The Duncan Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Hi all, We've been blessed with blue skies and southwesterlys in my neck of the woods and I had a few hours to take Jake(10) out for his first .410-armed tilt at the woodies over rape with decoy and hide set up. It's a new permission for me and I don't think I sussed the flight lines right as we had little to have a go at while we were out - just the odd one or two and flocks in the distance. It didn't bother Jake though - he was just happy to be out on a warm day with his Dad and a gun. He was busting to try his luck but the chance wasn't coming. I think the decoy pattern was right as some interest was shown, but I think a bouncer might have helped and a bit more movement, but crucially, we needed to be in a better position I think. Typically, we sussed a strong flightline on the way back to the wagon; a few small flocks 50-100 birds each feeding and 'sitting' and following a telegraph wire and hedgeline in 2's and 3's. Luckily, the better spot we found is much closer to the nearest place to park and is far less arduous to reach when loaded with gun, ammo, food, drink, decoys, hide etc! We made best of the afternoon and Jake had the chance to annhilate a few targets with the shotty. I'd recently upgraded him from 2.5 to 3 inch mag cartridges (ouch! the wallet!) and got some good practise in. Also took the eldest out and let him use the 12 bore side-by-side and a semi-auto 3 shot. It was his first go with a shotgun and he liked it til we switched to the heavier carts. He'd neglected to wear more than a t shirt and net camo jacket (I found out too late) and wasn't ready for the recoil, despite warning and instructions to place weight over front foot and hold it into the shoulder. He reckons he'll be more a rifleman; he said he liked the peace of a well-moderated rifle, the lack of recoil and tranquility of waiting for the quarry to settle for the right moment. I can't help but agree with him. I'll always be a rifleman first and foremost, but I am determined to master the shotgun too. Jake on the otherhand, will be a shotgunner primarily. He likes the big bangs, the obliterative power of a .410 magnum shot against a can at 15 yards (kind of like it myself if I'm being strictly honest), and the disciplined aggression required for accurate shotgun shooting at moving targets . After todays blissful weather (13 C most of the day and feeling much warmer in the lee of the wind) I can't help but count my blessings. Can't count the wood pigeon though - didn't get to fire a round in anger! Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotten fish 4 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Nice little write up at least you both had a good day out Pigeons or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanber1088 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Well done, its nice to get out with the young ones, my lad started at 8 years old with a 410 now 24 and shoots better than me,keep up the good work Regards Lanber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad1 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 you cant beat spendin time with your son days like this are something special. I just need to get my son a 410 i have him a 20 but i think its a bit too much still . Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Thanks for the feedback chaps Actually the 410 is on loan (thanks again to the munificent BB) but now it looks certain I'll be buying one, once I've sorted my own 'main' gun. I'm glad he likes the sport, but I don't think the wallet is lol! Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete1dart Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 My dad keeps reminding me how much it cost him to get me started on the old 4.10. I have a 6 month old that I am praying will take up the gun when he is ready. Good work on getting your lads into it. My old man, the wiley old fox has got his money back from me though. Always never has enogh cartridges on him when he needs them!!!! Must know I carry a few about when out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 I like your dads thinking, tip duly noted thanks All the best Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtelfo Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 I started on a 12 when I was ten and never left it! Going to be buying a 20 in the next year or two for my eldest to start when he's about 8-9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Well done on getting out with your boys , My eldest is 9 and he shoots a over/under .410 he has taken to it like a duck to water and enjoys the whole shooting expierience, be it clay, feather or fur!! We are out tomorrow shooting rats around the feeders and i don't know who is looking forward to it more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 It is heart warming to hear theres lots of young, new blood going into the sport Even more so that, of Jakes top 3 meals, 2 are rabbit and game based. We are cooking his all time favourite meal over the weekend in a big batch and freezing most of it - Chilli con coney! Mmmm His next fave is mixed cajun game, and last, dad's Lasagne. A bit of a daddy's boy is our Jake Cheers All, Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 I took my son out to the countryside yesterday morning (Saturday) he's been busting to take his air rifle out so he can shoot at something a bit more than ten yards away We got out to the farm which is a new permission for me (and a first) about 9.20am, we walked some more of the fields following on from where we left off the last time, together we were scouting out where the rabbits are feeding and digging, and where they run in and out of the cover. We spotted where the pidgeons are roosting and the bare patches in the fields where they've been feeding and on the way round we found foot/hoof prints in the mud which he asked if I thought they could be deer ? We didn't see any rabbits so we contented ourselves with a fallen tree stump and an old drinks can from the hedge, and plinked away for a little over an hour at various distances, and ashamed to say he was beating me hands down after a while the cold started to get us a bit as the sun had clouded over and the wind direction had changed so we cleared up, picked our tin can up and headed back round the field towards the bus. On driving home, we stopped along side a field where just 50yrds away was a herd(?) of about a dozen or so Deer, heads down chomping away through a rape field, from my point of view, lovely to see but maybe not so good for the farmers and frustratingly for me as I doubt I'll be allowed a calibre for Deer at this early stage in my shooting career All in all a nice morning out in the fresh air and we got home at 2.30pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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