Air Rifle questions from a newbie.

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Hammer Man

Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 57
Location: Rutland

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 3:09 pm Post subject: Air Rifle questions from a newbie.
Hello, I have eaten smoked pigeon breast in the pub before but wondered if it is a certain type of pigeon and are there any rules about shooting one with my air rifle to eat? Any advice greatly appreciated. And While we're at it, what other animals can I shoot to eat if any? Thanks. Last edited by Hammer Man on Sat Nov 15, 08 5:54 pm; edited 1 time in total

Old-Chads-Orchard

Joined: 07 Dec 2005
Posts: 394
Location: Malpas, Cheshire

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 3:27 pm Post subject:
With an air rifle, rabbit & squirrell BUT headshots required, so you need to be hitting a 10p at 30yrd. Never shot pigeon with an air rifle, always use a shotgun

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 3:43 pm Post subject:
You need a headshot to kill a pigeon with an air rifle.

Hammer Man

Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 57
Location: Rutland

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 4:34 pm Post subject:
Headshots are not a problem, I don't want to sound like an arrogant so and so but I'm a good shot. I just wondered on the legalities of it. I didn't realise people eat Squirrel! There are hundreds of rabbits round here. Can I just go along and shoot them (headshots) or do I need some kind of permit or something? Thank you for your responses so far.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 4:37 pm Post subject:
You'll need permission form the landowner. Insurance (which you can get by joining BASC) is essentail too.

Hammer Man

Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 57
Location: Rutland

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 4:41 pm Post subject:
Thanks sean.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 4:48 pm Post subject:
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that it is an offence to kill any bird - including pigeons - unless a licence is held, but section one allows exemption if an organisation or individual complies with general licence regulations. Shooting pigeon as part of pest control is a valid reason and falls under the general licence terms. See www.basc.org.uk for further information.

Hammer Man

Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 57
Location: Rutland

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 4:53 pm Post subject:

vegplot wrote:

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that it is an offence to kill any bird - including pigeons - unless a licence is held, but section one allows exemption if an organisation or individual complies with general licence regulations.

Shooting pigeon as part of pest control is a valid reason and falls under the general licence terms.

See www.basc.org.uk for further information.

What licence is that? Is it a licence for the weapon or a licence specificly for shooting birds? Thanks for the link, I am already browsing that site! Lots of reading to do!

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 5:03 pm Post subject:

Hammer Man wrote:

vegplot wrote:

What licence is that? Is it a licence for the weapon or a licence specificly for shooting birds? Thanks for the link, I am already browsing that site! Lots of reading to do!

You don't need the licence, it's a general open licence. You do need to satisfy the conditions of the licence to remain legal.

Look under https://www.basc.org.uk/content/pestandpredatorcontrol

Hammer Man

Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 57
Location: Rutland

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 5:10 pm Post subject:

vegplot wrote:

Hammer Man wrote:

vegplot wrote:

What licence is that? Is it a licence for the weapon or a licence specificly for shooting birds? Thanks for the link, I am already browsing that site! Lots of reading to do!

You don't need the licence, it's a general open licence. You do need to satisfy the conditions of the licence to remain legal.

Look under https://www.basc.org.uk/content/pestandpredatorcontrol

vegplot, thank you very much for that link. You are a great help! I now understand (got there in the end, sorry!) What are land owners like as a rule when it comes to getting permission? Think I will go and knock on the farmers door round the corner and have a chat with him..

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 5:24 pm Post subject:

Hammer Man wrote:

Think I will go and knock on the farmers door round the corner and have a chat with him..

That is by far the best course. I don't mean to offend, but if you're a youngster, it might be a good idea to try to find some local shooters who would take you out and show you the ropes in exchange for your assisting them, carrying stuff and generally being their gimp for a while.

You can get a lot of very useful knowledge and experience that way. If you're older, you could join something like BASC or the Countryside Alliance and go along to their local branch meetings. Shooters are a friendly lot on the whole and like to share their knowledge with newcomers. This knowledge isn't always the best, but thank them for it anyway, and as you gain experience you'll learn to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Hammer Man

Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 57
Location: Rutland

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 5:40 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

Hammer Man wrote:

Think I will go and knock on the farmers door round the corner and have a chat with him..

Hi Brownbear,

No offence taken. I probably come across as a youngster for the simple reason I have never done anything like this before and am therefore probably asking the same questions as a youngster. Since leaving the forces I have only shot my air rifle and thats only been at paper targets!! Thank you for the advice, I appreciate your time.

Hammer Man

Joined: 15 Nov 2008
Posts: 57
Location: Rutland

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 6:01 pm Post subject:

Does anyone know how I can findout how powerful my air rifle is? I was told when I bought it that is under 12 ft lb and therfore doesn't need a firearms licence, but I don't know exactly how powerful it is. If I am going to do this I want to be completely legal with proper permission and insurance and rather than go out with this rifle only to find it doesn't give a clean kill, I would sooner buy a new one that is just over 11 ft lb. If I can find out for sure that this is powerful enough then I would use this one but I would hate to cause unnecessary suffering.

I have changed the title of this thread as it has changed slightly from the original 'Pigeon question'.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 6:11 pm Post subject:
there have been various previous threads that have touched on this subject try this one (off to find more) more discussion

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 08 6:18 pm Post subject:

Find someone with a chronograph and measure the pellet velocity at or near the muzzle. Next weigh or look at the pellet tin lid to find its weight.

Energy, in ft.lbs, is calculated thus:

Energy = pellet weight * velocity * velocity / 450450

Where pellet weight is in grains and velocity is in feet per second.

If you take your air rifle to a gun dealer who finds it to be over the legal limit you won't get it back and you could get prosecuted for having a non-licenced firearm.

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