Last week I shot on a friend’s syndicate. I took my AYA No 3, its woodwork now repaired and resplendent. What about the cartridges? My cartridge belt held Jocker Bio…
Shooting Times
Want to import a gun from the EU? Here’s what you need to know
Q: I am considering buying a shotgun from a friend who is based in France. I hold a European firearms pass and understand the process of travelling with a shotgun…
Beaters’ day – time to get back to basics
Top tips to do yourself proud on beaters’ day Get your shooting kit ready the night before Practise mounting in the mirror 10 times Count 10 breaths in and out…
We took the all-new Dacia Duster 4×4 out for a proper test at a shoot. Here’s what we thought.
My curiosity was piqued when I heard we would be putting the new second-generation Duster through its paces. Dacia, Renault’s budget, no-frills brand, has added a 4×4 option to the…
A recipe for smoked pheasant
I like the combination of the smoky pheasant breast with the sweet and tangy roasted squash, while the pickled cabbage lifts it up and the green sauce stops it being…
Beretta 694 – for competitions and high birds
Normally when a new product is going to hit the market you get the pre-launch ‘coming soon’ marketing. There’s no such approach with the new Beretta 694 — it’s as…
Staggering ignorance
Deer management, an activity undertaken quietly and in solitude, enjoyed — or perhaps more accurately endured — a brief moment of national attention here in Ireland. An incident in Kerry…
Can you id that duck?
Identifying different duck breeds The question “What’s that one then?” should never be heard from the person who shot a bird, so knowing what the odd unusual duck looks and…
Can you leave rifles and shotguns unattended in cars? Am I breaking the law?
I have just completed the DSC Level 1 and was told during the course that I am only allowed to have a rifle in my car while going to and…
Why every shooter needs a pheasant crowner
The very simple designs are often the best ones and this applies to a new game processor. I went to meet Dougie Bell, who invented the pheasant crowner, and John…
Why I’ve found cock shoot days to be a shambles
Mark Forester remembers some past cock-day debacles and wonders if it will be safe to venture out this season
Why dogs love an AGA
Until recently I knew little about the extraordinary cast-iron cooker known as an AGA, but for the past three months I’ve lived in houses with AGA kitchens, so I’m now…
Drey poking: In pole position for squirrel control
Head to the trees for a spot of drey poking
January’s cock birds – the Houdinis of the avian world?
Wily cock pheasants provide great sport
Winter wood pigeon airgunning
Advice for airgunners on picking off pigeon
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…