Airgun World – Summer 2019

10 AIRGUN WORLD http://www.airgunshooting.co.uk

POINTS OF YOU

A SIGHT TO BEHOLD

As an avid reader of Airgun World and someone who likes to tinker with anything mechanical,

I thought you might like to see the modification to the sights of my Umarex Walther CP

CO2 air pistol that I have recently made. The stock pistol comes with no markings on the

front or rear sights, which makes alignment in some light conditions quite difficult, so I have

used the luminous number markings from an old watch face to improve this and it now works

a treat, even in low light! Perhaps other readers might like to also give it a try.

MATTHEW HOBBS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Fifteen minutes ago, I made my first kill for

some eight or nine years. I am writing this

whilst the feelings are still fresh, undimmed

by time or cold logic. It all starts with our

pets, of which we have many. Our

menagerie includes three guinea pigs and a

rather voluptuous rabbit, Doris. The

presence of our garden pets along with

various nest boxes and many bird feeders

has attracted a rat to our tiny urban plot. Our

trail cam revealed a young female rat who

spends her time hoovering up spilled bird

seed. It’s quite an endearing sight to watch

her run off with an entire mini-fat ball

clenched in her tiny jaws. Night-time or

daytime, she’s as bold as brass and

strangely cute with it. Did I mention our long

history of keeping pet mice? The feelings

cross over so easily.

Recently, we watched on film as she

demonstrated her jumping ability one

afternoon. She came just three inches short

of a nest box and its team of tiny blue tits,

and then I thought of those little chirping

babies. My wife said, ‘nature is nature’, but

my mind noted how our animal-filled patch

of lawn is overlooked by many neighbours

and their young families. A council complaint

about attracting rats could put our own pets

in jeopardy. So, this afternoon I finally set to

work. I took out my classic BSA Firebird, a

tin of .22 Superdomes, and mounted a spare

6x40 AO optic. I took up a vantage point well

inside our french doors, looking down into

the garden from the middle floor. I zeroed

my equipment. I waited.

Blue tits came and went; blackbirds

bounded about, wagtails, well, wagged. Then

an hour after I had smeared some peanut

butter on the earth near a trail, there came a

small sound. A single, sharp snap ... a

pause ... a little kicking. The family of

wagtails just five feet away, busy feeding

their two fledging adolescents, barely

blinked. Peace didn’t return for it had not

really departed.

I tidied away my gear, and with a heavy

heart set about clearing up the evidence. A

body was bagged, blood was doused with

dirt, and bait obliterated. She had indeed

been a young female, but it was also clear

she was suckling young. My heart sank

further. To ensure that one tiny brood

survived, another tiny brood had to be left to

starve, and as the landowner, my legal

obligations were clear, I know they were. She

had to go. I know this to be true. Yet the

terrible algebra of necessity still saddens me,

to snuff out a life is no small thing to be

taken lightly.

GAVIN REA-DAVIES

Great letter, Gavin, and I fully agree that

we all need to think carefully before we act,

especially when live quarry is involved. As

you found out, the need for clinical control

can outweigh the satisfaction of doing the job

efficiently and humanely, but sometimes the

job just has to be done. Thanks for sharing

your thoughts. - Ed

What a, literally, brilliant idea,

Matthew. I’m sure your tip

will be taken up by plenty of

our pistol enthusiasts. – Ed

Gavin Rea-Davies urges us not to take our

pest-control duties lightly – and he’s right.

CHANGES NOTED

I see by your Club Finder that you have my

club, Hereward Field Target & Air Rifle, Club

listed for which we are very grateful.

Unfortunately, you have Steve Sharp and his

number for contact. Steve has not been a

member of the club for quite a few years and I

am now club secretary.

Our website has also changed and the new

details are below.

http://herewardftc.org.uk/ secretary@

herewardftc.org.uk

PETER OLDFIELD

Secretary Hereward Field

Target and Air Rifle Club

LYONS SHARE

Excellent information from Mike Lyons

regarding using shredded rubber as a

pellet-catching backstop in the July

edition. I Googled it and found some

suppliers, duly ordered some and I’m

looking forward to putting it to use.

PAUL HEATON

That’s great, Paul, and please let us

know how you get on with building your

backstop, I’m sure our readers would be

interested in this. - Ed