doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com First Grouse hunt in Scotland (long w/pics)

Joe, I have to ask. Why is Toby's gun equipped with a suppressor, didn't want to disturb the neighbors? Reminds me of when I was a kid using BB caps in my .22 rifle to quietly shoot squirrels in my backyard. The neighbors must have known, but thankfully this was before the current age of enlightenment that we must endure these days.
Steve

Joe, it pleases me that you're living wonderfully. There'll be lots of time to rest after you're dead!

Moderators are common in the UK. They can get an add-on to their firearms certificate for a moderator. With all the background requirements and training FC owners have to go through, they can be trusted with a moderator on the gun.
A gun shop I visited had a drawer full of them next to cleaning rods.
The moderators keep the noise down and keep the police from investigating every gun shot.
The estate's .243 I used was moderated too. The moderators really suppress the noise and recoil. My 6x scope never left target when I fired. I could see where the bullet hit in the scope at 120 yards.
Before Kate Middleton was married, there were photos of her learning to shoot a rifle with Prince Charles and William watching. The headlines where all about her learning to shoot. None of the news services noticed the huge moderator on the .308 she was using.

Joe

Joe, looks like you had a wonderful time. On Speyside the stalkers can navigate and orientate themselves by the steam rising off the various distilleries. My particular favourite is Dailuaine whisky. It's a fairly small distillery and hard to find bottles of the stuff outside the area or specialist shops. Pleased that you saw some black grouse as they are wonderful birds and can actually outpace a red grouse. I've seen red grouse out manouvre peregrine falcons; they may not be as quick but can out turn one in flight and the falcon just can't put on the brakes. I went on Wednesday to work the dogs. My three year old Chesapeake putting the birds up. The little pup at 4 1/2 months walked at heel but still managed 9 or 10 miles of moorland then went home for tea and it still wanted a walk afterwards!

Sound moderators are commonly used here. In fact on Forestry Commission land they insist on their use. Lagopus.....

Haggis isn't half bad really.

Damn, but you had a great trip.

What's the story on the dog in the stalking pictures?

How come it's not raining in any of the photos?

Joe, thanks for the post.

Must agree with Christine, you had a smashing trip.

Congratulations on your shooting!

JC

P.S.: Do they use sub-sonic ammo with the moderators?

Our stalker, Richard, was training his 10 month old German Wire hair, Molly, to locate Roe deer.
She seemed to really enjoy her role. Richard kept her on a long lead so she could get used to how far ahead to range when locating a downed animal.
She found both of our bucks within 50 yards of where they were shot.

It rained every day except 2 during our trip. Scotish weather is easy to forecast as there are only 3 options;

It just rained.
It is raining.
It is about to rain.

We got really lucky for our grouse shoot. The weather held off until about 3pm.

Joe

Toby, like the Blanch. It's just great that you are upholding the tradition of taking out proper old English guns and using them...PERFECT!

Thanks for the pictures and the post.
T

PS (Great seeing you at Holts again my friend).

These are the stuff of dreams that have been dogging me for decades. Now I just have to figure out how to make them part of my wonderful wife's dreamscape!

Wonderful, wonderful stuff. I don't know you, but I'm very happy for you to realize no doubt a dream of your own. Well done!

Hi Joe,
Those are wonderful pictures! We are happy to see them after your descrition of the same over dinner at Sir Haley's pub last night. Just one thing...Where are the pictures of the ladies shopping in the Aga store?
Best regards,
Judy and Bob