Shotguns: Show us your clay / game / zombie bashers

A guy I shot with collects Wesley Richards and one day he invited all the shooters at his summer shoot to his house for some drinks - He showed us some of his collection and one was a new in box Wesley black powder S/S hammer gun - muzzle loading - it was mint and his pride and joy - One night at his shoot he turned up with a WR O/U - swopped two S/S and cash for it at Midland game fair - It cost him around 11k second hand -

I took up shooting at his village Tuesday night shoots and he always took pee at my semi auto - called them scaffold poles - although he was a very good shooter I did surpass him but he never shot clay shoots -game only man.
 
I have to say I do feel a bit bad for people who only shoot game -- I feel it's a bit disrespectful for the birds, as you *can't* possibly be as good as with some clay training, unless you shoot many, MANY days/year like in the old days. I know that 95% of my skills is from clays when I shoot game, and I wouldn't *think* of trying out a new gun on game only...

Mind you, I also feel bad for people who only shoot clays, as the game side of thing is awesome -- especially for a keen cook like me! I think the game side brings out the 'hunter gatherer' instincts in me, I can't explain exactly why I enjoy it so much, but I do.. the whole cycle of shooting them, preparing them, and cooking them is awesome.

Here, last week, my game terrine: Pheasant, Mallards, spring onions, sloes (macerated in .. gin) and (quite) a few other bits. With self made bread, and a bottle of my best friends wine from his family's place in south west france. Beat that for respecting your quarry :-)
BHEjIjR.jpg
 
BussError.

I would like to sit down to one of your meals - I have nothing against game shooting - I did try it once and it was not for me - That's just how I am - I have gutted and plucked pheasants and cooked them but prefer it if someone else does it- I know quite a few game shooters who are also very good clay shooters. - I think a lot of it is how your were bought up - I was a townie and never picked up a gun till I was 40 so vermin/game wasn't in my blood. If I had to do it to live then it wouldn't be a problem.

Age now is taking it's toll - otherwise I would still be out there every Sunday.

Perhaps in the coming year we might bump into each other at Mid Wales. keep me a bit of that Terrine. :)
 
Would be nice to meet at Mid Wales. I'll be there next week in fact, friday, saturday perhaps.. Not sure about sunday, I think they'll be closed.

Been practicing with that hammer gun. Love the damn thing, it looks good AND shoots straight! I think I might be perhaps 2 clays behind my normal scores, which is bloody brilliant, considering it's a 140yo gun. COMPAK, and FITASC earlier. Lowest 19, highest 24/25
 
Anyone doing the Hodnet Challenge on Saturday ???

Looking at weather forecast I am pretty sure I will book myself in if there is a spot - Not shot for a good two months or more and need to get out of house.
 
BUM - left it to late - fully booked up - Hope your new semi is there waiting for you - Not got a Win X4 have you
 
Had a nice pheasant day yesterday in mid Wales.. fun conditions! Not a huge bag but I had an excellent morning. First drive, six cart, 2 cocks and two hens (I double barrelled the cocks, I always try to if they don't good).
I was shooting the hammer gun, that had its first left+right a bit later. Love the thing, handles very well and yes slower to reload, but hey, more birds for next time!
Came back with 8 braces, ready to be prepared later on...
 
I can never get on with a Benelli semi - always found they kicked like hell - My best ever gun for shooting was Remmy 1187 sporting clays from 90's smooth as silk -no recoil - and just went where my eye looked - Was a real shame they were made from baked bean tins - replaced everything except the wood and trigger group.

Buserror

I don't shoot in fun conditions anymore :)

I was told when rang Hodnet that the same targets will be on next Thursday for the first Thursday of month shoot. - If weather is fine I might do it.
 
you should try a raffaello, the inertia operation and comfor tech pad make a big diff. Certainly kicks less than my 32" OU. I like my 50th, but you can get it as a supersport with synthetic stock too.
 
Well I seem to have have broke my trusted beretta A303 by not cleaning it well enough to the point the piston had corroded and was well stuck - stupidly I didn’t strip the gun down fully prior to putting it away in September or setting off this morning

To make things worse I had started the round at hodnet so swiftly picked up a new Beretta A400 Xcel Sport Black edition - it took a few stands to get used to it.

it shoots well enough but I probably need to alter the stock slightly too mimic my one.

Biggest downside is none of my existing chokes fit it (rhino,briley & Teague ) but I’m sure they will come in handy at some point as I’m looking to completely strip the A303 down and rebuild it.
 
Last month, I played with the little action cam, attached it to a walking stick and stuck it in the mud about 3-4m from me as I was shooting...

Here I did a left+right with a rocket-hen and a snipe. I was last in line, and I had rocket birds flying down the valley.. I missed a few, but got that one! Snipe was more 'reflex' shooting than anything..

Not sure if link will embed...
http://i.imgur.com/yZzf5SA.gifv
 
Is that the same camera you can get to go on frame of your glasses ?? If it isn't- that is still a good quality clip - Nice shooting as well.

GW - Snap - I cleaned my A300 Friday - had to get hammer and screwdriver out to get piston out of barrel lug - wasn't in tight but my hands are so weak now I just couldn't move it - It too was rusted slightly - wondered why the action seemed slow last time I shot it - I never thought I would get out of habit of cleaning them after every shoot - even a straw bale 10 DTL - cleaned every time.

How was the shoot at Hodnet ?? It is always the targets on top of hill that ruins my card -driven over your head. Stands 6 to 11ish - just can't get my head back far enough now.
 
Hodnet was good as always apart from I ran out of daylight towards stands 13 and 14 which made the targets more luck than skill.

There’s a good mix of targets on with only one insane target which I think was the first clay on stand eight (I watched about 10 guys shoot before me and they missed everyone of the first targets and so not to break the routine that was established I did the same.)
 
So guys, hows the shooting around you? Today I had a quick brush up with the hammer gun at A.C Sporting on the FITASC layouts, in gale force wind. It was hilarious. Makes 'difficult' targets go all... "OMFG are you kidding me" target -- a guy just gave up in disgust, but two of us just plowed on and had a great time! Forget the score, it was tons of fun really:-)

Anyway, tomorrow 'clear up day' in dorset (pheasant/partridge/ducks), friday last day of pheasant in my farm shoot in wales (Both days with the hammer gun), driving back saturday, and sunday evening flight of duck/geese in kent (with O/U+steel)! After that, we're done and have to wait until september for more birds. Luckily the freezer is pretty much there, and with what we bring back this week-end, I'll likely won't have to buy chicken for the rest of the year!
 
FlakGunna said:
Great thread! how have I not seen it before?
Click to expand...
Is all the camo gear we're wearing, you just didn't couldn't see us!

Funnily, today was the last day of light game, so tweed and shooting socks are now off, and camo gear is coming out for the duck/geese flight. Bring it on !
 
It seems my 1980's Bettinsoli has finally succumbed to the common double-discharging issue many of the type do. I'm impressed it has lasted this long, my cousin was the original owner and abused it by leaving it out in the garden rain or shine - different times eh?
I've got my Hatsan Escort to be using which despite the poor rep has actually seen slabs of carts without a single jam or misfire so I'm not stuck, but my cabinet needs a working O/U for my own peice of mind!
£500-600 second hand. Where would your money go? I can't really afford a Beretta, I'm pondering Lanber Sporting, Winchester 101 XTR. Any others?
 
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