Gully Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I've just landed permission on about 200 acres which will be good for pigeon decoying (when I get a day off work!). Its crawling with rabbits too and I fancy some lamping. I've never done this before so looking for some advice. I will be hunting on foot and I'm looking for a small, light lamp for an air rifle - looking to shoot at no more than 40 yds. However, if I keep my nose clean I should be able to persuade the farmer to back me on a FAC application for .22LR so I want to only buy one lamp that will work for both. I've been looking at the Tracer Atom but I'm confused about the difference between 6v and 12v and 'Pro' and 'Tactical'. Can anyone 'shed any light'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 The tactical one is 12v and it is all contained on the rifle - including the battery pack. The battery pack can be uprated at a later time to extend the range. It's pricy but THE best option for your current and declared needs. It's compact, the light output is well shrouded from areas much beyond that which you are looking at through the scope. Therefore you are not lighting up the trees and such which scares woodies off - which in turn scares your bunnies off. The light can be dimmed. When scanning the field you will see eyeshine from a surprisingly small amount of light. If you are running it at sufficiently low light power bunny will seldom become bothered. This lets you get closer and settle for the shot just prior to slowly increasing the light before you take the shot. Another benefit of running it on low power is that the battery life is extended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Thanks Dave. I knew it would be the expensive one that I needed. Buy well, buy one though. I've got one of those cheapish NV monoculars for finding the bunnies so I'll only light them up to shoot them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I have a tracer atom and it's poo, which is why I am in the process of giving it to stuartp. Save your money on something lightforcey and with an industrial 12v power supply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 i've got a Tracer Mini which is ok for air rifle and rimmies, but only just about usable for CF. If you're sticking with Rimfire then a Tracer of some sort will be ok (they're small and light and easily go on top of the scope for lamping alone). I'm probably going to get a Lightforce 170 at some point because they really are in a different league for use with CF rifles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 you can't beat a lightforce and a 4x4 to power it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 there is that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Buy a Lightforce 140 or 170. Anything else is cack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Cheers gents. I've ordered the Atom Tactical 12v for now. The lightforce looks a bit big for what I want it for. I've no experience of lamping so I'll be learning the hard way. The area with all the rabbits on has wheat drilled right up to the edge so shooting from my landy isn't an option there at the moment, maybe later in the year. There's also a field with cattle in but I haven't worked out how to get into it with a 4x4 yet. I only got shown round roughly on saturday and took the dog up there for a walk over the weekend but didn't shoot anything. Looking forward to getting up there in anger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Gully, ask the farmer if it's alright to drive on the wheelings/tram-lines through the drilled wheat. Hammering the rabbits will offset any (minor) damage you do in your 4x4, and you've only got a few months left until the wheat is too high to clear in a 4x4. I've been out spraying winter wheat today, and it's growing at a rapid rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 as Baldrick says thats the most effective way, and also its worth checking if the farmer fancies driving you round. That way its more effective and obviously he sees the results. we use tramlines till its too long to see the rabbits, pick the right weather and you do no damage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I'll see when I'm up there properly at night. I don't think I can drive where the bunnies mainly are, but there's also a 150 odd acre field which I can drive all the way round. Why is driving better then? Like I said, I'm new to this lamping stuff. I might start teaching my 10 year old to drive and I can hang out of the sunroof... I know others go there with rimmies but I'm not sure if they drive. I'll have to find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Driving is quicker, you are shooting from an elevated position (safer, you can see further), you keep warm, you don't need to lug anything around, you're easily spotted by other Shots and the landowner. The reasons are almost endless. I only go out on foot if I am shooting from a static position on a summer's evening, or if I am stalking. Quads, ATVs and 4x4s are there to be exploited. I am an idle, fat knacker though. I just drive a circuit around each headland that harbours rabbits, often driving several laps over the course of a night. If I'm out till the early hours, I rack up a lot of miles in the 4xr4, just trundling around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 if you fancy a tag along i can show you the ropes (either foot or 4x4) as i can't be that far from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Nick, I'll drop you a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted April 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 Had my first lamping session - a bit of advice on tactics needed I think... I took my shiny new Atom out last night for a go at the bunnies. turned up just before dusk and about 6-7 were out feeding along the edge of a wheat field. Got myself into the hedge downwind of them and waitied as it got dark. Quite a few came out again and just sat there, obviously aware something was up. They were looking around and making the odd occasional thump. I watched them on the NV and everything was fine. As soon as the lamp went on thought they were gone. Didn't stay still long enough to get a shot in. Also I found it really hard to guess the range going from a NV monocular to the lamp. Gave up on this in the end and went for a drive. Same thing, loads of bunnies about. As they saw the car coming they mooched over to the edge of the field but it was really hard to get on them long enough to shoot. really hard work trying to drive and shoot out of the window! There must be a better way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 Are you using a filter Gully? If not get a red filter, you can pick the eyes out and then tend not to be so spooked by the light. Also hold the light off to one side so you can still see what you need to see but you are not dazzling them, easier when you have a lampeteer with you. At night, range is about half what your brain is telling you it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted April 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 No, white light. I have the dimmer so turned it up gently. I found it hard to turn up the lamp while taking aim, staying quiet, not falling into the nettles etc. The fog didn't help either. Practice needed I think. I did buy a red filter but left it at home. Cheers for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 deffo with the red filter for the bunnies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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