London Best

My last wildfowling trip was about 1992/3, after doing it for well over 27 years. I never consciously gave it up, but had taken up stalking (as well as all he picking up and helping to run a serious game shoot) and there simply were not enough hours in my life.

Just before Christmas I was driving down a narrow, one way street in the local town. There were cars parked both sides for the length of the street, so I was doing, maybe 15mph. The Land Rover 110 was literally ticking over in third gear. The front near side wheel hit a pothole. The reaction on the steering felt ‘soggy’, rather than the usual kickback you would expect. On inspection I found the track rod was bent like a banana. If this could happen at such a low speed to a vehicle built like a 110, imagine what damage could be done to a normal saloon car, especially if going a little faster. The bill for a new track rod, 2 new track rod ends and clamps, plus labour, cost me £190.

Hottentot was the word used by the original Dutch settlers in South Africa for the Khoikhoi and San people. If you read older hunting books about the region it comes up quite often.

Nobody who has done any game keeping would not shoot jays.

Don’t kid yourself that otters only eat fish. They will eat anything with blood in it!

I have only ever seen one Red Backed Shrike in my life. Never seen a Crossbill.

It CAN be done in under a minute with a hacksaw! But I’m sure that’s not what you meant.

More dinghies!

Best advice is don’t buy clothing on mail order. Especially shoos/boots. Always try stuff on before you buy.

It’s a T8, which is a fattish reflex mod which comes back a good way over the barrel. The rifle only has a 20 inch barrel anyway, which puts the mod closer to the scope. The good thing is that it stops me shooting deer at very last light, which I don’t like to do anyway.

The man I knew had never shot at a clay in his life.

I bet that is a delight to use. I do love a light gun.

More gold braid than a French admiral.

Plus one........1980. Not touched it since.

Good post. Actually, that should be mandatory for vegans!

I could not agree more. It’s grotesque! Just SOOO wrong.

I used to shoot with a guy who always removed a shotgun’s bead. It doesn’t bother me...........I’m not looking at it.

Definitely not rare. I have some here. I think the Purdey’s too are Eley-made Grand Prix.

You must be about as close to being an anti as it is possible to be without actually being one. What are you doing participating on a field sports forum?

Head of Security.

@Scully Very different when I was a kid. Dad and myself had a gun in every corner and alcove in the house. I don’t think Mother ever even commented on it. Long after that, shortly after I moved to this house in 1979, there was a spate of burglaries in the area. They seemed to be working their way up this road. I saw an advert for gun cabinets and thought them a good idea. I bought one and have had that one since 1970.

Four wheel drive engaged. Trolley jack under front and ease clutch up. If rear is driving vehicle will move. Repeat with trolley jack under rear.If front is driving vehicle will move.

I may be wrong but I think moderators have always been on ticket since the Firearms Act of 1937 was brought in to control rifles. Worded as, “or any accessory designed or adapted to diminish any noise or flash from any such firearm”. Or it may even have been brought in when pistols were controlled in 1920.

They can make a rifle over long and unwieldy and unbalanced. The one on my .308 has been both the ruination of the rifle and the making of it at the same time. It’s ruined the balance and made it 4inches longer and blocks light from the scope such that I lose 20 mins at dusk. Also made the rifle heavier to carry and will not sit muzzle up on a sling. BUT the extra weight helps with a steadier shot and helps reduce recoil, which the moderator has reduced by 60% anyway. Groups have improved dramatically.

I, too, have a Parsons about the same age. A friend bought a pair for about £600 and a few years later gave up shooting (?) and sold them to me for £300. I split them and sold one to a mate for £150.