Macnab

Yes I agree she does look a bit three legged in the photo but I can assure you she had four legs the last time I saw her this morning. She goes like the clappers when onto a runner! Here she is with four legs. M

Liver cocker spaniel puppy (DOG) for sale in Mid Sussex. Dog born 28th Feb. KC registered and legally docked/dewclawed. Will come with all relevant paperwork. Dam is my bitch and Field Trial Award Winner. She is a great example of the dogs from Whaupley Gundogs and has a very strong working pedigree which I can forward to anyone interested. I have worked her for 2 seasons and she is much admired. Photo of her attached. Sire is FTW Whaupley Scarp (Paddy). Countless FTW and FTCH in 5 generation pedigree. All paperwork available for interested parties. Dog will be available last week in April. Price will be £550. 50% deposit will secure him. Feel free to come and see him between Haywards Heath and Horsham, just off the A23. Please PM for any other info. M

Another vote for Tom at Handcross. Knows his stuff and has a surprisingly large stock of guns, rifles, ammo, knives, scopes and all the necessary kit. Can be a bit hectic on a Saturday morning so don't wander in then for a chat. He likes to compete on price when he can. I think the KWG cartridges are loaded by Express as well. M

Sam Did you shift this? M

H&H - thank you for the full explanation. It's much more than we got on the day or the night before. We were merely told not to shoot any sows with young in tow. To be perfectly frank the fact she was alone, so big and so 'beautifully ugly' made me think she couldn't be anything other than a boar. I will know better next time. Afterwards, having checked her teats, it was clear she had no dependent young. Stuart - great question and no apology required. The wife wasn't keen on me going on the trip in first place so arriving back with stories of group flagellation might have confirmed all her suspicions. The broken nose was enough... M

njc - yes I agree, a proper fit would have made a big difference. This rifle was deceptively small and light, and every shot after the first was a bit of a challenge not to flinch. In fact I really liked it because it was showing some age and would definitely have had a few good stories to tell. I would still look into a bigger calibre and it hasn't put me off but I want a rifle I can still use in the UK for deer without too much fuss with my FEO. I will keep my 6.5 for long range hill stalking and use the 30-06 for closer range stuff in woodland and driven in Europe. H&H - it turns out she was a barren sow, but being inexperienced I thought she was a boar, so no teeth although the flukey chap I was travelling with is expecting a bucket full of teeth from his haul. M

Thanks chaps. Bugle is on the mend although face looking like an over ripe banana right now. Stuart - my 6.5 is too long and too heavy for this type of work (it's a Finnlight but with mod and bipod and scope seems to weigh a bloody ton and is not well balanced) and the scope isn't right. Plus when the locals all said the 6.5 is too small I didn't feel qualified to argue with them. I have just thoroughly enjoyed reading your write-up from a few weeks ago and see that it worked admirably for you. Great shooting. Maybe I would take it next time, but then I lose my excuse to add to the cabinet.... M PS for the fans of ballistics the 6.5 is about 2700 fps and 2250 foot pounds and the 8 x 68S is about 2950 fps and 3875 foot pounds, hence one slightly off centre hooter....especially if you take the shot like a shotgun and lean into the swinging rifle.

