The PH Gun Cabinet - Shooting Matters

[Timbuktu]

phib said:

andyb28 said:

Yesterday, I went pigeon shooting with my Beretta SP1. First time I have done this and it involved hanging about in the woods from 3pm until dark.
This gun seems a bit heavy to carry around for a few hours. Is that normal, or am I being a big girl?

Are there better suited guns to this type of shooting?

I have a pair of 20g beretta sp’s and a pair of beretta 20g 486’s much much lighter than a 12g.

The 20Gs may feel much lighter but in reality it's only the difference of about a can of Coke!

I've got a sling on one of my guns and it makes it much better to carry or stand with although mounting it obviously takes that little bit longer.

[The Moose]

SlimRick said:

I've recently bought into a clay syndicate, I now own a 1/7th share of 9 clay traps and a storage container. We all pay a fiver a week to rent the field, and 100 clays each costs another fiver. It's suddenly got much cheaper to go shooting (man maths excludes the cost of buying into the syndicate).

Do you mind if I ask what buying in cost? What part of the country?

[Saddle bum]

Timbuktu said:

phib said:

andyb28 said:

Yesterday, I went pigeon shooting with my Beretta SP1. First time I have done this and it involved hanging about in the woods from 3pm until dark.
This gun seems a bit heavy to carry around for a few hours. Is that normal, or am I being a big girl?

Are there better suited guns to this type of shooting?

I have a pair of 20g beretta sp’s and a pair of beretta 20g 486’s much much lighter than a 12g.

The 20Gs may feel much lighter but in reality it's only the difference of about a can of Coke!

I've got a sling on one of my guns and it makes it much better to carry or stand with although mounting it obviously takes that little bit longer.

I have a liking for 30in barrels, which does create a weight penalty when compared to 28in. If I was sitting waiting for pigeons, a would be comfortable with my 12bore Beretta, but when walking I would want a 28in 20bore. But, I am in the Old Git category.

[andyb28]

Saddle bum said:

I have a liking for 30in barrels, which does create a weight penalty when compared to 28in. If I was sitting waiting for pigeons, a would be comfortable with my 12bore Beretta, but when walking I would want a 28in 20bore. But, I am in the Old Git category.

How old do you have to be, to be an old git and have a 28" 20 bore?

[phib]

andyb28 said:

How old do you have to be, to be an old git and have a 28" 20 bore?

About 45 !! My 486’s are 28” 20’s !!!

Phib

[andyb28]

phib said:

About 45 !! My 486’s are 28” 20’s !!!

Phib

Thats great news, I am 46. Happy to be in the old git club.

I just need to explain to my wife that I need another gun :O

[Saddle bum]

andyb28 said:

Saddle bum said:

I have a liking for 30in barrels, which does create a weight penalty when compared to 28in. If I was sitting waiting for pigeons, a would be comfortable with my 12bore Beretta, but when walking I would want a 28in 20bore. But, I am in the Old Git category.

How old do you have to be, to be an old git and have a 28" 20 bore?

I have been shooting a 20bore for years on a game shoot. I use a 12bore for clays. The guns are identical, Berettas 686s with 30-in barrels.

I would not like to carry the 12 around all day for game, I find it very heavy and carry it in a slip on the clay ground.

As for age - three score years and quite a bit.

[z4RRSchris]

i shoot a 20 on game days and a 12 at the clays, too heavy lugging around a 12 all day.

im a young un too

[thismonkeyhere]

Saddle bum said:

I would not like to carry the 12 around all day for game, I find it very heavy and carry it in a slip on the clay ground.

Surely it's in its slip for most of the time on a driven day anyway? (If indeed we are talking about driven days)

[andyb28]

thismonkeyhere said:

Surely it's in its slip for most of the time on a driven day anyway? (If indeed we are talking about driven days)

No not driven, pigeon shooting is walking about with your gun out waiting for them to come back to roost.

[thismonkeyhere]

andyb28 said:

thismonkeyhere said:

Surely it's in its slip for most of the time on a driven day anyway? (If indeed we are talking about driven days)

No not driven, pigeon shooting is walking about with your gun out waiting for them to come back to roost.

I'm familiar with pigeon shooting, but of course pigeon aren't game. Hence I thought you/he/they were talking about driven (although could've been walked up/rough).

[andyb28]

thismonkeyhere said:

I'm familiar with pigeon shooting, but of course pigeon aren't game. Hence I thought you/he/they were talking about driven (although could've been walked up/rough).

My apologies, I see what you mean. I did confuse matters by using the term game.

[Saddle bum]

thismonkeyhere said:

Saddle bum said:

I would not like to carry the 12 around all day for game, I find it very heavy and carry it in a slip on the clay ground.

