getthegat

I have a Pedretti single 20 gauge hushpower with full length moderator. I've bought a holographic red dot sight (not arrived yet) The barrel has no rib so I'm thinking of ideas how to attach said sight. I think fixing it to the moderator is the wrong position, the breach area is lower so would appreciate any input. Also I don't seem to be able to get a definitive answer to the use of steel shot in a hushpower. Mine has a fixed full choke. Some say it must be maximum of half choke, others that a full choke is fine if average loads are used, no high velocity heavy loads. Do you have any info to add? Cheers

Wow! That's amazing info, very useful with lots to think about and consider. Some research would seem my next step. Thank you

As always, great replies and feedback, thanks. So any recommendations on where to get some lessons and where they will check the gun fit? As a footnote; my girl Sophie did her first ever water retrieve on Friday. I shot a Woodie and it dropped right in the middle of a pond, she had to push through weed and reeds on the edge then swim out to it, it was a perfect clean pick up and retrieve to me waiting proudly on the bank. Amazing for a mix breed rescue dog. I love her 😍

I'm sure this will have been discussed plenty of times before, but what are peeps thoughts on having a gun fitted. I'm not talking about trying a butt pad and cheek extension, rather the whole 9 yards where the woodwork is actually modified to fit an individuals body. I know there is a saying about buying an expensive gun that doesn't fit versus a cheap gun and having it fitted properly, the expensive gun will never hit the target as much. Put another way, should one spend 2k on a nice gun or a grand on the £500 one you already have and generally enjoy using? What experiences has anyone had, who did you use and what was the overall cost? In this months Sporting Gun, Holland and Holland were mentioned for this service, at £160 per hour for a whole day spent checking, testing, taking measurements, getting one shooting etc. I know they are extremely experienced and skillful but are these type of established gunshops, where one has to go. I'm hoping to get a little bit of money in the next year and my shooting average is going down hill, it's not the gun quality or reliability, it's not the cartridges, it's definitely me and like a pair of glasses, as one gets older the lenses you've had for 10 years just don't do the job any more, so I feel is the case with reaction times, anticipation of the moving target, muscle control and a bundle of other age related issues.

I'm at that stage of life where weight of kit is a definite issue. What to take, especially when you have a dog that needs water, limits the heavier stuff. With the hard ground, trying to push natural foliage in, is not easy so 3 or 4 poles and a net are top priority, plus a seat (years ago I'd have knelt on the ground, not now though) I wear 2 full cartridge belts, a dozen half shells, 4 Fuds, 2 floaters and the flapper with small motor bike size battery, some ear defenders and sun glasses. That's now becoming too much. It's great when I can drive to a site. Knowing what to take gets harder to predict, in the 70s, I think I just had 2 or 3 full body deeks, a knife, gun and cartridges

That is it pretty much spot on. I don't want a big bag, just a pleasant few hours, which actually I always do have. I'm meant to be semi retired, but customers have different ideas and I seem to be working harder than ever, leaving little time, or energy for my shooting. Recon is almost non existent, consisting of a few minutes checking out the odd field, then setting up and giving it a go for an hour or three, almost never do I get a good length of time to look around to see where the best places are, good flight lines etc, it's more a case of rock up and give it a go. I'm sure the birds are wiser than in the past, or is that just another excuse. Perhaps watching the likes of Garrad and Crowman on YouTube adds a level of expectation, they spend more time building a hide than I get for the whole outing. I'm not one for giving up and will shoot as long as I can get to the fields and fire a gun. Thanks MM

I think I've lost the art of decoying. As far as I can remember I've only had one outing all season where the pigeon have decoyed. I've tried all sorts of patterns, rotary doesn't work, Silosocks had poor effect, best luck was with half shells and flapper, but even then I can't seem to pull them in.i was on a large field of wheat stubble today, hundreds when I arrived, had a great spot in the middle of the field using a broken bale, the hide was good, no birds flared off, but they just weren't interested, kept pitching a few hundred yards away on another part of the field. I was between a well frequented cops and a long hedge of good size tall bushes and trees, with good feeding area and flight paths all around. They stayed and gave the odd shot or two for half an hour or so, then gradually disappeared. Any that came back totally ignored the deeks. Its been very similar all season and to add insult to injury, I've been shooting very poorly.

