Jump to content

.410 v Pigeons on rape


turbo33
 Share

Recommended Posts

Having been used to the 1 shot and they all dissappear scenario on rape, I decided it was time for a different plan.

Having been inspired (or fooled!) by the article in sporting gun on using a moderated .410 for pigeon, it was on my wish list. After scouring the second hand ads, I found a mossberg 3 shot pump. Not a pretty gun, by hey, beauty is as beauty does :lol:

A week ago I took it down to the farm for a quick try out in the woods. I couldn't hit a barn door with it :hmm: So spent the next 1/2 an hour with bits of paper on branches test shooting. All my shots were low, something I guess to do with the moderator..line of sight, bla bla.I also established the pattern was effective to 25 yards max. So for the remaining 2 hours of the afternoon, I popped the netting up and a few decoys. I had 6 shots for 4 pigeons and a crow :good::good: I was really impressed, and wearing a childish grin :D

So yesterday I went out to the farm again, aware that there was another chap shooting. I established that he had picked the best spot under the flightlines across the two main fields of rape :sly: So I had a quick look at a small field behind the farm buildings. Bit tricky with houses and livestock. Also the distances ruled out the 12g. I had two hours of shooting time left before the birds would dissappear, so set out 30 shells with the "killing area" 20yds out, the rotary with hypers on and the net on the corner of a hedge. The birds were flying into the trees 300 ft away, but it was alongside a road, so I just had to hope I could draw them over. Within moments the first bird came in crossing infront of the hide, and with a "clack", it fell. In the time it took to pump another shell in another flew straight overhead and he too tumbled to the little .410. An hour and a 1/2 later, I packed up. 12 birds picked, one lost in the top of a thick Leylandii for 18 shots. A couple of silly misses and a further couple to depatch two birds.

I had the most fun you can have with your clothes on :lol::lol: . Not a big bag, but with the (toy) gun, it would take twice as many with the 12 to come close. :yes:

I was still grinning hours later :lol::lol:

post-14901-0-41437800-1295699286.jpg

Edited by turbo33
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My uncle used to shoot decoyed pigeons with a .22 rifle. He would wait till they came down and shoot them on the ground. It used to work well and the noise issue is valid. He used to do it because he was tight with his money (as a lot of the old countrymen were) but bag for bag I reckon he would beat a 12bore every time.

Sadly he died a young man. Asbestos got him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...