What is the max allowed calibre you can bring on a hunt in UK?
I’m on a hunt in UK in Feb 09 and would like to bring my drilling which is 9,3x74R - 20/76

There is no "maximum" calibre. You could use a .600 Nitro Express if you wanted to but if you did it and any calibre you wish to use MUST and that is the law have a minimum velocity and minimum bullet weight.

Where in the UK are you shooting? Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland? Also it will be effectively illegal to use the shot gun barrel of your drilling on any deer.

If you can let other members know we can "cut and paste" the relevant legislation.

I say effectively as a drilling isn't strictly a shot gun in legal terms but a "rifle" even though one barrel is smoothbore. But there would be no restrictions, as far as I am aware, to use it on wild boar.

You will also find it very hard to get 9.3 x 74R ammunition and virtually impossible to get 20 bore buckshot or slug. 20 bore bird shot won't be a problem at all. Everywhere will have that. Even some places the 3" stuff for wildfowl...but for ducks NO LEAD SHOT is permitted!

Are you here for deer, boar, birds, fowls? Again an idea would help you to get good advice.

I think that unless it is boar you are after you probably have "too much" gun for woodland stalking and I don't think that the drilling would be welcomed "on the hill" as it is something most stalkers won't be familiar with it. Also it is reduced to being only a single shot.

Ideal maximum for the UK? Probably 30.06 is large enough with anything from as small as .243 to 6.5 x 55, 25.06 through .260 and .270 or .308 being considered "normal".

Lastly don't be put off bringing the drilling but keep in mind that we don't do the sort of mixed shooting you do on the continent so either you will have (on a bird day) an over heavy bird gun or (on a deer day) a mere single shot rifle in you hands!

The only time that you would realistically get to load and use all three barrels would be if shooting boar with bullet and slug.

British firearms have evolved into what suits our shooting best either shot guns or rifles. But combination guns? Not here in UK. There isn't really a role that they perform well as we have no mixed shooting, as I said, as you do on the continent.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:

or (on a deer day) a mere single shot rifle in you hands!

British firearms have evolved into what suits our shooting best either shot guns or rifles. But combination guns? Not here in UK. There isn't really a role that they perform well as we have no mixed shooting, as I said, as you do on the continent.

I am confident a reply from IanF is in the offing!

Enfield spares is accurate in that drillings and combinations aren't popular in the UK BUT if it's what you're familiar with and want to bring then feel free to do so providing your host is willing to apply for the firearms pass on your behalf.

I'm going to Salisbury in England and mainly for pigeon, and if the weather goes wrong, I'll go for some Fallow deer. I was wondering if it would be easyer to go with just one gun, at same time I'm shooting well with my D99, as well as I do with my Browning XTR
I load my 9,3x74R with Barnes TSX, so it wouldn’t blow up even roe deer if that was an option.

quote:

Where in the UK are you shooting? Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland? Also it will be effectively illegal to use the shot gun barrel of your drilling on any deer.

If you can let other members know we can "cut and paste" the relevant legislation.

Are you here for deer, boar, birds, fowls? Again an idea would help you to get good advice.

Your Browning would be a far better choice for serious pigeon shooting. Given the right conditions and your shooting ability, you could well be firing 300-400 shots in the course of the day. Not something I'd relish doing with a drilling.

If there weather proves to be inclement and you do go stalking you can always make use of the estate rifle facility.

As H5 mentioned - a large number of shots on pigeon may make you tend towards bringing two firearms - it really is not a problem regarding import. Just make sure the person arranging your visit has your original European Firearms Pass at least twelve weeks before the date of entry.

Having said that, the drilling is not a disadvantage if you shoot it well.

Shots in the Salisbury area can be long - but usually you are able to stalk to much less than 200m. Not an issue with the 9.3 and an optical sight. If the the Barnes group well in your rifle - you have selected a bullet that will allow excellent performance on any of our UK deer.

If you bird shoot the D99 as confidently and comfortably as the Browning - take the Drilling.

But then, I'm biased!

Rgds Ian

Feb Pigeon shooting will likely be over winter rape so the REALLY big days are an outside chance. If you shoot around 100 shells in a day you've had a decent day but of course the possibility is always there especially if you are shooting over mowed maize cover crops. Check this with your outfitter as it makes a big difference to the prospects and type of shooting you will experience.

I would say bring both guns. The browing is going to be better suited to the pigeons and gives you the opportunity to switch if the need arises.

I shot my first deer (a roe) with Ian's drilling last week and I have to say it wasn't unpleasant!! (Unless you were the roe)

FB

quote:

I'm going to Salisbury in England and mainly for pigeon, and if the weather goes wrong, I'll go for some Fallow deer.

Hmm! Some might say that the extra weight of the drilling would be an advantage on a long day in that you'll get less cumulative recoil over 200 shots. Others that it is too heavy and won't swing well.

Also, from what you say, I can now see it being an advantage to be able to make a decision that moment, if the weather goes bad, to abandon the pigeon, move from that place to the stalking land and go straight to shooting a deer with no need to change anything except the cartridge in your bottom barrel.

On the other hand how tightly choked is the drilling? Open chokes are best for pigeon. Say no more that half choke at the most. Quarter choke or improved cylinder is better.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
Quarter choke or improved cylinder is better.

Richard

Remind me to explain that to the likes of Digweed, Simpson and Bloxham and Rick Faulds the next time I see them.

Winter rape shooting is a lot different to shooting over summer stubbles or spring peas.

Humping that extra weight to your shoulder 200 times that using a drilling would require or being unable to take that second shot is a disadvantage imo

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Feb Pigeon shooting will likely be over winter rape so the REALLY big days are an outside chance. If you shoot around 100 shells in a day you've had a decent day but of course the possibility is always there especially if you are shooting over mowed maize cover crops.

