Days fieldcraft

[JackReid 35]

Hello all,

 

Between yesterday and the last time I went for a shoot I had suspected a little bit of scope creep or somethign a bit loose as my guns not been holding its zero like it should. Its seemed recently all I do is re-zero!! I found the culprit, it was just one of the scope rail screws, and a stock screw also needed a half turn also.

 

For quite awhile I have been using heavier pellets, like RWS Superfield, AA Field Diabolo etc (Yes, DIABOLO my gun smith pointed them out to me they arent called Diablo like everyone seems to have adopted!!!) Anyone notice this?!

But today I had only a few left, and 1) couldnt be bothered to goto Gunsmiths, 2) was embarassed to as I had been there so many times going through thousands of pellets a week while back for easter. So I looked to see what I had already.

 

I tried out some Crossman Premiers few weeks back and found they were ok (however results tainted by that loose screw), but they are the dirtiest pellet ever. After you have picked up and loaded 100 or so your fingers are thick with lead and actually sort of tingle. Not a fan of that and havent had a chance to clean them or whatever so kept them by as pellets to re-zero guns with. As in the first shots when a scope has been put on again or something, instead of waisting your favourite pellets on the inprecise work.

 

I then turned back to the old RWS Superdomes. Mid weight pellet, fairly cheap and used them many times in the past. They flying a bit straighter and faster than the Superfields due to weight (same as AA Field), but are quite hard, unlike the soft metal of the AA Fields. This is good as 480 pellets of a tin are perfect where as with the others at least a 5th of a tin arent usable.

 

SO I went with the RWS Superdomes and headed to a new permission that hasnt been explored much yet.

 

My hunting mates brother works alongside a few people in a pub who own lots of local farm land (Score )

So we've managed to get a chance to shoot on their land. The fields are huge open fields that just arent air rifle suited. If you wanted to do a pigeon cull then one of these whole day pigeon shoots with shotguns would be needed really. But this is when fieldcraft comes into play. On our recon weeks and weeks ago we looked down the remains of an old industrial revolution train track which cuts through the landscape and more importantly through their farm. When we were younger we used to sneak about on the same train track but half a mile further down the line until we basically got caught and luckily the person that busted us didnt call the police, probably because we were young pesky kids not adult poachers! Further down that line was swarmed with rabbits, but upon our inspection on this part of the track there was very little indeed in terms of rabbits.

 

I've made a rough video with my digital camera for you guys to see what I was working with. The reason I initially went down there is its always bloody windy at the moment so I went down on this track as its always wind free and I could get a doubt free true zero. You'll notice in the video that as I finally get out the field and into the wooded area the wind on the camera stops.

 

I had a good zeroing session here and instead of driving onto my usual permission I thought there was actually some good potential for pigeons and other quarry on this line and thought I would have a go at a trick I tried at my usual permission involving a telescopic flag pole and decoy.

 

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfXCq9wCk5c

Part 2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5nGmn8XVEU [/b]

Edited April 14, 2010 by JackReid

[JackReid 35]

Im' struggling to work out how to do multiple pictures in one post, open pictures for larger, better view. Will find out for next time! Back to the shoot -

 

So the superdomes were working out great getting some really tiny groupings with them and took my zeroing stuff back to the car and to get the pigeon decoy and telescopic pole I was going to have a mess about with.

 

This is where I was zeroing from -

 

Edited April 14, 2010 by JackReid

[JackReid 35]

Looking downrange onto target holder/pellet catcher.

 

 

The videos explain the rest really, sorry about the quality and length but just gives you an idea of what I was trying to do.

 

At the right time of day this track could be really great for taking out feathered quarry, I got there at around 1pm of a hot day so not ideal but it was meant to be just a zero that I followed on from. Hope the videos not too boring as there was no kill to round it all off!!!

 

All the best

Jack

[venomviper 129]

hi ya buddy

cracking write up and pictures vids the lot matey and some real nice land there as well buddy you will be having lots of fun there matey best wish for you and the new land and lots of rabbits and pigeons and lot more photos to matey happy hunting buddy

 

regards

 

shay

[borntoshoot 1]

Is the train track the same one that cuts through the farmland in lewknor/shurburn? (near watlington)

Edited April 14, 2010 by borntoshoot

[JackReid 35]

Tried having a glance at Google earth to answer that mate and I'm not sure I'm afraid. Lots of tracks about. The woods we used to play about in when we were younger had the huge viaducts which trains used to run accross, mad to think its all just gone now. Pic to follow...

 

 

These beauties are where we used to play etc (still do from time to time heheheh )

They look like Mayan temples or something now left as ruins.

 

 

Jack

Edited April 14, 2010 by JackReid

[borntoshoot 1]

Nah i dont think it is then. That picture doesnt look familiar to all. where abouts is the picture???

[JackReid 35]

Nah i dont think it is then. That picture doesnt look familiar to all. where abouts is the picture???

 

 

The large ones are in Hook Norton.

[borntoshoot 1]

ahh that'll be why i dont know it then.

[Lee85 44]

good read pal, nice photo's too!

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

good vids! one word of advise as i heard you mentioned baiting pigens this is legal with magpies and crows but illegal with pigeons!

[Alexisrouzee 6]

nice write up there buddy the crossman premier's you tested were the accupells but changed name, they are really dirty straight out the tin but i always wash and re lube my pellets when i get them so dont find them too bad

[farmerkev09 105]

good write up pal rws are a good pellet

 

 

happy hunting farmer

[JackReid 35]

good vids! one word of advise as i heard you mentioned baiting pigens this is legal with magpies and crows but illegal with pigeons!

 

Cheers buddy. I noticed I said that when I listened to it back, what I meant was decoying down with lots of spinners etc like the shotgunners do (not being totally clued up on shotgun culls doesnt help but I just used wrong word). I dont think chucking out grain in a field would really be much of a hopeful way of hunting pigeons anyway hehe.

 

nice write up there buddy the crossman premier's you tested were the accupells but changed name, they are really dirty straight out the tin but i always wash and re lube my pellets when i get them so dont find them too bad

 

Yeh I thought they were accupels but just more robust or something, I seem to remember accupels being quite loose in my breech? Crossmans have a wider head or are they exactly the same? Thanks for feedback.

 

Jack

[Sweeney-Todd 208]

Hiya Jack.

 

Enjoyed the read mate, nice pictures too buddy.

That viaduct must have been a grand sight in its day, still is now.

Must have been a real adventure as kid's , seeing the trains and all.

 

 

 

ATB.

 

 

 

 

 

Bill.