finally got a shot off with the Lancaster today

[heelerau]

 Attended the pistol range at Northam, about 1 hr east of home this morning, tossed in the Niel Fields Lancaste .40. Put a few shots down range at 25yds and let a few fellow pistol shooters have a shot each. Had to explain that you need to follow through due to the longer lock time than modern firearms.  Mostly 9s and 10s. all were somewhat surprised about how well it handled and shot. Only using 40grs of fffg  and a 375 dia ball with fairly thick spit patch. forgot the mink oil will make up some pre cut patches .
  Still hoping to get out after a rabbit before spring finishes.

Cheers

Gordon

[Daryl]

Sounds great, Grodon. Are the hares/rabbits a real problem now as they have been in the past?

[heelerau]

G'day Daryl,
                 rabbits are no longer a real problem in Australia, the myxo was released 50 yrs ago and keeps them down, then a few years ago the calicii (not sure of the spelling) was being developed on a small island off South Australia, someone got onto the island and took a few infected rabbits off and let them loose on the mainland, the disease took off and decimated the whole country of rabbits.   You still see the odd one,  hares are only a problem to the vignerons, but I don't think they are ever in really big numbers. I remember Dad and Mum saying they could in the late 50's stand in a certain paddock, plant their feet and without moving them, shoot off a whole packet of Winchester long rifle cartridges from their little Browning semi auto rifles and get 50 rabbits each !! If I go out and get two or three rabbits for the day, it is a big day on the rabbits now !!

Cheers

gordon

[Daryl]

I assume there are more hares in some areas than in others.  Fellow on a small bore forum I frequent shoots them - warrens of hares, as opposed to the way they are few and far between back East in Ontario.