Are shell decoys worth using for pigeon shooting? I got a set of 12 as a present at Christmas but don't enjoy the same success as I do with my usual full-bodied deeks. How do you use yours?
Advice
Help! Do you know anything about Spanish shotguns?
Spanish shotguns: A few years ago I purchased a Spanish 20-bore from a reputable dealer who did not know which gunmaker had manufactured it.
What’s holding me back when clay pigeon shooting?
When clay pigeon shooting I average just over 90% at English Skeet and Down-the-Line but struggle at Sporting.
If I go deer stalking in Estonia, can I borrow a rifle?
I would like to go deer stalking in Estonia. Will I be able to borrow or hire a rifle while I am there, or would I be better off taking my own?
I might need an FAC variation for the badger cull!
FAC variation: I have been asked to get involved in the proposed badger cull. However that would mean a variation to my FAC and I’m concerned that the information might fall into the wrong hands.
Is it safe to use rifle solvents on shotgun barrels?
Cleaning a shotgun: Is it safe to use rifle solvents on shotgun barrels to remove lead and plastic fouling? What cleaning agents do you recommend?
Will ferreting too regularly make my ferrets tame?
An old boy in the village tells me you shouldn’t handle ferrets too regularly because it makes them tame and less likely to work. Is he right?
Is my Benelli semi-auto suitable for pigeon shooting?
Pigeon shooting: Until now I have only ever shot clays but a friend at the gun club has asked me to go decoying with him. I only have a semi-auto – a Benelli – and wondered if it will be suitable?
Will a bucket of maggots do the job of cleaning a deer skull?
Cleaning a deer skull: If I place a roe deer head in a bucket full of maggots (the same ones I use for fishing) will they clean all the skin and flesh from the skull?
Is my Vet right about anaesthetising my gundog to remove a lump?
My vet is keen to anaesthetise my Wheaten Terrier to remove the lump on his lip (see photo attached). It is going to cost a few quid and it’s not really bothering him. Would you just leave it?
Is my BSA .303 rifle an ex-military conversion?
Is my BSA .303 rifle an ex-military conversion? I am writing from the US, and I have a sporting rifle in.303 British calibre. It appears to be a military rifle which has been altered to a conventional sporting rifle.
I sent in my shotgun licence application two months ago!
Shotgun licence: I attended a game fair last summer with my girlfriend and her parents, and was treated to a lesson with a BASC shotgun coach.
Are spare parts still available for my BSA Standard air rifle?
I own an old BSA Standard air rifle in .22 calibre which has been in fairly regular use since the 1950s. I need to fit new springs and washers and I was thinking of fitting a telescopic sight because I find it not to be as accurate as it once
If I shorten a rifle barrel, will it affect accuracy?
Shorten a rifle barrel: I have a CZ BRN .17 HMR rifle and would like to change the moderator for one that does not shroud the barrel but would increase the overall length by 3in. If I had the existing barrel shortened by that amount, would it affect accuracy?
Are static decoys good when pigeon shooting patchy rape?
Pigeon shooting: What’s the best way of decoying pigeons coming to small bare patches in standing rape – do I use a rotary machine and, if so, should I place it away from the area where birds are trying to drop in?
Don’t shotgun cartridges have an eight-star crimp anymore?
Why don’t you see shotgun cartridges closed with an eight-star crimp any more? A few years ago they were a common sight but nowadays all you get are six-star closures. What, if any, advantages did eight-star crimps give?
I can’t find any information about Chapuis shotguns?
Chapuis shotguns: I have recently acquired a Chapuis shotgun, an over-under 12-bore with sideplates. However, I am experiencing difficulty finding any information about the model, the year of manufacture and the value of this gun. The only mark is a serial number 10055.
Why shouldn’t I use ballistic tips for deer stalking?
I am new to deer stalking and my more experienced mates say I shouldn’t use ballistic tip bullets. Why would they say that, or is it just their personal preference?
What’s the best way of dealing with walkers when stalking?
Dealing with walkers?: While I was out stalking recently, I was accosted by a walker who let fly a torrent of abuse and accusations. This person accused me of "murdering beautiful creatures, ruining the countryside and posing a danger to honest walkers".
Puppy health advice: Elbows and X-Rays
Puppy: Why is it so important for working labradors to have their elbow joints X-rayed at the same time as their hips are checked? And what is the best approach with a puppy?