Great score

Great score yesterday by Lily who on her first attempt with her dads rifle hit a whopping 220 at 10 meters well done Lily 

This week 26 May 2017

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This week 26th May 2017

The shooting range just seems to get busier and busier at the moment. All good!

We have had more group use recently, Shuttleworth College had their level 3 countryside management students in to look at firearms laws.

Then the Scouts came in

Also several birthday parties this week.

New guns this week includes the Umarex Colt 7.5" barrel single action. A much longer version of the already popular air pistol (£215).

With the summer coming up, we have stocked up on the Bear Grylls junior airguns. These are from £114.99

Lots going on in the next few weeks. The Sports Hertfordshire "This girl Can" event and the Letchworth festival. Come on down to the range and bring some friends that haven't shot before.

May Half term

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May Half term activities in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.

Bring the kids down to our shooting range in Letchworth, We are open from 10am-8pm Mon-Sat and 10am-4pm Sunday. All ages and abilities welcome. See our website for pricing.

Revs blog -more wildlife

Hello again my flock,
It's been a week or so since my last blog due to work and home life, I've not had the chance to get out and do some pest control. However while at work during the week a gentleman walks in and while we are chatting he tells me he has a rabbit problem, after a short discussion it transpires that he owns 4 acres of land that he keeps horses on and soon to acquire another 4 acres in the near future.

 

Now as we all know rabbits love to dig holes, however when these holes are in horse paddocks it becomes a problem. While the horses are out in the paddock minding their own business should they step into one of those rabbit hole I'm told they could fall and break a leg, sadly in a lot of cases that is the end for poor old Neddy and they have to be dispatched, that comes and a cost let alone the price of the horse to start with. So my new friend asks me if I'd like to do some pest control for him, not wanting to turn down the prospect of a new permission I gladly agree to see if I can help.
 

As the perm is en route from work to home I charge my rifle give it a quick check and rezero on the range at A Different Calibre and head out to see how bad his rabbit problem is.
On arrival I drop the land owner a quick call to let him know I'm there ( it's good practice and a common courtesy ) he comes over to meet me again and show me the lay of the land, after a quick walk around it is obvious he does indeed have a problem but not as much as his neighbour (who doesn't want me to shoot the rabbits, but his land is the other 4acres soon to be acquired by my perm holder.) Leaving me to it the land owner goes back indoors, with the last light of the day ( a beautiful sunset)

 

I set up my rifle and find a place to settle down. After a short time the light begins to wain and one by one the bunnies venture out, at this point it is tempting to pick them off as soon as they hop out into the open, but I have found it better to wait until they are further out, as you pick one off the others tend to freeze for a brief moment this may allow you to pick off another before the run for their warrens. So as the night went on I managed to get five bunnies in total, not a bad haul for a couple of hours work.
 

 

While moving about the perm I decide to attach my Viper nite site as it's quite dark now, it's amazing just how much you can see using your eyesight that has adjusted to the dark, once fitted I scan the hedgerow looking for that tell tale eye shine ......... nothing, where have they all gone ?, my experience tells me generally something is on the prowl and the rabbits have run for cover, sure enough as I pan across the field there it is, a large fully grown badger, snuffling away at the ground. Grabbing my phone from my pocket I take a few snap shots of the badger via my Viper nite site screen and some film footage.

it's great to watch it sniffing the ground then pulling great big worms out with its teeth

, the amount he was getting was amazing to watch.

After a short time I left it to continue to feed thinking to myself I should do the same, maybe not worms but there should be something in the cupboard at home to stop my stomach from rumbling.
Till the next time my flock, may your hand be steady and your shot be true.
Rev.

Airgun Tuning and custom work

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www.air-fectivetuning.co.uk

 Drop your airgun off with us at A Different Calibre for a complete tune and service. Ask our staff for further details.

1st Knebworth Scout group air rifle shooting

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We had a group in from the 1st Knebworth Scout Group last night. Always happy to sort out group discounted rates for the Scouts and other organisations. Ask us for details. info@adifferentcalibre.co.uk

Shuttleworth College Visit A Different Calibre

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Shuttleworth College visit us

Level 3 Countryside students enjoyed a “behind the scenes” tour at A Different Calibre, Letchworth, courtesy of former Shuttleworth College countryside student of the year, Stuart Manley.
They learnt about firearms legislation, gun licensing and firearm safety before handling a variety of air rifles, shotguns and hand guns – linking them to the appropriate uses in the game management module being studied e.g. control of pest & predators.

The students then visited the shop to discuss and compare the various types of ammunition used in the different firearms and then headed off to the range. This is a very light and airy venue with ample space and target types/distances for all of them to take aim and practice handling and using some of the air rifles and hand guns.

Many found it addictive, even if never having tried it before, so the morning soon passed and we were all heading back to college in time for lunch.
We hope to return soon to improve our aim and challenge ourselves further.
See the link to check it out! https://www.facebook.com/ADifferentCalibreLtd/

+2

This girl can 2017

Join us for the Hertfordshire "This Girl Can..." week. Come and try air rifle shooting. £14 per person for a one hour intro session. We are taking bookings now. Phone for more information.

Lots of Wildlife. Rev's Blog.

Rev's blog 

www.diffcal.co.uk

Given an early finish at work and a permission on the way home I decided to pop over and see how the local bunny population was fairing, on arrival it was still light so I had set myself up for a long wait before said bunnies would come back out , much to my surprise they just kept coming back out each time I took a shot. Five bunnies later and I called it a night happy knowing that I had reduced the numbers as asked by the owner ( they are making a right mess of his very large garden). Two nights later I thought I'd try my luck again, once more I arrived in daylight to see around 15-20 rabbits all out digging up the lawn, once settled I noticed there seemed to be more young than older rabbits, At first I wasn't sure why but the rabbits seemed more reluctant to return to the lawn, as night fell and the light failed I decided to stay a bit longer and use the 'nitesite', once set up a quick scan of the garden showed a few rabbits, their eyes glowing bright in the beam of the ir torch. Two unlucky rabbits later I find myself on the move to try the other side of the large garden, when I say garden it's about the size of a football pitch.

Once more I'm sweeping the hedgerow on the hunt for the tell tale eye shine, I pick up on some movement waiting quietly the eye shine starts to walk towards me at this point I realised it wasn't a rabbit remember I said it walked toward me, thinking quickly I grabbed my iPhone and flicked on the camera what followed was a mixture of a balancing act, wonderment and frustration, balancing my iPhone trying to get still pictures and video footage the frustration of that and trying to get it in focus but above all sheer delight as a muntjac deer came within ten foot of me and only realised I was there when my coat brushed against a wall I was near.

 The muntjac fearing man turned tail and ran, not thinking the night could get any better I moved once more back to see if the rabbits had returned. Once more sweeping the hedgerows I spotted two big bright eyes this time a fox, no wonder the rabbits were scarce, while watching the fox I hear noise to my right panning right another set of eyes, this time a badger. This could be interesting .......
the badger seems in a playful mood running here and there bouncing about, the fox nose to the ground nose in the air slowly slowly one step at a time getting closer and close to the badger.

  Once more a fumble for my phone hoping not to scare either of them away, iPhone in place record button pressed just a case of waiting to see what nature will unfold, this time I wasn't going to disturb them, closer still they got to each other surely they will make contact, as it happens they walk straight past each other neither seeing hearing or smelling the other, happy there wasn't a conflict but at the same time a mild disappointment. Enough excitement for one night, I pack up my stuff and drive home knowing I have some reasonable pictures given the juggling / balancing and that next time I may see them again.
Watch this space I'll let you know what happens next time .
Rev.