Ferals Ferals Ferals...

[libs]

Don't usually do write ups, but after a few threads popping up about hushpowers and their effectiveness I think I should show people who are unsure just how useful they are. Started at 0630 (as a student this is normally clocking off time so it was hard work getting out of bed) and made my way to a local equine/bovine farm for first light. I parked up infront of a cow shed aty the bottom of the hill, .410 baikal huspower in hand loaded with 2.5" fourlongs ready for the ferals to start moving around. A few came over and after connecting well but not bringing down any I decided that 2.5" loads arn't worth a toss at a target more than 20 yards away so switched to 3" at the expense of a little more noise. The cattle, 10 feet behind me spooked at the first few shots but soon ignored the new louder report of the eley magnums.

 

I shot three for three shots all around 20 yards right over head, slow driven birds mistakenly thinking they were flopping into a safe roost, three less to plop all over the feed. After a quiet spell I walked round the barn and saw a fat rat crossing between the feed stands and a stack of bales, it couldn't have been 15 feet from me, and for someone who normally shoots well high of sitting targets I managed to get my eye in and cut the sod in half much to his annoyance. Suprisingly when I returned to the front of the barn a flock of around 8 semi-tame pigeons had landed on the edge of the 10' high barn, bad idea. I waited until two had lined up and had a go at taking them both. My first two bird shot, albeit sitting targets on the end of my muzzle but dead vermin all the same.

 

As the day progressed the birds were coming in higher and higher, flareing their wings at the last second to come in to roost and I was having to shoot them later, sadly that meant the vast majority of the 11 shot are still chilling on the roof, hopefully the crows will clear up the mess before the school kids start their riding lessons over the holidays over looking the barn

 

Below is just a picture of the tool I used and the first few birds accounted for. All in all a good days sport with some testing shots, some of which fell right in front of the farmer, always nice to show him your methods are working I guess.

 

[yickdaz]

i am pondering getting a moderated gun for noise sensitive areas.. we shoot land near cattle and horses also residential areas and have missed out on sport due to the birds wanting to feed near all of these at some point but we don;t want to upset anyone or cause a disturbance with a normal 12g.but i was thinking about a 20g moderated rather than the 410;because shells are cheaper in 20g.

[libs]

i am pondering getting a moderated gun for noise sensitive areas.. we shoot land near cattle and horses also residential areas and have missed out on sport due to the birds wanting to feed near all of these at some point but we don;t want to upset anyone or cause a disturbance with a normal 12g.but i was thinking about a 20g moderated rather than the 410;because shells are cheaper in 20g.

 

 

Only going on what I have heard, the 20 bore moderated guns are like swinging a lead drain pipe, and still make a fair crack. A good medium would be a 28 which I know of someone who uses on golf courses close to house very effectivly. But you need to hear it to belive it with the .410 and 2.5" loads. The only noise is from the pin hitting the primer, pellet-on-bird makes a louder sound than the report! I will try and pick up some 19g 3" subsonic loads soon, hopefully a bit pokier than the 2.5" but actually kill well past 20 yards like the standard 3" without the crack.

[yickdaz]

i;m thinking about decoying woodies and flighting them and think the 410 would struggle on a lot of targets but a 20g will kill same range as a 12g.but a 12g moderated would be too muzzle heavy with the extra metal on the moderator.

[chrispti]

The mossberg pump 20b would be the best all rounder, just my opinion of course

[libs]

The mossberg pump 20b would be the best all rounder, just my opinion of course

 

When flocks of 10 were flapping in today I was kicking myself for not buying a pump! Although a few times I managed to reload and drop another before they left, very smug face on :yp:

[yickdaz]

The mossberg pump 20b would be the best all rounder, just my opinion of course

not keen on the pump actions mate when tried i sometimes forget to pump the action so to speak so fumble a second shot.

[chrispti]

When flocks of 10 were flapping in today I was kicking myself for not buying a pump! Although a few times I managed to reload and drop another before they left, very smug face on :yp:

 

 

I sold my Baikal and got the 410 pump, just means I miss 3 times instead of 1 now

[chrispti]

not keen on the pump actions mate when tried i sometimes forget to pump the action so to speak so fumble a second shot.

 

 

When I first got mine I did the same............ or forgot to reload it

[TomV]

good write up i can vouch for the hushpower 410 cracking little gun

[Bluebarrels]

Well done BB

[bullet boy]

Well done!

[mrpip]

I read an article in Sporting gun once about a bloke who shot pigeon with a moderated Beretta AL391 which was converted by saddlery & gun room, good write up, claimed he had an advantage because the pigeon in the area could'nt hear the shots, but you never know if its an plug for the makers. I use a 410 with 3 inch mags & have shot sitting rabbits at 35 yds from the landie at night,great tool to have

[left & right]

Well done