I recently dusted off my first airgun that my parents bought me for my ninth birthday. This gun, along with copious amounts of enthusiasm, taught me a lot about hunting, fieldcraft and the rabbit. I spent much of my teens shooting with this .22 Weihrauch HW 77 K and accounted…
Air rifles
How to improve your springer airgun setup
I don’t know about you, but I love a challenge, and really enjoy working on a troublesome airgun combo and making it shoot well again to show you how to improve your springer airgun setup. So I jumped at the chance to work on a friend’s recent acquisition – a…
Airgun springer advice for newcomers with Mike Morton
When considering airgun springer advice, there’s one question you have to ask first: what’s the difference between a springer and a PCP? Recoil! This can adversely affect the way a shooter interacts with their rifle, and this will affect their results on target. But unlike pre-charged pneumatics, springers and gas-rams…
How to choose the right air rifle bipod for you
An air rifle bipod is a fantastic piece of equipment. Early examples of two-legged props date back to the mid-19th century where they were used to support heavy guns. Later on, bipods were pressed into military service with guns that were expected to deliver sustained levels of fire. One other…
How to improve your airgun marksmanship
Airgun marksmanship is a person’s ability to hit what they’re aiming at, and in order to achieve this there are four basic principles that need to be applied. I was recently asked to teach a lesson on this subject. That sounds easy enough, because we adopt these principles each and…
Feral pigeon control – The Countryman with Mat Manning
Feral pigeon control is a problem for many farmers. These birds love to nest up in the rafters of large barns, especially as there is usually an easy food supply nearby. This prime habitat makes for very comfortable living, and it doesn’t take long for populations to get out of…
Brocock Concept XR review
British gunmaker Brocock has developed a flair for making reliable airguns built for functionality and getting the job done. These rifles are the choice of pest controllers up and down the country. But Brocock airguns aren’t just reliable, they also have an admirable track record in the accuracy department, and…
Buying your first PCP air rifle – what to expect
We’re all more that the last two years haven’t been great, but one of the few positive things to come out of the lockdowns has been an influx of people to our sport. Some are brand new to airguns, while others have returned after a long absence, possibly not having…
Springer vs PCP – which is better to start out with?
When it comes to the great springer vs PCP question, I’ve never actually seen anyone come to blows over it, but I’ve certainly witnessed some very heated debates about which type of air rifle is best to shoot – one powered by a mainspring, or one with an onboard reservoir…
Zeroing a scope – Mike Morton’s advice for airgun shooters
You’ve got yourself a new rifle, you’ve attached a scope and you’re ready to shoot – but first you need to zero. Zeroing a scope, which is sometimes referred to as sighting in, means aligning the sights on your rifle with the point where the pellet strikes at a certain…
How to use an air rifle for pigeons around the farm
Using an air rifle for pigeons It is fair to say that farmyard pest control formed a significant part of my airgunning apprenticeship and that is probably why I still have such a fondness for this type of shooting. My continuing connection with local farms is based on more than…
Basic airgun shooting: Mat Manning keeps it simple on a squirrel hunting trip
Modern airgun shooting must seem quite baffling to newcomers or those who grew up in simpler times. I would even go as far to say that the expensive and cumbersome kit and all the must-have accessories could even be rather off-putting for anyone thinking about having a go. Basic airgun…
The best kit for grey squirrel control – my go-to list
Grey squirrel control The grey squirrel is a highly successful introduced species that has wreaked havoc since its introduction to the UK more than 100 years ago. Their contribution to the decline of our native red squirrel is well documented, but these tenacious rodents also cause extensive and costly tree…
Best air rifle targets for setting up a range at home
We’ve taken a look at the best air rifle targets which you can use at home. If you’ve got a garden with a range of above 20m then you’ve enough room. Read our key advice on garden airgunning which covers neighbours, pets, noise and other things you should be thinking…
How to use an air rifle for pest control
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
Will a budget air-rifle really do the job?
I like to invest in the best shooting kit that I can afford but that doesn’t necessarily mean dismissing a budget air-rifle. You should always use the right tool for the job but sometimes an inexpensive airgun will do just fine. After all, not everyone can justify forking out several…
Airgun range near me – we list some of the country’s best
Why do we enjoy going to an airgun range? Everybody has their own answer to that question, and with an estimated 2 million regular airgun shooters in this country, you wouldn’t be short of people to ask. And given that airgunning is so popular, and seemingly on the rise, it’s…
Airgun laws and security requirements you need to know
Are you up to speed on airgun laws? Can a parent, friend or relative buy a youngster an airgun? Here’s a query we recently received from a concerned parent. Q: Can my ex-husband buy an air rifle for our nine-year-old? Is it legal? My son seems a bit young for…
Air rifle case – we share our top picks
When it comes to pest control or stalking in the field, any keen Shot will tell you that you should only take what you need, because you don’t want to be weighed down by unnecessary gear when you’re several miles away from the car. Not only that, you need something…
Charging a PCP air rifle using a cylinder: here’s how to do it
There are a few ways of charging a PCP air rifle. You can of course use a stirrup pump, which is probably simplest. But this can be a hard grind, particularly if you’ve let the air pressure get low. A much easier option is an airgun charging cylinder. (If you’re…