The firearm thread

[Wolf]

I think you need to surrender your man card

Good idea. I don't use it often enough to get Fly-Buy points, anyway.

[SMOKEU]

I've seen people skeet shooting at the NZHA range a couple of years ago, does anyone here know how I can get into skeet shooting? I've got my own shotgun, I just need a range to go to which has some clay target launchers and the clay targets.

[Drunken Monkey]

I've seen people skeet shooting at the NZHA range a couple of years ago, does anyone here know how I can get into skeet shooting? I've got my own shotgun, I just need a range to go to which has some clay target launchers and the clay targets.

Easiest way is to join a gun club. Waitemata here in Auckland used to have an open night, where non-members can come have a shoot. Don't know if that's still the case.

You can get your own throwers and clays too if you can find somewhere to use them.

Check http://nzclaytarget.co.nz for clubs close to home.

[SMOKEU]

If I'm hunting rabbits, am I best off quietly stalking them and shooting them with a .22LR, or should I just take a dog with me and go nuts with the shotgun?

[The Pastor]

If I'm hunting rabbits, am I best off quietly stalking them and shooting them with a .22LR, or should I just take a dog with me and go nuts with the shotgun?

I find the most productive way is a mate, a quad bike and a spot light.

get ur mate to drive and spotlight, and when he sees one, just ride as fast as he can right up to it, then blast the sucker with the 12ga.

[The Pastor]

Good idea. I don't use it often enough to get Fly-Buy points, anyway.

you probably have enough to trade in for a box of tampons

[SMOKEU]

I find the most productive way is a mate, a quad bike and a spot light.

get ur mate to drive and spotlight, and when he sees one, just ride as fast as he can right up to it, then blast the sucker with the 12ga.

I don't have access to a quad bike. I went out last night with the .22LR (I forgot the bloody bolt at home!) and the 12ga. We didn't take a dog with us, but we saw plenty of rabbits, although they were all out of shotgun range.

[The Pastor]

I don't have access to a quad bike. I went out last night with the .22LR (I forgot the bloody bolt at home!) and the 12ga. We didn't take a dog with us, but we saw plenty of rabbits, although they were all out of shotgun range.

yeah they tricky bastards to sneak up on them

[Flip]

Depends on the property. Open fields or scrubby gullies. If I take one on a walk I wish I had the other. One of these days I’m going to get a "drilling" 12/hornet over/under, it would be a useful gun to own.

I never realised that there was any difference in recoil because of shot size. OK with 30 to 36 g shot load but why would the pellet size given it is held in a wad make any difference?

I shoot 308 from two rifles, a heavy semi M14 is great to shoot but not cart around and a light weight Ruger M77 that is very light but kicks. Having said that I have never felt the recoil when I have been hunting (buck fever).

[SMOKEU]

Depends on the property. Open fields or scrubby gullies. If I take one on a walk I wish I had the other. One of these days I’m going to get a "drilling" 12/hornet over/under, it would be a useful gun to own.

I never realised that there was any difference in recoil because of shot size. OK with 30 to 36 g shot load but why would the pellet size given it is held in a wad make any difference?

I shoot 308 from two rifles, a heavy semi M14 is great to shoot but not cart around and a light weight Ruger M77 that is very light but kicks. Having said that I have never felt the recoil when I have been hunting (buck fever).

People often say that bigger shot sizes give more recoil, but I've only ever used #4 and #5 so I can't make a comparison. I find the recoil isn't that bad on the old double barrel 12g.

[Wolf]

you probably have enough to trade in for a box of tampons

Well, I'm post-menopausal, mate... but I could get 'em for you if you want.

[Wolf]

I find the most productive way is a mate, a quad bike and a spot light.

get ur mate to drive and spotlight, and when he sees one, just ride as fast as he can right up to it, then blast the sucker with the 12ga.

Last time we had a bunny hunt there were 4 of us with the van. Shiny Side Up and his bro' had spotlights mounted on the rifles which seemed to be the way to go. I was trying to hold and aim the handheld spotlight with my off hand and support the trusty CZ at the same time - a tad cumbersome. No one felt terribly inclined to just do the driving/spotlighting while the others had all the fun shooting bunnies. (No real surprise, there.)

Got to get a mount for a spotlight or tactical torch for the CZ (and sight in the "new" scope) before I next try that.

A couple of times we got out and had a bit of a wander with the spotlights wired up to a motorbike battery but for the most part we just drove around the orchard in the van and picked off the rabbits when they broke cover.

[Wolf]

why would the pellet size given it is held in a wad make any difference?

No feckin' idea. But as both loads were fired from the same gun and had a distinctly different feel to the recoil, it's definitely a factor.

The Mossberg also seemed to kick significantly harder firing slug and 00 than when firing lighter shot shells.

Chris, do you have any info on why it is so?

[Drunken Monkey]

The only thing I can think of is the total mass of the shot and/or the amount of charge varies for different loads. TBH though I noticed only very minor differences between #6's, #4's and 00's in my 870 pump. There was a bigger difference between #6 full power and #6 reduced recoil ammo.

[jono035]

For Slugs vs smaller shot, it could easily be that the slug creates a better gas seal in the bore so more muzzle energy (and more perceived recoil) for the same powder/projectile weight.

The argument could be made the other way around, though, that larger shot provides a worse bore seal around the wad and therefore more muzzle blast and perceived recoil...