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Wilts#Dave

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Posts posted by Wilts#Dave

  1. 3 hours ago, Bobba said:

     Without wishing to open up a debate on this issue I thought I would mention what can happen to the innocent (me) when starting out down this road

    10 yrs ago my farming friend invited me to get a a shotgun for crop protection and given my age (then 69) recommended 20 bore as a lighter more manageable shotgun. I visited a well known West Country gun room and settled on a Miroku MK60. I then said I needed cartridges for pigeons, crows an rabbits and was sold a slab of Lyalvale 28grm 6’s. Knowing no different I presumed this was the standard set up.

    The shotgun was fixed chokes so I popped up to the then Nigel Teague workshop for multi chokes, gunfit and kickeezee pad and have mostly used this arrangement ever since without any problems.
     

    However, now 1 mth off of 80yrs I have to admit that following a busy day I do feel the twinges the following day so, following comments here, my next slab will be to try a lighter load.

    I have tried 12 bores but remain wedded to my 20 bore. So if anyone is interested in a Beretta sporter adjustable stock, or SKB 200e SxS please get in touch 👍

     

    My Dad used to do the same with his 20 bore, 28g RC were what he used and that was that and he often said they were a bit thumpy through his lightweight Beretta.
    Since found that 25g loads are much more pleasant to shoot a lot of and kill just fine (I guess I might step up to 28g if I had to use one on high pheasants). 
    Give some Hull High Pheasant 25g a try, lovely smooth shells! 

  2. 5 hours ago, London Best said:

    A friend of mine, 20 bore man, full time shooting instructor, saw me shooting with a SxS and wanted to try one because he had never ever fired one. (Shooting instructor). So, next shoot I lent him my 20, having warned him that his usual cartridges were no good for it as it was a 2 1/2 inch chamber. He declined my offer of cartridges and said he would buy some 2 1/2 inch. Sure enough he turned up with a slab. After the first drive he didn’t want to use my (proper) gun any more because “ it recoils so badly it jumps off my shoulder and I can’t control it.” He had fired a dozen shots and not hit a partridge, and he can really shoot. Sure enough, when I checked he had bought 2 1/2 inch cartridges, but with a 28 gram load. I was surprised that such a 20 bore cartridge even existed. He didn’t realise that a traditional 20 bore load is much less. Shooting instructor? The blind leading the blind.

    It’s just not necessary is it and defeats the object for me…..funny how people try and stuff the biggest load they can through smaller bores then claim either how effective they are or how bad the recoil is! 
    I’ll just use the 12 bore if I think I need to use heavier loads, but the small bores with lighter loads when there’s little felt recoil are just a joy to shoot…..it’s amazing how well they kill if you can shoot straight. 

  3. 4 hours ago, marsh man said:

    I also wander how many Pigeon shooters tell you what they have shot on the clicker rather than what is picked , whatever I shoot only go in my diary if it is hanging up in my garage or cooling off on the concrete floor , same on our game shoots , we only count what is hanging up in the game larder and not what the picker uppers can't find or what the guns say they have shot .

    Absolutely. We can all click away till our hearts content, that pigeon you took a feather out of is definitely gone down etc. Game shoots are even worse for guns after a drive claiming they’ve killed more than they have! 
    We only count what we pick the same as you, and try and avoid dripping them where they can’t be picked which is only a matter of a little restraint. 
    I’d get no pleasure in killing 100 but only bringing home 10. 

  4. 4 hours ago, tweedledee said:

    I despise car dealers 

    They certainly like to have their cake and eat it! I’ve not come across many likeable ones that’s for sure, not when trying to buy a car/van off them anyway 😂

  5. 1 hour ago, yickdaz said:

    Are they being honest though 🤔 

    My comment was a little tongue in cheek to be honest. No I don’t believe they are, not quite sure if they think folk will be be extra impressed if they mention an over inflated ratio but you’re only kidding yourself I guess! 
     

  6. 3 minutes ago, pigeon controller said:

    The in hide banter usually goes “ don’t miss this one” and you do or you “ pillowcase it”

    Ahh the pillowcase shot…..enough feathers to stuff a duvet / I think you were on that one / try and shoot them a bit further out next time! 

