S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics38,474
Posts545,167
Members14,409
|
Most Online1,335 Apr 27th, 2024
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582 |
Gil, sorry you lost that bird, but hats off to you for hunting (I gather) using the method many of us abide by, taking the safety off on the mount. The fly in the Ideal ointment AKA the safety is well known: the one on my No. 5 barely works, the one on my 314 not at all. I have found that jamming my bang switch tight against the underlever as I carry is very effective in keeping that finger completely out of the trigger guard, and takes a definitive movement around and then in to reach a trigger.
I have no doubt there are those who would politely and otherwise decline to hunt with anyone who does anything other than taking the safety off on the mount, and I respect that. I treat my Ideals like pigeon guns: do my best to follow (to me) the most crucial of all gun handling safety rules (muzzle in safe direction), and rely most on the safety between my ears.
Satisfying to me to see a lovely French gun taking woodcock- most appropriate.
YMMV
Mike
Tolerance: the abolition of absolutes
Consistency is the currency of credibility
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,081 Likes: 472
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,081 Likes: 472 |
Monday was a bust as a top covert was a foot underwater. We did flush one bird with no cigar (us, not the bird) when we found him in a briar tangle off an elevated road. Abby and Willa on the ground. Today, Floyd's Britts Sadie (6 years) and Pop (9 years) were on the ground. Pop is a huge Brittany at 55 lbs. We found a few birds and then moved to a new location. Pop is very direct and ponders the situation before moving. We were walking down a wide shouldered woods road with thick pines on the right. Pop was strolling down the middle of the road ahead of us, not a care in the world. Sadie was busy on the left side. Floyd was talking about Pop being tuckered out. It was as if he heard us. He was about 25 yards from the woods. He walked, did not trot or run, to within 5 feet from the edge and with a minimum of movement, locked down. Bird # 2 in the bag. The switch was thrown. For the next hour and a half he and Sadie were involved in over 10 flushes. One time three birds got up. Of course, all escaped and not a cut feather. Thick woods, briers, vines, leaves still on the trees (from the Book of Botanical Excuses), made it a challenge. At times it was difficult to get a gun up. It was quite a day. Floyd's 20 ga. Ithaca SKB 100DR (Death Ray) and my 16 ga. A. Ilsley. I shot enough to let the birds know whose side I was on. Gil
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,415 Likes: 193
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,415 Likes: 193 |
Gil, Looks like you had a very nice day. I'm envious as my woodcock season here in Michigan is long over. Good hunting to you! Karl
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,081 Likes: 472
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,081 Likes: 472 |
Karl, we down here are on the flip side of your envy while y'all are afield before our seasons start. Great looking wood on your Merkel. Gil
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
https://imgur.com/gallery/lhcg7hdScroll down to the last photo. That's my 6 yr old, 90 pound GSP Sam. He held that point for 10 minutes while I took photos and waited for my buds to arrive. Then I shot the bird! No doubt a dog that's never hunted a wild quail will do that...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
The Manufrance Ideal safety is at least ambidextrous, if you can only remember which way to move it...Geo Geo that's kinda ugly for a table lamp....you using that one to stake maters or pole beans ?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,703 Likes: 103
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,703 Likes: 103 |
Heck jOe, I shoot birds with it. Did I ever tell you 'bout that Boss gun I once owned? This Ideal is a way better gun and there are no extra holes in the barrels...Geo
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 824 Likes: 36
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 824 Likes: 36 |
Gil that Ilsley sho am pretty
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 86 Likes: 16
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 86 Likes: 16 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
|
|
|
|
|