Fellside

Yes - I have many pigeon shots like that. They liberate our instincts. I think some of the best clay shots learn to harness these instincts and shoot with a very natural relaxed style.

Interesting comments here. Most newbies start shooting gun up - as in fully mounted. It’s a reasonable starting point for beginner clays, just to get them hitting and smiling, so vital. At some stage though, they need to be encouraged to do the ‘star wars’ thing: “let the force be with you”, “let you’re instincts take over”. I say that slightly tongue in cheek - but only slightly. Instincts, re hand eye coordination, can only take over when the gun mount (from down) and the swing becomes second nature. Gun up isn’t therefore wrong but merely part of learning (and helpful for DTL disciplines). It’s hard for me to remember my first steps, but I did shoot gun up. I recall struggling on skeet that way. When I finally learned to mount and swing as one flowing movement, I shot my first 25 straight. Not that I’ve done it frequently (?!). There you are - my two penneth of a ramble. Re gun fit. This is really tricky, as the newbie has to gain a consistent practiced gun mount before fitting can be assessed. Only then can an expert coach / fitter match them with their required measurements. If they’re lucky they will transpire to be Mr or Mrs average and their first gun is ideal. If not, they will have a gun to part ex’ or have some stock work done. Personally I am a long way from the ‘Mr average’ dimensions, being tall. I therefore nearly always need more drop and cast. A great fitting gun with nice balance though…… is a marvellous instrument!

You have a natural engaging manner - so your half way there! Re content. 1. Please detail choke and distance for patterning. As mentioned also look at quality of shot - poss crush test for hardness. Or even just ask Eley re antimony content - if you’re doing a vid’ they should be keen to support. 2. You mentioned in the vid’ that you’d be testing recoil (I think…?) and didn’t. If it’s possibly to measure ft/lb recoil energy - don’t ask me how - this would be a winner. There are many marketing claims about ‘smooth’ and ‘less recoil’ etc. etc. but all unsubstantiated. Commenting on the impression of recoil is helpful, but capturing the values……!! You would really have something there. You’d have to use the same gun for all testing. 3. Quoting velocity from manufacturers claims is frequently (mostly) inaccurate. There was a really dedicated PW member who collated huge lists of his own actual measured cart’ velocities - using a chrono’. Sorry can’t remember who. Impressive though. Rarely did the values equal the manufacturer’s claims. Perhaps try. I hope this helps and thanks for the video. Even though it needs a little extra development, it’s enjoyable to watch. Good luck!

Similar in my area. Flight line strongly established by mid afternoon. Hectic couple of hours, hot barrels at times, then a few pre-rousting birds. Final whistle at about 7ish. Not complaining - usually about 3 or 4 hours of nice shooting.

Thanks all - much appreciated. Latest. I have now thoroughly degreased all relevant threads - tooth brush with detergent, dried off with kitchen roll and repeated several times. This has rendered the threads very dry. I have now reassembled. There was a very different ‘feel’ when turning the screws back in. Very grippy with much more frictional resistance. I haven’t had a chance to try the gun as it is currently raining heavily. However I do expect an improvement. If it needs a little touch of mild loctite, I now have some at hand. Fingers crossed I think it should be sorted.

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Thanks. Just had a look - and the spring washers are present. What I did notice however, was a lot of black grease on the screw threads…..?! Odd for them to be so heavily greased. A trip to Halfords for some degreaser and loctite tomorrow. I will see if that sorts it.

Thanks very much for the replies so far. It is a brand new gun and I have considered returning it. However, if there is a quick easy fix, this may end up being less hassle than returning. The idea of a loctite type solution appeals at the moment. I have also wondered if there may be some manufacturing grease left on the threads. My current thinking: cleaning the threads with isopropyl alcohol and applying an appropriate type of loctite may sort. Thanks again for the help folks! Any more ideas - please chip in.

I have recently bought a weihrauch HW98S for my son’s birthday. Had great fun plinking yesterday with the birthday boy and his school pal - milk cartons full of water, tin cans, targets etc. etc. All good stuff. However, I noticed after about 50 shots that the stock was loose. I tightened the stock retaining screws. That should have been job sorted, however the screws continued loosening. I noticed they were beginning to slacken off after only about 20 shots (?!). I have had springers since I was a teenager and appreciate the need for regular checking / tightening of the stock screws. However this rifle seems to work loose very much quicker than anything I’ve known. Any advice re sorting this would be much appreciated.