  7. Never bothered using 28 gram loads in 20 bore as the light gun I use recoils enough to put me off on a busy day. 
    Never used many clay loads on pigeons, didn’t get on overly well with them when I tried some years ago. 
    Saying that, I think I’d be more confident in using them nowadays…..used a lot of 7’s through the .410 and was amazed how well they performed, it’s definitely a lot to do with how they pattern. 
    Small bore cartridges in particular are getting ridiculously expensive now, I bought 1000 for my 28 bore the other day and paid just over £440 / 1000. 
    The same shells back at Christmas were £385 and a fair bit less than that the summer before! 

  8. Just now, pigeon controller said:

    I’m in good company then.

    Absolutely. How these folk shoot 100 with 105 shots etc I don’t know (and I consider myself a reasonable shot). 
    Dad takes great pleasure in letting me know what he thinks when I miss doing as you describe! 

  9. It’s just great when a plan comes together! I had a nice afternoon a week ago where I was expecting them to come back thick and fast, only to grind out 50 odd by 4.30 for the tap to turn on and they decoyed lovely for the last 2 hours when I shot another 100 plus. I find it quite often at this time of year where they’ll pile in for a last feed if you sit it out. 
    Well done 👍🏼

  10. Great stuff PC. That’s a lovely number to shoot in an afternoon….I do exactly as you describe when I just know I’m not on the bird yet you can’t help it? Usually when they’re too close I find and flaring / jinking in the wind. 

  11. 1 hour ago, marsh man said:

    With all this changable weather it give the farm to cart any bales off , we have also had the drill going on as soon as the bales are off to direct drill fodder radish for this Winter cattle and sheep feed , blink your eye and as soon as one crop go off the field then another go in .

    It’s definitely a matter of needing to be in the right place at the right time, at this time of year it’s hard to do as it all comes at once! 
    It’s amazing the difference a week can make too, i find it incredibly frustrating not being able to go when I want to sometimes, usually where I’ve watched a field and know a good day is on the cards but by the time I can go they’ve switched off it or someone else has managed to have a go. 
    It’s hard to stay in front of the farmers too, weather plays a big part in what they do and when doesn’t it! 

  12. 10 hours ago, 12gauge82 said:

    Probably quite alot of purchasing is unnecessary, but I think it misses the point, the extremely rich are becoming ever more so, while the average worker is becoming less so, I've been around long enough to see it. I'm not even talking financially either, the government has priced the young out of being able to afford going to the pub, not so long ago, most of the working masses would enjoy a trip to the pub over the weekend and get to know many of their fellow men, technically that was unnecessary expense but it built relationships and folk used to talk to each other and socialise, the young couldn't afford to do that now, even if they wanted to. I find it all very sad really.

    Good post. Isn’t the point of life and working hard, to be able to enjoy yourself (within reason obviously).       Not quite sure why some of the older folk who have paid off their mortgages / comfortable are so obsessed with saying everyone should learn to ‘struggle’ like they did and not have things etc etc. Shouldn’t things move on / get easier for people, not harder? 
    I’m definitely all for not over spending with credit and never have done, but overall if people are working hard to merely exist it will surely make some think what’s the point? 
    I guess it will always be the same, but it seems the middle of the road hard working folk are the ones who are most impacted every time. 
     

  13. 1 hour ago, FOXHUNTER1 said:

    I couldnt shoot for days on the trot at my age , my legs are still acheing after the other day.🤣

    Was hoping for another day this week but the weather is shocking all week , rain and thunderstorms. 

    Dad is usually moaning about his legs from being sat in the hide, when I’m suggesting going out again 😂

    I averaged over 200 on three consecutive weeks in June on the same field, and can honestly say I didn’t crave doing it more than once a week…..to be fair it’s been hard work getting rid of them since Covid when our game dealer packed in, so does put me off going out too much (and it definitely puts Dad off going out solo when I’m busy working). 
    I’d love to know how some of those who shoot 1000’s a month get rid of them now? 
    Hope you get out again this week, I’m itching to go as well after a couple of weeks off but as you say the weather is and is looking shocking. I stopped off on the way home on Thursday to look at a barley stubble I’d been keeping an eye on to see pigeons pouring in….to another shooters decoys 

  14. 10 hours ago, FOXHUNTER1 said:

    Tell me about it I had to carry all my gear to get set up on the laid patch. I took 200 cartridges to start with but shot them in around 4 hrs so had to go back to the motor for my last 150 which I shot off in the next 2 hrs when the birds were literally suicidal. 