Just back from a couple of days of driven boar and deer in Germany. Should say that I have only done this once before and am now totally addicted. Beware and be warned, I think heroin may be a better option..... Shooting was 150 kms North of Berlin in a large forest. Not overly beautiful countryside but definitely made for shooting with a highseat looking onto every field as you drove through. My largest rifle is a 6.5 x 55 and set up for long shots so I left it at home as I was told I could borrow a 7 x 64, in fact I was given a lovely old 8 x 68S with an ancient Zeiss 1.5-6x42 scope but more on that later. First day was a bit of a wash-out for me. We were all placed in our miradors (large wooden high seat platforms) and I could hear a few shots but didn't see anything and as we only did one long drive that day I had to content myself with hearing other people's stories of success when we all finished. The bag that day was nine roe, five boar and four fallow. I am a keen salmon fisherman so I am happy to play the long game and I don't necessarily need to 'score' to have a good day out. Someone else's boar from first day Next day was a different day altogether with an early start after a late night of boozing with some very good fun locals. Again this day was to be only one drive but it would be five hours long and we were all placed in our miradors by 8 am, nursing dry mouths and sore heads. I had a pretty good 360 deg view from my position and could see through the mature beech woodland for up to about 200 m in some directions. There was low cover in some directions but bare woodland floor in others. There were two other miradors in view which meant no shooting in their direction even though close shots could be safe as they would be down into the soft ground. The woodland floor was covered in paths and tracks obviously used by pigs and deer and only 50 m away there was a very well used rutting stand. This certainly got the heart pounding and I didn't have to wait long before a fallow doe appeared out of nowhere 'pronking' towards and past my stand. I wound the scope back to 1.5 mag and leant into the shot as she came broadside on. There was the most almighty boom and she dropped on the spot about 30 yards away. As soon as the shot went off I felt liquid running down my face. I should say now that for anyone who hasn't fired a 8 x 68S take a quick look at the ballistics. Suffice to say that the scope had broken my nose and I had blood pouring from a gash in my nose and one of my nostrils. It didn't hurt at the time and certainly made my hangover disappear pretty quickly. Half a pint of your own blood is a great cure. But I knew I was in for some ribbing and just felt pretty stupid. I told myself 'at least you hit it!'. So that was first ever fallow and my first running deer, and my first broken nose. For the record I am just under 6'4" and 16 stone and quite used to shooting 'normal' guns and rifles. Took this on my phone during a lull The minutes and hours whizzed by as I watched several roe run past out of range and a herd of fallow milling around on a ridge which would not have been safe. I had a small fallow pricket come by very close at speed which I missed in front, mostly because I was a bit wary of the recoil as you might imagine. Then I saw my first proper big boar which came trundling through the woods between me and the next stand. Just as it was coming into range it disappeared into the cover. An hour later the beaters started coming close and the boar had obviously gone to ground as it reappeared running back the way it had come. I suddenly realised this was my chance and tracked it in the scope until it slowed to a walk. I took the precaution of sitting down and using the rail as a rest as the animal was a fair distance away, especially with only x6 mag. I let rip and saw immediately that it was hit square on and ******* out blood. It dropped pretty much immediately and was in full view. My first boar. As I was to find out later it was much bigger and further away than I thought and in fact was too big for the day's hunting. We had been asked not to shoot any boar over 50 kgs and this one was about 90 kgs but the host was very understanding, especially when he saw my nose.... Next a little piglet exploded out of the cover near me and suddenly changed angle to run past me. He got a shot and was bowled into cover. I couldn't see him and kept the scope on the point I last saw him for five minutes. We then had a pre-agreed strict no shooting break from 11.30 to 11.45 when you could come down from your platform, have a pee and collect your game. Being a bit thick I rushed up to my dead animals and found the piglet stone dead in the undergrowth. In fact of course I should have had my rifle in case there was anything just wounded. I dragged the piglet and fallow back to my stand but the boar would need a truck. View from my platform after the break 11.45 I was back on the platform and loaded up again. Things were a bit quiet in the second half. I only saw one fallow doe quite a long way off, but she made the mistake of stopping with a safe back stop. Again the x6 mag didn't seem enough but I decided there was nothing to lose. She skipped up and ran off but I lost her and it would be another hour and a half before I could go and see. That was my last shot and by 1.30 we were all down and shouting out our presence to be safe as we wandered around the wood. To my relief the last shot had struck her in the engine room and she had only gone 40 m. I was elated with two boar and two deer for the day. Five shots and four clean kills. I then just had to explain my face..... I had also had a good view of some of my neighbour's action. He had a boar, a very small roe and a fallow. The boar was only injured and was set on by the small dogs. It was a hell of a scrap and these pigs take some killing. I had to fly back that night and missed the final ceremony with the horns and the prayers to St Hubert. But I did see the final bag laid out. It was an impressive 42 boar (mine biggest - whoops), 19 roe and 17 fallow. I think there were about 23 guns. The other chap I had travelled with shot nine that day; four pigs, three fallow and two roe so he had a small grin as well as we dashed for the plane. A very poor shot of my first boar It was a great trip and I have already got a variation in the post asking for a 30-06. The 8 x 68S was fun but I don't like being scared of guns. Funny thing is the photos for the variation include my black eyes. Anyone got a 30-06 they aren't using? I am tempted by a Blaser. M

