A: The debate on shot size is always an interesting one and many people, particularly of my father’s generation, grew up shooting nothing but Eley Impax 28gram No.7s at everything. Now I come across lots of people who shoot nothing but 36gram No.4s as their standard load, from September partridge to January pheasants! Cartridges must be fit for purpose The…
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Letter from a fed-up beater
The driven shoot day is a team effort and by no means the least important team consists of the beaters. These men, women, boys and girls turn out in all weathers mostly not for the money but because they enjoy what they do. Beaters not given due consideration However on some shoots it would…
No more hiding for activists as police gain unmasking powers
The House of Lords passed an amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill last month that will make it easier for the police to unmask violent protesters. The amendment was made in response to concerns that existing powers do not permit police officers to unmask protesters, often including hunt saboteurs and other animal rights activists, without prior written authorisation. Animal…
A day with bracco Italiano and spinone Italiano gun dogs
The day had been arranged by the Bracco Italiano Club, which had invited its friends in the Spinone Club of Great Britain to come along, Mike Fellows, the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) regional chairman for Sussex having provided the ground on the shoot he keepers near Robertsbridge. Mike has worked voluntarily for the NGO for…
Donald Trump. A golden pheasant. Same plumage?
A golden quiff, beady eye and ability to dominate the crowd. Obviously we’re talking about Western China’s golden pheasant – a bird which has been attracting a lot of attention lately, due to the golden plumage it shares with a certain Mr Donald Trump. Am I the only one…
Who’s got the most handsome gundog?
Is your #gundog as handsome as mine? No, didn't think so. #Cockerspaniel @TheFieldmag @ShootingTimes pic.twitter.com/oya39762W5 — Art.50Sam Watt (@SamWatt8600) January 16, 2017 He is one good loooking canine, but that sounds like a challenge – does anyone else have any photogenic dogs they think can compare? https://t.co/AOTr3VCgsm — Shooting Times…
Four shooting myths you should ignore
1. Clay practice will improve your gameshooting Practising on clays is something many gameshooters shy away from. Most will wait until the first day or until all has gone wrong before putting in some practice. I have never understood this mentality and it is frustrating listening to some of the excuses for not practising. The most common…
Sprocker or cocker? Row rocks Kennel Club
The Sun recently reported that rival competitors have called for DNA tests to prove the breed of field trial champion bitch Mallowdale Diamond, which was given to the Queen as a present by handler Ian Openshaw in January 2013 to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. No evidence that Mallowdale Diamond is a…
Our 10 most-read gun reviews
1. Favourite .22lr rifles Which rimfire rifle should you choose? Should you go for a heavy varmint barrel? Will you choose a synthetic or more traditional wood stock? Opt for the ability to change barrels and calibres? Most gun cabinets will have at least one rimfire in residence for pest control and…
Shooting Industry Awards 2017 open for entries
It is time to enter Time Inc’s annual Shooting Industry Awards, the only awards of its kind to acknowledge the UK Shooting Industry’s achievements and innovations throughout the previous year. The dinner and award ceremony will once again take place at the Mercure Brandon Hall near Coventry on Thursday, 11th…
Charity clay shoots are raising thousands
Charity clay shoots proving popular and successful Clayshooters are now using their skills and enthusiasm to benefit many good causes and celebrities are also getting in on the act. Recently £63,000 was raised for Child Bereavement UK and St. Richard’s Hospice by a shoot at Bransford Manor. Warter Priory Estate…
Pigeon shooting days – how they have changed!
Shooters of my age often lament that things were better in “the good old days”, when all you had to do was throw an old stuffed grey sock out on a likely looking field and pigeons would swarm to their doom. They would recall flocks of woodies leaving the roosting woods that were so big it would take 20…
Teaching a spaniel to work cover
A: The more naturally you introduce her to working different types of cover, the better. Throwing a dummy into cover can make the process confrontational. If she is caused any pain by the entry, this could seriously affect her progress and her desire to retrieve. Avoid nettles, thistles, gorse and other such prickly covers until she is more experienced.…
Latest bird flu warnings from National Gamekeepers’ Organisation
A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) advises: “This advice is hugely important and is essential reading for everyone in the gamebird world… H5N8 bird flu is now widespread in the UK and threatens gamebird management as well as other bird-related industries. We urge all members and others to…
Queen’s weekly visits to walk gamekeeper’s dogs
We have always known that the Queen is a true countrywoman. One of her retired gamekeepers, Mr Fenwick, died a week ago at the age of 95 and it is said that the Queen is considering giving his dogs a home with her. She began walking his corgi and Bichon…
Big Ted and little Ted!
Ted’s young son is six and he’s also called Ted. Penelope his daughter is three. Big Ted says: “They love being out with us shooting, we kitted them out at William Powells! We shoot in Warwickshire and I run my own small shoot on our farm where the children help…
Terrier Types
Hardwired earth dogs Patterdale/Fell Lakeland Dual-purpose Bedlington Jack Russell Border Ratters Yorkshire Norfolk and Norwich Manchester English Toy Scottish West Highland White Cairn Skye Popular in Europe Fox (rough and smooth) Jagterrier Vermin dogs Kerry Blue Soft-coated Wheaten Irish Welsh Sealyham Airedale Lucas Sporting Lucas
The danger of mixing cartridges
A: I once conducted an experiment in order to find out which calibres and cartridges this risk applies to. Of course, chamber and bore dimensions vary quite widely in large-bore guns, particularly older ones. However, an 8-bore cartridge will lodge in the forcing cone of a 4-bore, allowing a 4-bore cartridge to be loaded on top of it, while…
Ideas for a boot room in a country pad
Personalised storage Stop your boot room becoming a dumping ground for all sorts of sporting attire, footwear and seasonal clothing by meticulously plotting storage provisions. ‘Think carefully about what you are storing and ensure every item has a home – for example a shelf for riding hats or a rack…