Sprinter Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 (edited) Ok guys i seem to be having a little trouble getting the pigeon up there to come and meet me at ground level. I was roost shooing the other night with the 20g Lincoln and having a little trouble. I am using 28 gram lyvale 6s fibre wad but seem to struggle getting a clean kill. Pigeon are just at tree top just about on final approach for landing. My estimate (having waved 10 yards of lofting pole up a tree) is that they would be at 25-30 yard range ie ideal. Gun that night was choked 3/4 full on the basis i didn't know how well they would come. Having said that if you hit them square with either barrel they should come down. Problem i'm having is that they are hit and hit hard (on more than one occasion i saw a spark from the barrel hit the bird square on) but they seem to shrug it off and fly sideways or in circles to come down 100yards or more away. Currently without a decent dog this is a pain in the behind to say the least. To compound matters I had two perform complete somersaults mid air shed a load of feathers and just completely ****** off. Followed by another two sitting just above me that half plucked and sodded off. This gun and cartridge combination has been used to good effect on other game during the season, including bowling over a hare the size of a small donkey at 30 yards, the only thing changed for the flighting was the chokes. Does anyone have a bit of advice before next Saturday? Because the way it's going the 12g will be out with 32g 6's which would be a shame as i love shooting the 20. I have to say the birds coming over their crops are absolutely huge. Stuffed with rape. They are the same size if not bigger than their chests!! Should i open up the chokes? Move up to 5s? (i don't really want to shove more than 28g up it) or just break out the 12g with 32g 6s up the right and 34g 4s up the left (seems like a bit of overkill that) The other option is to just put it down as a bad night and try again. Edited February 3, 2008 by Sprinter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikkamark Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 You should try opening up the chokes sprinter it could be that your just pricking them with the edge of a very tight pattern the 20gauge already throws a tighter pattern than the 12gauge so you should stick in 1/4 and 1/2 i was shooting pigeons stone dead with 1/4 choke out to 45yrds very consistantly the last day i was roost shooting woodies that was with a 12g semi-auto with 28grm 7 1/2's same basic princible should apply to the 20gauge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisNicholls Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 I definitely agree with the choke being too tight, although when you hit them with the tight chokes they should be dead in the air. Personally I use improved and 1/4 choke to good effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 3/4 full chokes at thirty yards Go 1/4 and half and watch them fall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Yeah 1/4 & 1/2 in my 20g.. but then it is fixed choke Works for me though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Also bare in mind that the hare was much bigger so was going to get hit with more pellets than a smaller pigeon. I am a 20 bore fanatic but generally use the 12 when roost shooting. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted February 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 Thanks guys, 1/4 and 1/2 it is then. Hopefully better news to report next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted February 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 Okay, so it's me Went with the 12 this week 1/4 1/2, next week i'm gonna take a tennis racquet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 10, 2008 Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 Get out on the clays... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted February 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 Get out on the clays... Do they sit obligingly up trees then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 on more than one occasion i saw a spark from the barrel hit the bird square on You may be giving to much lead, is this 'spark' your wad? may be it is catching the sunlight at tree top height?, if so you are to far in front, just a thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted February 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 on more than one occasion i saw a spark from the barrel hit the bird square on You may be giving to much lead, is this 'spark' your wad? may be it is catching the sunlight at tree top height?, if so you are to far in front, just a thought I don't think the spark was from my wad, it has crossed my mind that i am leading them too much as they are traveling quite slowly above on some occasions. I also have the nagging feeling i could be shooting down the right hand side of them coming towards me as i'm getting a few with broken left wings and none with right wing damage. Anyway i'll try a session on the deeks later in the week and see what the crack is. I may even risk my shooting (clay) glasses if it isn't too sunny, don't want anything flashy in the hide though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogh shooter Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 use buffalo buddy watch em fall or at least the feathers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 use buffalo buddy They don`t do 20g Buffalo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nav54 Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 i normally use the 12g when roosting with 6.5 shot to get a bit more lead through the trees but it does seem like the choke are wrong practice makes perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 I don't think the spark was from my wad, it has crossed my mind that i am leading them too much as they are traveling quite slowly above on some occasions. I also have the nagging feeling i could be shooting down the right hand side of them coming towards me as i'm getting a few with broken left wings and none with right wing damage. Anyway i'll try a session on the deeks later in the week and see what the crack is. I may even risk my shooting (clay) glasses if it isn't too sunny, don't want anything flashy in the hide though. Are you using tracer rounds? if not you will not be getting a spark which will travel 25 to 30 yards, more likely to be the wad reflecting the sun light, nothing else in the shot / pattern is big enough to see at that distance. Have a go on some clays and get your eye in first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Try bbbb Bum Belly Beak Bang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted February 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Are you using tracer rounds? if not you will not be getting a spark which will travel 25 to 30 yards, more likely to be the wad reflecting the sun light, nothing else in the shot / pattern is big enough to see at that distance.Have a go on some clays and get your eye in first I assure you at nigh on 5pm there was ****** all sunlight around Try bbbbBum Belly Beak Bang I like the idea of BBBB i'll give it a go, will report on my BBBBFI experience (use your imagination) next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wacker Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 I was shooting my 525 12g on Sat evening, roost shooting, as the light was fading i could see a couple of sparks coming out of my barrels when fired. Had a fantastic time - took a few high ones, which folded really nice. I just put 1/4 & 1/2 choke in and forget about it. Cartridge wise, i was using Supergame 30gram no6. total bag 47! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted February 12, 2008 Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 I dont think its the chokes, I use 3/4 (in 12g) for all my pigeon shooting and rarely get any "flappers". I also think that you should be more or less shooting straight at them as they come in to land, perhaps your too much lead theory is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyle333 Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Go for a 1/2 and 3/4 choke for roosting birds and a no. 6 32g cartridge for a bit of a punch and trust me they will just drop, thats what i use all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted February 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Decoying today and significantly reduced my lead. On the beak really. Result 7 for 12 and no runners. Only problem was i completely missed two sitting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Decoying today and significantly reduced my lead. On the beak really. Result 7 for 12 and no runners. Only problem was i completely missed two sitting Good news then just hope you gave the sitters no lead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted February 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Good news then just hope you gave the sitters no lead I think i was behind them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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