Yes agreed - I think 10 past 7 is too early near houses on a Sunday. Strictly speaking after 7 is legal, but is it considerate? I think the variety of answers we have here demonstrates a wide range of views, but starting at 12 (or 10 if you’re pushing your luck) seems a happy compromise. The afternoon - pre roost shift can be a great one anyway.

Yes agreed Rewulf, public perception re grouse shooting is often negative - but also frequently ignorant as to the conservation value. Derelict grouse moors become havens for nothing more than starving foxes and crows. Nesting lapwings and curlews become mere scavenger fodder. A good evidence based policy by UU should (?) acknowledge the provision of public goods which a well run moor provides. It’s also worth noting that the majority of hen harrier successes last year were on grouse moors. Just food for thought. As I say fingers crossed - that they make an appropriate decision for jobs and conservation. We can only watch and wait.

Evening Rewulf, I would suggest it’s not just about ‘those poor grouse shoots’. BASC have hit them where it always hurts these days - their PR unit. If their image is at risk of being tarnished, because rural workers are loosing jobs in an a very economically sensitive patch of the country….?! It’s a good angle (and a real one). No company wants to be committing resources to a PR stinker. It’s no surprise at all that UU have responded. Let’s keep our fingers crossed now for all the beaters, flankers, pickers up, dog breeders, beat keepers, head keepers and equipment suppliers. Imagine being a beat keeper with a family and a tied cottage on UU land right now…..? At least there’s now a chance that UU may do the right thing. Fingers crossed!

If I’m close to housing (as in a couple of fields away), I just avoid the morning altogether. Not worth disrupting church services and people having a relaxing morning. Just my personal approach - each to their own and every situation will be slightly different. The last time I did this. I shot from 12:30 till about 7 ish and had over a hundred pigeons. If the shooting is worth while - 7 or so hours is a good outing. Good luck, hope you have a great time.

I completely agree. When you see how effective 18 grams of 7s are through a 410…..?! By comparison, 24 or 25 grams through a 20 bore seems more than enough.

This one has done the rounds before on PW. If I recall, there were as many people who liked 7 1/2 for pigeons as those who didn’t. Personally, for what it’s worth, I find them quite limiting. OK for over the decoys, but not great beyond that. I suppose there’s a very good reason why the manufacturers produce 6s for pigeons….?! Post script. An ounce of UK 7s (2.4mm) is a different story. Very user friendly through an open choke - and more reach.

Yes understood. At the end of the day they are just unreliable - all marketing front. I haven’t had any trouble with Energizer. I suppose that’s only a market survey of ‘one’ individual however. No idea what others have experienced. They do have a ‘non leak’ claim….?

Hi John, I have had similar disasters with Duracell. One even leaked from a clock and stained an old cabinet below. Also similar leaking stories to those above re kit etc. In each case I was able to claim ‘new for new’ from Duracell for ruined property. They do their best to discourage of course. I ended up speaking to a dedicated office in Portugal (at their cost) emailed photos of damage, examples of replacement prices etc. They payed up. I too now use Energizer batteries. Wouldn’t touch Duracell with a barge poll. I can’t now find the phone number, and it may have even changed, but if you start with customer services…?

Well done - great work! I invited my MP to a local grouse moor (a really good example) and he didn’t even reply….?!

Glyphosate is strongly associated with abnormal foetus development in mammals (including humans). Plenty of evidence from South American soya farms - where it is sprayed from aircraft. Also the usual lab rat experiments. It is quite alarming that it’s being used so liberally in farmland Britain. I have certainly noticed increased usage in my area.

That one’s been done to death. We are where we are. We just have to make the best of it. The 410 derogation would be a welcome rescue.

Potential ‘derogation’ for the 410….?! According to some (closer to the matter than I am), this is going to happen. I have more of a ‘let’s hope so’ attitude. Nothing is done until the ink is dry.

A carrion crow can burst an eyeball very easily - it’s what they do for a living. Each to their own with picking up, but personally I train my dogs to leave them. Cereal stubbles aren’t a problem.

Haven’t ruled out a 20 yet….. or even a 28…..?!

Yes that’s certainly a good solution 👍. Last season I covers miles with my standard 12 bore and it seemed to weigh twice as much by the end of a day…. 🙂

Having also considered one of these - I found them to weigh typically about 7lb 4oz with 30” tubes. Too heavy for me, as it was going to be a dedicated walked up gun.