Intercepting safety sears on the tumbler of a gun are supposed to stop accidental discharges if the gun is dropped, or jarred, by accident.
Shooting Times
Is this the best way of “dogging-in?”
Dogging-in means using a dog to push straying pheasants from the boundaries of a shoot back into the middle. It’s a major job for keepers during October and can sometimes…
Changes to antique firearms regulations
With the passage of the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021, British law includes the definition of what constitutes an antique firearm for the first time in legal history. Previously, there was…
Terrier breeds: are they born anarchists?
Most, if not all of the terrier breeds bring a smile to our faces, whether the smug condescension of the handler of well-trained gundogs or the rictus of embarrassment that comes…
English roe review 2020
The impact of COVID-19 on both professional and amateur hunters alike has been extraordinary. It is interesting that, despite the pandemic, we still evaluated 1,014 heads of all species last…
Is the side-by-side shotgun history?
“Snobbery and inheritance are the only reasons why people use a side-by-side.” So said one keen Shot, once described as the best of his generation. “But I’m not that bothered. I…
Are you eligible for Woodcock Club membership?
2019 was a vintage year for the Shooting Times Woodcock Club, with 39 new members — compared with 19 the previous year. Current membership is over 1,400. Applications to…
Roast pheasant – simply delicious
Earlier on in the season roast pheasant is the best way to cook a young bird. The meat is tender and roasting it will bring out the flavour. Later on…
The skill of caring for pheasant poults successfully
My pheasant poults came yesterday, so by the time you read this they will have been here for a few weeks. The birds look good, all well-feathered and around seven…
Stalking sika deer in Sutherland, Scotland
An early morning stalk in a snowy landscape. The stalkers discuss tactics and survey the horizon. A small herd of sika is quickly sighted and one of the number despatched.…
The pointing dog’s stare
There's an art to training pointing dogs, but once in position, it can take even more skill to move them out of their catatonic stance
How to choose the right clay cartridge
Here are some of the key questions you need to ask when choosing clay cartridges. Q. What wad material should I choose? A. Today many shooting grounds label themselves as…
Dog theft is on the rise – here’s how to prevent it happening to you
So how can you keep your gundog safe and prevent dog theft? Here's some advice from Mike Jackson, rural crime officer for Wiltshire Police
The rules you must follow when rearing gamebirds
Before you take any steps to start on rearing gamebirds yourself you need to be aware of the key factors involved. Rule 1: Think of it as a business You…
Why shooting should stay in the shadows
There is a concept very much in fashion in Westminster, where I occasionally work as a journalist, known as the “dead cat strategy”. It works something like this: let’s suppose…
Audi A6 Allroad Quattro 50 TDI
At first glance, you might think you’re reading the wrong magazine, testing an Audi A6. But hold your horses — on closer inspection we may have found something that could…
How to make sure you’re not buying a stolen gundog
How to avoid buying a stolen gundog
Ford Raptor Ranger
The Raptor, being an enhanced Ranger, has a similarly enhanced price tag. It’ll cost you £49,324.64 plus VAT. That’s £18k more than the lower spec Wildtrack edition, which is also…
Exercises you can do at home right now to improve your shooting technique
You’re probably very frustrated by the fact that you can’t go out shooting at the moment. However, you can use this time to improve your shooting technique and here I’m…
Can a working gundog also be a family pet?
Am I taking a risk having my working labrador as a house dog?