motty Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 I may have written on these pages recently, about how I have shot a few pigeons next to a laid barley field. Well that field was cut on Thursday. Pigeons have been using the field for around a month, and I have kept a very close eye on it. I shot 101 pigeons on the same field last year. Today was a good time to shoot it, I felt, and I expected a bag between 80 and 120. Jules (Muncher) was invited, and we met up at around 9am. There was no rush to set up, as I knew the baler was due to come to the field at any time. We got the hide set up (desert net) around a telegraph pole, in what I thought would give us the best chance, given the known flight lines into the field. I set up a four armed magnet which I recently bought second hand. Another magnet and a flapper would be added later. We used steel cartridges all day - a mixture of 32gm 4 and 24gm 7.5. I used an extra full choke in my Xtrema to see how It would perform. It was a slow start, but I expected that. My reconnaissance had shown me that the pigeons were not too active in any numbers until early afternoon. We persevered. It was a little too hot for our liking. My truck told me it was 27 degrees C when I went to get more refreshments from the shop. That was at 2pm (ish). While I was away from the hide (25 minutes), Jules shot over 20 pigeons. It had started to get busy! I took the next few shots. I would say we weren't shooting at our very best, but we still shot some very tricky and satisfying pigeons. By no means was every bird a straightforward decoying shot. Again, I was impressed with the Gamebore steel shells. The 32gm are a little bit punchy, and you start to feel it when you have fired plenty. The 24gm 7.5 on the other hand, were pleasant to use and kill a lot further than many would think. It was clear that we had smashed past a ton, and with the amount of cartridges we had used I thought we must have gone way past double that. We stopped shooting at 7pm when the last of the steel cartridges we had in the hide was used. A mammoth pick up was on. We had birds strewn everywhere. I searched the perimeter of the field for any 'fly dies' or birds that had managed to walk off. This put over 20 extra in the bag. It was a cracking day and we finished with 286 pigeons, 4 rooks and 2 jackdaws. 19 young pigeons made it into the bag today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Excellent result,a while since we have seen such a bag reported here, well done. Can i ask why you choose to shoot steel? is it simply a cost thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Excellent result,a while since we have seen such a bag reported here, well done. Can i ask why you choose to shoot steel? is it simply a cost thing? It is cost in a way, though the 32gm 4s are around £6 a box. The pigeons will be sold to falconers for good money, meaning that another 1000 cartridges can be bought. The 7.5 are fairly cheap and do a surprisingly decent job. A video will probably follow during the week. I have a lot of footage to look at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Thanks motty, i have never used steel on pigeons only on inland duck splashes and the odd fox. I am not too suprised the 7.5 do a good job through tight chokes, must be a lot of pellets in that load. Interesting to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 cracking full day out good shooting too and 10 out of ten for effort especially in that heat,. Thx for write up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Great bag, especially using a light payload, did you notice much difference (apart from recoil) between the 2 loads in terms of knock down power? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Well done on an excellent days pigeon shooting. You had predicted the result and came up with the goods and you will receive the dividends in the payback from using steel, again well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul taylor Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Good work that lads your experience shows managing to get a result like that👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 An unsually detailed but nevertheless excellent report and a good return invitation for Muncher. There will be pigeon shooters using lead cartridges costing more than your steel ones and getting 25p per bird. A good deal all round. I dare you to leave some blatant misses in your video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 I know of one that will be in, where I messed up big time on a absolute dolly so close I had to shoooo it away and then duly missed it. I Must say it was an amazing day and very hot . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 A great report and what a result, I will look forward to watching the video. I have been using Gamebore 12ga Super Steel 32gms 5's for pigeons (where I can use plastic wads) and selling the birds to a Zoo. My scepticism about the efficiency of steel has disappeared and I have been very impressed with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 bloomin heck! what a day, just demonstrates your testament to your knowledge, reconnaissance and skills. well done on a cracking write up and keep them coming. atb 7diaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 Cracking result there gents, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxwell Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 A good write up and an excellent result, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 a very excellent result indeed . ive very recently started using 7.5 clay carts , first impressions are very promising , something that ive noticed over the last couple of decoying sessions , is that the 7.5 carts seem to pillow case the birds , yet on closer inspection , they appear to cause much less damage , ive always used open chokes for pigeon shooting , but ive started to use tight chokes due to the lighter carts so it might just be this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanm Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 (edited) A great days sport and pest control good on yous thumbs. give the fiocchi 32 g steel 4s a try as well if you haven't already , there a little cheaper than the super steel and IMO probably a bit better Edited July 24, 2016 by allanm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 What an awesome day Motty, bonanza day indeed.....never managed to shoot that many but can imagine how much hard work it is packing up at the end of the day!! At least it was on stubble so no carrying involved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 You boys are certainly at the top of your game and your fitness levels are pretty high as well , I was out Saturday afternoon in that heat and even in the shade it was hot , our layout was very similar at the end of the day , well my one small pile looked very similar to one of your ones , . Well done to both of you and I am sure we will be hearing about more excellent bags from the rape stubbles. Were you in Norfolk or Lincolnshire ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elz Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 Excellent read! Can't wait to get out when I get my gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 We were in good old Norfolk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippylawkid Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 Outstanding day that. Great to take advantage of a big day when it comes along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 A very well done gents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 great stuff you two have been giving them a bashing last few months and it will continue I,m sure you say you used extra full choke with steel carts I,m led to believe you shouldn't use any more than 1/2 choke with steel carts, or is that another myth I,m no expert on steel carts because I don't really use them hence the question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 great write up and a cracking bag.....nice one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted July 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Daz, most steel is fine through tight chokes. I have put 4.5mm steel through the Briley XF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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.