8 shot

Deer is the next big problem coming over the horizon, how to ethically reduce and then control there number while utilising there meat. I can't give away the very small amount of Venison I shoot after Christmas.

The neighbouring shoot seems to have plenty, we haven't been able to get any for years now

They're not really worth it unless your on marginal ground, Wheat is still more profitable, and your not tied to it if your situation changes. There is not a great deal of thought going in to all this environment nonsense by Government and "other" Parties, every short sighted.

I had the exact same conversation with Conor from the BASC when the Lead transition was muted. Our Agronomist told us of two big estates that after this season are scaling back from 50+ days each to no more than a dozen a season, most of the Game crops, Cover crops and Wild Bird schemes are being return to intensive agricultural production ie. Wheat etc. well in excess 0f 1000ac over the two estate. The decline has i'm afraid already started. The small farm shoots I drill Game crops on are sticking with it for the next 3 years and going to try and make the schemes work for the shoot but at the moment only in the short term.

Exactly this.... I was shooting on a shoot last weekend and the parkland around the lake was littered with them some from last season by all accounts

Evening Conor, Do you have or can you get the exact figures of shoots that have signed up to the Game Alliance assurance scheme ie Lead free. I've been beating and shooting on 8 different shoots (only 3 commercial) already this year and none are or have show any intension of joining. One shoot will have been sending 600 birds a week to a game dealer since the start of November all shot with lead as far as i know. I've not spoken to any Shooter, Beaters or Pickers Up that know of a shoot using Non Toxic shot.

I always get written for my FAC permissions, will never work if it's for SGC

Used Eley ECOWAD no.3s when they first came out, only really any good on Pheasant, Duck sized quarry at range, not much cop on Partridge, Pigeon and Crow sized target beyond 30ish yrds. Pattern to sparse smaller targets fly straight through

Put some black latex rubber gloves like you would use in the workshop on under them 👍

I think HP Proof will soon become the standard proof mark on all NEW guns, hence devaluing any that aren't.

Plus 2

Just a point, slightly of topic but maybe relevant, British Agriculture is now at a point of no return due to Voluntary regulations set by the very organisation there to support and protect them. A couple of the bigger ones may not exist in a year or two if they don't pull something out the fire. Just a thought.....

I spoke to two Cartridge manufactures when this first came out, one quoted "The pressure in steel cartridges have to be higher to get the performance to make them anywhere near affective for the british market. And when asked about the risk of using HP cartridges in Non HP guns he "You wouldn't over inflate your car tyres would you, you can, but you just wouldn't"

I too have had a nigh on hour telephone conversation with Conor when the proposed phasing out of Lead was released, he took the time to contact me by Email and phoned me at an agreed time. I can't praise Conor enough for the time and effort he made to speak to me for nearly an hour to explain the reasoning behind the BASC's decision to do what they've done, he also listened to my opinions to which we agreed on some and disagreed on others. He obviously believes in the BASC by looking the time he's served with them. We've had 3 if not 4 BASC reps shoot beat and pick up over the last 25 years on our shoot all very genuine sporting people. the problems seem to start when some high up the food chain forgets the reason member pay there subs.

BASC are shootings equivalent of the NFU (National Farmers Union), start out with the best intentions for all it's membership but with voluntary and unnecessary regulations end up throwing pretty much there whole membership under the bus. They actually become puppets for you know who, very sad really as all there good genuine work dies with them.

🤣 what about the much relied on pigeon/pest shooter. Maybe the farmer will sub him a few £1000 a year

I've still not been too or know of a shoot that has sign up to all this Red tape Bull.

Oh.....for Winner 8s again, used them for everything, 32g brilliant on pigeons. Brought a new Miroku 7000 for £950.

Boring ! these stories are just a waste of ink. There is not one person on in this country that hasn't littered at one time or another. I cut the grass verges around several villages in my area and you wouldn't believe the stuff people throw in ditches and roadside verges, even councils leave there rubbish in ditches after road works. Shooting doesn't really have much to answer for in the grand scheme of thing. I just wish people, shooting people wouldn't keep highlighting it.

Change to 20" wheels, better selection of tyres and a hell of a lot cheaper. I've seen to many cracked 22" Alloys

Anyone have any experience of how much fitting a S5 Tracker and immobiliser reduces your premium

What are you insuring

Won't happen nobody to police it, how will all the lead be replaced by steel at such short notice. There will be a fairly long transition period for manufactures to have enough stock to replace lead or they all go bankrupt.

I can't get insurance with my current insurance company on the" Green Oval" brand if it's valued at £30,000 or more. Keyless entry is the problem.

It's a real pity they don't take there own advise. Being a farmer I've pretty much seen it all.