Gunnut Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Decoying crows over cut lucerne yesterday, crows has usual very wary, so most shots between the 30/40 metre mark. not the best shot in the world, but success recently has been very poor. I have been using quarter choke, so decided to return to the farm today with some pattern boards. Noticed a lot of bird size gaps in the pattern, might move up too half choke or maybe full, any advice would be help full. Also took pigeon decoys, but no pigeons to be seen on a 50 acre field of cut lucerne, only flocks of crows,pigeons very patchy in this part of Essex at the moment.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Pattern the tighter chokes and work out what will perform the best for your chosen range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 had the same thing last week first seven shots nothing , move to 3/4 - full everything dead in the air Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Decoying crows over cut lucerne yesterday, crows has usual very wary, so most shots between the 30/40 metre mark. not the best shot in the world, but success recently has been very poor. I have been using quarter choke, so decided to return to the farm today with some pattern boards. Noticed a lot of bird size gaps in the pattern, might move up too half choke or maybe full, any advice would be help full. Also took pigeon decoys, but no pigeons to be seen on a 50 acre field of cut lucerne, only flocks of crows,pigeons very patchy in this part of Essex at the moment.... You didn't say what cartridges and pellet size you were using but the fault may lie there and not with the choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 Improve your pattern, hide and dont move and you should get them in a lot closer. I am not being critical, it is what I do as I like to get them in nice and close (as I am not the best shot) . Whilst they are wary birds you should be able to get them in to well within 20 yards which is likely to improve your success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.w. Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 had the same thing last week first seven shots nothing , move to 3/4 - full everything dead in the air +1 the tighter chokes are best take them birds a little further out just point that gun and pull the trigger, trying to pull crows close in will give you less opertunity and you will miss as people tend to aim rather point and shoot by instinct, best of luck to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 1/2 choke and 71/2 carts will kill anything within 50 yards BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 The best shot I ever saw for a crow, was my late Uncle George with his old 36" duck gun Big Bertha (as it was called) This old bird came slowly drifting across the corn field where we were pigeon shooting and it was liker a scene out of Last of The Mohicans with this huge long single barreled old weapon. He dropped it with an Eley papercase #6 and I paced it at 110 paces. Allowing for my stride size (not a yard) it was still one heck of a distance. Personally I rare get the black beggars down at much over 35 yard unless I'm using "The Gat" which is a full choke Franchi semi with #5s in the chamber, then I can stretch it out a bit further. I've hit the you know what out of them sometimes and they stick two feathers up and drift off. Get em close and hit em hard with a good size pellet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Oh! and what the heck is Lucerne? I thought that was a place in Switzerland where they have that Kaleidoscope thing What does it look like and do pigeons like it and at what stage of growth? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Oh! and what the heck is Lucerne? I thought that was a place in Switzerland where they have that Kaleidoscope thing What does it look like and do pigeons like it and at what stage of growth? Cheers there you go....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfalfa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnut Posted May 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Lucerne was new to me too, asked the tractor driver, said used has fodder, never seen a pigeon on it when growing, but once cut seems to attract the crows for a while. but back too my post, changed up too full choke, let's see how that works out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masmiffy Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 I was struggling to knock pigeons down the other week over decoys so changed chokes to imp - 1/4 - vast improvement some birds were 40yds + Gun is a Classic Doubles model 92 sporting - cartridges 30g Ely Pigeon Select (with the odd Gambore 29g / 6) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 There's soooo many other factors that involve kill to cartridge ratio and its not just about what choke you use, there's loads of books been written on the subject and all seem to have slightly different ideas on what's best. I use a number of guns with different chokes, at 30-40 yards the killing range of a gun with Improved cylinder and Quarter will kill just has many birds as a gun with half and full, I think its more to-do with finding a cartridge that suites the shooter and the gun. Don't get hung-up on chokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decoy1979 Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 There's soooo many other factors that involve kill to cartridge ratio and its not just about what choke you use, there's loads of books been written on the subject and all seem to have slightly different ideas on what's best. I use a number of guns with different chokes, at 30-40 yards the killing range of a gun with Improved cylinder and Quarter will kill just has many birds as a gun with half and full, I think its more to-do with finding a cartridge that suites the shooter and the gun. Don't get hung-up on chokes. How did we ever manage prior to multi choke guns? I personally don't get to hung up over chokes either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 There's soooo many other factors that involve kill to cartridge ratio and its not just about what choke you use, there's loads of books been written on the subject and all seem to have slightly different ideas on what's best. I use a number of guns with different chokes, at 30-40 yards the killing range of a gun with Improved cylinder and Quarter will kill just has many birds as a gun with half and full, I think its more to-do with finding a cartridge that suites the shooter and the gun. Don't get hung-up on chokes. they are both the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 they are both the same Unless, of course, you're British. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 they are both the same You are thinking of USA chokes, English impr cylinder is about .006" tighter than English true cylinder @ .000", English 1/4 choke is .013" tighter than English true cylinder Most choke charts are a rule of thumb and are in relation to the bore diameter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Unless, of course, you're British. Or English, or is that not PC anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Or English, or is that not PC anymore. English will do fine, except that as it is common throughout the UK, I thought British would be more appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rheth Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 coz you are not pointing gun in the right place too quick too look for an excuse gun fit, cartridges, choke size we have all been there don't beat yourself up go out and enjoy just being out. how did you shoot before this, was this your first day out or have you shot and had good days if so put it down to one of those days we all have em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted May 26, 2017 Report Share Posted May 26, 2017 old'un, on 25 May 2017 - 7:19 PM, said: You are thinking of USA chokes, English impr cylinder is about .006" tighter than English true cylinder @ .000", English 1/4 choke is .013" tighter than English true cylinder Most choke charts are a rule of thumb and are in relation to the bore diameter. I get what your saying but its splitting hairs a little bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longstrider Posted May 26, 2017 Report Share Posted May 26, 2017 I am 3 short of taking 300 'black birds' off one field of spring wheat on my permission this year. All taken with 1/2 choke and 32grams of either #6 or #5 shot. Birds have been dropping nicely out to 60 yds although it has to be said the close ones aren't even in a good enough state to use as extra decoys they're so battered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted May 26, 2017 Report Share Posted May 26, 2017 I get what your saying but its splitting hairs a little bit I thought the same about your post. 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.