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tommarshall

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Posts posted by tommarshall

  1. Fantail Doves Available

    in Fowl & Feather Talk

    Posted · Edited by tommarshall

    So I rescued 9 Fantail Doves back in January, they have multiplied and now I have 35! Which is too many for my residence. 

    Anyone in Somerset or there abouts wanting some fantails, get in touch with me. 

    Happy to send photos if you provide a number  


    Thanks 

    • Like 1

  2. Muscle Displacement ?

    in Working Dog Health & Training Talk

    Posted

    Hi folks,

    I and a friend bought a lurcher bitch a week ago, a tight, well muscled fine looking specimen. Owner had her very fit, plenty of work, treadmill too)

     

    We've hardly had her off the lead, but just last night she got off her bed and I noticed something like a protruding muscle at the top of the front/shoulder, it looks kind of like a golf ball under the skin, I've had a look and feel (feels like muscle) and it doesn’t appear to be causing ant discomfort (she walks fine on it) . . Any ideas of what it could be people? Will take her to the vet if it doesn’t disappear over the next couple of days.

     

    Thanks, Tom

  8. BSA Tatcical XI ?

    in Rifle Reviews, Technical Help and Tips

    Posted

    Oke, here we go... The BSA's are very good and I have more than 10 of them but indeed they need as ALL weapons a good tune and lubing. I tune already years, shoot international competitions, hunt on middle size game with airguns In Poland, (every 4 -6 years in S. Africa etc... The 12 ftp is not heavy for a spring gun but it is not allowed to have a more powerfull weapon in the UK without a FAC license. Polishing he triggergroup is 1 think you can do and also degrease everything and grease again with the wright oils and greasses... But when you are NOT familliar with that please let it done by a good RFD in the UK otherwise you are gonna damage the weapon more then that there good for is. I have one rule: When it works stay off it. AA weapons are not better then other weapons in my eyes.... it all depence the price you wanna spend. All brands have there problems etc... The XL is made for hunting so they don't need a very fine triggergroup. It is NOT a competitionweapon. Hunting with a comp weapon wich have normaly NOT a safety is stupid in my eyes.... I also have several weapons who are just for hunting and they al do shoot very well within there price class. HW (pcp 100) I repaired already dozens of them (all FAC because that's what we have and nothing else) and they know with HW that they have a seriously leaking problem. On the IWA in Germany (only for professionals and RFD's and int nat sportingshooters) they told me that personaly too. Still: the HW is a good weapon after a complete dismantle and rebuilt and putting the wright seals and greases. It's is NOT my favorite weapon but I have also one for hunting on small game... It is in my world of shooting NOT yet a competitionweapon... It's impossible for that price and most of them are custommade and handmade for the shooter and the shooter can do it also himself once you have reached that level. To make it short: In my eyes there are NO such things as bad weapons but only bad shooters. In each price class are good weapons but also bad shooters. Because the BSA is now made in Spain (the barrels are still made in Birmingham) I want to know what is more bad then when they where made in the UK? There is NO difference technicaly at all. Gamo makes his own weapons and also for BSA according the BSA and how JB hase created them. Gamo is the biggest air gun factory in the world and there QC is unbelievable believe me... I don't like there own springers etc (again: for there price they are good) but will never buy one myself.... For the price is the XL extremely good and for his purpose also. ps; I do not have stocks in BSA or a other weaponbrand.... :yes: A weapon you choose by your self. You like it or you hate it... Balance, looks, power etc... are for everyone different.... Good luck with the search mate.

    Wow, thanks Bmwmotard for taking the time to respond in such depth, I will refer time and again to this post. You certainly know your stuff.

    Thanks, all the best for now. Tom

    • Like 1

  9. BSA Tatcical XI ?

    in Rifle Reviews, Technical Help and Tips

    Posted

    Hey Tom, I'm not familiar with that particular gun, however most can be modified; not so much by a better spring, but by polishing the sears, stripping, degreasing and relubing. Non of which will produce more power of course (or if it does it will be negligable) but it will provide consistancy once you master the hold and make the gun smoother and more reliable to use :) Tony

    Thanks Phantom, as a newbie to the air rifle world, it all helps.

    Thanks, ATB, Tom

  13. What's this "Line Bred" Nonsense ?

    in Lurchers & Running Dogs

    Posted

    Sorry, don't understand half of the posts - I can't read them !

     

    Okay, let me clarify what I mean - I believe the breed of the dog is more important than the Breeding of the dog - for example Joe Blogg's whippet/greyhound over Johns Smiths deerhound/greyhound can produce pups just as good ​as the more illustrious breeders. Of course you fellas who have paid hundreds of pounds for line bred dogs wouldn't want to agree with that.

     

    As for "pup" he was certainly no line bred, but a great worker, he would have give any "line bred" dog a run for it's money. How can some plonker who's never laid eyes on a dog determine how good he was ? You should of asked of the fashion the quarry was taken before you pass judgment, As for obedience, that was my fault not his. PS any dog catch a hare ? (let alone 5) get real, have some respect for the most demanding of quarry.

     

    All the best you all, thanks for reading.

  15. What's this "Line Bred" Nonsense ?

    in Lurchers & Running Dogs

    Posted · Edited by tommarshall

    There seems to be this reoccurring notion that for a dog to be “top class” it has to have heritage i.e. come from top class “working lines” Let me tell you, that is first class Nonsense.

