I’m proud to say that my first gun was a Baikal. People may smirk but it carries a weight of nostalgia. Although strictly speaking my Baikal single-barrel 12-bore was not my…
Matthew Clark
Editor Sporting Gun
Gun recoil – what causes it and how to avoid it
Unfortunately many people are put off shooting early in their career due to having a bad experience with gun recoil. That is a shame, because gun recoil is definitely manageable…
Eley VIP Steel Pro Eco – tested by Sporting Gun magazine
My expectations were not high when I tested the new Eley VIP Steel Pro Eco. But I was floored when I found that they were every bit as good as…
Top 10 reasons to keep an airgun
Have you got an old airgun lying around in your gun cupboard? Now’s the time to take it out and dust it off – maybe for a spot of garden…
Are adjustable gunstocks a worthwhile investment?
Adjustable gunstocks – definitely not worth it Robin Scott says: Most guns with adjustable stocks can only be altered for length, drop and cast. These are important, but they are…
What’s more challenging – a driven or a walked-up day?
Driven or walked-up shooting? It’s walked-up for Robin Scott who says: Given the chance I’d pop away at a driven game any day of the week. Nothing is easier than…
The Breda Zenith L Game Gun
The new Breda Zenith L is set up to be a game gun. As such, it has a solid sighting rib that tapers from 11mm to 7mm, as well as…
11 of the best ear defenders for shooting
Shooters of a certain age often have hearing issues because wearing ear defenders for shooting wasn’t much of a thing back in the day. We’ve all been out in the…
16 golden rules every beater should follow on a shoot
Essential advice for beaters on a shoot day
Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus
I’ll be honest with you, the first thing I noticed about the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus was the price. At £2,195 it is not cheap for a semi-auto. Regular readers…
Want to get better at shooting an air rifle? Continued target practice is crucial and this is why
Getting good at shooting an air rifle is only half the battle. Staying good is the other half and it does not happen by chance – it requires constant attention.…
Just how good is a simulated game day?
I wanted to know whether a simulated game day can ever be as good as a full-on game shoot, or is it just a glorified form of clayshooting? So I…
Win a copy of “The Cocker Spaniel” by Janet Menzies
The cocker spaniel is one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the UK today. Bred for stamina, intelligence and drive, they make lively, loving pets. If trained properly…
Weihrauch HW35E STL air rifle
The Weihrauch HW35E air rifle, at 69, is a senior citizen. It has stood the test of time and won the hearts of many an airgunner. There have been a…
Benelli M2 – a ‘workhorse’ semi-auto
If you had to sum up the Benelli M2 semi-auto in one word it would be, ‘practical’. It has been designed like every semi-auto should be, where function dictates design.…
Powerful air rifles that don’t need a firearms licence
Which is the most powerful air rifle under the legal limit? Legal limit airguns (air rifles that are under the 12ft/lbs power limit) are the easiest and cheapest way to…
10 PCP air rifles from £430 to under £1000
We’ve looked around for some cheap PCP air rifles that still do the job, for budgets of up to £500 and under £1000. Once you’ve bought the airgun you’ll be…
Is it time to change our mind about pump-action shotguns?
We British are a traditional bunch. Only in recent years have we finally accepted the presence of over-and-under shotguns on driven shoots. If you turned up at a shoot with…
Rizzini Grand Regal – does it perform handsomely in the field?
Recently a friend of mine said that for him a gun was all about the wood and engraving. He liked his guns to look pretty and he is what he…