ChrisWill184

Was out on a small farm a couple of years ago which can only be described as the roughest most useless ground anyone would wish to have. All of the area is left to the cattle except for the electric fence surrounding the farm buildings. During that summer the farmer had electric fenced off a section which was mostly surrounded by wall with a small opening leading to a dirt road which ran the length of the ground. The electric fence stopped about 80 yards up the road. In the pen was the bull, a cow and a calf which I was told to be weary of as she is protective of the new born. 'No bother' says I as I proceed to skulk my way behind the wall so she won't see me and make my way on to the track. I checked the line of sight was broken by the wall and off I went on my merry way. I got about 20 yards up the path before the ground started shaking and a noise of thunder started beating at my back. I looked at the dog briefly, just catching it made a quick jump for a wall as I turned to see the smoke snorting beast at full tilt heading right at me. I turned back to see what might be my only relief which was a 4ft tree stump about 2 steps away. As I made for this sanctuary (praying it wasn't rotten through!) I slipped as the cattle trodden mud gave way under me and I landed on the floor with open gun in tow. The gun would have closed was it not for the webby bit between my thumb and fore finger getting trapped between the barrels and the reciever as all my weight landed on it. Didn't get a chance to feel the pain as I jumped up to turn and face what now looked like 4 tons of impending beef and slobbers about 6ft away and still going like a train . I don't know why but that monster decided to slam the brakes on at just about the same time I thought about lightening my own personal load and skidded to a halt within touching distance. It about turned and went back from where it came from. I got the gun and legged it over the nearest fence. The dog just looked at me in that way that they do when you have done something stupid and I'm sure they know you did. Wasn't until later that I realised I had dropped the lead from around my neck as I was flailing about on the floor and went to the farmer to see if he could retrieve it. 'No bother' he says as he walks up to the tree stump without a care and picks up the lead. The cow came up to him and I'm pretty sure it licked him before he came back with it and said 'Aye she's a bit fussy that one'. I now have a greater appreciation of electric fences.

What time do you start work?!

I had to go back and find the dog! Will maybe go back again just to be sure.......

As nearly everyone has said it is very instinctive yes. BUT. You are going to hit naff all if you are not somewhat familiar with the gun and gun mount. I've taken guys out pigeon shooting who have had a few goes on the clays and the usual problems are: They can't sit still/hidden until the last second to mount the gun - pigeon is gone! Try and mount the gun as the pigeon is 60 yards away - pigeon is gone! They forget the safety catch is on and by the time they get it off - pigeon is gone! Mount the gun really early on a really far away bird and end up waving the gun like a wand at it as they try and chase ahead and come back to find it numerous times before pulling the trigger and 90% of the time - pigeon is gone! Mount the gun at the right time but smack it in their face or tuck it under their arm, or mount it on their bicep meaning they then have to try and correct it (if they bother) and - pigeon is gone! or they fired way wide of the mark. If you are happy with your gun mount most of the time from gun down position (which is usually with the butt of the gun on the floor if you are decoying) then I would say go out and lay in to them! If not I would say practice your gun mount in front of a mirror from gun down and make that gun a new extension of your arms. I did this when I was younger every day until my arms were sore and I still think it is some of the best practise you can do to get familiar with the gun. If you wanted to practise on the clays first, get someone to come with you and with the gun down, get them to ping the clay at a random time from any trap on the layout in front of you. Surprise factor is the game here and that will improve your instinctive shooting. Thats just my experience of it but has worked well for me and a few guys I advised to go through this process. Hope you get your first bird soon. Its a great feeling to know all your hard work has paid off as it folds in the sky.

Get yourself a pair of the Sonic 2 earplugs. They cost about £12 (get them easy online) and I have had mine for 5+ years. They have a silicon insert in them which lets you hear normal conversation pretty well (and quacks, whistling wings etc) whilst cancelling out the shot. I never used to use them for flighting but do now after watching my dads lugs deteriorate. Not worth the risk.

From what I have experienced, the jack snipe also tend to fly much straighter on getting up and less erratic than the common snipe but when it jumps out at your feet in a flash of yellow, it is very hard to tell the difference!

You have to laugh at that! Only just seen this post or I would have replied sooner before you bought one. Would have told you not to bother with it! I'm not sure if he was selling an older version of the gun but the new versions of the Bettinsoli are supposed to have better, tougher components than what they previously were made of. I bought a new Diamondline Deluxe about 7 years ago and in the first 3 years the sears went twice on them. Luckily while shooting clays. Only had a 1 year warranty on them then and they (RUAG the distributor) took it back free of charge after the warranty was expired for some time. Asked them to make sure the better components were put in them and have not had any problems since after a good few thousand cartridges. Happy with it now and so used to it that I can't get rid of it but if you were shooting with it during a game day or the like, and it failed, I would have been raging and probably wish I had gone with a 'more reliable' Berretta. I have no experience with Berrettas but I don't get any complaints from the folk I know who do have them. BTW I know 2 other guys who have had bettinsoli's and they went duff as well! Probably a good choice with the new gun! Chris

I've been following PW for a couple of years mainly for the hints and tips and experiences of others. Only joined a little while ago to have a bit of an input as I do have a fair bit of experience (though not all successful. Can tell you a lot of things that definitely don't work!!). I see on other forums some guys just looking to offload stuff but that is not my agenda.

Ach well. Shame that. The dogs we're trying to sell will be near grown up by then! I understand there are some folk out there that are a bunch of rip offs but you can't really get a dog without meeting the owner (although I'm sure some would try!). Nevermind. Thanks for the information.

Hi all Wondering where the section is to sell 'other items' on here that are not guns. Brother has some Lab pups for sale so want to give them a bit of coverage. Also is there a minimum post barrier on here to cross before you can sell items like other forums? Thanks Chris

8 is maybe a bit light but saying that I used to use 28g of 7.5 (or whatever I had) when ferreting. Would use them to 35 yds + no bother and very little wounding. Fact of the matter is if you put it in the right place it will fall down. I use 32g 6 for everything now and it does the job no problem out to 40 yds. Enough shot and plenty of stopping power. U can use whatever you like but if it ain't in the right place it'll keep running! Sorry there's no out right answer but I wouldn't go much smaller than 6 to ensure a bit of confidence.

Hi All Been on here a good few times now just visiting but never joined. After I couldn't see some pics in the DIY section I thought I should maybe just sign up! Anyway hope to be of some help on here to repay some of the information I have had from here in the past. Been shooting for over 15 years and active in most fieldsports to a fairly heavy extent so should be able to bring something to the table whether its wanted or not! Thanks Chris