     

    May I tell you about a pup I was given when I was 15 years old, it was given to me as the “runt of the litter” by a travelling chap from Waterloo site in Pembroke Dock. Its sire and dam? A couple of mangy looking lurchers from the site.

     

    After a year of neglect (in terms of training) I started working him, the damn thing wouldn’t listen for no one (he never did). . But, over the coming few years this dog did some incredible things, including stopping 5 Hares in one night in amazing fashion. Catch two rabbits in the space of 20 seconds on the lamp, and stop an impressive roe buck in awesome circumstance - just a couple examples of many, many.

     

    This dog was 27”tts, he would clear 6 feet with a grin, no idea (regretfully) of his cross, would guess at saluki, bull, collie, greyhound. He’d work for himself, sometimes with me, but rarely for me. . Many flaws in obedience (fault, my own) but a machine of a dog.

     

    Line bred? Forget it; a lurcher is a mutt not a pedigree, but marvellous mutt at that.

     

    R.I.P “Pup” a boys best friend.

    • Like 1

  18. Heart Murmer ?

    in Working Dog Health & Training Talk

    Posted

    Hello folks, just after some info if possible please. . A friend of mine is just about to buy a 13 week old whippet pup, the little chap has been checked over by a vet and he has been found to have a "suspected" slow heart murmur, can anyone give me any details on the affects that a murmur may have on the dog ? The dog probably will be worked for rabbits at some point.

     

    Thanks. . ATB , Tom

  19. how old do u start taking a pup out

    in Lurchers & Running Dogs

    Posted

    Man Alive - you boys are too much ! If all you want to do is work a dog, then buy yourself a dog that's ready to work (their are plenty about) Otherwise if you want a dog that's all your own, get a pup, nurture it, train it and bound with it. . when she's twelve months (1 year) start working her gentle enough until she's 2, then unleash the reigns! a dog is a pup until it's remember. Happy hunting

  21. What Lamp ?

    in Hunting Equipment

    Posted

    Hello - I notice most of you good people out there use Lightforce lamps I.e. Striker or Blitz. I've always used the Clulite Clubman Deluxe (since the days of a motorbike battery and a headlamp of course ;-) Would someone educated on the matter please shed a little light on the subject for me ? To my primitive little mind the Clubman Deluxe which has a max beam of a 1000m is a better lamp than the Lightforce Striker and Blitz which have a maximum beam of 600m and 800m or doesn't it work like that ? Thanks, Tom

  22. Free Feeding

    in Working Dog Health & Training Talk

    Posted

    Alright guys. I just changed the method of feeding my 10 and 12 month old dogs, I have usually given them the recommended amounts of skinners dried and a tin of chappie meet a day, but I remember my fathers dog (a Fine dog and worker indeed) use to eat pretty much as and when he pleased (with exception of going out working of course)so what of started doing now is keeping a bowl of dried food full all the time so they eat as they please (I don't seem to be going through any more food) are there any potential problems with this ? I would appreciate superior understanding,

     

    Thanks, Tom.

     

     

    dont know about potential probs, but i like the slight edge you get with a hungry pup when training, i believe that alot of traits piggyback on the hunger feeling,more willing to work, more attentive, more responsive,its a void in the dog that needs filling and the dog will work harder to fill it , i dont mean training through treats,it leaves a vacuum is his behaviour which will bring his personalility to the fore ,

     

    a fed dog is a contented mutt, and i found a little less keen, takes my take on it bud,,if your happy enough with the way things are ,carry on ,and more power to ya,,

    That is a very valid point that Casso, I'll take that on. That was the one point of contention with my fathers dog, he was a bit "whatever" at times, as you say "a contented mutt" thanks gov, I'll follow your lead ;-)

  23. Free Feeding

    in Working Dog Health & Training Talk

    Posted

    I honestly think my dogs would eat til they burst - that is if they havent killed each other first fighting over the food. :unsure:

     

    I KNOW my dogs would eat till they burst :laugh: :laugh: though they wouldn't kill each other: the pack hierarchy is too strong for that.

     

    Seriously though: only grazing animals have systems that are designed to have the stomach full a lot of the time. Dogs were never intended to be 'drip' fed, and a dog works/runs much better if it doesn't have a load of food in its stomach or gut. Free feeding might be all right for pet dogs and non workers, but I wouldn't even take the terriers out for a run on a full stomach, let alone the lurchers. Even if the dog isn't bloating itself out all the time, it puts undue stress on the system if it has food constantly in transit, so to speak, whilst its working hard.

     

    Ask any serious lurcher man/woman, those who are out lamping or coursing hard: none of them free feed.

    Hmmm good point that Skycat, I guess you'd want your working lurcher to be more like a wild hunting wolf than a drip fed Poodle. Thanks, back to rashens it is ;-)

  24. Free Feeding

    in Working Dog Health & Training Talk

    Posted

    Alright guys. I just changed the method of feeding my 10 and 12 month old dogs, I have usually given them the recommended amounts of skinners dried and a tin of chappie meet a day, but I remember my fathers dog (a Fine dog and worker indeed) use to eat pretty much as and when he pleased (with exception of going out working of course)so what of started doing now is keeping a bowl of dried food full all the time so they eat as they please (I don't seem to be going through any more food) are there any potential problems with this ? I would appreciate superior understanding,

     

    Thanks, Tom.

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