The history of airguns is a broad and interesting one. The first examples were powered by human lungs: blowpipes. These could well have been man’s earliest ballistic weapon, possibly even…
Sporting Gun
Sabatti boxlock – a lot of gun for your money
The Sabatti family has been at the heart of the Italian gunmaking industry for almost 400 years. It has been involved in the design of flintlocks, fine damascus barrels and…
Do deer kill each other?
Last October I saw for the first time a battle between two big fallow bucks. The violence astonished me and makes me wonder how often they are killed?
What you need to know about adjustable shotguns
Would having an adjustable shotgun improve matters? The shotgun is evolving. Most shotgun manufacturers are developing new designs, models or features for their guns. We are the other part of…
What’s the law on moving gun cabinets to a different location?
Do I have to notify the firearms department if I move my gun cabinet to another part of the house?
What you need to know about the new 2021 general licences for England
The new 2021 general licences for England came into effect from 1 January and are valid for this calendar year. They were announced by Defra in November after the withdrawal…
Dealing with food allergies in gundogs
Q: My three-year-old red Labrador bitch is pretty much itchy all the time. I am considering trying a low allergy diet. Is this worthwhile? How can you deal with food…
Training your young gundog – from dummies to game
Most, if not all, of your early gundog training will be using tennis or fur balls and canvas dummies. But at some point you will have to give your young…
Why you should learn to visualise your shots
Visualise your shots I want to explore the concept of learning to ‘visualise your shots’ and replicate the ‘picture’ we see at the moment the shot is taken and how…
Quarry guide – quail
We don’t shoot quail in the UK and the only reason that this elusive little bird appears in this quarry guide series is that it is classified as a gamebird,…
How to control rabbits in and around solar farms
Rabbit management on solar farms Over the years, solar farms have popped up all over the country in a bid to utilise renewable energy. The sites vary in size, along…
A trailblazer for wheelchair shooters
Jean-Paul Gaudin, or JP, is a force of nature. He has a lust for life and a passion for game shooting. He follows his passions. A motorcycle accident in 1988,…
Ready for action – Zastava sporting rifle M85
Background to the Zastava sporting rifle Serbian manufacturer Zastava Arms traces its origins back to the casting of four cannons in a small Kragujevac foundry in 1853, the same town…
The Winchester 101 – one of the classics
The Winchester 101 entered a production run which started in 1963 and went on for over 20 years. It was initially just produced in a game version (which was marketed…
Maxus Limited Edition JM Browning
The Browning Maxus has been a favourite on the semi-auto market since its release in 2009. The latest addition to the Maxus line-up is sure to prove popular with diehard…
Want to get involved on a shoot day next season? Here are some of the jobs you could do
Wondering how you can get involved in shooting? Thinking about becoming a beater or a picker-up next season? The most common way to help out during the shooting season is…
All about the jay. Garrulus glandarius
The Eurasian jay – the jay – is a common bird with a wide distribution within Europe and Asia. It can also be found as far south as parts of…
The Sako Finnfire – worth every penny
Sako decided in the 1990s that it was time to replace the Finnscout, a popular .22 rimfire that dated back to 1972. The new rifle was deliberately fashioned as a…
What should you do about lameness in a dog and what causes it?
Lame dog Q: My working lurcher is on/off lame on her right foreleg and there appears to be swelling around the wrist. Any suggestions? A: Lots. Most importantly, I would…
Are adjustable gunstocks a worthwhile investment?
Adjustable gunstocks – definitely not worth it Robin Scott says: Most guns with adjustable stocks can only be altered for length, drop and cast. These are important, but they are…