Stalkers have an abundance of bullets to choose from, but how do you select the right one? Bruce Potts outlines what you need to consider
Guns
Where can I get 12-bore black powder cartridges?
I have been left an old side-by-side which was part of a collection and has not been shot for many years. A gunsmith tells me it has only black powder proof. However, I am assured it is safe to shoot. Where can I get 12-bore black powder cartridges?
Thinking about making your own black powder cartridges? Read on …
Popping a few black powder cartridges through a vintage English shotgun is an unforgettable experience.
Black powder licences … what you need to know
Q: Is it difficult to get black powder licences? And what conditions do I have to meet regarding its storage? I have two lovely old Damascus barrelled guns – including a bar-in-wood Purdey, that I would like to use game shooting, but I daren’t put them through the proof house…
Which pellet is best for my air rifle?
With the extensive range of airgun pellets now available, how can I find out which would be the most suitable for my air rifle?
How much are scopes for air rifles if I get one fitted?
Air rifles: I have an old Original Mod 35 air rifle and I would like to fit a scope to it. It already has a rail fitted, and I am wondering what is the best type of scope to fit, and how much can I expect to pay?
How can I restore the shine to my gun?
Before going anywhere near oil, you need to establish how the stock was finished in the factory, advises Mike George
How to choose the wood for your gun stock
When deciding to re-stock a gun with a new piece of walnut, a lot of thought needs to be applied before gun stock (known in the gun trade as a blank) is chosen and any wood gets cut. As with many aspects of gunmaking and repair, a little knowledge can…
What’s the best shot size?
Lewis Potter tests pattern sizes and shot counts of different bores to establish their comparative effectiveness in the field. The results dispel some myths
Are you using the right cartridge?
You’ll need to think about a variety of considerations to be using the right shotgun cartridge. Chamber length The cartridge you use needs to match the length of your shotgun chamber or be smaller. If you use a cartridge with a longer chamber length than your gun you are likely…
7 of the best gun cabinets
Remember all gun cabinets and gun safes must conform to the British standard, have secure locks and be fixed to a secure structure. Contact your local police firearms department if you have a query on where to fit your gun cabinet or safe. The police prefer a gun cabinet to…
5 air rifle maintenance questions answered
Your questions on air rifle maintenance answered 1. How can I tell if my air rifle needs a service? Q: Does my .22 air rifle need a service? I have been using a Webley & Scott Mark 3.22 air rifle, which I acquired new in 1974. It has never been serviced…
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 cartridges with lead shot. I tried to be scientific about testing the new eco cartridges and used a pattern plate…
How to buy a used air rifle
You can save a fortune by buying a second-hand air rifle. But if you don’t know what to look out for, it can also end up leaving you out of pocket. Here’s what to look out for so you make the right decision when it comes to acquiring a pre-owned air rifle.…
Top five PCP air rifles for under £700
Buying a precharged pneumatic airgun (PCP) isn’t cheap. First off there is the rifle, which will cost a few hundred pounds. Then there’s the scope plus the air bottle or pump and that’s going to be around £200. The good news is that after the initial outlay you’ll be set…
English boxlock shotguns for under £5000
If you are looking for an individual, well balanced side-by-side that is good to shoot, then inexpensive English boxlock shotguns always represent value for money. They represent a great way of owning a good quality English shotgun by a recognisable name for a more reasonable sum of money than might…
Will gun cleaning affect the accuracy of my .22 rimfire?
Gun cleaning: I have been told that if I clean my .22 rimfire it will lose its accuracy. Is this true?
Five of the best pre-charged airguns for under £500
Although some people have the skill to shoot very precisely with spring-powered airguns, pre-charged (or PCP) models are generally easier to shoot accurately because they don’t recoil. The extra engineering involved in producing that recoilless firing cycling has tended to make PCPs more expensive than springers, but the price gap…
Why a Baikal should no longer be the butt of jokes
Back in the mid-1970s a group of us regularly used to get together to try for a rabbit or pigeon on a Saturday morning before going on to our pocket-money jobs. Our guns were an eclectic assortment: Mike had a new over-and-under that we all secretly coveted; I used the…