One of the greatest appeals of airgun shooting is its affordability. For a few hundred pounds — and sometimes significantly less — you can pick up an air rifle that…
Mat Manning
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Will a budget air-rifle really do the job?
Airguns are not only my hobby, they are also my livelihood, and as someone who subscribes to the adage that you should always use the right tool for the job,…
Hawke Sidewinder FFP
It wasn’t very long ago that first focal plane (FFP) scopes were regarded as something of a niche product. There has been a shift over the years as more shooters…
Dealing with rats in the hen house
Having an air rifle in the house often proves handy for impromptu backyard pest control. My airguns are called into action in the garden to deal with marauding grey squirrels,…
Should I buy a spring-powered airgun or a PCP?
Choosing the right airgun can present the newcomer with a minefield of choices, and picking a power source is usually the biggest quandary. For decades, spring-powered airguns were the only…
FAC airgun accuracy – how can you improve it?
Q: I have recently switched from a sub-12ft/lb air rifle to an FAC-rated pre-charged model producing muzzle energy of around 40ft/lb and my results have so far been very disappointing.…
Which pellet is best for my air rifle?
With the extensive range of airgun pellets now available, how can I find out which would be the most suitable for my air rifle?
Air rifles – does more power mean greater range?
When set up properly, legal-limit air rifles are extremely accurate tools, and that precision can more than compensate for their modest power when coupled with a sound knowledge of fieldcraft.…
What’s the maximum distance you can hunt with a legal-limit air rifle?
How far is the maximum distance for hunting with a legal-limit air rifle? It is something I get asked all the time but it is a question that has no…
Garden airgunning
If you have a moderate sized garden then you probably have enough room to set up a shooting range for an air rifle. Long warm evenings mean you can enjoy…
What’s the best camo pattern for airgun hunting?
Q: I’m new to airgun hunting and plan to invest in a camouflage suit so I can get closer to my quarry. What’s the best pattern to go for? A:…
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 pigeons with an airgun and placing decoys
While I can’t deny that the shotgun is the most effective tool for keeping woodpigeon at bay when they are hammering crops, it is possible to make decent bags with…
Gloves for airgunners – what’s suitable?
Q: I’m struggling to find a pair of gloves that are suitable for airgun shooting. Like many airgun shooters, I like to set my trigger fairly light and that can…
Hawke Vantage Scope 3-12×44 SF
Not everyone can afford top-end optics, and even those who can may still struggle to justify shelling out big money for a scope that’s seldom used or that’s going to…
How to use an airgun for rat control
Where to find rats If you have permission to shoot on a farmyard or on ground that’s managed for pheasant shooting, the chances are there will be rats. Rats are…
Shooting rats in broad daylight
The vast majority of my winter rat shooting is done during the hours of darkness. My usual routine is to arrive an hour or so before dusk so I can…
Effective pest control with an airgun
What do you do when grey squirrels, rats and corvids are robbing nests of eggs? You get out the airgun - and you lay in wait, as Mat Manning explains
Why airgunning is the most noble of shooting sports
Setting up airgunning as the noblest of shooting sports probably sounds like a tall order to many — it certainly does to me. Airgun shooters wear funny clothes, we get…
This is the start of the ratting season for airgunners
Most farming units harbour a few resident rats throughout the year — especially if pigs or poultry are present — but numbers usually increase as autumn arrives. Many of these…