My springer spaniel’s training is coming along pretty well but I can’t get her to leave hedgerows and cover to hunt open ground for retrieves. Any advice?
Advice
This is how to avoid the misery of midges
Q: I stalk in Sutherland and every time I go out I get horribly bitten by midges and ticks. Can you recommend any remedies or repellents that work, please? Tell me about it — the “black mist” seems to be particularly bad this year. Midges don’t seem to affect me…
Can you legally destroy a shotgun?
Q: I have inherited some shotguns from my late father. These include a badly pitted Belgian .410 single barrel that is not suitable for modern smokeless cartridges. Can I legally destroy a shotgun myself? Or do I have to get a dealer to do it for me? Our legal expert Bill…
A £60 scope – is it any good?
I have always been an advocate of buying the best scope you can afford, as its reliability and performance will repay you in the long run. This still holds true but the cheap scopes of 10 years ago have improved to the point that they are often all you need.…
Gun fit, chokes, coloured glasses and lead – some readers’ recent shooting questions
Sporting Gun's shooting coach dips into his mailbag to sort out some more readers' enquiries.
What’s the right shotgun bore for you?
I have received a letter from a reader wishing 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. He recalls that a lightweight Baikal gave him a hefty whack on his shoulder, which…
Can you go clayshooting during pregnancy?
We’re all for encouraging Young Guns to take up shooting safely and responsibly. But how young is too young to get involved in shooting? Does shooting clays or game shooting harm an unborn baby? Or is it a good opportunity to get some exercise in the fresh air? Is it…
Lyme disease symptoms – what you need to know
A growing prevalence of tick-borne diseases – including Lyme disease – has put them high on the list of public enemies. Unfortunately, ticks now pose a direct threat to humans, and the problem is on the rise. Spread to England from the USA Lyme disease is caused by an infection…
Fancy a top-end American wine tour?
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel Finger Lakes Magnificent views of Seneca Lake at sunset from Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel. Image Credit: watkinsglenharborhotel.com Perhaps begin your American wine tour in New York City, and head to some of the Big Apple’s best wine bars for a recce of your favourite US wines and regions. From there,…
Eye dominance and shooting
Eye dominance and your shooting! Everyone can improve their shooting by understanding more about eye dominance.
How to photograph your gundog like a pro
Understanding your subject can lead to beautiful, natural-looking images Important family members Having grown up with dogs, we understand they are important family members that have a special place in our hearts. Sadly, dogs are not eternal, so the photographs we take will one day bring great comfort to owners…
Six things to know about gun recoil
Many shooters consider that a 20-bore has less recoil than a 12-bore but in fact, the recoil depends on the cartridge load being used and the weight of the gun. Having a light 20-bore and a heavy load, like a 28 or 32 gram cartridge will result in stronger recoil…
Ribless game guns – the downside
Adam Calvert writes: The main purpose of removing ribs is to reduce barrel weight and, as a result, improve speed of handling or reduce the overall weight of the gun. Some would say removing the top rib also makes the gun more elegant. There are, however, several drawbacks that need to…
Is it safe to leave my shotgun in the car?
If I take the fore-end off my shotgun before I leave it locked in the car, is this showing due diligence (assuming the gun’s out of sight and locked up in the car anyway)?
£1,200 for a new rifle. What should I buy?
A: That is a good budget for a decent rifle, with the Tikka T3, Schultz & Larsen, Steyr Mannlicher CL2, Strasser RS Solo or Browning X-Bolt, to name a few, all around that price level. Any one of these rifles will be a good and reliable choice. You need to…
Can I use a trap gun for pigeon/game shooting?
A: There is a common misconception that trap guns can’t be used for other forms of shooting, I disagree. A trap gun is a gun which usually has slightly longer barrels, tighter chokes and is set up with a higher comb height, making the gun’s impact point also high. In some…
How many guns can you store in a gun cabinet?
Q: When I got my shotgun licence three years ago I bought a four-gun cabinet. I’ve just bought my fifth shotgun and have been told by my firearms enquiry officer (FEO) that I am only allowed to own four because that is all my cabinet was intended for. Do I…
What happens to a shotgun when the owner dies?
I am recently widowed and this has got me thinking… Now that I live alone nobody will know where my gun cabinet keys are when I pop off.
Recoil bruises my face!
I have a Browning B325. It's a big improvement on the Spanish over-under I had, except I'm constantly getting bruised on my face and lower shoulder. I've never suffered from this in ten years of shooting!
How NOT to waste a shot
Each year at our shoot, we have a day, usually in June, when we gather to shoot a few clays and have a BBQ. Last year, to add some interest, I set up a pattern plate and the guests were invited to test their guns and cartridges. A good many…