    Packing up picking up the shot birds and my hide etc must have taken 1 1/2 hours.

    Still loads of birds but the weather forecast is terrible all week. 

     

    Shooting a big bag where lots of walking is involved is bloody hard work no doubt about it, how the guys who shoot the 4/500’s and more in the middle of a field manage I don’t know! 
    The most i’ve had to find and carry back on laid barley is 180 odd and that was enough.

    Shooting with someone definitely eases the burden of setting up and packing up. I’ve always shot with my Dad, but for the last 10-15 years at least I’ve carried the lions share of the kit / pigeons back to give him a break (I also shoot most of them so it’s only fair). In the hot sun after a busy afternoon in the hide you can come home feeling very drained, to then have to mess about cooling them off or taking them on to an outlet etc. 

    As obsessed as I am, it does amaze me how some will shoot 2/3/400 plus and do it for multiple days on the trot. That would lose some of the spark. In the end, for me anyway. 

  15. On 12/07/2023 at 09:39, Westley said:

    I believe Alan Wood did. He stopped just short of the 1000 when someone complained about the noise upsetting horses. He used 2 Beretta semi auto's. He has 2 guys that travel around the North West areas 'spotting' for pigeons. They then track down the land owner, offer some silly amount of money and he comes along the following day.  The 2 guys set out everything for him, he turns up and shoots. He also had this plastered over Sporting Gun at the time. It was followed by him having full length silencers fitted to his 2 Berettas, which provided another article for Sporting Gun. Check out Sykes media videos on YouTube.  There is one of a couple of French guys shooting pigeons at the same location. I don't think putting a post on here makes much difference when the videos have been available for a few years now  !

     Haven’t heard much of Alan Wood for some time but remember him in the Jim Albone videos / Tom Sykes ones and reading about his having people scout for him. Plenty of money, no doubt very annoying as your usual pigeon shooter  if he frequented your area…..but same old, money talks! 

  16. 40 minutes ago, TOPGUN749 said:

    Yes,it’s wrong,and very sad that this happens when someone has assets,I believe Scotland has a different system.If someone invests in antiques,art,gold,etc,no matter how much it’s worth they can’t take it but cash,property they will.The thresholds are far too low as is the inheritance tax threshold. Elderly people should be allowed to keep at least up to £300,000 to leave in their wills.

    This, absolutely. 

  17. 1 hour ago, DUNKS said:

    I have practical experience of several people coming to end of life and wishing the thousands they have in the bank had been put to good use.

    I personally am a collector of "nice things" whether I need them or not. I do get a lot of enjoyment out of my "things"

    Me too. I’ve never had huge credit card debt etc but always bought the best I can afford, often seemingly above my pay grade so to speak (as others see it). 
    But I’m a good saver, don’t drink or smoke and just wait until I can afford things before doing my research and  pulling the trigger….I do get pleasure out of owning nice things, and knowing if push comes to shove I’ve some considerable assets I could sell rather than ******* it up the wall like some  seem to. 
    In fact it baffles me what some people spend their money on, that earn double what comes into our household but they’re always pleading poverty!
     

  18. Great few hours there, the weather is the bane of our lives at times…..had many a day cut short with heavy rain, very frustrating and always when things are going well! 
    Looking forward to getting back out myself, but looking at the forecast it’s rather unsettled for the next week or two (that I can see). 

  19. Well done Marshman, I just love the first of the stubble shooting and it looks like you had an enjoyable few hours in the hide. 
    I’ve had a couple of weeks break now with a holiday and lots of work on, but looking forward to the next day in the hide…..before I went away there were pigeons on various fields, but I’ve no doubt there will be a lot of change over the next few weeks as the combines roll. 
    It seems to be over in the blink of an eye every year, and like buses it all comes at once! 
    Keep it up! 

  20. 57 minutes ago, TOPGUN749 said:

    Premium bonds are currently paying 3.7% return,going up to 4% in August,needs to be higher to offset 10%+ inflation!

    Of course you need to bear in mind the % is an average not a guarantee…..some win more and some much less! 
    I did ok with them when I had 45k worth, but shifted some into a one year fixed isa and with 25k now the winnings have noticeably dropped off. 
    There’s luck involved with it, good idea if you need tax free savings but otherwise at the moment with interest rates on savings accounts so much higher I’d go for a fixed term account and get a guaranteed return. 

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