Advice for airgunners on picking off pigeon
Shooting Times
Should there be random DNA tests for cocker spaniels?
You may recall sprockergate, the scandal that shook the cocker trialling world a couple of years ago. What brought the story into the tabloids was the accusation that HM The…
Steel-proofing for a Spanish side-by-side
Anyone with even a vague interest in live quarry shooting will be aware that there is an ongoing conversation about the continued use of lead shot. The centre of…
Is January the finest month?
January, for most of the nation, is the cruellest month. From Stornoway to the Scillies people are in credit card debt doldrums, their clothes no longer fit and family relations…
Packham ‘a threat to our livelihoods’
Rural workers have rallied in Perth to protest, claiming that TV presenter Chris Packham threatens rural livehoods. The protest came as Mr Packham gave a talk on nature photography at…
Merkel RX Helix Alpinist rifle – a classic example of German precision engineering
The Merkel Helix rifle is made in Germany, with Viking Arms as the sole UK importer. Viking has done a good job promoting these rifles and you see more and…
Cancelling the shooting show cost Liverpool city £5 million
Cancelling the British Shooting Show Liverpool cost the city £5 million, according to an email obtained by Shooting Times. The show was cancelled in October after the intervention of city…
How tight must the stock and scope screws on my gun be?
I have finally, after much grunting and cursing, succeeded in loosening and removing the stock bolt from my Miroku 6000. When I re-assemble the gun after cleaning the action, must…
Suzuki Vitara SZ5 Allgrip – a rural workhorse AND urban runaround
The new Suzuki Vitara SZ5 Allgrip has the potential to be a good rural/urban crossover. First impressions are that it looks fun — it has certainly changed from the original almost…
How far do shotgun pellets travel?
We did a risk assessment on our syndicate shoot last season and highlighted a slippery stream crossing (two planks of wood) as a potential problem.
What happened when a dog walker enjoying a stroll on private land complained about the gameshooting there …
A clash in a local paper demonstrates the need to respect each other's space
Subsonic .22LR ammunition – what’s the best type for your rifle?
Six types of .22LR rimfire subsonic ammunition from varying manufacturers are tested to ascertain accuracy and stopping power at normal vermin ranges
Dealing with high birds – why you need to change your thinking if you want to be sucessful.
Lady’s Wood Shooting School provides the host setting for a masterclass on shooting high birds. As instructor Tom Payne advises: “I want to change your thinking on high birds –…
Pheasant braised with apples and Somerset cider
It would be dishonest not to admit that pheasants are the least easy game meat to slow-cook. I have chewed my way through plenty of dried-out meat in the past,…
Raise a glass to the Brewery
The rustle, crack and crackle of beaters’ flags cut sharply through the crystal air. Frost, the first one of the year, clung to the heads of teasels, dusting them with…
Recipe for pheasant keema – perfect for feeding a large group of people
You may find, like I did, that this colourful spicy pheasant recipe fast becomes a household favourite. Once a kitchen staple, the mincing machine has become rather outdated, but most…
When it’s best for your gundog to wrap up a shoot day early
One of the attractions of shooting is that it takes more than a bit of rain or a coveering of snow to put us off. It is extremely rare for…
Tikka T3X Cerakote
The Tikka T3X has to be one of the most widely accepted stalking rifles in Britain today. It comes from the old firm of Tikkakoski, Finnish for ‘woodpecker’, hence the…
How many antler points can a stag grow? And what are they called?
Q: How many points can a red stag in the wild be expected to grow when they are at their best in this country? And what is the definition of…
Christmas presents for working dogs
A dog is for life not just for Christmas is a saying that will be familiar to most of us. But I’ve never met a working gundog that was a…