stevieknuckles

Go out on a windy night that works a treat, this time of year most people have their windows closed anyway. If you are only shooting foxes one or two rounds, people don’t tend to react.

Ardmoor clothing are good and you can always return what doesn’t fit, it is nicer to be able to try stuff on first before buying but there isn’t anywhere decent with a wide range of clothing where I live, so internet is the way forward for me.

I have been using the Marsh trousers for the past three Pheasant seasons, yes they can get warm but so far have been very hard wearing. I work in most of the cover with my dogs and the trousers have been very good. I am thinking of buying a new pair for next year. The knee flaps that go over the top of your wellies work well at stopping twigs and **** working it’s way into your boots, plus they keep the rain out. They are pretty much thorn proof and stop Gorse needles, they Have one or two small holes from barbed wire but the material is rip stop so it is just puncture holes. I also got Marsh coat which has been equally as good, there is many more years use in that. i hope this helps make up your mind. regards Steve

One Dog and one Vixen last night with .223 and night vision Total = 176

Two Vixens and one Dog tonight with .223 and night vision Total = 155

Two Dogs and one Vixen tonight with .223 and night vision Total = 140

2 Dogs 2 Vixens last night with .223 and night vision Total = 132

Two dogs and one Vixen last night with .223 and night vision Total = 122

Out tonight four Dog foxes and four Vixens with .223 and night vision. Total = 115

Dog and Vixen with .223 and night vision Total = 104

Dog and Vixen with .223 and night vision Total = 93

One of my ejectors came out the other day, it was a bit fiddly but I have managed to a. find all of the pieces and b. Put it back together correctly so it works again. I like clay shooting but do hate the " helpful " people who crowd over to give advice/commentate/talk amongst themselves. It feels like they just want you to hurry up and get out of their way so they can crack on and enjoy their day. It's worse if you are taking someone who is learning as they generally lose concentration and fall to peaces when they get an audience. Why they don't give other people some space is beyond me? If I want help I will ask for it.

Dogs are very sociable animals, I have four most dogs crave company be it human or another dog, if they had the choice they would be by your side 24/7. There are quite a few dogs that get left alone all day where I live and I think the owners either don't know, or don't care about the noise that they make either howling or barking at whatever they hear throughout the day. A tired dog is much more content and will sleep most of the day through, as for puppies it is a big step to leave a litter and end up on your own for most of the day. Some dogs handle it better than others, I had a dog years ago who when left alone would try and chew his way out just because he was trying to find us that is one of the reasons we needed up with more than one this time. You only have to watch some of the hidden camera footage of what they can get up to when you are out, they get bored and lonely just the same as we do, but I do think exercise is they key in keeping them happy. The novelty can wear off when you are out in the dark and p###ing rain before and after work week in and week out. But I wouldn't be without any of mine even if it is harder to keep them all happy now the shooting season has stopped.

I have four dogs two Cockers, a Black flat coated retriever, and a Golden retriever. The Cockers are unbelievable hard workers and will keep going all day long, I work mine three or four days a week through the season so they earn their keep. Their only draw back is they do get cold when they stop, they will go in all of the cover I have come across so far even though they haven't got the thickest of coats. The Black Flat coat is a great water dog and loves being in it and around it no matter what the weather, they are worth looking into they have great noses and are very good company especially if you only end up with one Dog. They don't get cold at least I haven't seen mine bothered by any even with ice on her coat, their main draw back is they take time to train and mature. Golden retrievers are overlooked these days, they are seen as a family dog more so than a working dog. Mine is so laid back you forget she is there most of the time, she is a great worker, she really gives her all every time I take her, she is also very good in the water and doesn't feel the cold. There are many more breeds worth thinking about, it is worth going for something that is tried and tested and stood the test of time. At the end of the day it's your choice, and you need to be happy with the one you make. There is a reason you see loads of Labs, Springers, Cockers etc they work and they work well, but don't rule out some of the other breeds. Good luck...

One Vixen tonight with .223 and night vision Total = 57

Out tonight one Dog and two Vixens Total = 54

As has already been stated it will be the inertia action not working properly, my friends browning was doing exactly the same thing last week. I took the stock off, soaked the action in white spirit, then cleaned it his had rust and gunk in it ( I think he only cleans it once in a while ). When it was clean I then freed up the action with WD40, cleaned again then a light oil. I used a soft swede brush to clean the surfaces of the rust. It works fine now, if you go on you tube there is plenty of videos showing the actions of o/u the inertias are forced back by the recoil from the first shot, any friction caused by rust, gunk, grease will slow these down and not allow the second shot to fire. It will only take a couple of hours to do and save you some money .

If it's range you want go for the hmr, the sonic crack can be quite loud but with a light breeze it's not so bad. Plus with the ballistic tip ammo the likelihood of a ricochet is less than the 22lr ammo.

Hello Gav05 it looks like you could be suffering from information overload, however I just thought I would back up some of the cases on here. For what it is worth I have been lucky enough to have put a few tens of thousands of rounds through various rifles over the years, ranging from the infamous SA 80, M16, Famas, Ak 47, and my Howa 1500 .223 all of these use the 5.56 / .223 round they all out shoot the pink squashy thing behind them. As you will be using yours for fox shooting, I would save some of your money and go for a Howa I got a complete set up for just over six hundred quid the only part that lets it down is the Nikon scope. I have a Bushell Banner on it now about £180 and to be honest I can't fault it. All of my fox control is at night, on foot, and on my own I have a Ward D 700 night vision add on which allows me to shoot up to around the 220 yard mark with good identification of quarry ( I check back stops etc with a thermal spotter ). Mine has a synthetic stock, which admittedly is a bit cheap feeling but it is a tool and it works and does that well. I zero at 100m it is then point and shoot you don't have to worry much about wind drift at those ranges either. So to summarise Howa are a good rifle, unless you are shooting 350 metres plus don't go mad on a scope, I use Norma fifty something grain factory ammo the foxes don't seem to mind. After all that is said and done, it's your decision and a personal choice that you will have to make. I hope I haven't muddied the water even further...

Thank you all for your replies, you have reinforced what I have already been thinking. As I won't be visiting Whitfield for a while yet, I think my time will be better spent working on maintaining swing and consistency . Regards Steve

Good morning all, I am after your general opinions and advice please. I have a 20 bore Silver Pigeon with 29 1/2 inch barells and have quarter and half chokes fitted, I use it mainly for rough shooting and walked up game through the season. I don't have any other chokes, do you think it is worth me bothering buying extra chokes and if so what after market ones would you recommend. To be honest I shoot alright with it and think it is just one more thing to keep my mind occupied. I use 28 gram no 6 fibre wad. Thanks Steve

Two Vixens and one Dog last night after Lambs, with .223 and night vision Total = 44 48

Out tonight one Dog one Vixen with .223 and night vision Total = 27

One Vixen tonight with hmr and night vision Total =18

5 Vixens after lambs with hmr and night vision Total = 14