Gun Craziness

gpick24 · 04-01-2014, 18:24

Took the dogs for a walk down by the canal today, decided we`d go through the woods and down towards the river. On the way there I heard a bang in the distance, at first I thought it was someone banging on the shipping containers Brian Barnes has, but as I got further away from them, the bangs got louder, and more like gunfire. Being the nosey sod I am, I decided to investigate. There were three chaps with a gun not sure what they were shooting at but fortunately it was away from me, then they just walked off from there vehicle, leaving the gun unattended on the bonnet.

Shooting in a place like that, where there are a lot of public footpaths is bad enough, but to leave a gun unattended is just plain stupid.
Anyone know what kind of gun that is.

flashman · 04-01-2014, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpick24

Took the dogs for a walk down by the canal today, decided we`d go through the woods and down towards the river. On the way there I heard a bang in the distance, at first I thought it was someone banging on the shipping containers Brian Barnes has, but as I got further away from them, the bangs got louder, and more like gunfire. Being the nosey sod I am, I decided to investigate. There were three chaps with a gun not sure what they were shooting at but fortunately it was away from me, then they just walked off from there vehicle, leaving the gun unattended on the bonnet.

Shooting in a place like that, where there are a lot of public footpaths is bad enough, but to leave a gun unattended is just plain stupid.
Anyone know what kind of gun that is.

Maybe they were American tourists !

DaveinGermany · 04-01-2014, 19:02

Can't really say at that distance, but I'd assume it's probably an Anshuetz or something similar a competition/ Hunting rifle.

Retlaw · 04-01-2014, 19:33

What ever it is it, looking at the size of the magazine floor plate to be a fairly large calibre. It is illegal any way, weapons of that size or even as small as .22, can only be used in certain places, and that location is not one of them. The number plate should be enlarged and handed to the police. Those 3 idiots are just bring shooting into more disrepute.

Gordon Booth · 04-01-2014, 20:23

I'd say it's a good quality air rifle. BSA do that shape of checkering on the stock and the barrel diameter doesn't look right for a full firearm.
A FAC power air rifle can make a heck of a crack!
Whatever, they shouldn't be shooting anything in a public access area and they sure as hell shouldn't be leaving it unattended!
You have their reg. number , give the photo to the police.

gpick24 · 04-01-2014, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

I'd say it's a good quality air rifle. BSA do that shape of checkering on the stock and the barrel diameter doesn't look right for a full firearm.
A FAC power air rifle can make a heck of a crack!
Whatever, they shouldn't be shooting anything in a public access area and they sure as hell shouldn't be leaving it unattended!
You have their reg. number , give the photo to the police.

I`m no gun expert, but do air rifles give off smoke from the barrell?

Gordon Booth · 04-01-2014, 21:18

Ah, now that's interesting. An air rifle can smoke if you put gun oil in the air chamber and barrel(compression, like a diesel engine) but it's just for effect.
I can't see these guys making smoke for fun so you have a very interesting photo there. Definitely a police job!

Retlaw · 04-01-2014, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

I'd say it's a good quality air rifle. BSA do that shape of checkering on the stock and the barrel diameter doesn't look right for a full firearm.
A FAC power air rifle can make a heck of a crack!
Whatever, they shouldn't be shooting anything in a public access area and they sure as hell shouldn't be leaving it unattended!
You have their reg. number , give the photo to the police.

That is not an air rifle, the rifle in the picture is bolt action and you can see the floor plate of a 5 round magazine. Looks more like a sporterised .303 or similar calibre, .303 is a powerful cartridge, I've hit targets at 1000 yards with a .303, and the danger area is reckoned at another 5000 yards after that.

Gordon Booth · 04-01-2014, 21:25

Retlaw, there are bolt action air rifles and the barrel looks a bit light for a .303 but you know a lot more about rifles than I do.
Interesting, on gpicks last photo showing the smoke they've fitted a silencer.

Retlaw · 04-01-2014, 21:32

That is more like a Winchester model 70 than any air rifle, all air rifles I've seen with a bolt are tiny things not much bigger than pellet diameter, silencers only work on ammo with a velocity less than 1000 Ft ps, so you would still get a hell of a crack from a .303 which has a velocity of 2400 Ft ps

gpick24 · 04-01-2014, 21:35

This is where they were, and the direction they were shooting, would this be classed as public access area? They were shooting in the direction of Dunkenhalgh Way but the road is quite a bit higher up.

gpick24 · 04-01-2014, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

... last photo showing the smoke they've fitted a silencer.

If that`s what that is, it didn`t work cos it was loud as hell.
This is where is was when I first heard them. Approx 300m away.

Gordon Booth · 04-01-2014, 21:46

They certainly weren't just playing. That's a sand bag on the jacket on the bonnet.
It's to rest the rifle on to steady it for an accurate shot. In the photo with the smoke the guy is resting the rifle on it.
You don't bring that sort of stuff unless you're a serious shooter- of something!They're on open ground and very near the motorway- iffy.

Retlaw · 04-01-2014, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpick24

This is where they were, and the direction they were shooting, would this be classed as public access area? They were shooting in the direction of Dunkenhalgh Way but the road is quite a bit higher up.

The level of the road doesn't matter, a ricochet could go in any direction and still be lethal at one mile. Who ever they are if they have the slightest knowledge of the firearms act they would know they are out of order, if it is an illegal firearm then those three are bloody idiots. AND silencers also need special permits.
Strikes me that some one could be selling an illegal rifle, and the buyer wanted to try it out. Those photo's need to be handed over to the plod pronto.

gpick24 · 04-01-2014, 22:00

I didn`t mention the height of the road to try to excuse them, just it isn`t obvious to anyone who doesn`t know the area.
I think you`re right, it`s definitely something for Dibble to look into. There could be anyone walking round there, I regularly walk through them woods, luckily I took a different direction today.