Why are semi-autos frowned on?

[gibspoon 1]

Excuse my ignorance on this, but why are semi-autos looked upon negatively when it comes to driven shoots? Surely if it does the job properley, it's fine? Is it just that they don't go with tweed britches?!

 

Or has this issue just been blown out of propertion?

 

I might start a poll on this one...

 

John

[The Seeker 3,048]

Firstly tradition, on some shoots even an over and under is frowned upon and only a side by side would do.

 

Secondly is safety, your walking round with 8-10 guns + beaters and you are unable to break the gun to show it is safe, this to me is the primary reason, it doesn't mean you aren't a safe shooter and yes you can put it in a slip etc etc but other guns don't feel as safe if the gun isn't broken. I've even been on clay shoots where they want semi autos sleeved unless they are on a stand...

 

I have a semi auto and an over and under, I wouldn't want to take my semi on a driven shoot for the reasons above.

 

[The Duncan 802]

Safety is a concern to some, but I feel there are an awful lot of traditionalists out there who prefer to see side by sides on 'their' driven game shoots.

[swamp thang 16]

Tradition aside, semi-autos can be tricky to un-jam, or so I hear, since I only use pump action fire-sticks.

[danw 1,748]

could be wrong but my understanding was that semi auto's would be illegal to use on game simple as that really.

 

Prohibited Methods of Taking/Killing Wildlife (including game)

 

It is illegal to use certain methods for killing or taking wildlife. Unless stated the following offences apply to both birds and mammals (mammals for the purposes of this section means: schedule 6 mammals Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 & Isle of Man, Wildlife Act 1990 and schedule 3 mammals Conservation of Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2000) :

 

- Any automatic or semi-automatic weapon against any schedule 6 mammal or any bird except the Bird Pest Species

 

 

 

As for s/s as opposed to o/u personally I prefer s/s simply because when loading I find I can turn round a s/s quicker for the gun than an o/u.

[Guest long-tail]

got love a bit of tradition,but i wouldnt be seen dead in all the get up they wear also i talk like a southern tramp and aint got the wallet for them shoot days other than that reckon id fit riight in

for the price of a couple cartridges

[Rake aboot 4,935]

For the price of THREE cartridges surely ?? hahahaha unless of course yer some kind of Annie Oakley trick shootist !!

[swamp thang 16]

got love a bit of tradition,but i wouldnt be seen dead in all the get up they wear also i talk like a southern tramp and aint got the wallet for them shoot days other than that reckon id fit riight in

 

Ah yes, Long Tail, the idle rich are indeed different from you and I, but could you at least describe the getup you wouldn't be seen dead in, now that enquiring minds want to know ?

 

Are we talking deer-stalker hats and enough tweed to upholster a living-room couch ? Subconsciously, I've always wanted to try out that look, but then I chicken out and just dress normal for my lowly status in the food chain.

[Guest long-tail]

For the price of THREE cartridges surely ?? hahahaha unless of course yer some kind of Annie Oakley trick shootist !!

probably a lot more than three truth be known mate i dont mind throwing a bit lead past em at the best of times,i could have bull shitted you and said i had a double with one shot Edited December 4, 2011 by long-tail

[Guest long-tail]

got love a bit of tradition,but i wouldnt be seen dead in all the get up they wear also i talk like a southern tramp and aint got the wallet for them shoot days other than that reckon id fit riight in

 

Ah yes, Long Tail, the idle rich are indeed different from you and I, but could you at least describe the getup you wouldn't be seen dead in, now that enquiring minds want to know ?

 

Are we talking deer-stalker hats and enough tweed to upholster a living-room couch ? Subconsciously, I've always wanted to try out that look, but then I chicken out and just dress normal for my lowly status in the food chain.

yes mate think that covers it

[SportingShooter 0]

could be wrong but my understanding was that semi auto's would be illegal to use on game simple as that really.

 

Prohibited Methods of Taking/Killing Wildlife (including game)

 

It is illegal to use certain methods for killing or taking wildlife. Unless stated the following offences apply to both birds and mammals (mammals for the purposes of this section means: schedule 6 mammals Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 & Isle of Man, Wildlife Act 1990 and schedule 3 mammals Conservation of Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2000) :

 

- Any automatic or semi-automatic weapon against any schedule 6 mammal or any bird except the Bird Pest Species

 

 

 

As for s/s as opposed to o/u personally I prefer s/s simply because when loading I find I can turn round a s/s quicker for the gun than an o/u.

 

Is that the full quote and where is the source of that information please

 

As far as I was aware you can use a Semi-Auto so long as it is restricted to no more than two in the magazine and one in the breach. The above quote seems to suggest a blanket ban on shooting birds with a semi-auto, when for instance wildfowlers often use a semi-auto as their weapon of choice.

[gibspoon 1]

I though that you could use a SGC scatter gun on game, but not a Section 1 boom-stick.

Edited December 4, 2011 by gibspoon

[coldweld 65]

It makes me laugh all the talk of toff's in tweed ! I bet there are 100 times more working men shooting than the imaginary toff's.

Auto's have their place but not on a driven shoot. Same as we don't shoot birds on the ground in the UK.

[The Duncan 802]

Breeks, plus-fours etc? Not my bag either

[JonathanKent 16]

I am surprised by this thread. I have a peg on a syndicate shoot there are ten gun (some of the chaps have taken a half gun so take it in turns with a mate) and we lay down birds each year and run the shoot between us. We always give a few days away to friends and often get invited to other shoots in return.

 

We also take a few days on other shoots.

 

We all wear traditional shooting cloths, its especially important on other peoples shoots.

 

Its about showing respect, to the birds, to the gamekeeper who has worked tirelessly all year so you can get a few days sport, to the owners of the shoot etc etc

 

As has already been said this is not a 'toffs' sport on the syndicate we are all working men, I am a chartered surveyor, there are three electrician, a plumber, a guy who owns a small plant hire company, not one of us is a toff! we are all mates and we are all mates with the beaters too, after every shoot we all go down the pub for a few beers and a meal.

 

The idea that its just toffs that shoot is totally outdated.