Or we have a period of snow then those areas that are clear can attract siome big numbers.

H5, I am supprised you havent recommended he brings only his Browning XTR as according to you that will be fine for both the Fallow and the Pigeon.

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
I shot my first deer (a roe) with Ian's drilling last week and I have to say it wasn't unpleasant!! (Unless you were the roe)
FB

I will just confirm that FB has actually shot considerably more than one deer to date - this one was his first with my Drilling!

Rgds Ian

quote:

Originally posted by IanF:
I will just confirm that FB has actually shot considerably more than one deer to date - this one was his first with my Drilling!
Rgds Ian

So was this the first he actually hit?

I will have you know that not only did he successfully hit said Roe - he also cleared up after himself as well!

All too efficiently as it happened. The doe ran forty metres down a hill, before throwing herself under a low bank of laid bracken. She was so well hidden that she could not be seen from 50cm away!

I am forever grateful that he insisted on carrying his deer back to the landrover. Mostly because our route out took us up a really unpleasant little hill!! He said it probably took six years off his life. I disagreed.

The way he looked half way up the that hill - I reckoned it at more like ten years!!!

Rgds Ian

It’s from 9th February and the pheasant season has just ended, he got some fields with maize that will be cut the week before.

quote:

Feb Pigeon shooting will likely be over winter rape so the REALLY big days are an outside chance. If you shoot around 100 shells in a day you've had a decent day but of course the possibility is always there especially if you are shooting over mowed maize cover crops. Check this with your outfitter as it makes a big difference to the prospects and type of shooting you will experience.

Blaser Gun,

I would take both guns alog then if the logistics are not to difficult.

Shooting over mowed cover crops in Feb at the end of the pheasant season can give you some really spectacular shooting and indeed many shells can be shot in a day. I will be doing it myself this year on my ground in an attempt to recoup some of the costs of the maize.

Often with Smallbore we have had a few guns in a hide for testing purposes which can be good fun if there ar sufficient opportunities through the day and it is a handy back up if one of the guns has a fault.

Rgds,
FB

quote:

Originally posted by IanF:
I will have you know that not only did he successfully hit said Roe - he also cleared up after himself as well!

All too efficiently as it happened. The doe ran forty metres down a hill, before throwing herself under a low bank of laid bracken. She was so well hidden that she could not be seen from 50cm away!

I am forever grateful that he insisted on carrying his deer back to the landrover. Mostly because our route out took us up a really unpleasant little hill!! He said it probably took six years off his life. I disagreed.

The way he looked half way up the that hill - I reckoned it at more like ten years!!!

Rgds Ian

Thank you for the support there mate. These Taffs will insist on slandering my good reputation at any point possible...

It has to be said though that Ian thought he might have to carry both me and the deer up the hill at one point, as apparently I had changed colour consoiderably!!

However this shouldn't be a problem for Pete when he goes to visit you as IIRC the sheep were all in the top field...

FB

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:

quote:

Originally posted by IanF:
I will have you know that not only did he successfully hit said Roe - he also cleared up after himself as well!

All too efficiently as it happened. The doe ran forty metres down a hill, before throwing herself under a low bank of laid bracken. She was so well hidden that she could not be seen from 50cm away!

I am forever grateful that he insisted on carrying his deer back to the landrover. Mostly because our route out took us up a really unpleasant little hill!! He said it probably took six years off his life. I disagreed.

The way he looked half way up the that hill - I reckoned it at more like ten years!!!

Rgds Ian

Thank you for the support there mate. These Taffs will insist on slandering my good reputation at any point possible...

It has to be said though that Ian thought he might have to carry both me and the deer up the hill at one point, as apparently I had changed colour consoiderably!!

However this shouldn't be a problem for Pete when he goes to visit you as IIRC the sheep were all in the top field...

FB

(post edited)


Regards,

Amir

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:

Thank you for the support there mate. These Taffs will insist on slandering my good reputation at any point possible...

FB

What good reputation?

OK point taken, post amended.

FB

quote:

Shooting over mowed cover crops in Feb at the end of the pheasant season can give you some really spectacular shooting and indeed many shells can be shot in a day. I will be doing it myself this year on my ground in an attempt to recoup some of the costs of the maize.

Can't hardly wait until Feb, hope that our friend has bougth enough shells

Just returned from UK the other day, right before we went we received the firearm permits.
Unfortunately the rifle calibre and it’s ammo was not on my permit, so therefore I did not bring any ammo, only the gun which went trough in both directions.
They would not register larger calibre than 308
When we arrived to Copenhagen airport our guns where disappeared, but my friend has now received his and I will receive mine tomorrow: sorry to say but I really hate airports and guns

Bjarne,

Sorry to hear about that. Did you get to shoot any pigeons at all? We have yet to be able to cut the maize down at ours due to the bad weather, but the guys ahave managed to shoot a few on it.

Hoping to get the machines in today or tomorrow.

Rgds,
K

I live in the Salisbury area and the rape fields are covered in pigeon just like the old days.
Even with gas guns going off they just lift, circle and settle again.
I have asked to shoot them instead of them wasting gas on gas guns but the answer is always the same - we have someone that does it!!
Yes week-ends only, I am retired and walk the dog near these fields mnost days and get frustrated as h***.

quote:

Did you get to shoot any pigeons at all? We have yet to be able to cut the maize down at ours due to the bad weather, but the guys ahave managed to shoot a few on it.

I did not have that much success while I was mostly placed where there was high birds, but my friend took 51 birds on his best day, so it was not that bad
The first day it was rain all day but the last 3 days was fine.
The maize was cut right before we came over.