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matt_hooks

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Everything posted by matt_hooks

  1. matt_hooks
    I don't agree. There is no offence of failing to prove. The only offence is "selling, exchanging or pawning, or exposing an out of proof gun for sale exchange or pawn." The opinion I attached above suggests that, unless the barrel strength is "unduly reduced" then no re-proof is required. Also, they have to prove that you had the threading done. If you buy a rifle with a screwcut end, you have no way of telling if it was proved with the screwcut or without, so you can then not be committing an offence by selling it on.
  2. matt_hooks
    You tried using the focus ring at the front? Also, the higher zooms won't focus very well at the shorter ranges.
  3. matt_hooks
    Nope. .240 is legal minimum in England for all deer species. Agree about the SGC though.
  4. matt_hooks
    I don't think there's one calibre that will cover everything that you can shoot in the UK. Of course, the .270, or even the .243, will kill just about anything in the UK, but it will be a very expensive and noisy way of doing the rabbits and other small stuff (and very limiting too really, even with the extra range!) I'd definitely go for a centrefire for the deer and foxes, and a rimfire for the vermin and small game. The .243 is a great cartridge, from laser flat 55gr rounds at 4000fps, down to 105gr soft points, there is a huge range of ammunition, it's relatively cheap to get hold of,
  5. matt_hooks
    Wrong. The firearms act specifically states that you should have "good reason" to hold. It goes on to state that "good reason should not be equated with need". I don't "need" the .22 that I use for controlling ground vermin and the like, but those reasons are "reasonable cause to hold" It's a narrow distinction, but there nonetheless! The act does say that "reasonable cause" should not be equated with desire either, so "I want one" is not reasonable cause.
  6. matt_hooks
    Opinions differ on this one. It is illegal to sell a barrel that is "out of proof". Whether screw cutting alters the strength of the barrel sufficiently to invalidate the proof is debatable. The proof houses will try and say that it does, but I have seen a legal opinion that states that screw threading, and even shortening, does not constitute a significant weakening of the barrel, and hence does not require re-proofing. Personally I wouldn't re-proof. I am an engineer and understand something of the dynamics. The loading at the muzzle end of a rifle is pretty low, the bullet has a
  7. matt_hooks
    Best place for wood stains is a woodworkers merchant, somewhere that caters for the hobby turners and the like. They usually hold a big stock of all sorts of stains, and can give good advice on using them too! The only one I know of is in Bedford, they have a website that you can order stuff off too, Bedford Tool and Saw company clickybut I'm sure there must be others!
  8. matt_hooks
    Well they were probably looking in the wrong place, they should have looked a but harder in Wales and the colouring would more likely be dark haired. Dark and quite curly maybe?
  9. matt_hooks
    I've got a lab staff cross. He's quick as all hell when he gets going, I can't keep up with him on my bike. He's had a few rabbits, though to be fair it's normally when they've failed to get through a fence and bounced back into his teeth. Staffies are great dogs, soft as s##t and very good with kids. He looks like a fine fella, get him going and he'll probably keep up with the lurchers (until it comes to turning a corner, then he'll not stand a chance!)
  10. matt_hooks
    IIRC H & N make a 17 grain (or there abouts) .177 pellet. Rabbit Magnum or something like that. Don't think they'd do very well in a legal limit rifle, the heavy pellets are designed for use in FAC air rifles.
  11. matt_hooks
    Albeit 12 days early...
  12. matt_hooks
    The Combro are ok, just make sure you line them up properly before pulling the trigger. Number of times I've seen people shoot them off the end of their own rifles. It'd be funny if it wasn't so expensive! I would keep a lookout on eBay for one of the "chrony" chronographs. They often come up at not much more than the combro's, and they are a far better piece of kit. The longer base allows for more accurate speed measurement, and they are upgradable over time to a fully functional, PC connective chrono. Just looked on eBay, and there are a few F1's on there. Ok, a lot more expensive th
  13. matt_hooks
    Ahem.....??? Last time I come and help you set the HFT course up! Seriously though, Davy is a total legend. Si (Zini) for his useful and informative posts, passing on some of the knowledge he's gained over the years, Tony (Phantom) for writing some gripping yarns. Loads of other guys on here, I can't remember the names but it's definitely one of the best forums I've visited over the years.
  14. matt_hooks
    Any chance of a pic?
  15. matt_hooks
    The main problem would be having the firearms on view. The whole idea of the gun safe is to prevent an opportunist from getting his hands on them. There is very little that will deter or deflect a determined attack, but if they don't know where the guns are, then they are less likely to break in in the first place. You might get away with it for shotguns, but I can't see the FEO allowing it for section 1 firearms.
  16. matt_hooks
    Rossy, the .22 will give you a good range increase over the .177. Spend the time to learn the trajectory, as you would with an air rifle, and it's more than capable of 100 yard headshots. It's also very quiet with subsonic ammunition, which is a HUGE advantage in a lot of areas. My .22LR is actually quieter than any of my air rifles, no idea why but it just is. The .22, with a well placed shot, will take foxes out to 30 or 40 yards, which obviously you can't do with the air rifle. The .17 has advantages, and it has disadvantages. The main disadvantage is the noise. Even with a £200 mo
  17. matt_hooks
    If only the English government would do something similar!
  18. matt_hooks
    why not ask the farmer/landowner if he has given permission to anybody else and do they shoot there ???? I think what the op is asking is if it's "approved by the chief constable" not whether the farmer says he can shoot on it.
  19. matt_hooks
    Self explanatory really. A "pre engaged" motor is one where the starter gear engages on the flywheel teeth before the motor starts to turn. This avoids the old problem with inertia starters, where the inertia of the starter cog caused the gear to be literally thrown into contact with the flywheel gear when the motor span up. This caused damage to both gear sets. You will only find pre-engaged types on any recent engine. The pre-engaged starter has an actuator (called the solenoid by most, strictly correct but not very descriptive) that moves the starter gear into contact with the flywh
  20. matt_hooks
    The old "nature or nurture" discussion. Nature will equip him with the speed to do the job, and the required physical make up. It will also go a long way towards having the enthusiasm to do the job, a strong hunting instinct and willingness to listen and learn. Nurture will take all that natural ability and talent, and fine tune it, turn a raw, running dog into a serious working tool. Building up the bond between dog and master is the most important thing, so that he knows what you want before you think it. You've done the best you can with the nature bit, now comes the tricky
  21. matt_hooks
    I thought the recommended fill was 190? I know they're tested to much higher, but from what I've been told 190 is about the top of the "sweet spot". Davy will be along in a mo to set me right!
  22. matt_hooks
    I use a Nikko scope on my .243 and it's a great bit of kit. Not the exact model that you have, but I've used several different Nikko scopes over the years and found them all to be reliable and extremely good value for money. The bloke in the gunshop is obviously a sheister and is trying to sell you stuff you don't need (unless your particular scope is fecked for some reason, but it's unlikely)
  23. matt_hooks
    Spank yer lughole? You suggesting they're noisy? I found that the one in my Lightning was far quieter than the twangy spring, and the recoil was far less of a problem too. Same with my Theoben Scirocco!
  24. matt_hooks
    I've always been led to believe that was the whole idea, you could phone up and ask if land is already cleared. Sounds like someone doesn't understand the system. Might be worth phoning your FEO and asking them to find out, or at least asking if she's correct.
  25. matt_hooks
    The gas rams are SOOOOO much better though!
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