Surely it's in its slip for most of the time on a driven day anyway? (If indeed we are talking about driven days)

I do carry the 20bore around in a slip, even though it's on a rough shoot. Perhaps I should have put things into perspective. Having been knocked off my bicycle by some silly bint, my spine is slightly damaged and my balance is affected. The 12bore is too heavy and the 20bore does the job just as well. I put it in a slip for ease of carrying and if I go arse over tip, the gun should not get damaged. I believe your average young sprog could carry my 12bore around without a problem.

The Beretta 686 12bore is a heavy beast, but that does have its advantages when firing 100+ rounds on a clay day. It absorbs the recoil leaving me able to lift a pint afterwards without a problem.

[thismonkeyhere]

andyb28 said:

My apologies, I see what you mean. I did confuse matters by using the term game.

I used to enjoy decoying, must get back into it. It's been all clays and pheasants recently.

[andyb28]

Anyone care to share some good tips to bag some pigeons?

[thismonkeyhere]

andyb28 said:

Anyone care to share some good tips to bag some pigeons?

My tips are not likely to be news to many, but what I did to get my biggest bags (decoying):

Walk the ground thorughly to build a picture of flightlines and times etc.
Identify likely looking fields/crops that the birds are already feeding on or might be persuaded to do so.
Have a good idea of how pigeons spread out on the ground when they are feeding.
Pick a spot that is on/near flightlines, but also not too near any cover to overcome pigeons fear of predation, not too far away (see below).
Also think about weather, particularly wind with regard to how they will approach/land.
Lay some decoys.
Wear suitable clothing and become part of the hedge/countryside, far enough away for stealth, but not so far away that they are out of realistic range.
Wait.
Shoot.

Worked for me. Helpful writing it down to remind myself as planning to get back out soon!

Also enjoy:

Deer grazing within a few feet of you, to show you that your camoflauge is ok.
Raptors attacking your decoys and getting a bit puzzled, to show you that your decoys are ok.

Also key (for me at least):

Don't be sad if it doesn't work, it's still a nice day in the countryside. Think about what might have prevented success; refine, repeat.

ETA: I've just realised you sound like you already shoot pigeon, so this rambling beginners guide is largely irrelevant I guess, sorry. I'll leave it here anyway JIC it's helpful to anyone (including me!).

Edited by thismonkeyhere on Wednesday 6th February 10:29

[Saddle bum]

andyb28 said:

Anyone care to share some good tips to bag some pigeons?

Plenty of lead!

[creampuff]

un1corn said:

I'be got a couple of questions about clay shooting;

I've used target rifles in the past, so am averse to using and handling weapons, so im not a complete newbie. However, the2-3 hour drive to long ranges and hassle for a Sec1 puts me off.

1 - Can you go clay shooting on your own? I dont know anyone who shoots or would be interested in it. Im not into being super competitive, just want to go once a week or two (more in the summer) and spend an hour shooting. Do clay traps facilitate solo shooting? So turn up, pay for a set number of clays, and spend an hour or so on your own? Or does it not work like that?

I don't think Section 1 is a hassle if you are interested in shooting. You will meet the S.1 requirements without having to do anything you wouldn't do anyway. The 2-3 hour drive, that is a hassle.

I think your clay questions have been answered. The only think I'd suggest is that if you are used to rifles, you could consider a semi-auto or pump Section 2 shotgun. Depending on the clay ground, you may have to stick it in a bag to walk around with it though as opposed to carrying a double barrel shotgun broken and unbagged.

[SlimRick]

The Moose said:

Do you mind if I ask what buying in cost? What part of the country?

£1500 to buy in, and just about in the middle of Wiltshire.

[andyb28]

thismonkeyhere said:

My tips are not likely to be news to many, but what I did to get my biggest bags (decoying):

Walk the ground thorughly to build a picture of flightlines and times etc.
Identify likely looking fields/crops that the birds are already feeding on or might be persuaded to do so.
Have a good idea of how pigeons spread out on the ground when they are feeding.
Pick a spot that is on/near flightlines, but also not too near any cover to overcome pigeons fear of predation, not too far away (see below).
Also think about weather, particularly wind with regard to how they will approach/land.
Lay some decoys.
Wear suitable clothing and become part of the hedge/countryside, far enough away for stealth, but not so far away that they are out of realistic range.
Wait.
Shoot.

Worked for me. Helpful writing it down to remind myself as planning to get back out soon!

Also enjoy:

Deer grazing within a few feet of you, to show you that your camoflauge is ok.
Raptors attacking your decoys and getting a bit puzzled, to show you that your decoys are ok.

Also key (for me at least):

Don't be sad if it doesn't work, it's still a nice day in the countryside. Think about what might have prevented success; refine, repeat.

ETA: I've just realised you sound like you already shoot pigeon, so this rambling beginners guide is largely irrelevant I guess, sorry. I'll leave it here anyway JIC it's helpful to anyone (including me!).

Edited by thismonkeyhere on Wednesday 6th February 10:29

Thank you very much for posting this, I found it very useful.

Yes, I went pigeon shooting for the first time last week. I didn't really get a shot off or saw many pigeons in range. So I think your tips will be put to great use.