Air rifles

[jim37]

Just thought I would ask a question to see what you guys thought . I have permission on a friend’s farm who lets me do some pest control every now and again pigeons,crows ect all with my shotguns and who has very nicely gave me permission to shoot foxes and the odd roe so he has let me put his land down for my FAC application ( still in process). Issue is yesterday when out shooting on his farm he had mentioned about the pigeons in the shed that are s***ing all over everything I think hinting at me to have a go at them. Problem is I only have a shotgun and would need an air rifle Due to the pigeons being inside the shed. Would it be worth getting a sub 12 air rifle. thing is I live in Scotland so that would mean applying for my AWL so that’s an expense on top of a rifle. And seems a lot of cash to spend just to help out with some pigeons question is if you guys think it’s worth doing ? And if yous still use your air rifles ? Also what’s the process of applying for an AWL ?
Cheers Jim

 

[VSS]

If you want to keep the permission, a small expenditure on a 2nd hand air rifle will be money well spent.

 

[suburban bushwacker]

on the upside I would guess Scotland is awash with cheap or even free air rifles

 

[jim37]

that was my thoughts as he has helped out with my FAC and I’m not to sure on air rifles seen a nice looking air arms s410 left handed in .22 for £450 at a local shop but I would absolutely need to wait until my AWL was granted

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Funny in Scotland needing an AWL but crack etc is sold openly without much hassle. Good luck.

 

[Swedish]

S410 is a great little gun. Don't forget that if buying a pcp you'll need to invest in a away to recharge it.

 

[jim37]

Funny in Scotland needing an AWL but crack etc is sold openly without much hassle. Good luck.

That made me laugh

 

[Tazz]

Sub 12ftlb perfectly good for shooting pigeons up to 40 yds and has the advantage of not putting too many holes in roofs

 

[Bo Diddley]

Get yourself a 2nd hand, decent quality PCP air rifle, you will be surprised how efficient and accurate they are if you have never used one before. Sub 12 is just the job for inside barns.

 

[Deerkeeper2]

Don’t underestimate any air rifle’s ability to put holes in a shed roof. I know of a Farmers young son who managed to put about a hundred holes in a grain store roof in an afternoon shooting at feral doves and that was with a very cheap old no-name air rifle from a boot fair.

 

[Stephenbuck2489]

If the pigeons aren't a major hasstle i.e not in mass numbers.

The thing we used to do once every now and again is have a flush.
Say 4 guys 1 day.
3 guys with shotguns stationed around the farm. One guy goes into effected sheds and claps bangs and shouts to flush them out.
Can be fun and very effective. We used to do in on a sunday , (spring summer) when all the stock is out the sheds.

 

[Flash G 74]

Hello, Not sure on the AWL, But even a cheap spring air rifle and scope would sort out Ferrals as that is most around farm buildings, Much depends on your budget and if you want a cheapy way or a more better air rifle like a PCP, But your need Air to fill , Pump/ Cylinder/ Compressor, Oh and as DeerKeeper said careful on the tin roofs

 

[Stephenbuck2489]

Sorry.. should have said.
If they are of mass numbers, a lamp at night is your best way with an air rifle, Can pretty much clean up in a night.
But as stated above. Farmers are EXTREMELY tight.. so nice .22 pellet sized leak holes in there grain shed roof does not go down well

 

[jim37]

Thanks guys for the advice I will probably give police a phone call and see what the deal is with getting an AWL seems it is the tool for the job I should have just done it when I got my shotgun certificate for an extra £5

 

[Flash G 74]

Thanks guys for the advice I will probably give police a phone call and see what the deal is with getting an AWL seems it is the tool for the job I should have just done it when I got my shotgun certificate for an extra £5

Hello, Let us know how you get on Jim ??

 

[kenbro]

Just thought I would ask a question to see what you guys thought . I have permission on a friend’s farm who lets me do some pest control every now and again pigeons,crows ect all with my shotguns and who has very nicely gave me permission to shoot foxes and the odd roe so he has let me put his land down for my FAC application ( still in process). Issue is yesterday when out shooting on his farm he had mentioned about the pigeons in the shed that are s***ing all over everything I think hinting at me to have a go at them. Problem is I only have a shotgun and would need an air rifle Due to the pigeons being inside the shed. Would it be worth getting a sub 12 air rifle. thing is I live in Scotland so that would mean applying for my AWL so that’s an expense on top of a rifle. And seems a lot of cash to spend just to help out with some pigeons question is if you guys think it’s worth doing ? And if yous still use your air rifles ? Also what’s the process of applying for an AWL ?
Cheers Jim

‘And seems a lot of cash to spend just to help out with some pigeons.’
Can’t believe you actually included that sentence in your post, what with all you’ve been offered!
Ken.

 

[BenBhoy]

Black widow???

 

[jim37]

‘And seems a lot of cash to spend just to help out with some pigeons.’
Can’t believe you actually included that sentence in your post, what with all you’ve been offered!
Ken.

Back story I’m good friends with the farmer and help him out with his lambing and general work around the farm an also help with the maintenance with the machinery also the back braking square bales every summer hand loaded and off loaded. also my wife looks after his wife’s horses when they go away on holiday all of this may I add is unpaid and purely just to help a friend out! I am grateful for him letting me shoot over his land and I feel I can say spending a few hundred pounds on an air rifle is a lot of cash to shoot some pigeons in a shed

 

[weblyish]

If the pigeons aren't a major hasstle i.e not in mass numbers.

The thing we used to do once every now and again is have a flush.
Say 4 guys 1 day.
3 guys with shotguns stationed around the farm. One guy goes into effected sheds and claps bangs and shouts to flush them out.
Can be fun and very effective. We used to do in on a sunday , (spring summer) when all the stock is out the sheds.

get a catapault and some clay balls and scare all the pigeons outside to shoot

no air rifle needed and no holes in the roof

 

[jim37]

Black widow???

That did come up in conversation the other day