Rabbits are making a real comeback on some of my shooting permissions, and the recent unseasonably warm conditions have seen their peak breeding season extended. While I am glad to see them back in good numbers, landowners are less impressed. On one estate where I control grey squirrels, the trees are now facing an added…

Thermal optics have reached a phenomenal level of performance, and the Zeiss DTC 3/38 thermal clip-on is right at the forefront of technical innovation. At £3,500, it is fair to say that it is out of reach for most of our budgets, but even if all we can do is dream, I still think it…

Thermal night vision optics have exploded in popularity in recent years. This gear is now the first choice of many serious after-dark airgun hunters and there are several reasons why it has been so keenly embraced. This time, Mat is reviewing the InfiRay Tube TL35. Thermal optics provide remarkable stealth because they don’t need a…

The Sightmark Wraith HD digital day and night scope is a great example of the recent advancement of infrared night vision tech. With so many airgun shooters moving over to infrared night vision for after-dark pest control, it was inevitable that this equipment would become more affordable. What is surprising, though, is the standard of…

Sure Shot Airguns is well known for supplying a host of airguns, accessories and scopes from a variety of manufacturers, and while the company has had great success with the Discovery line of telescopic sights, it now has its own brand, Sureshot Optics, with the first model being the SFP 2.5-15×32 SFIR. Despite its lengthy…

Scopes with extremely short eye relief are very much the Marmite of the airgun optics world – people seem to either love them or hate them. Fans of these innovative sights know that they deliver benefits, including an extra-wide field of view, and also happen to look great on compact bullpup and semi-bullpup airguns. The…

Perfect conditions for testing the Sightmark Wraith 4K Ultra This summer’s dry, hot weather saw harvest completed in record time on lots of farms. The result was a sudden influx of rats moving on to farmyards in search of food and shelter. Although not the mass exodus that usually comes when cold, wet conditions make…

Hawke Sidewinder scopes are often touted as being suitable for shooting multiple disciplines – and with multiple types of rifle in mind as well, incorporating rimfires and centrefires as well as air rifles. (Read more on the Hawke Sidewinder FFP here.)  This is quite a tough feat to pull off, as some shooters demand a…

Striking the balance between simple enjoyment and technical advantage is seldom straightforward. Modern shooters are faced with a huge choice of hi-tech gadgets and gizmos that can help to put more quarry in the bag, but there is no denying that being overburdened with complicated equipment can take the joy out of a day or…

Modern night vision equipment has had a huge impact on after-dark pest control over recent years, enabling hunters to pick off unsuspecting critters from the cover of darkness. I have witnessed the difference technology can make when targeting skittish nocturnal quarry, and night vision optics have given a huge boost to my results when targeting…

More airgun shooters are switching to thermal optics for after-dark pest control. The reason for this is the fact that it is impossible to fail to notice the glow of a quarry animal’s heat signature when viewed through these devices. And because thermal imagers don’t use a light source there is no beam to betray…