I have recently bought a Webley tin can launcher (though I am finding it difficult to use on today’s cans).
Advice
When buying a gun how can I tell if it’s in proof?
When buying a gun in a private sale, how can I tell if it's in proof and safe?
What’s the best way to shoot ‘crow’ type clay targets?
Clay shooting: I’m never sure if I should take them on the way up, or the way down. Any help you can give would be much appreciated.
Should I worry about the Coriolis Effect, what is it?
I see that on a shooting website a chap has been extolling the virtues of an I-Phone app for ballistic calculations. He says it even compensates for the Coriolis Effect. What on earth is that?
Will low, driven clays help with my game shooting?
Clay and game shooting: I read your reply to a game shooter about getting ready for the season and you recommended regular practice on clays thrown from a high tower.
My gundog has a dry, bleeding nose!
We have a two-year old working Cocker spaniel that’s extremely fit and full of energy. However he has always had a dry nose that has got worse recently: it bleeds a little and he sometimes sniffs and sneezes.
Is a dummy launcher classed as a firearm?
The only space where I can go gundog training is in a large park on the edge of town. So far it has proved ideal because it’s quiet with a good mix of trees and grass.
How can I prevent my rifle from getting rusty?
Earlier this year my rifle was soaked by rain when I was stalking and, on returning home, I discovered the first signs of rust.
Ferret at large
Q) Recently my hob ferret escaped from his hutch and remains missing. Where are the best places to enquire or advertise the fact that he has gone astray? And are there any other avenues that I should explore to try to find him? T. GOLDRICK By email
Will I need a firearms licence for a ‘Paradox Gun?’
A chap in the village is selling his old English gun, one that also has a bit of rifling in the end of the barrels - I think it's a Paradox Gun.
Does an owl decoy really help when crow shooting?
Crow shooting: I read a book that said if you put an owl decoy alongside the pigeon pattern it would be mobbed by carrion crows, which you can then shoot. Is this true?
Do ferrets need inoculating against Weil’s Disease?
Weil's Disease: I want to use ferrets to bolt rats from the underside of chicken huts on our farm.
Do I need an instructor to improve my clay shooting?
How can I teach myself to shoot better without the help of an instructor? I'm happy with my gun mount and gun because I make a point of picking it up for a few minutes dry mounting practice every day.
I have trouble pigeon shooting over pea fields
I went pigeon shooting over some pea fields for the first time last year and did reasonably well but, considering the numbers of birds continually being drawn to them, feel I should have done a lot better.
When was the first rifled barrel made?
Can you tell me when the first gun with a rifled barrel was made? I had always assumed it was in the late 18th century, but a friend disputes this and claims it was even earlier.
Which lurcher?
Q) Can you tell me what kind of lurcher would be best for ferreting? I intend to acquire one, but I have been told that some types are better than others. Can you shed some light on this and tell me what type you prefer? C. RIGBY By email…
Can I claim insurance if someone’s gun blows up?
We’ve got a guy in our shoot who insists on using a clapped-out black powder-proofed hammer gun, which rattles when he closes it.
What size litter can I expect from my ferret?
I plan to breed from one of my jill ferrets for the first time this year. What size litter can I expect?
Should I buy a trap gun to start clay shooting?
My friend has been taking me clay shooting and I would now like to get my own gun when my shotgun certificate arrives.