Firearms review - Four Barrels Good!
In his guest post, Montague Steeplethorpe delights in the versatility and sheer destructive force of the latest offering from a famous York gunsmith.
Because the proprietors of every safari park we contacted were so bloody unsporting, we have been unable to test the manufacturer's claim that the 'Carnagecaster X-13 Jubilee Special Edition' can indeed stop a charging rhino in its tracks. We can, however, confirm with authority that it is quite capable of stopping a speeding Honda Civic quite effectively, with our shot taking out first the engine block, the speaker system and finally, in a rather spectacular fashion, the petrol tank. To that extent it is judged rather more effective than the flashing 'watch your speed' sign that was previously the sole deterrent in the village to the idiot youth who had made a habit of driving through the village with no regard for the speed limit, the safety of others or indeed that anyone else may not share his appalling musical tastes.
Other experiments proved that the Carnagecaster is equally effective against badgers, deer, duck, poachers and, on one unfortunate occasion, a very surprised cow that made the mistake of startling me. I can also report that engaging 'panic mode' when unprepared, causing all four barrels to discharge simultaneously, until ammunition is spent or the thing overheats and explodes, results in the effective vaporisation of whatever you were pointing at at the time (in this case an unoccupied - one hopes - caravan), a dislocated shoulder and a short spell in hospital being fussed over by nurses. Hearing returns in two to three days, preceded by a not un-musical ringing. Any facial hair will return in time.
The Carnagecaster is such an impressive example of the art of the gunmaker that merely slipping it out of its case to give it a polish, as I did last week in a crowded train, had the effect of silencing the entire carriage with the exception of a few stifled sobs. It is unusual but gratifying to see craftsmanship still move the travelling public, who I presume are working class, to tears.
And no wonder. The detailing on the Carnagecaster is quite superb, and a great deal of thought has gone into its design. For instance there is a sturdy rubberised grip at the end of the barrels meaning that when ammunition is exhausted, it can be wielded as an effective club. That is of course if you have not decided to affix the optional 'Neptune' three pronged bayonet (which is also excellent, by the way, for digging potatoes).
Much has been made of the Carnagecaster's versatility, and rightly so. Quad-barrelled shotguns have been with us for some time, but the Carnagecaster is one of the very few to allow different types of ammunition to be fired either singularly or simultaneously. For my trial I elected a mostly straightforward combination. Top left, a simple steel shot for game, manual load. Top right, once again a straightforward choice for the rifle barrel, 'deerpopper 500' shells in a magazine of 20. At Christmas of course, one can switch to the variety with the explosive tip, commonly known as 'red misters' for their effect on their surprised target.
Bottom left, always a popular choice, a blend of charcoal enriched iron shot and white phosphorous. This is, I have found, useful not only for hunting at night, illuminating the target for a brief instant before cooking it, but is a remarkable deterrent against poachers. The cartridges are belt fed but for the field come in a drum of a dozen, with one 'up the spout'. Ask your munitions man for 'a baker's dozen gypsy candles' and he should be able to sort you out.
Bottom right, described by the manufacturer as the 'ordinance option'. A somewhat difficult choice. Originally I went with the 'Helmand hello!', a solid tungsten bolt used to blow the doors of opium traffickers off their hinges over there, before finally settling on another favourite from that part of the world; Depleted Uranium. Manual load. If you have to use more than one, you are advised to improve your aim.
The Carnagecaster offers excellent value for money (POA from Pressers & Co. of York), demonstrates that it is possible to be a master of all trades and ensures you are prepared for most rural challenges.
Because the proprietors of every safari park we contacted were so bloody unsporting, we have been unable to test the manufacturer's claim that the 'Carnagecaster X-13 Jubilee Special Edition' can indeed stop a charging rhino in its tracks. We can, however, confirm with authority that it is quite capable of stopping a speeding Honda Civic quite effectively, with our shot taking out first the engine block, the speaker system and finally, in a rather spectacular fashion, the petrol tank. To that extent it is judged rather more effective than the flashing 'watch your speed' sign that was previously the sole deterrent in the village to the idiot youth who had made a habit of driving through the village with no regard for the speed limit, the safety of others or indeed that anyone else may not share his appalling musical tastes.
Other experiments proved that the Carnagecaster is equally effective against badgers, deer, duck, poachers and, on one unfortunate occasion, a very surprised cow that made the mistake of startling me. I can also report that engaging 'panic mode' when unprepared, causing all four barrels to discharge simultaneously, until ammunition is spent or the thing overheats and explodes, results in the effective vaporisation of whatever you were pointing at at the time (in this case an unoccupied - one hopes - caravan), a dislocated shoulder and a short spell in hospital being fussed over by nurses. Hearing returns in two to three days, preceded by a not un-musical ringing. Any facial hair will return in time.
The Carnagecaster is such an impressive example of the art of the gunmaker that merely slipping it out of its case to give it a polish, as I did last week in a crowded train, had the effect of silencing the entire carriage with the exception of a few stifled sobs. It is unusual but gratifying to see craftsmanship still move the travelling public, who I presume are working class, to tears.
And no wonder. The detailing on the Carnagecaster is quite superb, and a great deal of thought has gone into its design. For instance there is a sturdy rubberised grip at the end of the barrels meaning that when ammunition is exhausted, it can be wielded as an effective club. That is of course if you have not decided to affix the optional 'Neptune' three pronged bayonet (which is also excellent, by the way, for digging potatoes).
Much has been made of the Carnagecaster's versatility, and rightly so. Quad-barrelled shotguns have been with us for some time, but the Carnagecaster is one of the very few to allow different types of ammunition to be fired either singularly or simultaneously. For my trial I elected a mostly straightforward combination. Top left, a simple steel shot for game, manual load. Top right, once again a straightforward choice for the rifle barrel, 'deerpopper 500' shells in a magazine of 20. At Christmas of course, one can switch to the variety with the explosive tip, commonly known as 'red misters' for their effect on their surprised target.
Bottom left, always a popular choice, a blend of charcoal enriched iron shot and white phosphorous. This is, I have found, useful not only for hunting at night, illuminating the target for a brief instant before cooking it, but is a remarkable deterrent against poachers. The cartridges are belt fed but for the field come in a drum of a dozen, with one 'up the spout'. Ask your munitions man for 'a baker's dozen gypsy candles' and he should be able to sort you out.
Bottom right, described by the manufacturer as the 'ordinance option'. A somewhat difficult choice. Originally I went with the 'Helmand hello!', a solid tungsten bolt used to blow the doors of opium traffickers off their hinges over there, before finally settling on another favourite from that part of the world; Depleted Uranium. Manual load. If you have to use more than one, you are advised to improve your aim.
The Carnagecaster offers excellent value for money (POA from Pressers & Co. of York), demonstrates that it is possible to be a master of all trades and ensures you are prepared for most rural challenges.
Labels: Firearms, Guns, Reviews, The Field, The Field magazine
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