Why do some people always use semi-autos?

Semi-autos can be easily reloaded in a confined space.

Friday, 22 June 2007

Why do some people swear by semi-autos when pigeon shooting? What's their advantage over an over-under?

Pigeons
PETER THEOBALD says: Pigeon shooting guns tend to get a lot of rough treatment, and no matter how careful you are, they will pick up more than their share of knocks. Because of this it makes sense to have a robust, but serviceable weapon, and a semi-auto fits the bill nicely.

Added advantages are also the extra cartridge in the magazine, should you need it, and ease of loading within the confines of a pigeon hide. If you are firing a lot of shots in a day, the reduced recoil of these guns can be a real boon too.

On the downside, they spit empty cartridge shells in a 20ft radius around the hide - making the clean-up job at the end of the day, a real back-breaker. Furthermore a lot of shells will be impossible to pick because of where they land… and that will not go down at all well with the farmer.

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