London Best

Edge of seat now..........

Pig just flown past here!

I just count kills in my head during a drive. The empties all go over my shoulder and my wife picks them up at the end of the drive. Why else would I take her? Anyway, I did buy her a magnet stick.

You don’t want to shoot all cocks, Lloyd. The hens are far better eating!

Sounds like a simple low battery to me.

Croots is very genuine and good quality. As you said earlier do not be fooled by the Guardian products.

Be aware that the French/continentals refer to a .410 as a 12mm. .410” is obviously 10,4mm. For some reason for this ammunition they use the outside dimension of the cartridge case.

I have exactly that. Mine is by Parsons and is as good as I have seen.

The BBC sees itself as the political opposition, with Laura Kuenssberg as Leader of the Opposition. They are certainly more effective than the Labour Party.

It sounds as if your shooting is just a casual hobby/pastime and not a way of life as it is to me.

I formed the opinion long ago that people are being taught not to use the handbrake at lights/junctions. Because they nearly all ruddy well do it.

I find the language barrier to be the biggest problem, especially with one friend near the border. He is Geordie cross Cumbrian cross Scots. Has to tell me everything three times.

I know it’s not really a Cumbria trait. I have a few friends in Cumbria and they were all taught how to use a gun properly.

This must be a Cumbria thing!

+1

Many thanks for the comprehensive reply, Scully. I have no idea of your age (and don’t want to know) but I would bet that you did not learn to shoot a shotgun using a SxS with an auto-safe? The other point which arouses my curiosity is the CF rifle. Am I right in thinking that you do not stalk deer in a woodland setting?

Twice on the same day is going some. When he gets you with a R and L you know he really means it!

A good outcome. That is exactly why everyone should take a dog shooting with them.

Far from snobbish, Scully, very down to Earth. And I have no desire to argue or fall out with you or anybody else. I make no secret of my dislike of O/U guns. I can see nothing good about them. Just my opinion. I follow your posts with interest and find that you make some of the most sensible posts on the forum. You are obviously a very experienced shooting man. That said, I find it hard to understand your attitude, almost bravado, of ‘I never use a safety catch on any gun.’ I have no idea from where or why you developed that idea, or indeed if that is what you were taught, and by whom. But, from wherever it came, it is so obviously wrong.

Don’t be silly! It’s the shooting season. Unless, of course, you are not a shooter?

I am sure you are right figgy. But these days many are not taught at all by anybody, they just fancy having a go and take it up. Some will have a lesson or two at the local clay ground, but generally the beginner’s lessons do not teach them to shoot but merely to break a clay.

I knew someone who put a .22lr under his chin and pulled the trigger. The bullet passed between his bottom jaw bones, through his tongue and deflected on his palette. It went round the inside of his skull and exited the top of his head without killing him.

Don’t wish to argue, but: There are many faulty guns in use. I see many who have “learnt to shoot” at the clay ground who are a liability when they migrate into game shooting. Everyone can slam a gun in a hurry but when it happens, although no guarantee of safety, surely it is better if the safety has been applied automatically when the gun was opened before loading. And, if you are doing it properly, you should also apply your non auto safety catch before opening and loading. Anyone who considers themselves safe because they always use the safety catch is a fool. It is just an extra help towards safety, so why not use it? And don’t forget that many also have intercepting spears.Muzzle awareness at ALL times is the key.

The SxS hammerless ejector was the gun developed for driven game shooting, not the single muzzle loader. There is nothing modern about semi autos. They were developed for the American market gunner. Nothing sporting about the idea as it was conceived. I do not dislike s/a for some purposes. I do dislike O/U. Each to their own.

To be fair, I had quite the opposite experience on a range in Nevada. I took my Son in law to have a play as he had never used handguns. The range safety was very impressive. Security airlock doors in and out and as visitors we were only allowed in under the supervision of the most gorgeous young female range officer imaginable. Laughably, the target was a silhouette about fifteen yards away. My lad shot 10 metre air pistol at home so assumed a one handed hold. Range beauty said,”no,no, you will never hit anything like that, use combat grip.” He said he would try his way first and proceeded to put 30 rounds from four different calibres into about a two inch hole. The lady showed the target to everyone else there.