So why should you buy the best ear defenders for shooting you can get? Too many shooters seem to be ignorant to the damage that the noise from gunshots can do to their hearing. You only get one pair of ears, so it makes good sense to look after them,…
Shooting
Here are articles to help and inform all aspects of your shooting, whether you’re a novice shooter or somebody who has been out in the field every season for years. You will find pieces on how you can improve, learn new skills and hone your technique.
We also keep a keen eye out for changes to gun laws and Government legislation.
You might be a gameshooter or clays might be much more your bag.
Then there are the pigeon shooting fans and those who love nothing better than being out on the foreshore, wildfowling.
Rabbiting has a section too.
If you’re looking to see how a particular ground performed than check out our shoot reports.
Our contributors frequently write about deer stalking with guidance on different species, locations and equipment.
Finally we encourage the next generation of shooters, informing and educating Young Shots.
Are you going to shoot game or focus on clayshooting?
Driven | Walked-up/Rough | Improve your shooting |
Lamping | Improve your clayshooting | Improve your pigeon shooting
Add on-devices for scopes: reviewing three of the best
Add-on devices for scopes So why are add-on devices for scopes so useful? One of the biggest inconveniences when using a night-vision or thermal scope is that their performance during the day is never going to be as good as a traditional glass optic. Although several night-vision scopes now offer…
Best clay pigeon traps: improve your shooting
If you’re fortunate enough to have some land, then you might consider setting up your own clay trap. (Read “Can I set up clay shooting on my own property?”) Providing you follow some key safety rules, then you’ll be able to practise your shooting in your own time, maybe introduce…
Why more and more women are enjoying driven shooting
It will probably not come as any sort of surprise to learn that shooting sports are predominately the pastime of men. The most recent Home Office figures reveal that 94% of shotgun and firearms certificate holders in England and Wales are male. The 6% minority, however, equates to more than…
Tricky pigeon shooting shots: Geoff Garrod explains how to deal with them
I am frequently asked about how to deal with certain tricky pigeon shooting shots that decoyers find difficult. There are some types of shot that always come up and the answer is not straightforward, as local conditions and the situation of your hide can vary on any given day. Many…
The best fox control kit
Though foxes are beautiful-looking animals, they are also ruthless killers, which is why we need the best fox control kit we can get. This farm has a zero-tolerance policy where foxes are concerned and they are culled whenever possible. It is a fairly typical southern sheep farm and, with the…
Clay pigeon shooting history: how it all began
Clay traps today are super-powerful, complex, remotely controlled and capable of throwing clays on many different flight patterns to simulate a variety of birds. (Read can I set up clayshooting on my own property?) Their journey has been long and storied, from the earliest days of competitive shooting at captive…
A clean kill is what should be aimed for every time
What marks you out as a Gun who knows what they are doing? What separates a good Shot from a bad one? If you ask a member of the picking-up team behind you, who see all but who rarely comment, it will be the care and interest a Gun shows…
Best boot socks – don’t miss our top choices
As we said recently in our top choices for the best walking boots, one thing any keen Shot, fieldsports fan or general outdoor enthusiast will tell you is that you have to look after your feet. Having the best possible boots is a big step in the right direction (no…
Best corduroy trousers in classic styles and colours
The best corduroy trousers, or cords, have long been a staple of a winter wardrobe. They are warm, comfy and come in a host of different colours. You can choose a fine needlecord, a standard cord or opt for thicker jumbo cord. Country types love their versatility – a pair…
How to choose a riflescope
You don’t actually need much kit to go deerstalking. Binoculars to spot a beast and a rifle to bring it down are essential, but I would argue that a telescopic riflescope is the most important part of the set-up. There’s a reason why most stalkers advise spending more on a…
Young Shots: six tips for getting started
How should young Shots get started in the field and on the clay ground? I started shooting at the age of eight. I’m lucky to come from a farming background, so there were opportunities to be involved in and around shooting from an early age. I followed my father’s lead…
Walking boots – what are the best options?
Any keen shot, deer stalker or outdoor enthusiast will know that having a pair of good walking boots is an essential part of your wardrobe. With mile after mile to cover, you need a pair of boots that are comfortable yet durable, waterproof yet breathable, and good value for money. There…
Wildcat cartridges: the background of the .22-250 calibre
.22-250 calibre review: The .22-250 calibre is one of the best when it comes to dealing with foxes and roe in Scotland.
The best Tattersall shirts for shooting
The best Tattersall shirts are design classics for shooting and a garment that no countryman or woman should be without. (For our list of the best shooting shirts see here.) Tattersall is basically a check or plaid pattern woven into cloth. There are are numerous patterns, as you’ll see in…
Moleskin trousers: we’ve picked out the best for country style
Moleskin has been around for centuries and moleskin trousers have long been a part of a country wardrobe, thanks to their warmth, comfort and durability. Despite the name, the fabric is not made from moles; it is actually created from densely woven pure cotton. Shooting Times contributor Matt Cross says:…
How to improve your visual focus on the clay target
Often my pupils come to me with the request that they need to do something to help them focus on the clay target. So when I am giving a lesson on this, here’s what I run through. (Here’s a run down of the different clay targets and how to deal…
Thermal imagers: Mat Manning puts three popular models through their paces
Thermal imagers are fast becoming a key piece of kit for numerous shooting applications, from foxing on open fields to ratting around the farmyard. The ability to see an animal’s heat signature, even when it is partially obscured by undergrowth, provides a massive edge when trying to catch up with…
Harris tweed: a traditional weaver shows how this beautiful fabric is made
“It’s not all old. Brand new in 1970,” Donald John Mackay replied when I asked him whether his loom is an old one. “This’ll be it for me. I bought it in 1984, but I won’t need another.” Weaving Harris tweed Coincidentally, 1970 is when Donald started weaving Harris tweed.…
Best quilted jackets and gilets for country types
Quilted jackets are ideal to wear on their own to keep the chill off, or underneath a thicker coat for warming layering. Or you can opt for a quilted gilet to wear over a sweater or shirt and again under a coat when it’s chilly. (Read our tips on how…