Fellside

The alkanet oil is only to enhance the figuring. If you keep layering coats of alkanet oil, you will have a finish which is changed by rain. Hard to describe - the rain drops leave dull marks on the shiny surface. Once you’ve defined the grain with alkanet, just use ordinary stock conditioning oil (as welshwarrior suggests) to build up a finish. This stuff is much more durable and rain proof. I was out in a down pour a couple of weeks ago - with a stock which I had only recently finished with 5 applications of CCL. It was completely unaffected. P.S I also recommend soaking CCL in to the internal surfaces of the stock - to prevent water ingress and swelling. It works very well. Not a huge amount, just enough to sink in.

If you need corrected vision for distance contact lenses are the ultimate solution, as unlike glasses, they don’t magnify the subject, be it clays or game. At least that’s what I was advised by an ophthalmologist/shooting man and it worked fine for me. A word of warning: the results aren’t instantaneous. Even with the contact lenses it takes a little while (say a couple of thousand cartridges) to get used to them. There’s my two pennies worth - hope it helps.

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It’s a nice piece of wood - worth the effort. It’s amazing how a good finish can transform a stock. I once ‘rescued’ an old browning with a factory finish which had lovely wood under a horrible coloured varnish. It was a completely different gun when finished…….even with me working on it…… 😀

In my experience, if you want to achieve the classic London ‘ruby’ colour and grain definition, apply the alkanet oil BEFORE you seal the pores. The wood needs to soak up a mixture of spirit and alkanet before the wood is sealed. Keep applying till you get the colour you like. After you’ve got the ruby tone sorted, then apply standard boiled linseed oil minus the alkanet. There’s plenty of info out there about building up a gloss oil finish. Boiled linseed oil with hardeners (thinners) are useful. London gunstock conditioning oil - I think it’s called - is a good one. You don’t have to wait forever between applications. Good luck!

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Ha ha 🤣 very good. Just like a lot of the pheasants I shoot at them…..?!

A goose being even larger than the pheasant graphic would be dead in the air for sure. On a different note - would you say the pattern is skewed to the right…?

I think you’re right, it will be a redesigned 525, 725 etc, of course it will. As such it will be judged on its merits, features, balance, handling etc. I know what you mean, about some people who ‘upgrade’ regardless, as soon as the new version of whatever is launched - IPhone, car etc. However It’s a tough gun market out there, and I wouldn’t imagine the majority will simply buy the latest 825 automatically. I think for most, a new gun is a carefully considered proposition.

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That’s interesting. I have noticed on the American web site the weight being listed as less than the previous sporters. I think they offer balancing weights…..?

They’ll be in the gun shops before we know it - and we can all grab a look and a swing.

OK didn’t know that thanks. My experience is with the 525s. Call me old fashioned but I like the deep chunky action of the 525 and the way it ‘feels’. Curious about these shallower actions which the 825 has. As I say - trying one is key.

Don’t mind the striker pitting. I’ve had 10s of thousands of cart’s through Brownings with pitted strikers. It’s never caused problems. I can understand why it may concern some people however. Wouldn’t mind a few shots with the 825 - haven’t seen one yet. The adjustable comb version looks good, as the stock is cut behind the thumb groove and not across it. Gun smiths have been preferring such a cut (which doesn’t interfere with the hand grip) for years. Looks like Browning have listened and responded. When I can find a demo gun…….?

Sorry late to this thread. Just thought I should throw this in the mix. I have heard arguments that a £400 licence fee is justified - as the price has not increased for 10 years. It’s surprising how many believe this is justified. If you inflation link £50 (SGC renewal) from 10 years ago, using the Bank of England’s inflation calculator, you get £67. So that’s the inflation angle dispensed with.