“I recently got my first gundog puppy and I started training her straight away. To start with she would go and pick up a tennis ball, but now she just…
Sporting Gun
Armsan A620 Combo
Having recently opened a junior section at our local wildfowling club, I was duly asked by several of our members to suggest a potential option for their respective youngsters. The…
Tips on buying a gun at auction
Thanks to popular TV shows, most of us are familiar with what goes on at auctions. But that doesn’t mean we’d be happy with the idea of bidding at a…
Clear-up time for foxes and rabbits
One of the consequences of shooting foxes is that if there’s any increase in, say, the rabbit population, you’ll get the blame from the farmer whether it’s justified or not. As a result, one of…
Tom Sykes goes crow shooting
I always try to keep my farmers happy and control their vermin to the best of my ability. Doing this can pay off in numerous ways – other than job…
Second-hand super semi-auto shotguns
Mike George advises on buying second-hand semi-auto shotguns Over the years the Italians have made some super semi-autos. In the 1970s, Franchi autos were a great favourite among pigeon shooters…
Why the shot in cartridges should be made of gold
Lead has been used for shot and bullets for centuries; not because it is ideal in all applications but because it is the best compromise. It is cheap when compared…
Hatsan Escort semi-auto shotgun review
The Hatsan Escort semi-auto shotgun is a Turkish-built semi automatic that creates a stir on price alone
An interview with Liam Bell, chairman of the NGO
What did you do before becoming a keeper? I went to school! I never really wanted to do anything else. I remember my father, who was a chemical engineer, saying I’d make a good…
When should you take the shot?
Leaving aside the stalking skill, knowledge of the quarry, correct rifle mount, stability of position, breath control and all the other disciplines needed for an accurate shot, what do I wait for in…
Firearms security
One of the most tragic events of 2016 was the murder of the MP, Jo Cox. She was shot with a sawn-off .22 rifle. Quite how the odious Thomas Mair came to be in possession…
Browning B725 20-bore Hunter Light
The B725 is a continually evolving platform that Browning is using to develop an ever increasing range of guns with. The 20-bore version has come out of the last two to three seasons. One of…
Do I really need to have my gun fitted?
Q: Is there really any need to have a gun fitted? My factory-stocked Beretta is perfect in every respect. A couple of friends, though, are forever tinkering with their guns,…
Matthew Clark interviews Ed Ling
Ed Ling had a good chat with Matthew Clark, Editor of Sporting Gun, at the British Shooting Show. He told Matthew about what he’s been doing since Rio 2016, his…
Just how important is it to know whether my gun is fitted properly?
I've been shooting now for 12 years with the same 28in Miroku 800SW.
Wanted – a bargain claybuster to replace old Browning B325
This reader’s Browning B325 could date back to 1995 when the model was introduced, and I am guessing it is around 25 years old. These guns keep their value, and a reasonable example is worth…
How to start ferreting
Ferreting is one of those activities that can be as complicated or as simple as you make it. For a newcomer it can seem quite daunting when you consider all the bits and bobs that…
Webley & Scott 1012 Sporter
Having sold a lot of Webley & Scott 900 series shotguns over the last few years, I hold them in high regard. So high, in fact, that I bought a 920 game gun for my…
Webley & Scott Xocet
Both my shooting partner, Paul, and I were intrigued to find out what the new, affordable Xocet from Webley & Scott would be like. Coming from a famous stable with a background of solid, dependable…
How to be an ideal beater
The ideal beater Nothing makes my job easier than a good team of reliable beaters and picker-ups. In any beating team there is normally a core that know the ground better and…