of the larger dealers in the area also gave me NO confidence at all. I'd trust a bike dealer more than them ...and I don't trust bike dealers at all. All the salesman was missing was the sheepskin jacket. Typical newbie dilemma I suppose.

Hello chaps, Well........ I want to buy a gun(s) I've just had the visit (and a nod) from the officer for my 1st Fac :-) now just waiting on the paperwork. I'm coming up to 50 now but when I was a kid (under 18) I used to be a pretty good club shooter (prone). I'm in the SW just to the east of Exeter. I (hopefully) am passed for 2x.22LR 1x.17 HMR and shotguns (max 2 because of 5 gun case) I can only afford 1 'decent' gun now or maybe two second hand ones? My interests are: Rabbiting Night vision Club target shooting standing (sport rifle?) and prone. 'Practical' Shooting (.22 and Shotgun disciplines) Foxing Pigeons Squirrels ..........pretty much in that order. Guns I have identified as ones I would like are: CZ455 TH SST (not available in UK yet but should be very soon) Ruger 10/22 TDT (not available in UK yet with no ETA at all) A .17HMR barrel and mag for the CZ455 (It's user changeable but not in the field of course) A Mossberg .410 hush (everybody tells me not to, but there are lots of places I could shoot with one of these on 'unregistered' land). A Mossberg 12 bore (cus it's relatively cheap and reliable, but noisy so no good for local shooting around here) Over the last 9 months of obsessive research I have flipped between the CZ and the Ruger as my 1st purchase about 20 times. For CZ: A bolt would seem to be the most accurate. It might be good to improve my skills? It works 'out of the box' I can self change barrel for a 17hmr saving a lot of expense on a foxing gun. Good value fit and finish. Against CZ: It's not a semi. It's hard to hang all my night vision experiments off - no rails and not easy to add them. I can't use it in the shooting club for anything as it's not an Arnie (Please correct this if it WILL be an OK club target rifle) It's long, making carrying it on my M/cycle 'obvious' and awkward. It's not in UK yet For Ruger: It's a semi. It's a 10/22 ... you can change anything to suit.I can get an ATI stock for £125 with all the rails I could want (and is easily cut/converted for the takedown) It packs in a small bag and would even fit in my top box. Against Ruger It's a 10/22 .... you have to get lots of things to make it work right (eg trigger etc etc) which makes it not half as good value as at first it seems. It's not in UK yet. (The short barrelled pre-threaded takedown one) Getting a shortened threaded barrel costs silly money and takes months. Things going for me: 1) I have two 'registered land' permissions for rabbits. 2) I'm an IT geek and intend to make my own night vision system(s) as the ones available perform pretty poorly until you get to well over a grand. I can do MUCH better for 2/3 hundred quid. (Honest Guv) 3) I have just joined a small bore rifle club to 'skill-up' and would like to shoot my own rifle. 4) I have one foxing/rabbit permission in Shropshire. 5) Pigeons? I see lots 6) Tree rats...There are millions of the ******* here so they would seem to supply abundant hunting - and you can get very close to them. Things going against me: 1) I was hoping to start with 1 rifle to cover club and field as a start and then add additional and more specialised guns as my learning curve started to flatten....but......... Of the people I've met so far, the club shooters don't rabbit and the rabbiters don't club shoot. :-( For prone (.22) the club shooters ONLY seem to think Arnies are suitable, I was hoping the heavy barreled set trigger CZ would be dual purpose for rabbit and prone. How 'unsuitable' is it? 2) For Sport rifle (Standing .22) they say a 10/22 is where to start, but it needs trigger and barrel change (£oouch) 3) I'm far too skint for any of this really. 4) There are ****** all rabbits on my permission so I need more, but they have to be already registered shooting land or I will have to wait at least six months for them to be visited and passed according to 'the fac man'. 5) Because I have my fac on land permission for rabbits etc I can't even take my own gun down the club for 6 months until my 'probation' is over !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that bit is just plain NUTS! Any and all advice very welcome - come on lads, hit them keys ;-) Mark

Wanted: Permission to shoot rabbits with moderated .22 with some Infra-red (no bright lamping) I live in Ottery so something close would be appreciated. Responsible (teacher) shooter aged 49. Hobby, to show my 3 (under 7yrs) kids that meat doesn't come wrapped in cellophane, not professional gun. Please PM me if you know of, or have anywhere appropriate. Thanks, Mark