Striking the balance between simple enjoyment and technical advantage is seldom straightforward. Modern shooters are faced with a huge choice of hi-tech gadgets and gizmos that can help to put…
Mat Manning

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Gamo Swarm Roadster GEN2
Simplicity and affordability are among the biggest attractions of airgun shooting. Even these days, when super-expensive airguns decked out with all kinds of sophisticated gizmos grab attention on social media…
Garden ratting – Mat Manning sets up a bait trap
If there is a pest that people really don’t want close to their homes it has to be the brown rat. These revolting rodents have a reputation for spreading disease…
HW110 K Laminate review
Many shooters regard Weihrauch air rifles as some of the best in the world, and for very good reason. Almost as many make the mistake of thinking that the HW110 is a…
Are expensive optics worth it? Mat Manning considers the options
The question of how much to spend on a telescopic sight to pair with a rifle is a tricky one to answer as it hinges on so many different factors.…
FX Impact MkII Compact
There is no denying that we are witnessing a serious trend for smaller and smaller bullpup airguns – a phenomenon that I regard as being good and bad in equal…
Walther Reign
There is simply no stopping the current rampage of bullpup airguns. I’m not sure whether it’s down to their looks or compact proportions, but there certainly is a tremendous hunger…
Weihrauch HW100 BP
There is a hunger for bullpup airguns, and Weihrauch has served up a stubby version of its super-successful HW100. Weihrauch doesn’t like to do things in a hurry, and its…
Pard NV008P LRF scope
Modern night vision equipment has had a huge impact on after-dark pest control over recent years, enabling hunters to pick off unsuspecting critters from the cover of darkness. I have…
FX Impact MKII
FX Airguns has a reputation for making some of the finest bullpups in the world, so it’s no surprise that this company’s leading the charge with the FX Impact MKII…
Air Arms Ultimate Sporter R
The Air Arms S510 Ultimate Sporter is widely regarded as one of the best airguns out there and, as someone who shoots one regularly, I wouldn’t argue with that. Setting…
Rotex RM8 Varmint Ultra Compact – is it an even better airgun than the original?
I reckon the Walther Rotex RM8 UC more than outperforms its price tag. It’s ruggedly built, but it still feels quite refined, and it certainly isn’t lacking in the accuracy…
FX Maverick
The new FX Maverick will reinforce FX’s reputation for making some of the finest PCPs in the world and taking an unconventional approach, and not being afraid to do things…
Controlling crows using decoys and hides
Crows are a year-round problem on most of the farms where I shoot and particularly on the holding where I’m targeting them today. These birds can be ruinous to cereal…
BSA Ultra CLX review – Mat Manning tests the latest model
A closer look at the BSA Ultra CLX British gunmaker BSA has a talent for striking a very happy balance between classic looks and precision performance when it comes to…
Break-barrel air rifles: they’re for the grown-ups too
Modern airguns have come a long way over the past couple of decades. Yet despite all their technological advancements, it is still hard to beat the simple pleasure of shooting…
Daystate Alpha Wolf
Daystate refuses to stand still when it comes to pushing the boundaries of airgun design. The British gunmaker set a new standard for adjustability when it launched the electronically tunable…
Why summer is the most important time to control grey squirrels
It is easy to let the control of grey squirrels go off the boil through the summer, but taking the pressure off these invasive opportunists at this time of year…
HIKMICRO TE19C Thunder
More airgun shooters are switching to thermal optics for after-dark pest control. The reason for this is the fact that it is impossible to fail to notice the glow of…
Using a bait trap for grey squirrel control
Controlling grey squirrels is a job that needs to be done right through the year if you are going to make a dent in their numbers – and keep them…