Wet day at the Squirrels

[Tyla 3,179]

After years of only shooting PCPs me and my mate recently decided our shooting has suffered, they have made us lazy and let us both develop bad habits. We bought a cheap springer each, mine is a Gamo Quickshot and his a Gamo Shadowmatic both in .177, the idea being that spring guns are hard task masters and will not allow the slack habits we want to get rid of!!! This became very apparent when we came to zero them but after a bit of back to basics practice they were both set up for 30 yds and ready to go.

 

Having planned a days ferreting yesterday had a look out the window early and had a rethink - it was pissing down! The thought of getting everything soaked was not too appealing so we decided to just have a mouch with the new spring guns.

 

This bit of permission has a lot of wide hedges, almost very narrow woods, with plenty of mature beech trees and lots of squirrels. The weather, being so shit, should keep them tucked up in their dreys from which they could be bolted with a shot from one of us and whacked by the other. This was our thinking anyway and it worked ok except that hitting them was a whole different ball game when looking through a misted, rain spattered scope at a high speed target which had every intention of keeping the tree between him and us!

 

We got a couple and had a great couple of hours sport even though by the end we were absolutely sodden. The rain kept up all day but we both had a great time and although i daresay the bag would've been bigger had we been using the usual weaponry it was just like being kids again. im very impressed with the Gamos, for the money they are great guns and i have no doubt they will have a positive affect on our shooting.

 

Sorry about the quality of the pics, weather was against us!

[Tyla 3,179]

Another

[Deker 3,478]

Totally Agree.....the PCP (especially as mine is FAC) has made me lazy, but I know it, admit it and accept it. Once or twice a year I get out my old Airsporter but I can't hit a barn door with it anymore, so it's cleaned and oiled and put away again. It's 35 years old but in mint condition.

 

Despite all this I think a 12ft lb springer is not only an excellent tool for teaching every lesson you need for target and hunting but is also a very capable tool. My lad has just bought the Gamo Shadow RSV and takes rabbits with it regularly. I have got a bit lazy and moved on a bit but the springer has been around a long time now and I have every reason to believe it will be around for an awful lot longer yet!

 

Deker

Edited December 9, 2007 by Deker

[Malt 379]

Nice write up, sound's like you had fun.

What price are those guns and are they any good?

[Tyla 3,179]

Nice write up, sound's like you had fun.

What price are those guns and are they any good?

 

They are both just over the £100 mark if you shop around for a good deal and run at just over 11 ft/lbs so close on legal limit power, plenty for hunting. Either would make an ideal starter hunting rifle or a cheap and handy addition to the cabinet for the experienced hunter. i will be using mine while out with the lurcher as the gun tends to get a few knocks if your concerntrating on the dog especially when you have to run to keep the bunny in the beam. Thats what first inspired me to get one, i dropped my falcon while trying to get through a hedge and keep lamping at the same time luckily i didnt damage my pride and joy but would rather take the risk with the cheapy than the old favourite!

 

i am looking forward to having another crack with it. When i was a kid i shot countless bunnies with my BSA Supersport but judging by my first attempts to zero the new one i've lost a few skills since then i have no doubt that it should improve my overall shooting to get them back and i will certainly apprieciate the PCP afterwards!

[Malt 379]

I'm the same! I grew up using my Dad's HW35e. The last few years I have been using the AA s200, the 410c and a king ratcatcher. I recently cleaned, reblued and relubricated the HW35 and had a few shots through it. I forgot how different a recoiling rifle was to handle, I couldn't hit anything with it! :blush:

[Tyla 3,179]

I'm the same! I grew up using my Dad's HW35e. The last few years I have been using the AA s200, the 410c and a king ratcatcher. I recently cleaned, reblued and relubricated the HW35 and had a few shots through it. I forgot how different a recoiling rifle was to handle, I couldn't hit anything with it! :blush:

 

i know the feeling! it comes back quick though, its quite refreshing to be able to shoot as much as you like without worrying about air fills. i must have pumped about 150 shots out yesterday, plinking at anything. By the end of the day the old skills were coming back. i recommend it, it was great fun!

 

im going to try and use it as much as poss over the next few weeks to get back to how i was shooting as a kid. Then back to the Falcon and watch out bunnies