Our verdict Every now and then a rifle is developed that really is something different. Judging by the huge demand for its new Sako S20 Hunter rifle, manufacturer Sako has…
Shooting Times
How to tie fishing flies with dog hair
The Roman author and teacher Claudius Aelianus is credited with being the first to record the use of artificial flies in angling. Writing towards the end of the second century,…
Here’s what you need to know about laser rangefinders for shooting
People who hunt with air rifles often seem to talk about carrying laser rangefinders for shooting . Are they really an essential item of kit? Are laser rangefinders for shooting…
Can I set up an air pistol target range in my garden?
Would an air pistol target range at home be legal? Q: I would like to set up a simple air pistol target range in my garage. It is a secure…
Beretta Outlander semi-auto
Our verdict on the Beretta Outlander semi-auto I spend most of my working day teaching driven shooting and sporting clays so an opportunity to shoot a semi-auto is always a…
Should I get an air rifle or a rimfire?
Air rifle or a rimfire Q: I am thinking of buying an FAC-rated air rifle for pest control. Would this be better than a .22 rimfire? A: I like FAC-rated…
How to forage for English summer truffles
Way back in the 1980s, the British Mycological Society held a series of summer forays devoted entirely to finding English Summer Truffles. I had previously come across a rather nibbled…
Drones suspected in springer puppy snatch
An Irish gundog enthusiast who has been the victim of a horrific crime has spoken exclusively about the experience to Shooting Times. Rachel Doyle, from Enniscorthy in County Wexford, found…
Social media and fieldsports
In times of fairly recent memory, the mainstream media (MSM) talked about the goings-on in the countryside in a markedly different way to what we see today. Phil Drabble appeared…
Top tips for a Glorious season
As a game shooter living in deepest partridge country, I consider any time spent on a grouse moor as a treasured experience. The chance to shoot grouse in that landscape…
Sauer 404 Synchro XT £3,648
Our Verdict The Sauer 404 Synchro XT is everything you’d expect from a brand with a reputation for elegant, highly accurate, ultra-smooth-operating bolt-action hunting rifles. The modular system on the…
Rabbit with garlic, thyme and white wine, served with olive oil twice-cooked fries
This recipe really takes me back to my childhood. Like most youngsters, the first experience I had in the field was shooting rabbits with my uncles. It is my version…
The skill of caring for pheasant poults successfully
My pheasant poults came yesterday, so by the time you read this they will have been here for a few weeks. The birds look good, all well-feathered and around seven…
Choosing the right stalking rifle
Perhaps you have already done a bit of stalking, possibly as a guest using the estate rifle, and now you have been truly bitten by the deer bug. It’s time…
How to make an antler stick
The stick. The fact that you’re reading this suggests you probably have one — quite possibly several — and for hundreds of years a stout wooden pole has been the…
Are tennis balls dangerous to dogs?
Q: My dog trainer has advised me to use tennis balls to train my Labrador to hunt and retrieve but I’ve heard there are risks from balls. Are tennis balls dangerous…
The history of spaniels
If you want to wind up your cocker spaniel-owning friends, just tell them that their dogs are springers. They may argue otherwise but, technically, it’s true. History of the spaniel…
Which calibre is best for wild boar?
What calibre is best for wild boar? I intend to go wild boar shooting soon. In your opinion, what calibre would you say is best for boar?
Braised lentils with duck and venison
My mother was a cook ahead of her time. I must have been a teenager, some 40 years ago, when she made a dish of French Puy lentils for lunch.…
How can I protect my dog’s ears from grass seeds?
Grass seeds can easily become lodged in a dog’s ears or paws. Grass seeds are a particular problem for spaniels As the hay fever season fades away, so the grass-seed…