Is it law that we should carry our shotgun/firearm certificates with us every time we go out with the gun?
Advice
Are dog coats really necessary?
Have you got any experience of neoprene coats for gundog training? Do they work?
Storing guns: advice from the police
“Many people don’t realise that the law does not actually require you have a purpose-made firearms cabinet,” said Dave Mathias, Explosive Liaison Officer with the Devon and Cornwall Police. “It just says that all reasonable measures must be taken to ensure their safe keeping. We do have to take a…
A lesson on gun fit
The season was drawing to an end when I received a call from Shooting Times Editor Patrick Galbraith. Patrick mentioned that he wasn’t entirely happy with his shooting over the season; he had been frustrated at his inconsistency on many days. He thought it was time to try to sort…
Trapping grey squirrels – do I need a licence?
Advice on trapping grey squirrels has been distributed by the European Squirrel Initiative
What’s the best first gun for a youngster? A .410 or a 28-bore?
Which is the best first gun? My son, who is 12, is keen to start shooting and I am considering buying a light side-by-side .410. However, one of my shooting friends thinks a 28-bore might be more suitable. Which of the two is the best first gun? Many experienced shooters…
Moving house and your gun certificates – what you need to know
It is a criminal offence not to obey the conditions on your firearm or shotgun certificate. One of which particularly concerns moving house. Condition 3 on every firearm and shotgun certificate says: “The holder of this certificate must, without undue delay, inform the chief officer of police by whom the…
Questions to ask when booking a driven day somewhere new
New shoot: The key things to cover with a prospective new shoot.
Moving and gun cabinets. What’s the law?
Do I have to notify the firearms department if I move my gun cabinet to another part of the house?
How to zero your own rifle!
How to zero your own rifle: Set up your rifle on a proper bench rest, making sure it is stable and secure so it will not move.
Up to what range are my .22 bullets still effective?
On the ammo box it says .22 LR subsonic are dangerous up to 1½ miles - can one of these bullets kill a long distance away?
What is the closest to a public road you can legally use a shotgun?
Where a field is bordered by a public footpath, what is the minimum distance at which one can safely and legally shoot a shotgun?
Is it legal to shoot parakeets?
It's legal ton shoot a couple of parakeets species under general licence
Struggling with recoil using a 12-bore?
Q: I’ve started struggling with recoil when using my 12 bore: what can I do to reduce it? Is it time to change to a 16-bore? It’s really strange as my 12-bore fits me well. A: I come across many people who suffer with this and usually it’s a combination…
Preparing game for the freezer – here’s what to do
Q: At this time of year I always end up with an abundance of game birds that I need to store until quieter periods in the year. How best should I prepare game for the freezer so that it will keep as long as possible without developing a “freezery” taint?…
What’s a good night-vision sight for under £1750?
Q: I wish to buy a night-vision sight for my .22 Anschutz rimfire that I can also use on my .22-250 Sako for foxes up to 150 yards. Can you recommend one for under £1,750? A: As the daylight hours dwindle, night vision and thermal imagers will tend to replace standard optical…
Can threatening saboteurs still wear masks?
Q: My wife, who hunts with a local pack of foxhounds, recently found herself being abused by two hunt saboteurs, both of whom were wearing masks to hide their identity. Police were called and the saboteurs eventually dispersed. I thought some legislation had been brought in to force these thugs…
Gun security in your car – your responsibilities
The shooting season is now well underway and so I think that a timely reminder about gun security in your car would not go amiss. I’m told by my colleague, Detective Chief Superintendent Jo Chilton of the National Ballistic Intelligence Service, that there have been targeted thefts of shotguns in the North West. Certificate holders are…
How do you safely shoot ground game?
At this time of year the same old topic of conversation crops up at shoots far and wide - namely the shooting of ground game and/or low birds.