Q: After all the talk about shotgun shooters moving away from lead ammunition, 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? Talking lead-free-airgun pellets A: Many of the reputable airgun pellet manufacturers,…
Guns
The gun every shooter should have in their gun cabinet
I give my shotguns names. My AYA No 3 I dubbed ‘Lazarus’ because, thanks to my friend Adam Bragg’s craftsmanship, it was brought back from the dead. My Lincoln Premier is named ‘John’ (as in Wilkes Booth). I don’t like the Lincoln and am determined to get rid of it.…
Proof marks, serial numbers and how to re-proof a gun
A frequently asked question in our postbag is “how old is my gun or can I date my gun from its serial number?” It’s usually asked by somebody who has just bought a second-hand gun or who is considering it. The guns in question are usually around 20 years old…
Taking a look at 24gm shotgun cartridges
The advantages of 24gm shotgun cartridges are often underrated and misunderstood. In addition to costing less and producing lower recoil they give you better patterns. This is due to less damage being done to the pellets during ignition and as they travel through the bores. The upshot to this is…
Why biodegradable shot cups are the way ahead for shooting
As we move inexorably towards a brave new world of shooting without lead or single-use plastic, I wonder how we will look back. I shall keep my powder dry on the lead issue. I have written before about my own positive experience of using steel for game shooting in my…
Air rifle questions we’re often asked
Q: Do I need a licence for an air rifle? If you live in England or Wales and have an air rifle with a muzzle energy level of 12 ft lb or less or an air pistol with a muzzle energy of 6 ft lb or less you don’t…
Have you got an old air rifle from the 80s and 90s tucked away? It could be worth more than you expect!
Shooting Times recently received a letter from a reader saying: “I found my 25-year old air rifle in my shed and want to dispose of it. If I try to break it up, can I put it in the skip?”. Contributor Graham Downing advised him not to put the air…
13 of the best clayshooting cartridges reviewed
Forty or so years ago when clayshooting wasn’t as big as it is now shooters used whatever cartridges were around. Then clayshooting started to really catch on and now there is a whole host of cartridges specially designed for smashing clays. Dedicated competition cartridges are available for 12-bore, 20-bore, .410…
How to buy a gun that will hold its value
Investing in a gun might seem daunting but if you know what you’re looking for and what you want, it’s a good start, says Simon Reinhold
How to use an air rifle to clear pheasant pens of rats
One evening that really sticks in my mind is a ratting session with my friend Kev Hawker in February. As the pheasant season had drawn to a close, we were allowed to shoot inside the release pens on a local estate and the early signs suggested that we were in…
Airguns and summer squirrel shooting
Squirrel shooting with an air rifle can be very tricky over the summer months. The trees are covered with dense foliage which makes your quarry almost invisible in the treetops. Lure of the pheasant feeder The colder months are an easier time for squirrel shooting with an air rifle. Hungry…
177 or .22, .25 or above… which air rifle calibre should you pick and why?
It’s a question I’m asked fairly often about air rifles. “What’s the best calibre air rifle?” What’s the winner in .177 vs .22? Calibre isn’t everything I shoot pretty much everything from sub 12 air rifle up to fairly hefty centrefires. The secret to success is to pick the right…
Moving from lead shot to steel – what you need to know
Moving from lead shot to steel - the practicalities involved
Italian shotguns
The superb value offered by Italian shotguns If you’re looking to buy a gun then it’s definitely worth considering Italian shotguns. Buy Italian and you will be the proud owner of a well-built, good quality gun that will cost far less than a new English gun. Long and proud history…
How to store shotgun cartridges legally and safely
I want to keep shotgun cartridges in the loft, which never drops below freezing but does get a bit damp at times. I am not talking about keeping the ammo for a long time, but maybe buying a year or more’s supply at a time.
Steel yourself
Twenty years ago, when restrictions on the use of lead shot on the foreshore came in, the steel shot cartridges commercially available to wildfowlers were not good enough. Steel shot performance has been playing catch-up ever since and still struggles to slough off its poor reputation. But there was a…
How to remove a stuck choke from a shotgun barrel
What can you do if your choke tubes are stuck fast in your shotgun? And how can you prevent this happening?
What’s the maximum distance you can hunt with a legal-limit air rifle?
One question I get asked all the time is what are the distances for hunting with a legal-limit air rifle (sub-12ft/lb). How far away can the quarry be and what is the maximum range to achieve a clean kill? To be frank there is no straight answer to the question.…
Powerful air rifles that don’t need a firearms licence
Which is the most powerful air rifle under the legal limit? Legal limit airguns (air rifles that are under the 12ft/lbs power limit) are the easiest and cheapest way to get into shooting. These types of rifles do not require a licence (except in Scotland) and after the initial expense…
Shooting crows with rifles
Crow shooting isn't just for those who possess a shotgun. Bruce Potts investigates the relative merits of centrefires and rimfires for a safe and humane despatch