I have been spending money this month and invested in two rifles for pest control. A gamekeeper’s work is never done and in the constant battle against pests and predators, I need all the tools that I can muster. New guns To this end, I managed to pick up a…
Guns
Seven of the best airguns for under £300
One of the greatest attractions of airgun shooting is that it’s such an affordable sport to take up. Here are seven reliable full-power air rifles under £300. Webley VMX Classic £163.99 (without scope) This traditionally styled spring-powered break-barrel has a muzzle energy close to the UK legal limit and features…
Hatsan’s FieldHunter pump-action shotgun has proven popular
Hatsan's FieldHunter pump-action shotgun proves a hit: Originally launched in the UK back in 2005, Hatsan Arms entry-level FieldHunter pump-action shotgun has proved a huge hit.
8 of the best game guns
We’ve picked out eight of the best game guns around. Tips for buying a shotgun for gameshooting First, you will want something durable that handles well and you feel comfortable shooting with. Second, it is a good idea to have something lightweight if you are going to be doing a…
Should the firearms enquiry officer have taken a picture of my gun locker?
Q) I believe a police officer has the power to stop and search, but do police community support offi cers, RSPCA officers and gamekeepers have similar powers where potential firearms offences or wildlife crimes are concerned? N. WILLIAM By email
The revival of the 16-bore shotgun
In any article about 16-bores, one should do one’s best to avoid the standard cliche of using ‘sweet’ and ‘16’ together. Most writers find it impossible. Perhaps the best-known example was penned back in 1995 by American gun writer Michael McIntosh in his book Shotguns and Shooting. A chapter, called…
12 bore vs 16 bore – the great debate
Which would be your choice in the 12-bore vs 16 bore conversation? Ask some people why they use a 16-bore and they say they “stumbled across one by chance” but now wouldn’t use anything else. Here’s what our debates think … 16-bores are for rural hipsters says Ben Samuelson A…
How should you deal with a cartridge misfire?
I occasionally join a few friends for an informal clay shoot on a farm, and last time out one of my cartridges failed to fire after I pulled the trigger.
Can you tell me more about lead-free bullets?
Q: I see CCI now makes lead-free .22LR ammunition. Can you tell me more? A: The debate about the eco-friendliness of non-toxic ammunition continues. Lead-free .22LR ammo makes a lot of sense because a vast quantity of lead ammo is shot every year. The trouble is the alternatives to lead…
What’s the best ammunition for a Browning?
Rifle inaccuracy is not always due to a rifle's construction. It may be due to the ammunition.
How can my firearms cabinet be opened lawfully?
What arrangements should I make for the orderly disposal of my firearms after my death, and how can my firearms cabinet be opened lawfully?
Choosing a calibre
I am a keen deerstalker and use a Sako .243. I intend to invest in another rifle with a larger calibre and was thinking of .270, 30-06 or .308. I want it for red deer, the odd fallow and hunting trips abroad. What calibre would you suggest?
The art of hand-crafted firearms
One of the most common statements heard when referring to famous engravers of the past is that they were “ahead of their time”. Engravers such as William Caslon, William Palmer and Henry ‘Harry’ Albert Kell, among others, made a huge impact in developing their craft. But if you were to…
We need to talk about lead shot
Calls for game shooting to push ahead with finding alternatives to lead shot are growing louder, both inside and outside of the sport. Rob Yorke offers a personal view on the subject. How lead shot became popular One hundred and fifty years ago, wild meat was harvested, without the use…
The evolution of the shotgun cartridge
I am going to concentrate on shotgun cartridge history and how it got to be what it is today — the cheap, waterproof, reliable, effective, safe and consistent item on which we all rely to deliver success, whatever target we engage. After all, a gun, however expensive and sophisticated, is only…
Is it time to move away from lead shot to steel?
We were deep in a ditch on the Orkneys. There was a tumbling grey northern sky above us and an icy wind. The peninsula’s greylag goose population was not playing ball. They went to the right of us, they went to the left, they landed on the barley 100 yards…
How to choose the best cartridge for your gun and your type of shooting
Which shooting cartridge you should use depends on a number of factors, but what gun you have and what you are going to shoot are the primary ones. Know your chamber size Cartridges come in different sizes, not only calibre. Having the right calibre should be obvious, but having the…
So why would you want a lightweight gun?
I find my 12-bore is getting a bit too heavy to carry game shooting all day, so I’ve changed to a lighter 20-bore.
5 tips for airgunners
Mat Manning offers five key tips for airgunners to improve their fieldcraft 1. Go on a reconnaissance mission Reconnaissance around your shooting permissions will help you to target the right places at the right time but all wildlife observation is beneficial — whether in the field, car, park or garden. Observing…
What’s best for pest control – a spring-powered or pre-charged airgun?
Q: I’d like to buy an air rifle for controlling rabbits and grey squirrels in our garden but I don’t really want a pre-charged model because I can’t be bothered with the hassle and expense of using charging gear. I’ve been told that spring-powered airguns are less accurate – are…