We’ve put together a long list of Christmas gifts for shooters that you can buy online which can be delivered directly to the recipient, should you so wish. Scroll down and you’ll find gifts for men, women, children and pets. We’re adding to the list all the time as we…
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|
At what age can I apply for a shotgun certificate?
One of the commonest questions I get through Sporting Gun is from youngsters wanting to know what the minimum age is for getting a shotgun certificate.
Why a backup gun is a good idea
Those of us who shoot game can all relate to the excitement and anticipation of an approaching day in the field. You prepare everything the night before; your tweeds are looking sharp, you have enough cartridges to see you through the next three seasons and you have a gift for…
Cyber Monday deals 2021 for fieldsports fans
How can you benefit from the Cyber Monday deals that will be around this year? Are they really bargains? How does Cyber Monday work? Where will you find the best savings? Scroll down and see the deals we have already found from Sealskinz gloves to waterproof trousers. It’s also a…
Dogs and electric fences: how dangerous is getting a shock?
Shocks from electric fences can be painful but your dog shouldn't experience lasting trauma. If your dog still seems affected after the shock, you should see your vet
The best shooting sticks: a selection for the field
Why we need shooting sticks It’s all too easy to miss a fox or a deer, especially when adrenaline kicks in and you don’t have a solid rest. I know I’ve missed shots in the past when I’ve tried to shoot off a fence post or tree branch and, though…
Parallax adjustment – how much does it affect rifle accuracy?
Parallax problems may not be due to a scope.
Toxic ammunition: the truth about lead
The move to phase out lead ammunition is one of the most divisive and inflammatory issues in modern fieldsports. Yet, despite the wealth of coverage and the emotion the topic of toxic ammunition evokes in many quarters, the open-minded hunter looking for sufficient information to form their own opinion can…
Gun safety catch – should it be automatic on all guns?
Intercepting safety sears on the tumbler of a gun are supposed to stop accidental discharges if the gun is dropped, or jarred, by accident.
Roadkill – this is why you should NEVER eat it
So you’re driving along and there’s a freshly dead muntjac or pheasant by the roadside. Should you take the roadkill home for dinner? I recently received this query from a reader and had no hesitation in giving my answer. Q: People often ask me if I will prepare birds and…
Tips for freezing game
Now that the season has started you’ll hopefully be bringing plenty of game home. Of course you won’t be able to eat it all at once, so the best solution is to freeze it. But how can you keep it tasting good and in the best condition? There are a…
Tips for wildfowling
Wildfowling is a wonderful sport, but not always the most productive in terms of action or shooting opportunities compared with other fieldsports. Making the most of the chances presented is key to success, turning a trip from a birdwatching outing into a hunter-gathering expedition. Here are a few tips for…
Is it legal to borrow or lend a gun?
Key advice on borrowing and lending guns At the start of the shooting season you may be shooting with friends who have recently ventured into fieldsports and don’t yet own a shotgun. So what’s the law if you are going shooting with a friend on a formal shoot and the…
Rat poison resistance – what can you do on your shoot?
I have suspected it for a while, but confirmation popped into the inbox the other day. Four rat-tail tips that I had sent to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for genetic screening came back positive for second-generation anticoagulant resistance. Rat poison resistance From here on in, the two…
How to avoid getting a bruised face when shooting
Q: I really hope you can help me. I am tired of getting a bruised cheek from a shotgun. I am a regular clayshooter but find it very uncomfortable to shoot any more than 50 clay targets due to a very sore face. I have tried lots of different cartridge…
Does your rifle fit you? Here’s how to find out.
I remember having to wrestle with my first. 22 rimfire, a BSA Martini action 12/15, out rabbiting. It was accurate but it weighed a ton, was far too long and the stock was short with a low comb. In those days we made do, but today attitudes have changed and…
Explaining shotgun bore
Despite modern techniques, the archaic system for setting bore sizes is still in evidence today. Lewis Potter traces the evolution of shotgun measurement
Shooting crows – what works and what doesn’t
There are many different opinions about what will and won’t work when it comes to shooting crows. Over the years, I have taken a lot of these with a pinch of salt and gone out of my way to test different theories to see if some popular beliefs bear scrutiny.…
Do I have to tell the police my shotgun is being repaired?
Q: I need to put my shotgun into a gunsmith for restoring and servicing. When I do so, do I have to tell the police my shotgun is being repaired? A: No, because this is a temporary process that does not constitute a transfer. When you take it in, ask…
What’s the right shotgun bore for you?
What should you do if you want to buy a shotgun which will be used mainly for vermin control (pigeons, crows, magpies and rats), together with rough shooting and the occasional crack at clays. A reader asked me a question about choosing shotgun bore a while back, recalling that a…