What is a shotgun choke and what does it do? A shotgun choke narrows or constricts the barrel muzzles. This reduces the width of the shot charge or pattern, so that bullets are expelled more densely to give a more effective result. The more open chokes are, the larger the…
Advice
Our magazines – Shooting Times, Sporting Gun and Shooting Gazette answer your fieldsports questions with advice from experts at the very top of their field.
Our tips include help with gundog training, gun maintenance, shooting skills, legal issues, licensing, technical gun information, ammunition advice, cooking tips, shooting etiquette.
New to shooting?
If you’ve just started shooting you’ll find answers to questions like what is the best first gun or how to buy a gun second-hand. Also what to wear shooting and the legalities you need to know about.
Or do you have a good few seasons under your belt?
If you’re a more seasoned shooter you might have questions about your shooting technique and how to improve it. Or queries about the legalities of gun cabinets and shotgun licences.
Beating and picking-up | Gundog queries | Starting shooting | Shooting etiquette | Shooting clothing | Shotgun certificates and firearms licences | Gun cabinets | Legal answers | Shooting answers|
What does the law say about carrying a shotgun in public?
I'm a student living in the centre of Cambridge and quite regularly cycle to shoot on land on the outskirts of the city where I have rights, or to our local clay ground.
10 things you need to know about how coronavirus is affecting shooting
If you go out shooting, remember to keep a two metre distance away from anybody you come across – and two metres away from any companion you go shooting with at all times. Do not share a gun. In fact, don’t touch somebody else’s gun. It’s also a good idea…
Keeping your guns secure and safe – some police advice
When you’re the owner of a gun you need to be vigilant about firearms security. Which means being safe out in the field, when you’re transporting the gun and when you’re storing your gun. The last thing you want to happen is for your gun to fall into the wrong…
A handy A-Z guide to shooting terms
An A-Z guide to shooting terminology with the jargon and vocabulary you're likely to come across
How to deal with Guns who are after bag quantity, not quality
Be discreet, says Steve Nutall of Border Fieldsports Why are some Guns still after shooting big bags? I’m not just talking driven pheasants and partridge, here. Even some so-called wildfowlers and rough shooters seem to play the numbers game these days. If you see plenty of wild geese on a…
How to line up your cast (to make sure your gun fits properly)
Here I outline some of the most important aspects of gun fit and explain how to line up cast to check gun fit. The aim is to help newcomers have a clear understanding of how important it is and the implications of the wrong fit and how to make clear…
Want to import a gun from the EU? Here’s what you need to know
Q: I am considering buying a shotgun from a friend who is based in France. I hold a European firearms pass and understand the process of travelling with a shotgun but don’t understand the process of buying one from the EU. What I want to know is what I have…
Can you leave rifles and shotguns unattended in cars? Am I breaking the law?
I have just completed the DSC Level 1 and was told during the course that I am only allowed to have a rifle in my car while going to and from my stalking ground.
Deactivated guns – just how has the law changed?
Q: I have a number of deactivated guns that I am told that I will now have to register. Does this mean I need to get a firearm or shotgun certificate? The latest deactivated guns law A: No, but the new rules, which came into force on 12 December 2019…
Our guide to the bird species on general licences in England
The changes to general licences in the last year resulted in a lot of confusion. To make matters simpler, we thought we would provide a visual reference to bird species on general licences in England that can be culled. Remember that the law is different in Wales. Mike Swan, Head of…
12 New Year resolutions for shooters
Have a shooting lesson. In fact, why not book a few. If you feel your shooting has been below par this season then it might be time to go back to basics, book some sessions with an instructor and see what is going wrong. It’s simple to slip into bad…
How far do shotgun pellets travel?
We did a risk assessment on our syndicate shoot last season and highlighted a slippery stream crossing (two planks of wood) as a potential problem.
What you need to do to get a clear view along your gun
In this article we take a closer look at the importance of comb height. In particular, how to assess a newcomer’s requirements and understand the relevance of the combination of correct comb height and stock length. Both will help a Gun shoot to a higher standard. What is comb height?…
My shotgun certificate renewal has been refused!
The police have refused to renew my shotgun certificate on the grounds that I pose a threat to public safety or the peace, citing my domestic circumstances, and the fact that I had a shotgun in the boot of my car when the FEO visited - I was about to…
What women Guns really, really want for Christmas
Need to get a Christmas gift for a female Gun? We asked some women who shoot what they’d love to receive. The ultimate Christmas gifts for female Guns “Even though the season has just finished – I would love a pair of Vision chest waders for Christmas. Mine are shared…
How to make sure your game arrives on the plate in perfect condition
Keeping game in perfect condition Game as a meat is no different from any other product — if you want to increase its value and demand for it, it needs to be a quality product to start with. Small, damaged and poorly handled birds — the bane of game dealers’…
Maximising shoot returns
It is all very well saying that shooting is about the day and the size of the bag is almost an irrelevance. I agree that the number of birds in the bag is rarely related directly to how much pleasure we get from being out with our friends. But at…
Why should you move the gun with your whole body?
Why do you and other instructors make a point of stressing the gun should be moved by the whole body, particularly when shooting crossers and quartering birds?