Choosing gun oil I have been asked on numerous occasions by those new to the world of shooting whether gun oil is any better than any other oil you’d pick up at the hardware shop? And what about gun maintenance products. Won’t good old WD-40 or 3-in-1 do the same…
Guns
The benefits of using a quiet air rifle for pest control
While I’m the first to admit that a shotgun is usually the best option for controlling corvids over open ground, there are plenty of times when using an airgun for pest control is a more appropriate choice. The former will usually help you to make the necessary big bags when…
Can I have a gun cabinet in a static caravan?
Is there any way you are allowed to have a gun cabinet in a static caravan?
Storing guns in the attic: is it legal?
I’ve recently got into shooting and have applied for my shotgun certificate. I know that I need a gun cabinet and I’m thinking of storing guns in the attic in it. Is this a good location – after all it’s discreet and out of the way. Will the guns be…
Shotgun wads explained – here’s what you need to know
Besides checking our shotgun cartridges are loaded with the correct shotgun wads type to comply with the rules of the ground we are shooting on, it’s likely we don’t give much thought to that small item between powder charge and shot load. Prior to the introduction of plastic, all wads…
Where can I shoot my air rifle? Can I take it to a public park?
A reader asks “Where can I shoot my air rifle?” Q: I have bought an air rifle, but I do not have a private garden. What is the law on taking an air rifle to a quiet public park for target practice, away from any wildlife or members of the…
My first gun – a Baikal single-barrel 12-bore
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 first shotgun. That honour goes to a BSA Snipe, a single-barrel shotgun given to me by my cousin Geoff Hoyle.…
Thermal imaging for airgunners – testing out some options
It wasn’t long ago that basic infrared night-vision optics were regarded as being too expensive, too complicated and too bulky to be a worthwhile proposition for airgun shooters. Just a few years later and thermal imaging for airgunners has become standard equipment for anyone who carries out regular after-dark pest…
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 no such definition, with the law relying on the common or usual meaning of the word ‘antique’ — in other…
Best lightweight rifles – we test a selection
I was two-thirds the way up ‘the Ben’ and puffing some when my companion started. “You should get a lightweight rifle, like mine,” he said. At that moment any rifle would have been too heavy, but I refrained from replying that maybe the 40-year difference in our ages ought to…
Which lead-free airgun pellets would you recommend?
Q: After all the talk about shotgun shooters moving away from lead shot, I feel inspired to try using lead-free pellets in my airgun. Are there any brands you can recommend, and should I expect them to perform differently? A: Many of the best airgun pellet manufacturers, such as JSB,…
How to clean a shotgun
At the end of a shooting lesson I usually give some time to show a pupil how to clean a shotgun. It’s an important part of gun maintenance. Whilst professional shotgun cleaning at the end of the season is always worthwhile, every shooter should know how to clean a shotgun…
Non-lead rifle ammunition put to the test
Oh, the joys of moving to non-lead rifle ammunition. No, I’m not being sarcastic. I had forgotten how much fun testing new ammunition can be. Especially when it goes well. Testing non-lead rifle ammunition I have been trying out some new stuff for my 7mm-08 deer rifle. First, I searched…
Airguns and summer squirrel shooting
Come the summer months when the trees are in leaf you’re likely to find squirrel shooting with an air rifle rather trickier than in winter on bare branches. The dense foliage covering the tree canopy can make greys almost invisible. So what’s to be done about it? How can you…
Steel shot vs lead – why I switched a while ago
Steel shot vs lead I suspect that most shooters realise that lead is dead. It’s only a matter of when. I am not going to reiterate the arguments for steel shot vs lead, they have been done to death. The inexorable tightening of the legal noose around lead was widely…
We looked for the best clay cartridges around – here’s what we found
Nowadays there is a whole selection of cartridges designed specifically for clays. Some are general-purpose, some for specific disciplines like trap and skeet and some are dedicated competition cartridges for 12-bore, 20-bore, .410 and even 28-bore. The golden rule for finding the best clayshooting cartridges is to pick the one…
Have you got an old air rifle from the 80s and 90s tucked away? It could be worth more than you expect!
One of the fastest increasing markets is in quality air rifles from the 80s and 90s – so think twice before dumping an old air rifle or passing it on. It could be worth a lot more than you think. Shooting Times receives reader letters on all subjects shooting-related and…
What to AVOID when buying a gun (and what to look out for)
Advice on what you shouldn't do when buying a gun
20 of the best shotguns for under £1000
Finding a gun at the right price can be tough. We’ve listed 20 shotguns for under £1000 here that we think are well worth a look, both new and second-hand. It’s also worth reading our advice on buying a shotgun second-hand where you might pick up a real bargain. If…