Just recently I've been allowed to take Deer on a pest shooting patch I've had for a year or so. I started off there shooting Squirrels but due to my reliability and I think because I've proven myself trustworthy I've now been told I can take the odd Deer if I want one for my own consumption. The trouble is I have to do one job or the other. I want to stalk (obviously) but at the same time I want to do the job I'm there for (Squirrels) because I'm very grateful to be allowed to shoot there.
I go out every other week with the 12 bore and see Deer. Loads of them, every time I go! Then I go out with the rifle and see Squirrels! Always up the bloody tree and there's nothing I can do! I did get one a few weeks back that made the mistake of watching me from the trunk of a vast oak tree. It didn't realise that I considered the trunk to be a suitable backstop and ended up having a rather bad day! Usually though they're in the canopy and I just have to watch them knowing there's no way I can take a shot.
What I want (I think) is a combination gun. It's eather that or a .444 Marlin which can (don't grill me for this) chamber 2.5" .410 shells! The trouble with the Marlin is that it's rifled and the shot pattern looks like an over sized polo mint. Not an issue with me because my shot is never spot on anyway but still, not ideal. A combi gun would work great. I could put a low powered scope on it and still shoot squizzers with it because they don't move fast. I would then have a barrel for Deer at the same time.
Simplified, do any of you use a combi in the uk? How do the police view them? What stops you from pulling the wrong trigger?
I go out every other week with the 12 bore and see Deer. Loads of them, every time I go! Then I go out with the rifle and see Squirrels! Always up the bloody tree and there's nothing I can do! I did get one a few weeks back that made the mistake of watching me from the trunk of a vast oak tree. It didn't realise that I considered the trunk to be a suitable backstop and ended up having a rather bad day! Usually though they're in the canopy and I just have to watch them knowing there's no way I can take a shot.
What I want (I think) is a combination gun. It's eather that or a .444 Marlin which can (don't grill me for this) chamber 2.5" .410 shells! The trouble with the Marlin is that it's rifled and the shot pattern looks like an over sized polo mint. Not an issue with me because my shot is never spot on anyway but still, not ideal. A combi gun would work great. I could put a low powered scope on it and still shoot squizzers with it because they don't move fast. I would then have a barrel for Deer at the same time.
Simplified, do any of you use a combi in the uk? How do the police view them? What stops you from pulling the wrong trigger?