Great photo. I can almost hear the muted crunching of the snow under foot. M

Enjoy it. Practise your kneeling and standing shots until you are confident then on the day you will be cool as a cucumber, as everyone else starts getting the yips. Do a search on here for tips on the course and learning. Try and use the course as a refresher for work you have done in the weeks beforehand, if you try and learn it all that week you will struggle. Deerquest is a good start but be aware it is out of date and some of the answers have been changed. If you can afford it sign up to the online learning and testing organised via the BDS. You can get it via their website. Good luck. M

Did these ever work out? I killed quite a few with my Larson traps in the spring but we seem to be overrun by the little blighters again. M

Just in case anyone else is searching the site planning to do this the following worked well for me.... I soaked the brush in meths for 4 days (but this could be longer or shorter within reason) then rinsed it well in fresh water, let it dry in the sun as much as possible then gradually fill the empty case with borax using a funnel and a garden cane working the powder all the way into the tip. After a few days work as much of the powder out of the brush as you can and soften up the skin by gently rolling it around. Bingo. M

I won't use them after they fobbed me off for 4 months over a high seat which never arrived and in the end I had to cancel. They never returned my calls and I ended up having to speak to a whole load of them and go over the whole story again each time. If you MUST use them check what you want is in stock first. Bushwear for me for all my kit except guns/rifles/ammo. M

Gaz you are a nothing short of a legend and you get my vote as PW Man of the Decade. M

BASC were fine with the .223 but I did get it in writing from them first in case there was any confusion on the day. Frankly the guy didn't even check the calibres or the ammo properly. One guy did turn up with an old 303 and a side sight and FMJ. Needless to say he ended up having to borrow a rifle to pass the test. M

Well done Mikee - great effort. I defy anyone to do the course properly and say they did not get anything out of it. It is also good fun and a chance to meet a few likeminded nutters. It has opened up my stalking for me as I can now walk out of the door when I want to and not have to ask my mentor in advance to give up his evenings or get up up too early. For anyone who is thinking of doing it - get booked up and get your head in the manual. ALL the answers are in there and once you book up you will find the time to read it for a half an hour a day. The shooting test was a problem for a few on my course (one guy was blasting away at my target!). My two bits of advice would be 1) get LOADS of practice in. I must have fired at least a hundred rounds in practice and once you know you can do it it's amazing what a bit of confidence can do. It's good for your shooting in general. 2) remember you can use your 22CF with the right ammo. I used my .223 with 55 gr softpoints while others were blowing their lungs out with their .270's. Get it done! M

Suppose it rather depends what you want it for. I would bow to Baldrick's experience as his sounds like it had more use than mine gets. But I have had a 2003 4Life for a couple of years now (52k when I bought it for £6k with FSH) and it has done everything I have ever asked of it. It doesn't get used all the time but when it is in use it takes a beating, and in the last few weeks has done a 1900 mile round trip to Sutherland and back including towing out other stuck 4x4's, carting shedloads of gear and dogs, plenty of miles properly offroad on terrible ground, launching boats off trailers etc. It does get well looked after and had cambelt changed by main dealer this year (not cheap). Amazing how much people want to borrow it for this or that job they need to do. Definitely not the most comfortable car I have ever driven but I am very pleased with mine (watch it break down now on Sat when I'm out shooting....) M

