Lamping rabbits with a shottie

[malkiserow]

I've been asked by a farmer who has lost faith in his regular chap to step up to the plate

 

Thing is, I am many months off getting my FAC rimmy so need to use a current shottie for the job - so 20 guage or 12 guage. What light set up do you reccomend?

 

I do have a handheld lightfore 170 + red filter but never used it............. but maybe I need something gun mounted?

 

Any thoughts from lads who shoot rabbits with a shottie (un-moderated) at night?

 

Any general tips ?

[sitsinhedges]

I use a moderated single 20g with 24gram 5s subsonic loads and a tesco LED torch, but it's much easier if someone else lamps and you shoot

[jollysp2]

I use one of THESE on my moded .410 also one of THESE with a pressure switch off same site cheaper than flebay/

[vole]

I too use a moderated shotgun and a Tesco LED torch. I found gun mounted lights fiddly and expensive not to mention unnecessary for a 30 yard shot. Much easier I agree to get someone else to hold the lamp. With my Hushpower I find that rabbits in the same field have not run off after shooting their mates but guess with an unmoderated they would have scarpered. If you really have to clean up could you borrow one?

[malkiserow]

OK guys, thanks, I will be alone on this and unfortunately I've no friends with a moderated shottie - I guess my friends are all too noisey like their guns! :yp:

[bicykillgaz]

i had a lightforce 140 mounted on my hatsan but had a huge battery with it which weighed a ton i found it really effective, now i've got a romisen torch with a pressure switch for my baikal hushpower and find it well effective its lightweight and really really bright i'm ganna use it on my rimfire too as the beams great even with my toffee penny yellow filter on and especially for the size of the torch can't fault it and you can get the whole setup for less than £40 :yp:

Edited March 17, 2010 by bicykillgaz

[vmax55]

why not try some ferrets to flush them out for you to shoot?

[smartshot]

I shoot on a farm with an un-mod 20g. The set up we use is one driver who doubles up as lamp man (lightforce 140) then one on the back of the truck shooting. Its not the best set up in the world as the noise does mean a lot of them bolt, the land is a mixture of orchards/grass fields/crop fields. Who evers shooting needs to be quick, an auto would be better although we use a pump as its safer.

 

The main thing is making sure you and the driver go through the strategy before doing it ( ie dont go round corners at 60mph and dont put ur foot down when u see a fox without letting the gun know ).

 

If I was you I would just get out there and try different methods. That way the farmer can see your around and taking it seriously.

 

 

Rob

[Guest cookoff013]

1, find a ferret guy. and maybe one other person (too many guns = bad)

2, buy lots of ammunition. As you are land clearing, use any game load i`ve used 4s and 2s over ferrets

3, get set up to know where the rabbits will bolt to. this helps.

4, ferret them, shooting 30 yards from the warren.

 

i`ve cleared 100 a day, with my best shooting ever.

 

some notes though. if the farmer doesnt like noise, forget it. you`ll be letting 120 shots off at least. (you will get a bollo(ken , speaking from experience)

take a bucket of ammunition, and a bucket for the empties, and a binliner for the destroyed meat.

- you will completely destroy some rabbits, some will be fit for eating. some will get shot twice (once by different people)

 

set your selfs up so

1 one guy just hammers the rabbits who mill about playing silly ******* close to the warren, (not on the warren)usually they bolt enough to be away from the ferrets, for a nice safe shot.

1 guy who shoots the rabbits who the first guy misses, and when he` reloading (he`s reloading lots)

another guy to help out when everything bolts ! (safe shots guys.)

 

ps,

take a spade, cover the holes. (shows they are back later.)