Martin&Oakley

Happy St George's Day. First time ever that I have worked this most sacred day. Just finished work and currently in garden with some fine ales.

There not fixed, I seem to hit well with the half. Would I be at a disadvantage by having to halves?

Sorry guys I wasn't looking to shoot steel through the gun. But thanks for the heads up. Strange that I should have a choke for steel but the barrels are not steel proofed. Do I go half/half or half/3 quarter?

Death and destruction, only joking. I was an Army cadet at 11 then joined the Regs at 16, so to not shoot would be like not breathing.The transition from rifles to shotgun has been ok but at times i feel the old left eye closing when tracking the birds.

not bad for only 3 shots, lol.

so i shouldn't ever use steel in my gun as its only the choke that's steel proofed.

Hi all, I've been meaning to find out what the markings on my shotgun are. I have now taken some pictures, excuse dirt as im currently cleaning it. Gun is a Baikal MP27EM1C 12G O/U. Also the chokes that came with it have the following on them: top choke, F-LEAD and bottom choke, M-LEAD/F-STEEL Before any rants come in about searching online. I have, hence here we are.

Things I learnt yesterday were. Try and bring the birds in from the left/right. Bring the gun up slowly and try to only take on the close birds at first. Just my lessons learnt, that worked on the day.

Well I just had a knock at the door. Postie just handed me a package. Inside I find 6 flocked pigeon decoys. the eBay seller has kindly sent me 6 replacements, so I now have 12 normal decoys, 6 flocked decoys and the crow decoy I found. I'm stunned she upgraded me for free. Very very nice of her.

The above is correct. The famers intentions were to steer the birds off his rape. I'll check with he long haired general and try and get down.

Absolutely nothing, honest. Myself and Jody went there last Sunday. Farmer had put some wheat/grain/someting down to keep the pigeons off other fields. There was nothing left on the field, others were shooting in the area. So I just bit the bullet and hoped my pattern brought them in.

Forgot to mention I found a crow decoy in the woods, can I add that to my kill count? Lol.

It's my camera phone. The 2 furthest away birds are on the magnet. Though I will be bringing it slightly closer next time, to many had to be finished off. To be honest it was more of a J shape pattern, if there is such a thing.

So because i dont know every type of corvid species, i some how dont know what a stock dove looks like? Maybe you shouldn't post anything, if you cant identify someone new to shooting 'general license' birds. As for beating them round the head, I dont think they much like being chased by lead/steel shot. Thanks to all that posted positive/constructive comments.

i was using the super fast today. i bought them for clay but i will now be using them for close in birds.

I tried that with a pigeon today, didn't work. Hard as nails it was.

very true. Is there a preferred/better way to finish them off?

crows then, thanks. just a quick note I took one of those crows down at 25-30 yards with the 7.5, clean kill?!! guessing lucky shot. oh and they are nasty, one even grabbed the stick i was using to dispatch it with then screamed at me.

could someone confirm 'black' species please? top 4 were massive and bottom 4 quite small but looked very differrent.

Firstly I'd like to say a big thank you to Jody for offering to lend me his magnet as he couldn't make it out. Got set up about 9ish in a hedge row. 12 decoys in a U shape/sideways with the magnet out to the far right. In the first 2 hours I had dropped 6 'blacks' that decoyed in using the hedge as some sort of cover, fail. they were added to the pattern, just in front/right of the hide as a small group. Over the next 6 hours the pigeons came in small groups. the ones that decoyed, decoyed text book style. However the birds that flew over were so quick, like mini cruise missiles. I've added a picture of one the birds that was coming at me, slightly left of the hide. Hit it in the wing and it very kindly helicoptered into the tree above my hide I was using gamebore clear pigeon 30g 6 AND hull sport fast 27g 7.5 (clay). Both worked a treat. Ended with 18 wood pigeon (picked) and 8 mixed blacks.

Posted it on my wall FB for you.

Done, best of luck.

Welcome

My bad posting sellers name, not trying to out them. Sill waiting for reply.

Gluing with left, typing with right, lol.