1. Do you need to heat your gun cabinets in winter? If the temperature is plummeting outside will your guns suffer if the cabinet is in an unheated room that’s a bit damp? Is there a danger of the cabinet rusting? Coldness on its own does not cause rust, but…
Advice
Should the safety on all guns be automatic?
Intercepting safety sears on the tumbler of a gun are supposed to stop accidental discharges if the gun is dropped, or jarred, by accident.
Can’t stop stopping my gun
Q: How do I stop myself stopping the gun when I shoot? A: Tony says: Stopping the gun as you shoot can be down to a number of factors. Let’s assume that the gun fits, as an incorrectly fitted gun can cause all sorts of problems – especially to your…
Footwork and how it affects your success when shooting
Most Guns don’t understand how footwork helps them, and when asked will probably answer along the lines of killing the bird wherever your front foot is, or something to that effect. Here’s why good shooting footwork is essential Your shooting stance gives you the platform from which to mount your…
Is my UK shotgun certificate valid abroad? Or do I need more documents?
Q: I’ve been invited to shoot in France next season. Will my shotgun certificate be valid over there? You will need your SGC and also a European Firearms Pass which can be obtained at no cost from your local police. The airline/ferry/tunnel will want to know you are travelling with firearms.…
What’s the difference between a game and sporting gun?
The main difference between a game gun and a sporting gun is the weight. Game guns are lighter Sporters are set up for clay shooting, and they often have multi-chokes and a more visible rib on the barrels. Game guns are lighter and have smaller ribs for less weight and…
15 vital things you need to know about Lyme Disease
New advice has been given by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellent (NICE) to help doctors quickly spot Lyme disease, so they can offer people NHS treatment as soon as possible. Saul Faust, Professor of paediatric immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton and chair of…
Is my shotgun a Baikal?
I've inherited one of those Baikal shotguns with a selective trigger, but I'm darned if I can get it to work!
The best cover crops for the part-time keeper
Cover crops can do many things to enhance a shoot: Provide options for early-season drives when the woods might have too much leaf on the trees to push pheasants out Link areas of land where there are no natural transfer points such as hedges or ditches Give more options in…
Am I allowed to shoot my airgun in local woods open to the public?
A: I am new to airgun shooting and want to know whether I’m allowed to shoot in local woods that are open to the public. If I need formal airgun shooting permission, how should I go about contacting the owner? Q: You need permission from the landowner or the owner…
Laser range finders
Q: Could you recommend a laser range finder to help me accurately judge distances? I shoot over large fields and hills, so knowing the correct range would be useful. A: Laser range finders are very handy for showing the range to your target, allowing you to adjust your aim or…
Is the fit right on my gun?
I've bought a Beretta for clay shooting as a spare, but I'm not sure the gun fit is right as I don’t shoot as well with it as I do my old workhorse.
When is the best time to shoot corvids?
I know this has nothing to do with pigeon shooting but I wondered if you could tell me the best way to decoy crows from a hide?
How can I stop my spaniel whining at the peg?
My two year-old Springer spaniel, Betsy, is a great worker but she will insist on whining whenever she is made to sit, or when she is in the kennel.
Can I buy a Purdey or Holland & Holland on a budget?
Is it possible to buy a Purdey or Holland & Holland side-by-side on a budget of between £2,000 to £3,000? If so, would it be reliable for gameshooting all the time and not just for special occasions?
25 important things to know about choke
If you swap chokes around you can use the same shotgun for a variety of different disciplines. Most of us don’t shoot well enough to get any real benefit from choke. Screw-in chokes arrived in the late 1970s with the Winchester 101 series of guns. Good technique and practice are…
Where should I keep my gun cabinet keys safely?
On Sunday August 10 1997 a police officer called at the house of Mr Mark Farrer. He wanted to inspect his firearms security. Mr Farrer was not at home. His mother, then in her 80s, who did not hold a certificate, fetched the officer the key and allowed him access to the gun cabinet. The Chief Constable then declined…
How to sharpen a knife and keep it that way
Q: Can you recommend a knife sharpener please? I cannot find a decent one for my rabbiting and stalking knives. A: I get asked this a lot and it is an area I still struggle with — that of getting a keen edge to a blade and, better still, keeping…
What happens to my gun when I’m at the shoot lunch?
Err on the side of caution when it comes to gun security, Bill Harriman advises, as you may be seen as the criminal if a theft was preventable