u/Pdownes2001

We all know what the answer is.

I'm doing my bit.

There were reds in the woods where we live until recently but the Yankee greys took over. Whenever I spot one in my garden, it's toast. Got more than 40 last year.

I am in my 70s and, sometimes, I cannot keep the crosshairs steady on the centre of my target.

I can hold my breath, no problem. But my heartbeats (60 bpm) often move the crosshairs.

I would appreciate any advice. Am I holding my rifle too tight? I've never had any training with guns. I am clearly doing something wrong.

I am in my 70s and, sometimes, I cannot keep the crosshairs steady on the centre of my target.

I can hold my breath, no problem. But my heartbeats (60 bpm) often move the crosshairs.

I would appreciate any advice. Am I holding my rifle too tight? I've never had any training with guns. I am clearly doing something wrong.

I just bagged one of these bad boys and I have to say, for the money, I am very happy.

Long story short, I've been shooting rats in my back garden for decades and have always relied on ambient light because I used standard scopes. Also, I've never had a scope than can record video from the scope's point of view. That was way beyond my budget!

This cheeky little fella has changed the game. The lights are out and my back garden is now a totally dark killing zone and I'm ready for some action.

I'm chuffed to bits with it.

https://preview.redd.it/pquyd4blnghh1.png?width=225&format=png&auto=webp&s=a4316a58fa78632a04e80ffbf746000954573662

After years of successful ratting in my LED lit back garden, I'm considering going totally dark and replacing my scope with a digital IR scope.

Will I find this transition rewarding?

I'd appreciate your thoughts, people.

Normally, these guys show up on the bird feeder which is two metres above that fence post and it's an easy shot from my bedroom window.

When they're at ground level, to get a shot I have to poke my rifle through a tiny bathroom awning window with one foot on the bath tub and the other on the toilet cistern. Not ideal.

Got him though.

Found the carcase a week later less than two metres away from the hit zone while doing some routine gardening. Not much left of it to be honest. The bugs had a proper feast.

(Airacuda Max .22, UK spec, H&N Baracuda 18)

https://reddit.com/link/1v3vpsl/video/21rj9ub8zueh1/player

My backup rifle has an LedLenser P7 which I have converted into a tactical flashlight by adding a remote pressure switch (tape switch). Annoyingly, the tape switch is now playing up. I reckon I'll be able to fix it with some jiggery-pokery and a dab of solder here and there.

However, it set me to thinking. What if I need to replace it entirely? What is the goto tactical flashlight for you folks out there?

Here in the UK, a 'back yard' is an enclosed paved area behind a terraced house and is just a place to store the wheelie bins. It is devoid of any vegetation apart from the odd weed sprouting up from a crack here and there.

If there is a lawn, shrubs or any kind of landscaping it is referred to as a 'back garden'.

Across the Pond, folk talk about using cameras to cover their back yard when it is clearly a verdant and well manicured garden of which any English gardener would be proud.

Come on guys. Please stop calling your beautiful gardens a back yard. You're doing yourselves a disservice. Your back gardens are things of beauty. Celebrate them.

Recently, I acquired a new Airacuda Max PCP.

I'm in my early 70s so it will likely not be a problem for me but I have read somewhere that the reservoir is only good for 10 years.

I've searched for replacement reservoirs and plenums but they are not available.

What advice should I leave for my son when he inherits it?

Should he bin it or just have it checked?

https://preview.redd.it/mdpxc2e66x8h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=27e1a9f306dac1c2d35e8629c2a1a103f311e378

My new reg has just been delivered but there are no instructions on the Huma-Air website that specifically mention my JTS Airacuda Max.

I don't think I'll have any problems fitting it but I do have one question.

Included in the pack is a 3mm grub screw. What is it for?

https://preview.redd.it/6zh6a00ov87h1.jpg?width=2724&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=adb19b5d0e5c4b2538ee5eb36e4590114b5750bb

I've never seen a fox pretending to be a cat before. Not a good impersonation, imo.

(Aintree, Liverpool, UK)

Cameras: Reolink RLC-811A ... RLC-823S2 ... Doorbell D340P

I've never seen a fox pretending to be a cat before. Not a good impersonation, imo.

(Aintree, Liverpool, UK)

RLC-811A ... RLC-823S2 ... Doorbell D340P

I have an Airacuda Max, .22 which I have not tuned or adjusted since I acquired it.

Out of curiosity, I used an FX V2 chrono to measure its power and it came out as 11.1 ft/Lbs which is legal here in the UK where they MUST be sub 12 Ft/Lbs.

I've tested it on pellets ranging from 15 to 18 grains and it stayed more or less the same. The heavier the pellet, the slower it goes so that makes sense. If I put a monster slug in there, it would probably still come out with 11 ft/lbs or thereabouts.

I'm very tempted to tweak it up as close to 12 as I dare. It's easy enough to do. Thoughts?

You don't see this every day in a Liverpool garden. A tawny owl catching her supper.

Camera: RLC-811A

You don't see this every day in a Liverpool garden. A tawny owl catching her supper.

Camera: RLC-811A