The farmers son is building an area to train fork lift and digger drivers and is afraid the trainees may get injured! or report to the police, getting helicopters and cop cars turning up (his words) The crop in the nearby fields are not even his, so he is not worried about the pigeon damage. Some fields are over 1/4 mile away and he is not even open to a hushpower. His dad actually asked me to shoot there only a week ago, but he has signed the farm and running of it over to his kids. They try and keep him out of the loop with everything that happens. Unfortunately another shooter took some possible "paying customers " there last Sunday and with no wind, the shots could be heard for miles

I had some rough news this week that a big part of one of my perms will be a no go from now on, real shame as the buck wheat is being hammered. So I went over to another little farm that has only done hay for the last 3 years but has a fairly big quantity of maze being harvested this week (weather permitting) As with all crops I guess its about what's left on the floor, but other than corvid, has anyone had good pigeon shooting over it?

What are peoples thoughts on Silosocks? Bought some at a game fair the other month, used them for the first time on wheat stubble last Saturday. They are huge and not especially realistic, birds didn't flare off, a few actually decoyed in, but a lot just drifted left or right of them with no interest. Conditions were sunny and a pretty strong wind.

Following on from sewn buckwheat, does anyone know if pigeon and corvids go for the young germinated seedlings. I tried the sewn fields last Saturday, had one pigeon and a few blacks. Great to be out in the fresh air, but very few birds around.

That's encouraging. Like a bit of corvid action

So my main perm will be sewing buck wheat this coming week, weather permitting, I'm not hopeful as the farm has some pretty up to date machinery, not good for spillages, this is a new one for me and wondering if anyone has any experience of said sewn seed, do woodies and corvid like it, or will it be a non starter. Not had a decoying day since last autumn, just a couple of roosting hours, nothing on the sewn wheat or beans.

Don't tempt me. I'm a Franchi nut, got 4 of them already. Very nice looking gun. What weight is it?

My dad had 3 of these many years ago, one was a .22 rifle, another a 4.10 and the other a 20 bore. With a metal butt pad, the 20 used to kick like a mule. Good luck with the sale

Wow! That looks great. How do you feel the eye line is now? I had a 20bore version, could not get on with it, again partly due to the view up the barrel to the moderator

Sorry I can't supply any photos, not very good at tech stuff, but I made my own rib, from a 10mm wide strip of sprung steel out of the front axle of a 60s VW Beetle. I temporarily attached it to the moderator and did some test shots. First shot was high, so I lowered the rib at the breach end, which put the POI exactly where it should be. Now with it bonded onto the gun, I've had a few shots at wood pigeons and results are encouraging. The view up the barrel I feel is much improved, giving a flatter aim, drawing my eyes to the target rather than the top of the moderator. Now I think its down to me to improve what I do whilst shooting, I think I sometimes lift my cheek from the comb and I may be stopping the gun as I fire instead of carrying on the swing, bad habits but fixable. The gun itself isn't great for snap shots, so roost shooting was not the best practice to test my rib mod, being more user friendly when decoying. Only my opinion of course, my much lighter over under is far quicker, though with horses and Alpaca near a small wood I sometimes visit, the moderated 20 is far more preferable noise wise.

OK, all great advice. Many thanks.

The gun has a full length moderator. I've raised the comb to stop it shooting low, so going back to a lower comb will put my eye along the barrel rather than on top, but will go back to shooting low. I don't like having to try and compensate for this and prefer to see my target rather than cover it. I was thinking about a graduated rib, higher at the breech end tapering down to nothing at the muzzle end. This would keep it from shooting low but possibly make the view more appealing. If that makes sense

It's a single barrel Pedretti 20 bore

Hi guys, just wondering if anyone uses a high rib.on their shotgun for shooting pigeons and corvids? I'm considering putting one on my Hushpower to lift the point of impact. I've raised the comb and it helps it from shooting low, but I now see all of the top of the barrel/drainpipe and its off putting. Thoughts anyone?

As seems to be the norm, I'm struggling to find any birds, but then everywhere is 3 inch high wheat and a bit of grass. There is a couple of small wooded/copse area for roosters. I had the exact same Hushpower, but found it heavy, but a nicer handling weapon than the Mossberg. I now just have a single shot Pedretti fully moderated 20 bore. I've added some height to the comb to lift the point of impact. It was shooting very low, this rather basic modification and the fact that it is lighter has given it a permanent place in my cabinet, allowing for some more discreet outings. We'll done on your excursion, respect to anyone who does well with a Husher, especially a new one. Cheers for sharing.

That looks excellent, can I come and live with you for the winter 🤣

I've got a Franchi Raptor 20 bore semi auto, or does it have to be a pump?

Many thanks for the encouragement. I've got the number for another farm, but always feel face to face is the best way and if I get the green light, then a nice bottle of red and some cheese at Christmas, plus some dog treats keeps the land owner on side, it's not "creeping" rather showing appreciation