Thank you chaps. All very helpful. M

Hi all Done a quick search and can't find a foolproof guide. Can anyone tell me how to get this done reliably please? I don't normally keep the brushes but this came off a magnificent specimen and should really be 'saved for the nation'. I took it off the bone the morning after it was shot. I would like to cure the inside of the tail and soak it in something to get rid of the fox smell (which isn't strong). I will probably give it to the guy who runs our local shoot. I was out with him on Saturday night and we were surrounded by foxes. For lots of reasons we couldn't get a shot at them, until we found a safe shot at a reasonable distance. I was all set and pulled the trigger to hear a horrifying click.....by the time I actually got a round in the chamber the fox had heard me swearing and was trotting on. I stayed out after my friend called it a night as I was determined to get the fox I now owed him. Hence I want to give him the brush. Thanks for any help. M

I am far from being an expert in this but the two things I would add the good advice above about the pork belly would be - 1. Use natural casings if you can. 2. Don't be tempted to add too many flavours to one batch. In many ways less is more. If you want to experiment then make different batches but don't add 9 different ingredients to one batch or you will end up with a dog's breakfast. I am now suddenly starving and think I can hear sausages sizzling. M

Not beyond the wit of man but you will need to make sure you can put a strong enough hook or rail near the top to hang the carcass from, and if there's no fan you will need to keep changing the air by opening the fridge door. There is no problem with hanging the meat for several days. Just make sure it is in its jacket. M

Have a look at the RWS website http://www.rws-munition.de/en/rifle_cartri...ta.htm?navid=10 They do two 6.5 x 55 rounds and my rifle seems to like the 140 grain DK versions, and both are faster/more energy than the Federal round. They also do a zeroing target to print off in A4 size which is quite handy. Even though it can be tricky it really is a good idea to zero when you are not in a rush and the conditions are favourable. Then you will have the confidence in your kit, because you will need it when your heart is pounding, you have your quarry in the sights and the rifle rest isn't perfect. M

Great work, and having shot my first roe buck a couple of weeks back I have to say there is nothing that tastes as good as meat you shot, gralloched, butchered and cooked yourself. Enjoy it and take care not to look in the mirror or you might see Ray Mears peering back at you.... M

As has already been said, by common acceptance a Macnab involves catching a salmon, shooting a stag and a brace of grouse in no particular order but all in the same day. But in fact this is very different from John Buchan's excellent book, in which grouse do not feature at all but stags and salmon have to be poached and not all in the same day. Anyone who loves their highland stalking should read this book it is absolutely brilliant and fantastically un-PC. I had the good fortune to get a Macnab in 2006, even though I did not set out to get one until the stag and salmon had been bagged by lunch and in that case I thought I had better try my luck with the grouse. Walking up grouse with one dog and a friend when you REALLY want a brace is quite tricky and not good for the nerves. I must have fired 20 shots to get my brace. But the stag's head, grouse feet and fly look good on a shield in my hall as a hat stand. Hence my nom de plume. Best time is probably September when you have the good chance of getting in contact with all three quarry species, and obviously you will need to be on a piece of ground that gives you access to all three quarry. Before anyone jumps to conclusions about the 'exclusivity' of getting a Macnab I did mine on an estate in Scotland where you can buy stalking, shooting and fishing by the day and is owned by the National Trust so covered in car parks, walkers and goretex. It's still pretty wild for all that. Incidentally I have never seen anyone actually achieve a Macnab when they have set out specifically to get one so pity the guys trying to do so on film. Salmon must be the most fickle animals on the planet and the stag and grouse still take some getting, even if they are a bit more reliable. M PS you can make it a Royal Macnab by ******** the cook.

Have just checked the Sako website again and on the 2009 model database it says that the 85 Finnlight weighs in at 2.90 kgs (570 mm barrel), whereas the Synthetic Stainless has a long barrel (570 mm barrel) and short barrel version (510 mm barrel) weighing in at 3.00 kgs and 2.90 kgs respectively (all in 6.5 x 55). So in fact minimal weight saving and no shortening of barrel by going Finnlight - still gets my vote. M