tjm160 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 The kids being a little older I've finally been able to return to my first love of shooting after quite a break. I've held a SGC for 25-years and have a good measure of small and full bore experience from 6-years in the Army Cadet and 14-Years in the reserve forces. I only presently have one 450 acre permission in my immediate area (the other 1,000 acres being 60-miles away, so I don't get there very often). Three people including myself have permission on the land and are able to shoot on a first come first served basis. The deer are looked after by one person who pays for the privilege. There are a modest number of rabbits and foxes, lots of corvids which the farmer really wants thinned but are extremely hard to get anywhere near, and the odd pigeon (he's mainly dairy with two fields of barley - all he could get in this year given how wet it's been). Decoying and walking round with the shotgun tends to serve little purpose than 'crow scaring' (rather effectively). To be able to go after the rabbits and foxes I put in for my FAC a few weeks back. I pondered long and hard over .17 HMR vs .22, but also wanting .223 for the foxes thought I had better choose between the two RF calibres. The rabbits being quite spooky, best shot lamping and noise being an issue in the main area they frequent, I opted for .22 LR. However, the more I read I'm regretting not putting in for .17 as well, particularly for the long-range (150-200m) corvids (the only way to get 'near' them). As I forgot to include a moderator for the .223 on the application I phoned the FEO to ask what to do. He was very friendly, arranged the interview visit for Monday on the spot and advised it was no issue "we could amend the application during the interview". The question is would I really be 'pushing it' asking for the third slot from the outset? Assuming the ticket is approved, I plan to get some business card done and cast the net wider for more permissions. Thanks for any advice / perspectives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 i would ask for .22lr .17 hmr and cf thats the way most do it some of the guys on hear have far more than that colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 i would ask for .22lr .17 hmr and cf thats the way most do it some of the guys on hear have far more than that colin I agree with Colin! Ask for the .22LR WITH a moderator for lamping rabbits with and the .17HMR WITH a moderator for "longer range vermin control". There really should be no issue with that sort of request as it is perfectly reasonable and quite normal to request the two R/F calibres giving the "good reason" I have suggested. As for the C/F it sounds like you have sufficient "good reason" to ask for one! Good luck with the application mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjm160 Posted April 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 Many thanks indeed gents, much appreciated. I shall ask for the .17 also Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikemad24 Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 i just got my first fac on tuesday for a 17hmr. its got a sachs moderator on it. iv only ever used a 22 rim fire as thats what my friends have so i went for the 17hmr to be different. its not much loader than a 22 but has the extra legs at distance.i love mine i know it sounds bi-est but its so much better than a 22, and think it will be a good training rifle for when i put in for a 22 250. I can understand there will be people on here who have years of experience who might shoot me down ( excuse the pun), but the only way your going to find out is to try a 22 and 17. When i put some questions about 17s on this forums a few members actually invited to there houses to try there rifles! its a pity you live so far away as id let you try mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjm160 Posted April 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 Thanks BM and totally agree. I tried a friends .22 and .17 both with moderators. The .22 is virtually silent and the .17 considerably louder. One shot with the .17 and the field of bunny's will empty. If I have to choose between the two then the .22 will have it, but ideally I will apply for both and hence the question of this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 Had my ticket a month now and have lr,hmr,.223 on their with mods on all slots . They all do different jobs so your ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjm160 Posted April 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 Thanks TT that's most reassuring. I shall definitely ask to amend the application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjm160 Posted April 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 Thanks again for the kind advice gents. I had my interview with the FEO today - a particularly nice and most reasonable individual who is a former police firearms officer/instructor and shoots privately. He kindly added the .223 moderator and .17 HMR, so alongside the .22 RF I'm most fortunate to have all originally desired agreed. Now apparently just a 1-2 week wait before the ticket comes through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 (edited) Thanks BM and totally agree. I tried a friends .22 and .17 both with moderators. The .22 is virtually silent and the .17 considerably louder. One shot with the .17 and the field of bunny's will empty. If I have to choose between the two then the .22 will have it, but ideally I will apply for both and hence the question of this thread. Not true! I've shot bunnies sat next to each other, many, many times with HMR, the times I miss (I know, some people do admit this...) I nearly always get a second shot, they don't leg it. Edited April 22, 2013 by kyska Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 Not true! I've shot bunnies sat next to each other, many, many times with HMR, the times I miss (I know, some people do admit this...) I nearly always get a second shot, they don't leg it. seconded I've had up to 13 loading as fast as I can, helps when the crops are a certain height and they think they are hidden but they can't tell where the noise has come from. .22lr's are far from quiet when you hit one in the skull they tend to scarper anyway as the noise is easy to locate and run from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjm160 Posted April 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 Even when they've been shot regularly? The field in question has been shot regularly and the rabbits are readily spooked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 dead ones don't run unless you've missed lots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 Even when they've been shot regularly? The field in question has been shot regularly and the rabbits are readily spooked. I shoot our cropland on a regular basis, as al4x has said, the rabbits really have no idea where the noise comes from, if you safely get down range of a hmr you'll see what I'm talking about. The lr properly makes a crack with a headshot rabbit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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