The clay that's crossing in front of the stand is probably one of the most common targets you’re ever likely to encounter on an English sporting layout
Sporting Gun
Ratting with a Sealyham Terrier
The phone rang, “Hello Nick, it’s Harry Parsons, what you doing next Tuesday?” A quick check of the diary and it looked all clear. “Fancy coming out for a day’s…
What happens to a shotgun when the owner dies?
I am recently widowed and this has got me thinking… Now that I live alone nobody will know where my gun cabinet keys are when I pop off.
Recoil bruises my face!
I have a Browning B325. It's a big improvement on the Spanish over-under I had, except I'm constantly getting bruised on my face and lower shoulder. I've never suffered from…
How bad are rooks for game birds?
Do rooks do as much harm to nesting game birds as carrion crows and magpies. If so, what's the best method of control?
A useful clay pigeon shooting lesson
Of course there are those of us who have been shooting most of our lives and possibly think we know all there is to know about shooting. Meeting Doug Florent,…
Marocchi Evo Black reviewed by Sporting Gun
With the extra hour of daylight and the sun starting to show itself more regularly, my thoughts slowly turn to clayshooting. Since leaving the Navy I don’t do as much competing…
When your gundog won’t retrieve
“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…
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,…